Do you need a gentle stroll to kick start some exercise in 2012?

Davey is leading a walking group on Wednesday mornings which leaves from the Hub at 10:45am and comes back at noon for a coffee. This is perfect for toddlers, babies in prams, people who want to walk but with good company, people who need a bit of encouragement. Davery goes whatever the weather so you can turn up and know that there will be someone there to meet you and look after you.

Matwork Pilates

Are you interested in Pilates for 2012? Teresa Thirwell (osteopath and pilates teacher) is starting her two weekly sessions at The Hub on the Green in January.

Tuesday evenings 6:30-7:30pm starting 17th January
and Friday mornings 9:45-10:45am starting 20th January.

For more information please click here

The Benefits Of Pilates

Pilates is beneficial for general fitness, specific health conditions and, of course, your overall well-being.

General Fitness

Health Conditions

Improves your posture Improves mobility and flexibility of the spine Delivers muscle tone and extensibility Improves quality of life and well-being. Integrates mind, body and spirit Promotes a supportive and efficient core. Helps maintain the health of joints through improved mobility and support from the surrounding musculature. Complements training for dancers, athletes and sports people. Increases stability of the shoulders, pelvis and lower back.

Provides a safe and beneficial form of exercise for people with a wide range of medical conditions, including scoliosis, osteoporosis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lower back pain. Facilitates physical rehabilitation and addresses injury prevention. Improves balance and co-ordination, particularly for the elderly. Alleviates aches and pains. Helps maintain and improve bone density. Develops the function and efficiency of the lungs with improved circulation. Offers a safe and accessible form of exercise for ante- and postnatal women.

The Instructor:  Teresa Thirlwall  M.Ost,  B.Sc.(Hons)

Has over 18 years of experience teaching and lecturing, within the health, fitness and sports industry. She is fully qualified and insured.

• Registered Osteopath – Masters in Osteopathy (M.Ost), British School of Osteopathy.
• Sports Injury & Rehabilitation – B.Sc. (Hons) Physiology, Kings College London.
• Sport & Remedial Massage Practitioner – Diploma London School of Sports Massage (LSSM).
• Pilates Instructor – Pilates Institute & OCR Certified.

Next week is shaping up

Ok so next week is looking good. It's always a bit of a shock to come back after the Christmas break so we have giving you this week as a warm up and next week we will gently swinging following with full swing starting on the 16th. Here's what the hub will be up to...

Monday - I will be coffee-ing and teacake-ing at noon followed by Crochet with Make and Take Club for 5-11 year olds at 4pm (hannah@thecrafthub.co.uk) then Daisy Birthing from pregnant mums at 6:30pm (janette.davey@sky.com)

Tuesday - We have recycled crafting at noon as well as coffee time. Followed by an evening meeting of the Exeter Homebirth Group so if you are interested in home birthing, would like to meet parents who had a homebirth and find out more from Cathy Mudge who is the guest speaker contact clare.lowing@googlemail.com.

Wednesday - We have gentle hatha yoga (Roberta 07747030629) at 9:45am. Then at 10:45am Davey will be leading his Walk for Health which leaves from the hub and comes back at 12 noon for a coffee. Knitting group also meets at noon. Then in the afternoon and evening there are two groups meeting to discuss a possible sustainability project.

On Friday we have wriggle rhythms (Sophie sheadlong-moore@hotmail.co.uk) at 11am, coffee time at noon and then Women's Network Beat the Blues session from 2-4pm at £1.50 a session.

I have to whizz to scrapstore now but I will continue this in a bit

Davey's Blog Post - Walk for Health

Walking For Health, often written as WfH or W4H is part of the National Change4Life initiative. You will have seen the multi-coloured plasticine characters everywhere, even if you didn't know what they were at the time. It all centres around the concept that we all need to "Move More and Eat Less" to maintain our health. WfH has lots of names, sometimes it is known as Walk'n'Talk, Striders, or simply named after the location. It is well established in the Exeter area where the main scheme is called "Stepping Out" and I hope that any group we start, assuming it is well enough attended, will be under that umbrella. Stepping Out provide free guided walking in and around Exeter 6 days a week. Further details are at:

http://www.wfh.naturalengland.org.uk/walkfinder/south-west/exeter-stepping-out-exeter

Our current walk on Wednesdays mornings, not yet included with Stepping Out, leaves the Hub at 1045 and returns by 1200 for a cup of tea/coffee and some social time. If we discover that another day/time suits a larger audience then there may be some room for manoeuvre. I will normally have my son in his pushchair so it is baby friendly and we may visit a playpark on our route providing that children are old enough to use one. There is absolutely no charge for the walking and The Hub has the best priced coffee in Exeter! Men and women in all states of health are welcome, as are accompanied children of all ages. Walkers must understand that the speed and route of the walk may be adjusted at the last minute to accomodate disability, someone with walking difficulty, weather or other factors. In short it is not SAS selection but a healthy walk pitched at the level of need. If you are that person then others will accomodate you and not the other way round. 

I could scare you with tales of sedentary lifestyles, and the massive health problems associated, but I feel it is more important to talk benefits. Most of us can walk, most of us enjoy socialising, we already own the equipment needed and the walking is free. Please come along next Weds to the Hub by 1045, we canot hang around if it is cold, or come and talk to me after the walk at 1200. 

In order that the scheme runs smoothly we will need more leaders, so that I can go to work! Fortunately I am qualified to train leaders so if you already hold WfH leader status or would be interested in getting it then please let me know. 

Walking is an easy to maintain New Year's Resolution, there is no expensive gym membership or equipment. 

At any pace it is excellent at promoting: Mental Health, Sleep, Weight Management, 'Good' Cholesterol and your Immune system. 

At a brisk pace it can improve heart and lung function and reduce blood pressure. 

It helps to prevent: Diabetes, Osterarthritis and Osteoporosis, Bowel and Breast Cancer and the Risk of Falls in the Elderly.

ARE THERE REALLY ANY QUESTIONS? HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Just the Tonic

 I got home and found this email...

I just wanted to say well done you! Your hub is so fabulously buzzing and busy! :)

And it works! I was about to murder everyone in Exeter this morning, but just 90 minutes of hub love at lunchtime and I am rejuvenated!

You're a star! 

I felt just the same. I was struggling this morning. A chase-your-tail sort of morning and when noon arrived (with a teacake) it was just the tonic. I could feel myself go humph. Such lovely people in and good chat, lots of laughs and a fresh start to the afternoon which went much better than the morning. It just goes to show that often the way a day pans out is in our own hands - we just need a bit of a break in order to change the pattern of the day. I love the hub.

Tomorrow the hub is closed but I am looking forward to Friday.

I had a lovely chat with Sheila Cove today who is going to run a taster session of Margaret Morris Movement on Monday 30th January at 2-3pm so if you would like to try something new and are free on Monday afternoons why not pop by. The taster session will be followed by regular weekly sessions at the same time.

I am updating the website too. My blog is where my heart is so I need to really gee myself up to tweak the website but I think I am making some progress. The best way to find out what is on is to pop by and ask.

The next Cake and Craft Fair is going to be on Saturday 4th February so if you are interested in coming, selling or helping get in touch.

Friday afternoon is Beat the Blues at 2-4pm organised by the Women's Network. It is £1.50 a session and you can just pop along. Please see the poster in a previous blog post for more details.

I am yet to play my first hub dominoes match (is it a match?). Jane? Friday? I am currently being thrashed on 'Words with Friends' (if you have an iPhone it is just the best) by Andy who I pride myself in beating when it comes to word games. Maybe in 2012, dominoes will my game, knitting will be my craft and pigs might fly?!

Do You Want to 'Beat the Blues'?

1. 

Gentle walking group at 10:45am on Wednesdays

Davey will be leading a gentle walking group on Wednesday mornings. It will leave from the hub at 10:45am and return in time for coffee at noon. Everyone is welcome from toddlers to those who want to get a little more exercise or those who fancy a stroll and a chat (I'm the last one).

Coffee (and teacake) time at noon is also knitting time so if you fancy dropping in for that you would be more than welcome. I am looking for a domino opponent if anyone fancies that too.

Sling Meet Friday 27th January from noon

For the link go to...http://www.exeterbabyactivities.co.uk/sling-meet-exeter/

Sling Meet, Exeter

Arabella Greatorex | 02/01/2012 | 0 Comments

After a brilliant turnout at the last Sling Meet, including several bumps, we have a new venue – the lovely Hub on the Green and a new date, Friday 27th January at 12 noon.

Why come along to a Sling Meet?

• Meet other parents who love babywearing
• Find out about babywearing, new slings, new carries
• Share your love of babywearing with others
• Try out a range of slings and baby carriers brought by other parents
• Have a cup of coffee and chat

When:  Friday 27th January, 12 noon to 1.30pm

Where: The Hub on the Green, 8 Cathedral Close, a few doors down from Ask Pizza

How much?  Free to attend – coffee will be on sale at £1 per cup

Who can come? Anyone who is interested in babywearing, whether expectant parent, new babywearer or experienced practioner.  Babies/children welcome too.

What to bring?  Just yourself and baby/toddler/child as applicable.  If you have a sling you want some help with, bring it too and if you have a lovely stash that you don’t mind showing off, that would be great too.

What slings can I try out?  Well, that all depends upon who turns up on the day and what they bring with them, but I will bring:

• Ergo Baby Carrier
• Calin Bleu Gauze
• Calin Bleu Fleece
• Moby Stretchy Wrap
• Kari-me Stretchy Wrap
• Gosling Ring Sling
• Maya Ring Sling

Opening for 2012

We open again tomorrow with our tidy hub tomorrow at noon. Join us or coffee, tea and cake until 1:30pm and catch up.


Actually Janette opened for 2012 with her baby birthing class tonight so we are up and running for the new year. It's going to be a goody. 


I hope you all had a very happy Chirstmastime.

Ignore this post...it's a bit dull for everyone apart from me!

A tidy hub is a happy hub. And a tidy hub makes a happy Joey because although I really didn't like doing it when coffee shops were calling, it feels good to know it is all done and dusted and I took before and after photos!

Before:

After:

and it's tidy inside the cupboard too! 

I know these aren't the most exciting photos ever but they give me a sense of achievement.