Variation is the spice of life!

I think most of us will be aware of that fact - but it was brought back to me with a thump this week.

I've had to change my training routine to keep in the best shape during my pregnancy. I did a bit of a boxing workshop with the boys (Jamie and Mike) the other day and really went for it (what's that...female boxing is now an olympic sport...hmmm anyone think 31 will be too old?). I thoroughly enjoyed the session, but it absolutely killed me for the next two days... so I've learnt it's not what I can do while I'm pregnant, it's what I should do, and still be able to recover properly.

So I've had to change up my training schedule. This week I introduced swimming. I'm not a bad swimmer, was on the school team for a while - and well growing up in Aus, you'd get through a couple of swimming costumes a year you spent so much time in the pool. But since I've been in London, the last 5 years at least have been pool free. So I went for my first swim on Wednesday, and what a revelation:

- it was fun!!!
- it took me over 20 laps to relax into my breathing sufficiently
- I'm still hurting in areas which obviously don't get worked on a regular basis

So I went back yesterday - only this time I went to the Hampstead Heath ponds instead of a pool - and that was great too! Less hard work as I wasn't churning out the laps, but treading water for half and hour while pootling about in the sun keeps you moving as well.

I'll be going again next week, and for the moment it's a novelty - and that's what makes it so effective. You don't have to do the same thing week after week. At the studio we're often trying to change things up for you (a programme won't last you more than 6 weeks max) whilst keeping in the fundmentals, but if you ever want a completely different session then just let us know (although preferably in advance), and if it's something that will benefit you, we'll happily oblige.

Til next week.

Rach