This is number one in a six part series of blogs showcasing the Dojiva Online Studio. 

1 Strength - slow exercises for muscle, bone and connective tissue health
2 Mobility - a gentle movement class to enhance posture and flexibility 
3 Meditation - a soothing practice to raise awareness and calm the mind
4 Interval training - Meet your body where it is as you choose the intensity... low, medium or high.
5 Mindfulness practice - how to bring your goals into your reality (guided audio).
6 Health - interview with functional medicine doctor Robert Ruess MD

Please join in with the above video that until now has been exclusive to the Dojiva membership site. It's an hour of mindful movement designed for anybody who is focused on improving their functional strength.

It's a free sample from the Dojiva strength archive, one of 110 videos.

My philosophy on dynamic exercise is different than most. It is not about grunt or punishing yourself or pushing the body to unnecessary limits. That approach j...

I see it a lot, too often for my liking... where people come and go with their exercise/health kick commitment. The yoyo effect is not good!

And if there is one key secret to success, it would be consistency.

So what stops people from adhering to a regular routine of exercise? I think it boils down to one or more of these four key factors. 

1. Results don't come quick enough

It's unusual to meet somebody who says "I appreciate that this is going to take some time and therefore I'm committed to the long run." Usually, people want results yesterday.

However, when it comes to making changes, your body, mind and all the wonderful physiology inside have a timeline.

Whatever health aspect you want to change be it weight loss, strength gains, breaking an unhealthy habit, a dietary shift, managing stress, reducing pain, improving posture or simply feeling more day to day energy, I believe it's best done slowly.

This way, your body and mind can adapt to the changes without negative conse...

What a strange title coming for a health coach. And why would anybody want to gain fat weight? Hold on please. I am taking a reverse approach to get a message across. Please read on and I'll explain all.

[5 minute read]. Humans have been evolving for a long long time. And, we have always been lean... even up to the 1970's it was unusual to see many people over-weight.

Then came some poor, agenda driven dietary science about how fats are bad for our health and that we should replace them with carbs. And the fats we do eat should come in the form of highly processed and inflammatory poly unsaturated fats (industrial seed oils) and we should avoid natural saturated fats. Also, food scientists engineered a magic combination of sugar, salt and fat that could make food highly addictive (enter processed foods). 

It seems we may have taken advice from food companies that do not have our health in mind. Rather they want you to buy their product.

Oh yes, and the same dietary advice was dishe...

Welcome to this blog. I have taken these writings directly from the Dojiva Online Studio. I feel it's important reading for all those that are new to me or have purchased my courses but have not yet signed up for the monthly membership.

Please read on for my four concepts of movement:

1. Honour Your Body

Before and during each of our workouts you will notice periods of guided stillness. This is your continuous opportunity to listen to the physical facts of the moment. 

Listening to your body in the moment of any exercise will not only improve your safety and efficiency but also guide you to the right intensity. Sensing is your ultimate guide.

So, how often and intense you exercise is governed by the reaction of your body. Just keep listening. This extends beyond formal workouts and is true for healthy eating patterns and even chores around the house/garden.

And this is not a linear phenomenon and dependent on sleep, stress, food, metabolism, medication, hydration and exercise exp...