At this time of year, people often sign up for a gym membership, determined to get fit and lose weight and to become an all round better person. Can I insert a word of warning here? Whilst I have every respect and understanding for the personnel who work in gyms and leisure centres, they are often over-booked and under pressure to process new customers, with the result that vital questions may be left unasked. If you sign up for ANY programme of exercise or movement, someone should talking to you about your previous experience, your current and past health issues and you should be given clear instructions on using equipment and how to avoid injury. I recently changed my gym and although I have regularly used gym equipment all my adult life and am an accredited Feldenkrais teacher, I would still expect to be given a proper induction and training as well as a warm up before being given heavy weights to lift, then encouraged to work to a maximum capacity on back bends. The trainer involved was a lovely person but I came away worried that her new customers were at the very least in danger of developing bad habits, but -more seriously – were risk of  serious injury. Do not confuse speed and maximum effort with effective and lasting movement training and if an exercise causes pain, stop…please! #️mindful movement.