Pilates Summer Camp

MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO

“A Healthy mind in a healthy Body” was the new mantra for Lerryn WI as ten enthusiastic members completed a 6 week Pilates Course in 5 days. Phenomenal, crackpot, over-ambitious, you might think, until I tell you that the Instructor was the inspirational Tricia Stewart, one of the original Calendar Girls. With her at the helm you know anything is possible!

The venue for the week was the delightful Red Store, a small intimate building on the water’s edge, set in the beautiful waterside creek of Lerryn, in South Cornwall. As the shutters were opened at the start of each session, the views were exactly what was needed to enhance the atmosphere with the gentle lap of the river against the building and the ducks and canoeists wending their way downstream. This, together with the camaraderie of our group of WI members, contributed to a very successful course.

Tricia is no stranger to Lerryn. Along with Angela Baker, whose husband was the inspiration for the WI Calendar, she visited Lerryn WI last May to give a talk about the globally successful phenomenon “The Calendar Girls” where the two women spoke about their lives, the movie, the stage show, and, of course, the preparation for their10th anniversary Calendar for 2010, all in aid of Leukaemia Research. Tricia spent the week with her family in a holiday cottage belonging to a WI member, which is where she stayed last year with Angela. Julia Parfitt co-arranged last year’s talk and was the inspiration behind this year’s Pilates course, having discovered that Tricia was a qualified Pilates instructor of ten year’s experience. The week ran smoothly under her organisation. Tricia had provided all the equipment needed, having brought this with her from Yorkshire. An internet order placed on Wednesday for Pilates exercise bands, arrived on Thursday so that the members of the group were able to practice at home.

Above: Tricia Stewart with Lin Briggs (and “exercise band”)

Under her watchful eye, the ten stalwarts learned to “zip and hollow”, how to perform the “oyster” and “the cat”, how to safely get from a lying to standing position in the safest possible way, something a few of us had not been able to do for several years. Inner thighs were stretched, toes flexed and extended, necks relaxed and members' central core muscles were given workouts they hadn’t experienced for years, all in a great atmosphere of fun! Tricia worked closely with the group and gave individual attention to all, especially those in greatest need of assistance. She ably demonstrated all the exercises, especially useful for those of us who found them more challenging!

Above: Tricia using core muscles with “The Teaser”
At the end of the week we were given copies of her workout programme on a CD to practice at home so that we could continue to improve upon what we so admirably started. The group now intends to meet regularly to continue practising (and remembering) their Pilates exercises and hopefully work towards stage two of Tricia’s workout.

Julia Parfitt ( front), Tricia Stewart behind her with members of Lerryn WI

A Talented WI

St Gennys WI create a Christmas garland.

It was decided at an earlier WI Meeting in the year that we would attempt to make our second Garland. Our first was made last year after a visit to Cotehele.
Several members grew dried flowers from seeds, others would provide greenery. We did have a few problems, as the Crackington Haven Institute was undergoing much needed building works. It was a case would the work be done in time and would there be some wherewhere suitable to take the weight of the Garland. Glad to say all problems were overcome.
Six members, plus four husbands got together on Sunday 29th November 2009 to make and hang a Christmas Garland in the Crackington Haven Institute. The members were Audrey Short, Tina Martin and husband Keith, Val Ellam and husband Tim.Pauline Biscombe and Husband Trevor, Flavia Dunlop-Martin and husband Stan Martin,and Jean Robb.
Later in the day Pat Anthony brought along sacks full of Hydrangea heads. Robina Teague came with some sausage rolls to keep up the builders strength.
A break was held for lunch and members all sat down to hot soup, bread, sausages rolls and various home baked cakes.
Thanks to members husbands the Garland was finally hung at 3-30pm, in plenty of time for St Gennys W.I. Christmas Party on 7th December 2009.

Walking with Di

A Mevagissey member regularly organises walks for her WI. A WI husband describes this event.

There's trainers and wellingtons, boots and shoes,

The variety of footwear that we walkers choose

As we straggle along in undisciplined line

Enjoying God's world in the Spring sunshine,

Walking along with Di.

There's all shapes and sizes (that's us not the shoes)

While the wheeling seagulls are screaming abuse.

All on the coast path, the sea's on our right hand,

But now down some steps and on cross the sand,

Still walking along with Di.

After crossing the sand, we're going up a slope,
Heavens this is a steep one, some're giving up hope;

That's made us all breath deeply, we'll just have to stop,

Then we're back on the coast path, to go along the cliff top

As we're walking further with Di.

Now we've changed direction, heading uphill, inland,

Climbing quite steeply with our backs to the strand.

After crossing the road we traverse a long muddy path;
All the varied footwear will have to be cleaned in the bath

After walking this track with Di.

We're traversing the fields now, crossing stile after stile,

There seem quite a lot of them, five or six to the mile.

We're crossing a stream, then through a vineyard,
A field full of horses, one's galloping hard.
While walking along with Di.

Now back on the road and down through Rosevine,

The sun is still shining, the weather's been fine.
So down to the beach, a stiff climb to the car

And though we are tired how lucky we are
To have been walking along with Di.

David Taylor

March 2009

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