Healthy Forever Fitness Motivation

Fitness in the Caribbean It has been a great year for working onboard cruise ships and it is not over yet. I have sailed all around the Mediterranean this Spring and Summer and now the winter months are here I am heading off to the Caribbean. I have not sailed on this ship for two years so it is nice to be on her once more. I love these smaller ships. They are cosy, classic and classy vessels with lots of small venues and comfortable public areas. With less passengers there is so much attention to detail and a fantastic service provided. I enjoy working for this company as I know the passengers and crew and it always feels like coming home. I embarked on the ship after 1pm and my cabin was ready as soon as I was onboard. I am so lucky to have a passenger cabin with a balcony. There is plenty of room in these cabins for all my fitness equipment as well as the dresses, handbags and shoes I bring with me. This ship continues a true cruising lifestyle with smart/casual and formal night...

 Making the Best of our Later Years "There are no positives to ageing"......this is something I hear so many times? I understand this statement with every year of growing older. I seem unable to do some of the things I could do so easily when I was younger. This is the ageing process and it is the acceptance of this that will help us embrace our age. My mum would often say to me that 'an old woman' looked back at her each time she looked into the mirror. My mother was probably the same age as I am today when she said this to me. Yes, of course, I found this amusing as my mum was an old woman? Yet here I am looking in the mirror and understanding my mothers thoughts ......... that old woman is now looking back at me. As a woman, the signs of ageing show in our faces. The odd wrinkle here and there. The skin on our body is not as smooth and firm as it was a few years ago and sadly we can be overlooked by a younger woman just a few steps behind us. All these signs can f...

 Madeira - Time to Relax and have Fun I love Madeira. It is an island full of stunning landscapes, ocean vistas and rich in culture. I am always working when I visit this island and the visits are usually no more than two days. I am about to embark on a holiday with my crazy friend who has never been to Madeira. We went on holiday a couple of years ago to Santorini and had such a great time together, we decided to do it again.  Madeira is a Portuguese island located in the Atlantic Ocean. Madeira has a sub-tropical climate with stunning flora and some of the best scenery in Europe. The island is mountainous so there are some breath-taking ocean views and the vibrant colours of the exotic flowers and emerald green foliage flow seamlessly into the dazzling blues of the ocean.  Vista views all around the Island The adventure started at Bournemouth International Airport for our flight to Madeira. The flight was on time and we arrived into Funchal at 7pm. The hotel we stayed ...

  Good Posture, Well-being and Balance I was stopped the other day, whilst walking along the coastal path, by a gentleman (in his late 60's). He felt seemingly awkward when asking me if I did some sort of exercise to keep such a great posture. This was a very flattering comment as my posture is something I have worked on for many years. I was a national swimmer from a very young age and this helped enormously through my adolescence (the slouching years) as I am tall in stature. I was also a runner and gym-goer. Good posture means you align your body correctly with a straight spine and centering your weight directly over your feet. For exercise purposes this aids perfect form enhancing workouts and preventing injury. Good posture is not just for sports people. It is also important for balance which is a 'must' as we age . Posture can be improved with various exercises and activities that you can add into your daily life, from balance training to yoga poses. These balance tec...