Janette Benditwithbendle

Pilates instructor approved ✔️

Jump squat proof? ✔️

Stretch proof? ✔️

See-through? Absolutely not. Nobody needs that surprise halfway through a Pilates class. 😂

They’re soft, they stretch in every direction, and they move with me however I want.

So yes, these GearBunch leggings tick all the boxes. ✔️

And then there are these colours

Subtle? Not exactly. 😂

You’ll see me coming from a mile away, and I’m completely okay with that.



https://gearbunch.com/

There’s a lot more going on behind a class than people probably realise.

I’m watching bodies, remembering injuries, correcting form, offering alternatives, keeping an eye on the clock, thinking three exercises ahead and sometimes changing the whole plan because I can feel that’s what the room needs.

But there’s another part of teaching that you can’t really learn from a textbook.

Knowing your people.

Knowing when someone needs encouragement, when they need to be challenged, when they need to back off and sometimes knowing they’re having an off day before they’ve even said a word.

After all these years of teaching, so much of that has become instinctive.

Every class is different because every group of people walking through the door is different, and the energy they bring is different too.

And perhaps that’s why, after all these years, I still bloody love it. ❤️

If you want to be part of something a little different, where you’re genuinely cared about, where your instructor knows you, watches how you move and cares about your body and how it feels, come and give us a go.

5 classes for $55.

Come and see what we’re all about. ❤️

Last night, our Bend It with Bendle Pilates community swapped the studio for Music Bingo at Oliver’s Café in Frankston.

Three of us wearing exactly the same jeans, complete with love hearts on the bums! ❤️ Clearly we’re spending too much time together and shopping at the same place Luup 😂

There was a conga line, and our own Lesa Cowin had to perform the chicken dance to claim her bingo win.

Then came the grand finale. Five of us tied for the final bingo prize, which meant competing in an Irish jig.

Let’s just say, thanks to Pilates, you can now call me Michelle Flatley! ☘️😂

Looking around the room, I realised this is what community is really about.

A group of women who may never have crossed paths if it wasn’t for Pilates and yet here we were, laughing like we’d known each other forever.

I left the café with a smile on my face.

You know you’ve had a good night when your cheeks are aching from laughing, your tummy hurts, and you’re still smiling all the way home.

I love that feeling. ❤️

Here’s to friendship, laughter and the beautiful community we’ve built together❣️

What a beautiful way to start the week. 🤍

A Monday spent at Lancemore Hotels Lindenderry Red Hill Estate, exactly what I needed. A chance to pause, breathe, reset and take on the week.

Can every Monday start like this, please?

We were welcomed by the beautiful Raquel, who instantly made us feel at home.

Can we just take a moment to appreciate these grounds?❤️

Raquel showed us to our room, which overlooked the most beautiful gardens and had the cosiest little fire. The perfect place to sit, dream and enjoy a glass of wine.

There are so many cosy little lounges scattered throughout the hotel. Perfect for sneaking away with a coffee, or perhaps a cheeky wine. There’s also a heated indoor pool, spa, billiards and the most beautiful grounds to wander.

Whether you’re looking to do a lot or absolutely nothing at all, this place has you covered.

A 6 pm booking at The Dining Room | Lindenderry | Red Hill was next. Monday nights are Steak & Frites Night, but don’t worry if steak isn’t your thing. They cater beautifully for vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements too.

I finished off the evening with a glass of Chianti by the fire, does it get any better?

Oh yes, it does.

A cosy night’s sleep, the wind gently blowing outside only adding to the atmosphere, and before we knew it, Tuesday had arrived.

A beautiful breakfast, one last chat with Raquel, saying goodbye to the new friends we’d made. We always seem to make a friend wherever we go.

P.S. My guest for the evening was my beautiful friend Leanne, my psychic friend 😉. I think we both left feeling exactly the same

Paused.
Reset.
Ready to take on the week.

A huge thank you to Lancemore Hotels and The Dining Room | Lindenderry | Red Hill for your beautiful hospitality. We absolutely loved our stay and can highly recommend it if you’re looking for a special getaway on the Mornington Peninsula. ❤️

So this is what I got up to this morning.

A couple of weeks ago I told you about going for a run and how much I enjoyed it. Well, I’m definitely a fair weather runner.

Last Monday, on my usual running day, it was cold, wet and miserable. I looked outside and thought, nope.

For the record, I have a rebounder, a spin bike and plenty of other equipment at home, so I still moved. It just looked a little different.

Today, though, the sun was shining, so out I went. I ran, I walked, I tackled the stairs and ended up staying out much longer than I’d planned. I’ll tell you about that another time.

I talk a lot about strength because it’s incredibly important, but healthy ageing isn’t just about lifting weights. It’s also about cardio, balance, mobility and simply moving your body in different ways. We need a little bit of everything.

And here’s the best part

You don’t need to do what I do.

If all you managed today was a 10 minute stretch, that’s fantastic.

If you went for a 20 minute walk, brilliant.

If you picked up a couple of dumbbells for a few exercises, even better.

Every bit of movement counts.

So tonight I’m sharing a little glimpse of my morning. Four rounds of stairs, a run along the esplanade track, plenty of walking and enjoying the winter sunshine.

Now I’d love to know, how did you move your body today?

P.S. If you’d like a little help ticking those boxes, strength, balance, mobility and cardio, you know where to find me. 😉

Twenty seven years ago, I thought I was building a Pilates studio.

It turned into something much bigger. ❤️

Monday morning reflection

“I’ve been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come.”

The perfect soundtrack for last night.

Cold night. Warm hearts.
Puffing Billy, twinkling lights, pizza and mulled wine, a little bit of winter magic.