Firmly Fit Pilates

05/06/2026

Ever notice how some weeks you feel strong and energised, while others leave you craving chocolate and needing a nap by 3pm?

You’re not imagining it—your menstrual cycle affects how your body uses and needs protein. Understanding this can help you feel more balanced, energised, and in control throughout the month.

🌀 Here’s what’s happening:

During the luteal phase (the 10–14 days leading up to your period), your body experiences a rise in progesterone, which:

🔹 Increases your metabolism (you actually burn more calories!)

🔹 Makes you more prone to cravings, fatigue, and bloating

🔹 Impacts muscle recovery and strength


💪 Why Protein Matters More During This Phase

Adding more protein during your luteal phase can help:

✅ Stabilise blood sugar and reduce cravings

✅ Support mood and brain function

✅ Ease bloating by keeping your digestion steady

✅ Maintain muscle when energy levels dip


🥤 An Easy Way to Stay on Track

Radix Nutrition Recovery Smoothies are a quick, delicious way to get 30g of protein—just what your body is asking for during this time.

04/06/2026

What Happens When We Have One Glute Stronger Than The Other...
It's a flow on effect throughout the whole body over time if it's not addressed and fixed.

Long story short, it causes
~ a twist in the pelvis (either forwards/backwards, and or up on one side)
~ internal rotation in one femur (thigh bone) into the hip socket and an external rotation of the other
~ knees, ankles and feet start to hurt as they're doing a lot of what the glute should
~ the spine twists
~ shoulders get displaced as we try to counter balance

Its a minefield!
And leads to constant pain years later.
Please make sure things are in alignment when you're doing glute work (feet, knees, hips), firing both sides, not just your fav 🩷
Got any issues? Pop in and see us, this is what Pilates is about ‐ looking and correcting misalignment to help you be pain free

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

What's this you spy? 👀
CLEAN COLLAGEN PROTEIN WATER!!
Lemon & Manuka (Reset)
Boysenberry (Nourish)
Raspberry & Lemonade (Radiance)

Dairy free & Gluten free
Made in NZ 💪

We've now got sample packs at the studio to find your fit 🩷

03/06/2026

From the first minute, your brain is responding to the shift in heat.

Your brain detects the rising temperature, your heart rate increases and the blood in your brain starts to flow. This is called thermoregulation.
Your brain then releases endorphins, naturally reducing pain in the body and creating mental clarity.
This causes our cortisol to decrease and our serotonin & dopamine levels to increase. Creating a calming improved mood.
Our heat shock proteins activate, helping to lower inflammation in the body and increase memory.
Once we hit 20 minutes in the sauna, this is the mental sweet zone spot we want to be in...
You’re accessing peak cognitive functions without over stressing the brain or body.

This is brain training, not just physical stuff.

Check out this research below 👇

Coimbra et al., 2021, Temperature - Heat stress elevates BDNF and supports neuroprotection
Laukkanen et al., 2018, Neurology - Frequent sauna bathing reduces risk of dementia and Alzheimer's

03/06/2026

Feeling like your skin, hair, or joints aren’t quite what they used to be?...

It’s all part of ageing - but that doesn’t mean you can’t support your body to bounce back naturally.

🫶 Aglow Marine Collagen helps you glow from the inside out... Made in NZ with sustainably sourced marine collagen — no fillers, no sugar, no preservatives. Just results that speak for themselves.

Why Kiwis love it:
• Youthful Skin: Helps reduce fine lines and supports firmness & elasticity.
• Healthy Hair & Nails: Promotes growth and strength for that healthy shine.
• Joint & Gut Support: Gentle, easily absorbed, and kind to your stomach.
• Tasteless & Odourless: Mix into your morning coffee, smoothie, or tea.
• Nutrient Boost: Enhanced with Vitamin C, E & CoQ10 for hydration and cell renewal.

🌿 Made in NZ, loved nationwide - because looking after yourself shouldn’t feel complicated.

Stocked now at the Firmly Fit Pilates studio in Feilding
34 Fergusson Street
See you soon 🩷

02/06/2026

These are a fav of mine, did you know ginger is great at reducing inflammation?

02/06/2026

Room for Lease — Manawatu Wellness Hub, Feilding!

Are you a health or wellness professional looking for a beautiful space to grow your practice? 👀

We have a room available for lease right here at the Manawatu Wellness Hub — nestled within the Firmly Fit Pilates community at 36 Fergusson Street, Feilding.

This is a rare opportunity to be part of a thriving, health focused and wellness hub with a built-in community of 400+ active clients. ✨

Whether you're a beauty therapist, naturopath, counsellor, or any other health professional — we'd love to chat!

📩 Reach out to Fran directly:
021 138 3128 | [email protected]

Tag a practitioner who needs to hear this! 👇

01/06/2026

Still waiting to see the muscle tone you've been training for? 👀
The problem isn't your effort — it's the plan.
The Lean Muscle Program gives you 4 weeks of structured workouts + real nutrition guidance so you can finally build the strong, lean body you're after.
No fluff. No guesswork. Just results. 💥
🔗 Grab it now — link in bio

01/06/2026

Magnesium vs Melatonin — what’s better for sleep? 🌙

Both are popular sleep supports — but they work very differently.

Here’s the simple truth 👇

🌙 Melatonin = Your sleep timing hormone

Melatonin helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm) — basically telling your body when it’s time to sleep.

Best for:
• Jet lag or shift work
• Trouble falling asleep
• Resetting your sleep schedule

⚠️ Not always ideal long-term, and some people feel groggy the next day.

😌 Magnesium = The calm mineral

Magnesium supports sleep by relaxing muscles and calming the nervous system.
It also helps regulate stress hormones and supports natural melatonin production.

Best for:
• Stress-related sleep issues
• Night tension or restless legs
• Poor sleep quality
• Nervous system support

🏆 So… which is better?

👉 Melatonin = better for short-term sleep timing issues
👉 Magnesium = better for long-term sleep support + relaxation

They’re not competitors — they solve different problems.

In fact, some research suggests they may work well together for certain people.

If sleep struggles are driven by stress, hormones, or burnout, magnesium is often the more supportive starting point.
If your sleep schedule is completely off, melatonin may help reset it.

You'll find Aglow's magnesium on the shelves at the studio.