'I tried Manchester's first infrared Pilates class - I've never sweated so much'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Laying under the infrared lights of a Northern Quarter fitness studio on a washout summer’s evening, I couldn’t quite believe how relaxed I felt.

This was in spite of the fact that my whole body was dripping with sweat and shaking from holding a shoulder bridge for what felt like an eternity with a soft pilates ball balanced between my knees.

But with a gentle and uplifting playlist trickling through the speakers, and the instructors' dulcet tones echoing around the room, the class calmly moved through a sequence of moves designed to - amongst other things - enhance flexibility, reduce pain and inflammation, accelerate recovery and improve sleep. READ MORE: ‘I stopped looking at my phone after 9pm each night to see if I could get a good night's sleep' Over the past nine weeks I have undertaken a lifestyle overhaul, taking things back to basics by drinking at least two litres of water a day, and adopting new habits and regimes, ranging from quitting alcohol to switching off my phone after 9pm.

Alongside this, I’ve been eating more regular meals after letting this slide with a busy work schedule, plus incorporating exercise into my routine and spending more time outside.