HOT TOPIC Local experts offer stellar advice on wedding dilemmas TIERS OF JOY We’re excited to plan our wedding cake; how soon should we book our supplier? Book your cake supplier as soon as you have a date and a venue booked – that’s all I need to secure your spot in my diary. We’ll have a full consultation around three months before the wedding to discuss design, size, and flavours to create your perfect cake! Typically, couples book 12 to 18 months in advance, but it all depends on availability. The sooner you book, the more likely you are to get your preferred date. Some couples only need a small, intimate cake for a wedding just a few months away, which is absolutely fine as long as the date is available. Peak season dates do tend to go quickly, but more and more couples are now choosing to get married outside of peak season, and I’m seeing more off-season orders than in previous years. The bottom line is, once your venue is booked, secure your key suppliers with a deposit – cake being important! Megan Fletchere | For Goodness Bakes www.forgoodnessbakesmeg.co.uk www.mattrokephotography.co.uk STRETCH TO PERFECTION My wedding is approaching, and I want to enjoy all the fun activities in the lead-up fully – but I’m struggling with lower back pain. What can you suggest? Yoga can help in a number of ways. It helps to lengthen and strengthen the spine, releasing lower back pain, while also improving flexibility and mobility – both of which support posture and spinal alignment. Gentle, mindful movements combined with conscious breathwork can reduce tension and the perception of pain. Here are some examples of stretches you can do in a 10-minute routine to help ease pain: •Cat-Cow: From a tabletop position (knees under hips, hands under shoulders), inhale into Cow Pose – lift sit bones, expand the belly, lift the chest, gaze forward and breathe into the compression in your lower back. Exhale into Cat Pose – tuck the tailbone, hug the navel in, arch through the upper back, and draw the chin to the chest. Move gently between Cat and Cow for up to two minutes. •Gate Pose Floss: From the tabletop, extend one leg to the side. Exhale and push the hips back, reaching arms forward. Inhale, engage your core and roll forward, bringing shoulders over wrists. Repeat for up to a minute, then switch sides. •Lizard Crawl: From the tabletop, step one foot forward into a L-shape, placing hands inside the front foot. Inhale and walk your hands toward the opposite leg (only as far as comfortable). Exhale and return. Continue for up to a minute, then switch sides. •Supine Twist: Lying on your back, hug your knees to your chest. Bring your left hand to the outside of your right leg and extend your right arm out. Gently roll to the left. If the twist is too intense, move your right hand to your hip or place a cushion under your knees. Hold for up to a minute, breathing deeply, then switch sides. •Reclined Elevated Hip Circles: Lie on your back with a cushion or bolster under your hips and lower back. Bring feet together, knees open into a diamond shape. Engage your core and gently circle the hips, then reverse. If that’s too intense, keep your knees together. Continue for up to a minute. •Legs Up Wall Variation: Still reclined with support under your hips, lift one leg at a time until both are elevated with a soft bend in the knees. Hold for a minute or longer, breathing deeply and allowing a sense of release through the lower back and hips. With lower back pain, avoid deep backbends and be cautious with deep twists and folds. These might feel good at first but can aggravate the issue if overdone. Always move mindfully, don’t push too far into stretches. Use cushions or blankets to make poses softer and more supportive. Sophia Drozd | Y4P | www.yogaforpainapp.com 66
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