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News.com.au
18 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Common pilates act that everyone is guilty of doing at some point
An Aussie pilates instructor has called out an all too common exercise act that most of us are guilty of. Adelle Petropoulos, 30, teaches pilates full time and does four classes a week. After a recent class, the Melbourne woman took to TikTok to rant about something she sees in the studio all the time. 'If this ever happens in your pilates class, just stop moving. You've done your class, everyone's worked their little tushies off. The instructor's put on harmonious music,' she said. 'Find your quiet, still space — that is not instructions for you to get up, take your straps off and start cleaning your reformer.' She said all that can be heard throughout the quiet time at the end of the class are the sounds of cleaning spray and noisy personal items being bundled up. Ms Petropoulos advised people to either leave before the quiet music, or don't come to the class at all as it interrupts others who choose to stay. Speaking to Ms Petropoulos said as an instructor her job is to create the best 45-minute experience for every person in the room. 'When people start packing up before class ends, it disrupts that shared energy. It sends a message — intentionally or not — that the last few minutes don't matter, when in fact, they're often the most important: the wind-down, the breath work, the integration. Those moments are where the magic happens,' she told 'It's not just about etiquette, it's about respect — for the practice, the instructor, and most importantly, for the people around you who are still trying to be present. Everyone deserves that full experience.' She said she understood that most people didn't mean any harm by it, as they're just busy, but it can be incredibly 'disruptive' and 'pulls others out of the moment'. Ms Petropoulos said most people agreed with what she said in the social media rant. Another action, from her perspective, that causes similar issues is using your phone in class. She mentioned that most people come in with a great energy and respect for the space. 'Just a reminder that we're all human — no one's perfect! But if we can all stay present, support each other, and treat the space with care, it makes a huge difference. Pilates is about more than movement — it's a shared community lead experience, and when we all show up fully, the energy in the room becomes something really special,' Ms Petropoulos said. Simon Ngo, from Flow Athletic, described Ms Petropoulos' video as 'spot on and accurate'. He said while leaving during the cool down portion of the class at Flow Athletic, due to the relative intensity of the classes, is quite rare it seems to be a fairly common occurrence in pilates in general. 'I just feel like it's a 'what a shame' moment. It's as though you've gone to the effort of checking out the dessert menu but not ordered anything,' he said. 'Or more accurately, like you've ordered the dessert, it's arrived and you've decided to leave.' He said people should stick around for that part of the class, as it's part of it for a reason. 'If you don't start a class without a warm up, why would you not finish with a cool down,' he said. 'Otherwise, a class would have been advertised 5 mins shorter. Plus, your instructors probably would have gone above and beyond to plan these Zen closing out moments. 'As much as people are time poor and, rather because of it, these few minutes of slowing down and reconnecting with ourselves are the stress-buster and self-care everyone needs in these of world of being busy today.' He said in 2025, securing a spot in a pilates class almost rivals getting into the housing market so, if you land a spot, 'stay for the full experience'.
News.com.au
41 minutes ago
- News.com.au
What's on in Darwin this long weekend: Rides, music, scones and a new mango matcha option
WHAT'S ON THIS WEEKEND Happy long weekend, my friends. It is, of course, show weekend at the Darwin Showgrounds, so if you haven't checked that out, the last day is today, and it is open until 10pm. If you're looking for music and musical theatre, there are plenty of options across town this weekend. Kicking it off, it's the Triple J Hottest 100 Australian Songs of All Time today. You can tune in wherever you are – and they're playing it at One Mile Brewery all day. You can catch two musical performances at Darwin Entertainment Centre tonight: The Wedding Singer Musical, and Kate Ceberano is also in town with her Australian Made tour. If discovering some new music is on the agenda, the Railway Club have Emily Lubitz releasing her debut album, 'Two Black Horses' tonight, too. The Waterfront is home to another cultural festival this weekend. And get ready to experience the colours, flavours, music, and magic of Bangladesh on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, catch Za Za Zoo, a blend of Soul, RnB, Blues, Funk, and HipHop at Flora's Temper in Nightcliff – I'm told Happy hour starts at 11.30am. And there may still be tickets to OCEAN with David Attenborough at the Deckchair Cinema for Sunday night, these will sell out, so get in quick. SOMEWHERE YOU NEED TO EAT I have two hot tips for you today: one food, one drink. Lucky you. I've talked about the Matcha trend before, but there's a new kid on the block, and it's very Territory. Have you tried a MANGO Matcha? Botanicool in Stuart Park have gone full Tropical (they're also a plant shop, so it makes sense) and their signature Matcha flavour is mango. It's sweet and delicious, highly recommend stopping in for a try. My other tip is for the long weekenders heading out to Litchfield: did you know you could get fresh scones from the Litchfield Tourist Park? It's the first caravan park on your right if you're heading back towards Batchelor from the waterfalls, and if you ask me, sitting out on their little cafe deck with some scones is the perfect way to enjoy the drive back to reality after a lovely night of nature and no phone service. I highly recommend. LOCALS TIP It's well and truly visitor season, and I am sure one of the most asked questions from visitors is 'where can we see a croc?'. There are, of course, the usual culprits, Crocosaurus Cove, Crocodylus Park, Jumping Crocs – but just because it doesn't have Crocodile in the name, don't discount the Corroboree Wetland Cruises for a great place to see a crocodile. I've seen my fair share of them, and I don't think I've ever seen one as big as the one I saw on this cruise. It's a very relaxing, very easy way to see them in their natural habitats, so if you've got time to drive the 1.5 hours each way, it's definitely worth making a trip of it and stopping into the Bark Hut, Corroboree Tavern or Humpty Doo Hotel for lunch.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Friend to dozens of Aussie celebrities reveals what he's been hiding
Reading the opening pages of celebrity journalist Jonathon Moran's first book, Mental as Anyone, two things hit you at once. First, you're taken through a who's who of the Australian entertainment industry - most of them counted as personal friends to the veteran reporter. From Guy Sebastian to Chelsea Bonner to Michael Clarke and Larry Emdur; the volume of people (almost all of whom Moran has written about in the past) who have come forward to endorse his efforts is striking. The second thing that hits you is how often these stars repeat two refrains: one, that 'J-Mo', as he is known in the biz, is one of the nicest people you'll ever come across, and two, that until reading the book, they had no idea the level of trauma he was dealing with personally. 'I think I've basically spent my whole life hiding parts of who I was,' reflects J-Mo. 'I mean, I spent my teenage years pretending to be a straight guy, having relationships with women.' The hiding stopped with the book, however, with the writer laying bare a 'warts and all' look at the sexuality, trauma, drug and alcohol and mental health struggles that have plagued (and nearly ended) his life. Australia is in the grips of a mental health crisis, and people are struggling to know who to turn to, especially our younger generations. Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, equipping Aussies with the skills needed to have the most important conversation of their life. From detailing the childhood sexual abuse he experienced as a schoolboy in Canberra, to severe depression, suicide attempts and hospitalisation, J-Mo shares his own story alongside helpful tips from psychologist Dr Jodie Lowinger. 'Society is only really now at a point where it is acceptable to talk about this kind of stuff,' says J-Mo. 'And still, some people dismiss the conversation as being 'woke' or in some way an exaggeration to get on the bandwagon - which is a really dangerous path to take, I think. 'The truth is that we have a mental health crisis globally that is beyond a crisis. It's absolute desperation, and I keep saying this, but the statistics are terrifying: nine people kill themselves a day in Australia, and seven of those are men.' Part of the reason, he believes, is simple: 'men don't talk'. 'The conversation has stopped at RUOK,' he says. 'And don't get me wrong, it's a great initiative, but people don't know how to take it any further than that.' It's an opinion also borne out by the research. New research conducted by News Corp's Growth Distillery with Medibank found almost half of Australians acknowledge they lacked the necessary tools or knowledge to effectively engage in conversation when approached by someone to discuss their mental health. In terms of initiating the conversation themselves, not wanting to be a burden to others is by far the biggest barrier that holds Australians back from talking about mental wellbeing - and something J-Mo admits has been part of his story at various stages in his life. In the book, he writes about being forced to come out to his mother and twin sister at 17, after his long-term abuser began threatening him with exposure in what he describes as 'a cat-and-mouse game he played constantly to keep me on my toes'. Opening up to the two most important people in his life had lasting protective impacts across J-Mo's life. As he has battled through incredibly dark periods, he credits his mum, while she was still alive, and now his twin sister and four nieces, with saving his life more than once. 'Without them I know I wouldn't be here,' he says plainly, 'because there have been times when I really, really didn't want to be. I didn't see any value in my own life, but even at my worst I knew that I couldn't put them through the pain and trauma of taking my own life. That's the honest truth.' There are other relationships that have helped him along the way, says J-Mo, and he is quick to point out that while he feels mostly mentally healthy these days, he understands that he isn't 'healed', and will always be 'a work in progress'. 'I have friends who have scooped me up off the floor,' he explains, 'and I mean that quite literally - friends who have picked me up when I was a mess and rallied around me in those moments when I didn't feel strong. But it's my sister I speak to multiple times a day. She and my nieces and brother-in-law are incredibly important to me.' There have even been moments of connection with celebrities that have stayed with him long after the interview ended - many of which he writes about in the book. 'There's a chapter in the book where I talk about a moment I had with the late Carrie Fisher, after which we became work friends,' he explains. 'I recognised in her the kind of fragility I had inside me, and I looked up to her as someone who had come through that trauma.' Also detailed in the book are J-Mo's myriad lighter moments with the stars he's written about - from an embarrassing story he told Madonna about a sexy fling and mistaken identity, to the time Robbie Williams pashed him on the red carpet. 'I've put it all in there,' says J-Mo. 'Everything. Because I know that the key to people being able to open up more about this stuff is vulnerability. He's also committed to providing a safe space for people in his life who might not be OK. 'I'm not a medical professional or anything, which is why I've collaborated with Dr Jodie Lowinger on the book, but for me, I think being open and true to yourself and the other person, as well as showing up with kindness and empathy, are key.' 'If I ask someone how they're doing and they come back with 'pretty average', I might feel a little taken aback by their honesty, but then I would say 'I'm sorry to hear that. I'm here if you need to talk, whenever that might be.' I think that's crucial - how you respond.' 'You know, I sound like I'm watching Ru Paul's Drag Race, where they show a picture of one of the stars as a little boy and they ask, 'what would you like to tell yourself?'' he chuckles. 'But the truth is that I would say this: 'you are going to be okay and that life is worth living. It sounds so cheesy, but that's the truth, because there were times where I didn't want to be here. And so I wish I was able to get into my head and tell myself that I was good enough.' 'The problem is that I am still dealing with that,' J-Mo continues. 'I'm not pretending I'm fixed. I'm not a fixed human, so I don't envisage that my mental health will be perfect in 20 years time, 30 years time, or 40 years time. But what I can tell you is that I want to live for another 20, 30, or 40 years, which is a big thing, because I spent the first 40 years of my life not wanting to live.'
