How well do you know the body that you live with every single day?

​Bodies are seriously astounding and the more I learn about the body, the more fascinated I am. Did you know that your heart beats 100,000 times per day, pumping 5.5 litres per minute, which adds up to about 3 million litres of blood a year? Me neither, but isn't it interesting! And what about this one: without your little finger, your hand loses 50% of its strength. Really good to know, and I'll be testing this out in this week's classes!

By getting to know your body better, you can enjoy it more and it will serve you better. Perhaps you know already that chocolate makes your ears itch, that red wine gives you a headache, or that doing lots of stomach crunches hurts your neck - but are you really paying attention? If we really listen to our amazing bodies more, we can gain so much more than if we ignore them. Our bodies are here to last, so let's look after them!

​Find out more about your body with this quiz: http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/parts/human-body-quiz.htm. Tricky!

Do you remember when butter was evil and margarine was the saviour? Or when sunshine turned out to be quite good for you? There have always been fads and crazes in the health and well-being world and it can be tricky to keep up with them all, let alone question their validity. As someone who is really interested in this side of life, I have learnt to take everything with a rather hefty pinch of salt (which in itself turns out to have some benefits too!). I used to jump on the bandwagon with everyone else (Tae-Bo in my lounge in the 90s!), then I started to get confused: was I supposed to eat more fruit or would that rot my teeth/cause an alarming sugar imbalance/turn out to be the work of the devil? So I guess, as with everything, it's about finding a balance and working out what is best for you -​taking the sensible, measured option usually works out for the best. My diet and exercise routines and habits generally work for me, though there is room to add more or replace it with other things - it's not necessarily about joining the latest craze... Because crazes are usually short-lived and, just like margarine, they may turn out to be worse for you than the alternative.

​Here's a fitness fad as inspiration for you. Always makes me giggle! Another prancing Joanna!

It might be the effect of the Olympics, or that the weather has been pretty good, but there's a definite feeling of 'involvement' in the air at the moment. Reminds me of a great quote I found recently - it's been a while since I posted something pithy and inspirational, so here goes!​

There are so many people around who are what I call 'professional cynics' - they've seen it all before, nothing interests or excites them, and they are quite derisive about others' enthusiasm. I believe these sorts of people are missing out on so much, perhaps feeling that it's much easier to stand on the side-lines and sneer, rather than take a risk and get involved.

​So how about jumping in and seeing where it leads. Being part of the game might be more interesting and satisfying than merely watching it from beneath a frown.

I'm delighted and excited to be launching a new exercise class in September, to add to the Clean Well-Being repertoire. My intention was to create something that combines all my favourite disciplines and helps every part of the body and mind. Over the years, I've been to countless classes, watched so many fitness videos, read books and articles and thought about all the bits that I like and don't like - and they have all inspired me to create my style of exercise... which is why it's called 'Fusion'. It blends the best bits of things like yoga, Pilates, ballet and the Alexander Technique so that you get the best from all those worlds. I love the idea of combining all your favourite things and not sticking to just one style or way of being; it's liberating and novel and keeps things fresh.

​Check out the flyer, designed by my most creative friend Andrea Todd - isn't it a beauty! If you're interested in coming, let me know via the website or e-mail Joanna@cleanwellbeing.com.

Hand wash only, do not dry clean, wash similar colours separately... Just like clothes, we all have 'care instructions' - basic things that help us thrive, feel good and operate at an optimum level. If we ignore these instructions, we can expect dodgy results, just like if we were to wash a white shirt with red socks, or a wool jumper on a really high temperature.

​What does your label say? And do you take any notice of it? For me, it's all about getting enough sleep, consistently, and making sure that I have time to rest and to spend time away from work. For others, it might be to make sure you drink plenty of water, take enough exercise or eat more vegetables and fruit. And what about the 'Do Not...' instructions on your label? Do you recognise the effects if you do these things? As ever, it's really about balance: making sure you do enough of the essential care instructions so that you can live the life you would like.