Probably true, as right now my hip flexes are screaming at me about my days spent sitting at a laptop. I was also lured by the fact the class is in a not-officially-open-yet members wellness club, the gym being surrounded by a wrap-around wine cellar. I guess that is what is called motivation. From a background of luxury property and fashion, Anna suffered a spinal leak over a decade ago which made her completely rethink wellness and the power of the mind.
After three failed operations, she used a series of visualisation and healing techniques and, when the fourth operation was a success, it led her to retrain as a hypnotherapist specialising in RTT Rapid Transformational Therapy. I nod and try to look as elegant as I can while squeezing a rubber ring between my thighs and pumping my hips at the ceiling. The new phenomenon of the wellness industry intrigues me, but I work in wine and many health zealots would see that as incompatible.
Isolation is one of the most harmful things for humans and wine is a social tool. We open the wine on the cosy cream sofa of her Chelsea clinic, and it is all the comfort my aching limbs need with its smooth, generously plump, red berry notes.
I wonder who else has sat here, having heard rumours of certain celebrities being fans. A bold statement, but given her reputation, potentially true. I leave feeling uplifted in body pilates , mind therapy and spirit wine and am happy to learn that Anna had enjoyed my choice so much, she bought six bottles from Naked Wines herself that evening. Moderation in all things, but a case just in case. It was a Sunday lunch and the chill was biting in the air so I wanted to make something properly comforting, that would warm my guests from the inside out.
I rubbed some sea salt on a beautiful piece of beef from my local independent butcher, Chadwicks and seared it in the pan before roasting it for three hours on a low degree heat in the oven.
