Thanks - we do hamstring strecthes at pilates which i find difficult so i may be overdoing it. The instructor is a physiotherapist so i'll see if i can have a word in between classes about it. The poo picking i tend to crouch down as i can't bend over from the waist due to my back. I do have to push up to stand each time so that may not help but i've been doing it for a long time without problems before.