Practice Pilates, and Stand Up for YOUrself
The Power of Pulling Source: https://www.shutterstock.com All we actually have is our body and its muscles that allow us to be under our own power. ~ Allegra Kent As much as we need to be able to push as far as a functional movement pattern goes, we also need the opposite action of a pull. Let’s […]
Happy, Healthy Hips Hinge Source: https://www.endurancephysio.net/news/2017/11/10/movement-mechanice-matter-exercise-highlight-hip-hinge “Lift with your hips, not your back honey.” – someone’s grandma? Continuing our series of functional fitness movements for an aging population – we have the hinge this month. What are Hinges? The hips are the axis of rotation where you bend forward at the hips while keeping your […]
Twist (and Shout!) Source: https://www.hola.com/estar-bien/20240828709581/ejercicio-pilates-spine-twist-beneficios/ Source: https://www.wikihow.fitness/Do-the-Corkscrew-in-Pilates You are only as young as your spine is flexible. If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old. If it is completely flexible at 60, you are young. ~ Joseph Pilates Continuing our series of functional fitness movements for an aging population – we have […]
To Lunge or Not To Lunge Source: https://en.ac-illust.com/clip-art/24941031/woman-doing-lunge-training “If you don’t make time for exercise, you’ll probably have to make time for illness” —Robin Sharma Continuing our series of functional fitness movements for an aging population – we have lunges this month. What is the Purpose of a Lunge? Lunging for balance is an awesome […]
Drop It Low, and Stand Back Up = Squats Copyright: Tamara Baleika | Dreamstime.com “Seniors that exercise regularly are less likely to depend on others … If self-reliance is a priority, exercise is one of the best ways to maintain independence for older adults.” —Senior Lifestyle In last month’s blog, we started talking about functional […]
Push-Ups – Hate ‘Em or Love ‘Em? Creator: solar22 | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: solar22 “When you’re younger, working out is a choice. When you’re older, working out is an absolute necessity. If you don’t keep moving when you’re over 50, you’re going to lose your life.” ~ Jane Fonda We are an aging population. […]
Take Pilates as a Daily Multi-Vitamin Images from Adaptive Bodywork – Biotensegrity and Movement Optimization When we practice Pilates, we are practicing tensegrity. This word is a portmanteau of “tension” and “integrity”. It is used most often in construction when describing a system of struts, bars, and beams that are held together by cables and […]
Chicken or Egg, Part 2: Strength or Flexibility? If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old. If it is completely flexible at 60, you are young. ~ Joseph Pilates Last month, I had a deep dive on the chicken/egg analogy of Stability or Mobility – which do you focus on first? There’s […]
Chicken or Egg, Part 1: Stability or Mobility? Pilates is gaining the mastery of your mind over the complete control over your body. ~ Joseph Pilates If I had to translate how Joseph Pilates defines Pilates into my own words, it would be: It is a mind-body connection that engages a full body workout. It’s […]
The Two-Way Stretch in Pilates Pilates, Joseph H. and Miller, William John. Photo of Joseph Pilates at 60 years young practicing the Double Leg Pull [Return to Life Through Contrology, originally published in 1945] One of the fundamental concepts of Pilates is the two-way stretch. Other terms you may have heard are oppositional reach, dynamic […]