The “Real” Benefits of Pilates

by Laurette Ryan

www.balancepointpilates.com

Pilates, as we’ve all seen numerous times, has a laundry list of benefits. They range from the physical to the emotional and mental and at times the spiritual. Pilates teachers will espouse the toned muscles -especially fantastic abs or six-pack you will get by doing pilates exercises. They will say you’ll be longer and leaner. You’ll be more mobile and flexible and strengthen your “core” . Teachers will tell you- you will improve neuro-muscular coordination, improve your concentration and reduce stress.

I am always rambling on to anyone who shows the least bit of interest in starting an exercise program all the amazing virtues of Pilates exercise, Joseph Pilates, Pilates history and the wonders of the fit & healthy lifestyle. At times, these slightly interested individuals seem to look at me with a face that says a. I’m sorry I brought it up, or b. how can I gracefully escape or c. wow, she is obsessed, the rumors are true!

However, personally, I am always impressed when I hear the benefits of training directly from my students. I know by heart the list of benefits, but when one of my students relates to me a story about how their exercise program has helped them in their daily lives, that’s when I feel fulfilled. Those stories spur me on,as a teacher, to keep preaching and teaching Pilates, health and fitness.

One of my favorite stories is about the ladies who went to Egypt,( they participate in one of my 50+ age groups). They came back from their amazing vacation and told me how excited they were, that they could swing their legs on up and get on a camel to ride of to a fancy dinner which was schedule for their tour group. Or the woman who went to China and had to use those restroom facilities which require you to straddle and squat , a feat she was sure would have been difficult, if not impossible, except for her dedication to attending our class. The gentleman who after attending Pilates for a year was able to kiss “The Blarney Stone”, he was a big guy and well over 6 feet tall. Real benefits here for middle-aged and older adults to help them to keep enjoying adventures in their lives.

I, also love to hear the stories, maybe less adventurous, but nonetheless priceless. The person who spent some time with her mother-in-law and had to keep lifting the relative’s wheel-chair in and out of her van. She was so thrilled to be able to do this and additionally to have no pain or soreness afterward.

The women who have bounced back with vigor after childbirth. The many individuals who have found recovery from accidents, surgeries and injuries to be not only completely possible , but easier .

Knowing the effects of their stories to inspire me, I asked one of my classes today to write down, what Pilates and exercise in general has done for them. Here are some of their responses.

“ Exercise helps alleviate the stiffness that comes with aging” and “able to do more gardening without the aches and pains. Feel good after class.”

Peggy writes “ am 8 mos. Post hip replacement, and starting this exercise class 2 mos .ago- definitely more flexible and strong. More importantly I feel empowered to restore wellness.”

Also- “recently, I stumbled and would have fallen, I’m sure, but was able to catch myself because of my “core” strengthened by regular exercise.”, Deanna.

I myself also have a real life story . Just last November, I returned home from the Pilates Method Alliance Convention very late at night. The next morning very early, I was half asleep wearing overly long fuzzy pajamas, I went to descend a stair case and on the top step…I went down….literally all the way down , one whole floor, on my back (luge style)- I was thrilled to not have broken any bones but was amazed that not only didn’t I have any bruises – I didn’t have any soreness, misalignments or discomfort of any kind! I have to attribute it to a flexible spine and strong core, all the result of regular Pilates practice.

So instead of a laundry list, here are some real life benefits. Keep moving – Do your Pilates today !

Laurette

Technorati Tags: core, exercise, Pilates, pilates exercises, pilates fitness, pilates mat, strength, Toning

Becoming a Pilates Teacher
by Laurette Ryan , Balancepoint Pilates
www.balancepointpilates.com

 My personal journey into the Pilates world starts in the dance studio many years ago. I was lucky to have a teacher who knew the Pilates exercises and used them as part of a proper warm-up. Even as a teen, I recognized the benefit of the training and continued to use them as my life progressed from dance-world to fitness-world through the 80’s and 90’s. At the time I had no idea there were teachers and instructors still teaching Joseph Pilates method, originally called “contrology” out there in the big world.
 I re-discovered the Pilates movement in 1999. I was already heavily involved in the fitness industry. I managed a major group Exercise Department at a large fitness facility, owned my own Exercise Studio, had a local cable fitness show and provide continuing education for fitness professionals. In 1999 something interesting happened, I was looking for something new to do, to keep my attention, when I happened upon a Jennifer Kreis video. I was in love with movement again. It resonated with me , it was so hard , yet so natural for me. I started a class and really didn’t care if I was the only one there. ( The beauty of being the one who creates the class schedule at a facility). This workout- worked! No other ab- routine had this quick effective result. I would know, in my 25 years of teaching , I’ve had 4 children !
 I found there were few training and /or certifying organizations at that time. Most teachers apprenticed under a master to learn the craft. I took a few “certifications” and then decided with my background in exercise science and dance as well as other movement modalities to create my own training program , so the teachers I would employ would share my view of Pilates ( and believe me -there are many diverse views on Pilates) . I also felt that the training program I taught would have to be one which could provide continuing education credits through a major fitness certification.
 Skipping ahead to today becoming a Pilates teacher has a more defined framework. This is a blessing as everyone does Pilates today and qualified teachers are important. Everyone can’t be taught by a master (original student of Joseph Pilates) so a relevant framework is necessary. These days a teacher goes through a comprehensive training program which should be designed to teach exercise science theory,the history of Pilates and his method, all apparatus and exercise repertoire, client screening and safety & liability. My feeling is all training programs should prepare the teacher to take the PMA Certification Exam. www.pilatesmethodalliance.org  The PMA test is great way for teachers to show they are qualified to the general public. I also feel the training doesn’t end there. Training to be a Pilates professional never, never ends.
 My personal opinion is also that training programs should focus on training professional teachers, not on the selling of Pilates products and equipment. In teaching teachers we should aim to create educated , intelligent , open minds  who are capable to choose the type of apparatus and props that help them best teach the work. Every time I have taken a seminar/workshop with a 1st generation teacher, I am always so inspired by how open to learning, exploring and growing they still are. My personal wish on my journey with Pilates work is that I end up just like that. Thank You Joe, Thank you, 1st generation!

For more information please click here

Technorati Tags: pilates exercises, pilates fitness, pilates mat, pilates reformer, pilates workout

Technorati Tags: pilates exercises, pilates fitness, pilates mat, pilates reformer, pilates workout

One of the biggest complaints I hear from new Pilates students is that their neck hurts when they are doing some of the exercises. And truly when I started learning Pilates, my neck was a weak link too!
Avoid Looking at the Ceiling during Sit-Ups and crunches to reduce neck strain. Instead, look at your abs to see that they are working well and pulling in towards your spine.
Whats the difference you might be asking there are so many fitness classes that you go to where the instructor constantly reminds you to keep looking at the ceiling while you’re doing your crunches and ab curls. And, yes that’s an option. But from a Pilates standpoint, here’s why I’m going to encourage you to change that habit and perhaps stop following that not-so-hot bit of advice for your neck.
Do you agree that when you’re standing with good posture, your head is nicely stacked over your shoulders, and you really don’t notice or feel much strain in your neck? That’s because its balanced and supported on your spine along with the help of gravity.
If you’re standing and you let your head fall off-balance in any direction, forward, backwards, or sideways, all of a sudden you’ll notice that your neck muscles have to work much harder against the weight of your head which is now basically falling off your spine! Can you feel the difference?
Now take that same thought process back to your Ab work! If you’re laying on the floor and do a small-range of motion curl up while you’re looking at the ceiling the weight of your head will be very noticeable, and while your abs may be working, chances are your chest and arms are doing quite a bit of the pulling to lift you up, your back is hinging more than curling, and there is a really good chance that you are leading the lift with your chin, which can shear the head forward off the neck creating even more neck pain and problems.
If you make the choice to look forward towards your belly when you begin a curl up, your back actually bends and stretches more to peel your head and shoulders up off the mat. The muscles that have to work while the back bends are the abs! And with your eyes focused on your abdominals, you can actually see if things are working!
Yes, there is a bit of neck strength involved here, but it is secondary to the huge amount of work going on in the abdominals. If your neck hurts, don’t do it. Find exercises to help you get stronger abs without the stress or strain on your neck. If your neck gets tired take a break. If your neck muscles are screaming at you while you’re doing sit-ups, roll-ups, crunches, or curls you wont really be able to focus on using your abs well and are probably starting to involve other muscles that shouldn’t be working anyway. So rest, move on to another exercise, and go back and do more when you’ve recovered enough to do them well with your eyes looking at your belly!
Aliesa George, Centerworks Health & Fitness
http://www.Centerworks.com/blog

Duration : 0:4:51

Technorati Tags: 6 pack abs, ab exercises, ab workouts, abdominal strength, matwork, neck pain, Pilates, pilates exercises, pilates fitness, sit ups, six pack abs

By Laurette Ryan

www.balancepointpilates.com

At least once a month, I am asked the question, “Should I do matwork or take lessons on the reformer?” Unfortunately there is no simple answer. First let me explain : Matwork is the Pilates exercise you do on the mat,using your body and gravity alone,the Reformer is a piece of Pilates equipment designed by Joseph Pilates consisting of a sliding/gliding carriage or mat, ropes or straps and various springs of different tension.

I try to explain that beginners through advanced students get important and yet different things from both of these. Many beginners feel the matwork must be easier and that’s the place to start. I think the idea is when you add a piece of equipment,it’s means you are adding resistance. Therefore the exercises are harder, as in calisthenics versus weight training. What most newbies don’t realize is that the reformer can actually help or assist you through the exercises. Exercises done on the reformer teach the body how to move correctly,how it should feel when done right. Students often have difficulty on the mat at first, because gravity is in fact, very hard to defy! The benefit to doing matwork as a beginner or newbie is that you don’t require special equipment, you may be able to join a group or class at a fraction of the cost of equipment lessons. You can do matwork at home alone, once you’ve mastered the moves-this is important and instruction at least a few times with a qualified teacher is key.

This makes matwork a very economical choice for the beginner. Though more individualized instruction leads to better results always. The other benefit to group matwork is the encouragement participants always seem to get from fellow students.

Now here’s the funny thing. Advanced students can be extremely challenged in a matwork class. These students have improved body awareness, strength and flexibility and put all that to use, during a class. I’m never surprised when a student realizes that those simple looking mat exercises have actually become harder and more intense as they have become more fit! It seems as though the stages a student goes through when taking mat class are these: first it’s hard-you have to think so much, then suddenly you feel like you “get it” the body gets the choreography. Then as the student realizes it’s so much more than just choreography. It’s mind, body, correct movement, correct breathing using the “true core”, suddenly matwork is tough,hard work. At this stage when the student is advanced the exercises on the equipment progressively become more difficult as well. With a physically fit Pilates body,the student can perform amazing exercises on the reformer. The exercises are very effective and when mastered are joyous,free movement of natural rhythm and precision.

Reformer lessons can be costly. Some places offer reformer groups or classes, the cost can be a little less but your instruction as to proper form and safety may be less as well. Again look for highly qualified instruction no matter what setting you are in. You can also purchase a reformer for home. The price range for these vary greatly. Having seen and experienced the gamut I can honestly say you will get what you pay for. If you are accustomed to a $3000.00 to $4000.00 reformer in the studio you take lessons in, you will probably be disappointed in the $300.00 model you buy for home. On the other hand if you haven’t trained on the higher end reformer then you will not mind and will be able to do most of the same exercises.

Whether you are beginner or advanced a good mix of both matwork and reformer is ideal. At various points during your progress you will see the benefit of both. If affordable several private lesson to begin with is the best start. If you can’t continue private instruction on a regular basis, I recommend a “tune-up” lesson once every four to six weeks, to help you progress as a Pilates student or teacher.

Remember always-Physical fitness is the first requisite of true happiness…..

Laurette Ryan

www.Balancepointpilates.com

Technorati Tags: Pilates Core, pilates exercises, pilates fitness, pilates mat, pilates reformer, pilates workout