‘Pilates’ Archives

Dude… Lose the Gut

posted on November 30th, 2011, by Suzy. Comments Off posted so far.

Men, start using the natural corset you were born with: the transversus abdominis.  It’s the horizontal layer of muscle beneath your six-pack, and it can make your waist smaller. Consider Pilates as part of your regimen and increase strength, endurance, agility and power. Pilates works both your transversus abdominis (for a smaller waist) and your rectus abdominis (for bigger abs).

Is Pilates for men different than Pilates for women? Men have different physical structures than women but require the same benefits of regular exercise. Pilates has been falsely identified as a “women only” exercise. People forget that Pilates was created by a man for men.  Joseph Pilates was a hard-core German who developed the method to rehabilitate injured soldiers on the Isle of Man. The first practitioners of Pilates were soldiers, boxers, and athletes.

If your belly is rounder than it ought to be, try these lean tactics in addition to Pilates:

Eat Lean. You want a flat stomach? Watch what goes into it. We’re not suggesting that you live on alfalfa sprouts and granola. Most guys can get away with making little changes in their diet like cutting down on fatty toppings and cutting back on cheese and red meat.

Exercise Aerobically. Cycling, rowing, running, whatever — it’s your call. Anything that gets your heart pumping will burn away blubber.

Relax. When stress hits, one of the first things your body does is crank up its production of adrenaline. This causes fat cells from all over your body to release their stored fat into your bloodstream, so you can burn it and use the calories to fight or take flight.  But your stress is probably caused by your boss, your kids or the IRS, so all that newly-released fat goes unused. What happens next, experts believe, is that the fat is taken out of the bloodstream again — only this time it’s stored preferentially around your belly. So do whatever you can to de-stress. Take up a hobby that will help you unwind. Take time at some point in your day to stretch and breathe deeply.

All men will benefit from more stretching to increase mobility, core strengthening for stronger backs, and exercise that is gentle on their joints. Pilates can provide all these things as well as improve posture, flexibility and coordination.

Give us a call to schedule your first session to see how Pilates can help you!

Photos: Ryan Abel, myyogaonline

Enhanced by Zemanta

filed under Healthy Living, Men's Health, Pilates.

Comments Off posted so far.

Cross Train With Pilates

posted on October 26th, 2011, by Suzy. Comments Off posted so far.

There are several great reasons to add Pilates to your cross training routine.  A few:

Pilates exercises are oriented toward FUNCTIONAL FITNESS, meaning that Pilates teaches you to move more efficiently in general, thereby enhancing performance and reducing risk of injury in other activities.

Cross training adds sustaining VARIETY to your workout routine. Cross training that combines strength training with cardio is the best way to get in TIP TOP SHAPE.

The Pilates method is founded on core strength.  Pilates mat and equipment exercises strengthen not just the outer muscles of the torso, but also the deep inner stabilizing muscles of the pelvis, abdomen, and back- the core muscles.  Core strength supports the back and neck, giving us healthy posture and freeing the joints to allow a natural flexibility of the limbs. This kind of strength and flexibility training translates well into all kinds cross training activities.

Pilates develops long, lean muscles. Pilates resistance training is enough to give you functional power, help build bone, and burn more calories (because muscle is a calorie burner) AND will help you perform your weight training routine with better alignment, greater range of motion, and integrative focus.

By practicing Pilates, you’ll improve the quality of your fitness, reduce your risk for overuse injuries and improve all of your fitness endeavors.  Pilates cross trains well with anything.  But because of the extra health benefits of cardio training such as strengthening the heart and lungs, stress reduction, and increased energy levels, we suggest cross training Pilates with cardio exercises.  This is especially true if you are interested in weight loss.

Cross training is really just combining exercise types.  For beginners, cardio and strength training are best done on different days. That way you won’t wear out and your muscles get a chance to rest and repair, which is how you build strength and endurance.  It is also a good idea to alternate the exercise intensity levels in your weekly routine.  An every-other-day cardio then strength program with alternating heavy and light workouts is a good choice as people often underestimate the exertion level of Pilates and often find it too much to do a full Pilates class and cardio on the same day.  As you begin cross training, stick with alternate days or do a very light Pilates workout on a cardio day.

We are here to help you map out or maintain your cross training goals. Give us a call to schedule an appointment and see how Pilates can help improve your cross training routine.

Photo: FitnessOrlando

Related articles

Enhanced by Zemanta

filed under Pilates.

Comments Off posted so far.

Fall Fitness Programs: Pilates

posted on September 16th, 2011, by SusanW. Comments Off posted so far.

Don’t wait for the New Year to start a new exercise routine! Fall is a great time to re-commit to your fitness goals. Let Baudry Therapy Center help you get in shape with Pilates.

Pilates Training:

Pilates training promotes strength, balance, and flexibility to transform how you look. Our Pilates instructors Donna Brown, Kathy Koehl, and Suzy Lamore give you just what you need to get that long lean body. Our studio provides a relaxed yet motivating environment to help you look and feel great! Pilates training is offered as individual, or group sessions, and includes both mat and apparatus work.

Individual:

Special Starter package (30% off): 3 sessions for $150

10 session package: $630

Group sessions (2-3 students):

10 session package: $350

Group sessions will begin the last week of September.

For more information, contact our office.

filed under Fall Fitness Programs, Pilates.

Comments Off posted so far.

Burn Calories, Lose Weight with Pilates Training

posted on August 17th, 2011, by Suzy. Comments Off posted so far.

You need cardio to keep your heart healthy. You can get a great calorie burn while you’re on the trail, the stepper, the treadmill or the bike. The second you finish your cardio workout, you stop burning calories. However, after you complete your Pilates training, you CONTINUE burning calories! It’s that simple. ALL exercise is good, and our bodies need both cardio and strength training, but real results require certain strategies.

Numerous studies show that resistance training such as Pilates core work trumps cardio each and every time when it comes to burning calories.

What is Pilates?

Developed in the early 1900‘s by Joseph Pilates, the method consists of hundreds of exercises that initiate from the muscles of the core (mid-section) and flow together in a precise manner, concentrating on centering, control and breathing. Pilates focuses on strengthening the body’s core with mindful exercises that tone and stretch the entire body.  Whether it’s with mat work or with any Pilates apparatus (Reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair), you are resistance training either with the weight of your own body or against the springs of the apparatus.  You will increase flexibility and improve posture, balance and coordination.  It’s a body conditioning method that is enjoyed by all ages and fitness levels and has numerous benefits, including:

  • ENHANCED quality of movement equating to better endurance.
  • IMPROVED muscle strength resulting in balance and speed.
  • BETTER posture, as a strong core is needed to support a healthy & supple spine.
  • INCREASED functional movement with more motion in your shoulders, mid-section and legs.
  • MORE EFFICIENT lung capacity when performed with controlled breathing patterns.

The Pilates method is rejuvenating, restorative and invigorating.  It’s an equal balance of stretching and strengthening.  The core holds the body in alignment and allows the extremities to move in a more efficient and effective manner.  Pilates helps increase core strength and stabilization by creating simultaneous demands for strength and flexibility.  The body moves the way it was designed to move!

Why Pilates Training?

Pilates training is resistance training and gives you a metabolic spike for an hour after a workout because your body is trying hard to help your muscles recover.  That means you’ll burn an additional 25 percent of the calories you just used during your resistance session.  So if you burned 200 calories during resistance training, it’s really closer to 250 overall.

And there’s more good news when it comes to resistance training’s benefits:  for every 3 pounds of muscle you build, you’ll burn an extra 120 calories a day (at rest) because muscle takes more energy to sustain.

Join Us!

Come see what the buzz is about and learn how to burn calories more efficiently.  Our new client introductory special offers 3 private sessions at over a 25% discount (compared to purchasing single sessions).  Give us a call to schedule your appointment.

Author: Suzy Lamore

Image Credit: Jeff Daly

Enhanced by Zemanta

filed under Exercise, Pilates, Weight Loss.

Comments Off posted so far.

Pilates for the Body and Brain

posted on September 28th, 2010, by editor. Comments Off posted so far.

“Contrology is complete coordination of body, mind and spirit. Through Contrology you first purposefully acquire complete control of your own body and then through proper repetition of its exercises you gradually and progressively acquire that natural rhythm and coordination associated with all your mental and subconscious activities.” (Pilates 1945)

Above is a direct quote from Joseph Pilates explaining what he expected from the method that was later named after him, Pilates. Everyone agrees that we grow concerned about our physical limitations as the body ages. With age and decreased activity our neuromuscular connectivity becomes altered. By neuromuscular connectivity, we mean the brain to muscle connection which helps us coordinate movement and function.  We develop altered and ineffective movement patterns, which often lead to pain and dysfunction. Pilates is a method of training that, through it’s focus on postural stability and alignment, can stimulate and re-program our system to improve quality of movement.

By connecting the brain to the body as we move it, conscious movement gradually becomes automatic or subconscious. This is sometimes referred to as motor learning. For example, a slumped posture might feel normal due to the years and years of poor sitting habits. As we initially correct the slump by bringing an awareness to it, it feels awkward and requires repeated reminders.  Over time however, the brain inputs the sit and stand TALL reminders into the body as a constant, and the body realizes the change. The culmination of this process results in the slumped posture beginning to feel abnormal, and the sit and stand TALL posture normal. It becomes no longer a conscious effort but a subconscious one, much like blinking the eye.

In a typical hour long Pilates session clients are continuously directed to focus and connect the brain to the body. The result of increased conscious and subconscious brain work facilitates a natural shift towards the desired effect.  At Baudry Therapy Center, we use a holistic approach to wellness, including comprehensive Pilates methods to improve  form and function for active movement.

By Kathy Koehl

Pilates Instructor at Baudry Therapy Center

strength, balance, motion…for fitness, for life

filed under Balance, Pilates.

Comments Off posted so far.