Pilates Articles
Body Basics - A Pilates Newsletter - Stable Body Points
Pilates Facts Can Do Anywhere - Pilates exercise is great for busy people, in
fact some routines only last for ten minutes, and these include the required daily Pilate exercises for a regular commitment to
the program.
Well Spring is here for sure and with it the return of those intentions to get more healthier, feel better, look better as the
short sleeves and skirts or shorts come out."I want to get rid of my tummy", is something I often hear and it is entirely
possible with Pilates, I see it happening in my clients all the time, dieting or doing aerobic type exercise or not. However, it
does happen quicker with a better food intake and getting out walking or running or doing something cardio. All these things work
and so does Pilates.
Here is the exercise hot tip of the month for your health and fitness. In movement or exercise there are three basic stable
points on the body to work around. The pelvis, the feet and the breastbone.
The feet are your grounding and contact. The contact points on the feet are below the 1st and 2nd toe in the space between and
underneath, known as the first ray. Also, the outside rear foot down by the heel. With these two points, the foot hits the ground
and they activate the whole body system up from there- especially for moving. If one or the other do not contact , certain
mechanisms and muscles in the body don't function well. Often it is the 1st ray connection that never meets the ground.
Then the pelvis where the core resides. The pelvis is the resting place for the body above and the legs below. The junction
point. It needs to be stable, neutral ( balanced and even) and have all its muscles and joints functioning well.
The last one is the breastbone and its opposite point on the back. A focus point for breathing and moving the arms and head.
Correcting its position on the body corrects muscle imbalance and often over extension of the chest or the rounded over chest and
corresponding over long or short muscles as a result.
Having these areas functioning correctly is a great stabilizer for the body and are points from which to work to strengthen,
tone , release tightness and gain flexibility. These are worked on in Pilates exercise.
Success
Here are the latest comments from some of my clients:
This is from a client whose posture I am working on as she tends to slouch: From your class last night , I felt 5" taller
today and someone said to me "Your're peppy today"
From client with a broken leg from skiing accident one month ago: " I feel like you are healing me. I feel so much better. My
body is moving more and I went to use my crutches and they were too short for me. Could it be possible you have lengthened out my
body already." ( This is after 3 one hour sessions) Your instruction is so good, I am learning things about my body that have
been a mystery to me and I am becoming aware of things every day.
Pilates Facts Stress Relief - Pilates is a great stress reliever. Exercise in
general is a great way to reduce stress but because Pilates is not an extraneous workout at all, and will give the mind the
chance to relax by focusing on the exercises without applying too much strain on you.
I can really feel my abdominals, they have never worked like that before.
Louise Forscher is a native New Zealander, trained as a certified instructor in dance in London at the Royal Academy of
Dancing and as a Pilates instructor at Long Beach Dance Conditioning.
For more information on Pilates see our website at http://www.pilates-exercise-and-equipment.com/
Hope this helps Yours Louise Forscher
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