body – Page 12 – Personal Euphoria: Pilates & Fitness Classes in CT

Cellulite

Who wants to admit they have cellulite? I certainly don’t (want to admit it that is). And is it bad that when I read I that 85% of postpubertal women have some level of cellulite I felt relief?

No, it’s not bad. It’s normal. Who wants to feel like the only person with something nobody likes and nobody wants? It’s like getting stuck with the hot potato. So, I have cellulite. I’m not proud of it or about to start shouting it from rooftops. (I’ll just post it on the Internet.) And while I’d love to be the 15% without it, I’m just glad to discover I’m not one of the few.

So if you have cellulite try to find some comfort in knowing that most of us do. You’re not the only one.

CelluliteMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:12-04:00

Sore

I am one of those people that likes to feel sore after a workout. I’ve read the research and I know that you don’t have to feel sore to have gotten a good workout–and I believe that. Still, I actually enjoy the feeling of my muscles aching (a little) when I move.

Since I joined a Dragon Boat team in Hartford, Connecticut, I’m getting plenty sore. I’m using muscles I’ve always used, but in a totally different way. It would be easier for me to list what doesn’t hurt in my body (my toes), but I’m so impressed by feeling every muscle that I’m […]

SoreMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:13-04:00

Grandparents Teach Kids

I was very lucky growing up. I knew all my grandparents and two of my great-grandparents. My Dad’s parents lived less than a mile away and were my day care providers before and after school. I could write multiple blog about what I learned from them, but what they didn’t realize they were teaching me was my concept of age.

My grandparents (excluding one who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis) were all healthy active, adults. My 95-year-old great grandma was still bowling six months before she died. My grandpa and dad took us skiing and sailing when we were kids. Two months ago my grandparents (89 and 83 years old) flew to New Orleans to take a cruise. A few years ago they went to England and Ireland.

Sure, some of this is clearly good genes, but they also made choices that kept them mobile. They enjoy life and take advantage of fun opportunities.

I think seeing this was important to my upbringing because I never thought of as sixty as old–my grandparents just didn’t seem like old people. I wasn’t the kind of kid that thought […]

Grandparents Teach KidsMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:13-04:00

Don’t Be Afraid

Pilates can be confusing and awkward both for the new participant and someone who may be familiar with Pilates but is learning something new. However, if you start a new exercise nervous and afraid of doing it wrong, you start the exercise with your whole body tense. That won’t help.

So I know it’s hard sometimes to relax, but next time you learn a new exercise (whether Pilates based or something else) just try not to worry about whether or not you’re doing it right. Let your body feel how it feels. It will feel different in your body–no one has the same experience or the same body. By noticing what it feels like, you’ll learn how to do it right.

To this day there are some exercises I struggle to do perfectly. But it’s okay. It’s not about doing every exercise right. It’s about learning about your body and working to the best of your ability that day.

Plus, the only person watching you do the exercises is your instructor and I can guarantee they were once in the same boat too.

Don’t Be AfraidMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:14-04:00

Stretching Facts

Pilates incorporates stretching during the exercises, but unlike yoga we don’t sit and hold a stretch for a long period of time. Holding a stretch can be helpful, so if you’re taking Pilates and you’d like to stretch more at home, here are some insights about stretching that can help you stretch most effectively:

A stretch is most effective when held 15 to 30 seconds. Research suggests that holding for a longer period does not increase results.
A stretch should be repeated 2 to 4 times for best results.
People should stretch a MINIMUM of 2 to 3 days per week, but stretching everyday is not necessarily a bad option.
While there are lots of different types of stretching, all forms have been show to be effective.

Stretching FactsMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:35:24-04:00