pilates

Gas in Class

Okay—it doesn’t matter how you say it: fart, pass gas, or pet (as my Grandma calls it), it’s potentially going to happen in a pilates class. Sometimes on exercises like Rolling-Like-A-Ball it’s an inevitability eventually.

But not to fret. You are not the only one who has done it, and quite honestly, if you keep quiet, usually no else can pinpoint exactly who did it. So, while I know it can be embarrassing, try to cut yourself some slack if and when it ever happens to you. No one is going to remember in about ten minutes—pilates keeps you too busy.

It is something to stop and ponder for a minutes because while farting during a pilates class could mean that you had beans and rice before class (always a mistake, by the way), it could also mean that instead of gently pulling your belly button towards your spine and pulling up and in on your pelvic floor muscles, you could just be attempting to clench everything—attempting to get more control, but actually getting less as revealed by the escape of some unexpected wind. Next time it happens, after the wave of embarrassment happens, just try to relax […]

Gas in ClassMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:55-04:00

Back Extension–My Favorite Pilates

My favorite exercises change now and again. Lately, I’ve been enjoying any exercise that involves back extension—excluding the breast stroke prep. I’m not sure I’ll ever fall in love with that one. The exercises that have been feeling especially good in my body are the spread eagle, rocking, the full breast stroke, and even just lying over an arc barrel.

I’ve also been especially fond of anything that involves bending sideways lately—the aptly named side bend (both on the mat and the Cadillac), and almost every version of the mermaid.

Back Extension–My Favorite PilatesMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:55-04:00

Are You Good At Pilates?

A couple times in classes last week people mentioned how well I do pilates. It is and isn’t true. Sure, I’m good at pilates and can do advanced exercises. I’d be somewhat delusional if I said otherwise, but let’s be realistic too, I chose this for my career. I hope I’m reasonably good at it.

(In this picture it looks like I could lift up from my bottom ribs some more, and I probably should knit my ribs because I’m popping my chest out too far.)

Now, here is something else to think about: Just like everyone else, I do the exercises in my own body. I often go to class and see some of my students, especially the ones who have been doing the exercises for years perform certain exercises better than I do. Sometimes our bodies are just made for a certain exercise. Take teaser for example. That is supposed to be one of the hardest exercises […]

Are You Good At Pilates?Maggie Downie2017-10-25T15:49:55-04:00

Guinea Pigs Do Pilates

Well I’ve been fascinated and sucked in by a lot of different research and statistics, but this new trend is one of the most unique. Check out this article by Pilates Pro about the benefits of pilates for guinea pigs. It sort of made me regret having tried guinea pig on my trip to Peru.

Guinea Pigs Do PilatesMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:56-04:00

Age Has Nothing To Do With It

Every once in a while someone will tell me that the reason I can do a particular pilates exercise is because I’m young. I think that’s a bit of a copout because usually the person who says it is also capable of doing the exercise or if they can’t do it yet but would be able to do it with practice.

I also don’t think age really comes into play when you’re talking about pilates. If someone said to me, “You were only able to run a marathon when you were twenty-five without training because you were young,” I would whole heartedly agree with them, but pilates is different. It has this brilliant way of making you see every exercise that challenges you and then gives you ways you can improve.

But we each improve in our own body and at our own rate. And life always throws new things as us, so as soon as we conquer one exercise we may find another more difficult. Or we may take two steps forward and one back on […]

Age Has Nothing To Do With ItMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:57-04:00