pilates

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Like Our Blog?Maggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:57-04:00

Spread Eagle

I don’t just teach pilates, I do it too. I take private classes once a week, usually give myself a 45-minute to an hour class at least once a week, and try to do 10-30 minutes of pilates the rest of the days. I do other types of workouts too because I love and believe in variety, but I look forward to my private class every week.

It’s when I know that I’m going to get to completely practice on my body. I think it makes me a better teacher, and I love getting to be a student.

I also love the iphone because it enables my instructor to take pictures of me and prove that I do pilates, especially when I’m doing something fairly cool like this: The Spread Eagle in the Fuzzy Hanging Straps.

Spread EagleMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:57-04:00

Bikram Yoga: Part Two

Heather was wise, she got there early and set us up near the door. The instructor seemed nice enough and told me that my only goal was to stay in the room for the full 90-minute class even if I didn’t do any of the poses. In Bikram Yoga you do 26 poses and two different breathing exercises and repeat everything twice. Her attempt at calming me didn’t really help because what I’d really wanted to hear her say was that it would be okay to leave if I felt uncomfortable at any point.

Another woman told me that she hated it her first time and then she came back and loved it. Then she looked at me and said, “But you look pretty fit. You’ll be fine.” I appreciate the comment, but it’s simply not true. I’m fit, but that doesn’t mean that without proper training I can run a marathon or ski or toboggan in the Olympics without killing myself. It’s an assumption people often make. I remember when I was younger and was a reasonably good field hockey player people used to be surprised to discover that […]

Bikram Yoga: Part TwoMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:57-04:00

Bikram Yoga: Part One

Last Sunday, the morning it snowed about three inches, I tried Bikram Yoga for the first time. I was really nervous. I can only stay in a sauna or steam room for about 10-minutes and then I usually get a sudden urge to leave. The urge doesn’t creep up on me. I need out of the hot space immediately.

I never really wanted to try Bikram Yoga because I heard that they frown on you leaving, so I basically assumed I would hate it. But a lot of my clients ask me what I think of it, and I feel inappropriate saying that it didn’t seem good to me when I’d never done it.

Heather who teaches our Bloomfield classes and subs has done Bikram Yoga, so she agreed to go with me—this was a few weeks ago. We made a plan to go to a morning class on a Sunday in Glastonbury at Bikram Yoga. I didn’t set my alarm because I’m normally up by 6am at the latest and the class wasn’t until 8, […]

Bikram Yoga: Part OneMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:57-04:00

Wait A Minute! I’m not sore!!!

Today’s post is a reminder that you don’t have to feel sore after a workout. You can be getting stronger and healthier whether you feel delayed onset muscle soreness or not (DOMS—the muscle pain you feel 12-48 hours after exercise). This Today Show video discusses the DOMS myth and other fitness myths. It’s a great summary.

I rarely feel sore after I do pilates (and when I do feel sore it usually comes after I do a beginner workout). I’m rarely sore, but I am strong and I get better and better at the exercises. Sometimes I take a few steps back, but generally speaking I see improvement.

So the question you should be asking, is not Am I getting sore? But, Am I getting Strong?

Wait A Minute! I’m not sore!!!Maggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:51-04:00