I like to constantly remind my clients to pull their belly button to their spine. I challenge clients to come up with new locations to practice engaging the core muscles. A few weeks ago, after reminding a class to think about new places to pull the navel to spine, one of my clients kiddingly said, “Oh, Maggie. We never stop pulling our belly button to our spine.” We had a good laugh. I told her how she had made my day, which she had.

It is perhaps unrealistic to actually engage a muscle all day. Our minds have to focus on too many other things, but I do think a “Never Stop” motto might be a good philosophy when it comes to exercise. I have a kick boxing instructor who repeats–to the rhythm of us punching the air–“Exercise all your life.”

On those days when you’re struggling to get up or finding it difficult to fit in your regular Pilates class, just repeat the words “Never Stop” or “Exercise All Your Life.” Try to let them motivate you. Exercising is so good for you body and it enlivens […]

Now is the time that our summer sessions are starting up in various towns across the state. That means there are a number of people trying Pilates for the first time. This is wonderful, of course, but often newcomers to Pilates can feel a bit frustrated. Some of the exercises seem awkward at first, the breathing is hard and unusual, and engaging your belly button and kegel for a full hour seems like a near impossibility. There is a method to Joseph Pilate’s madness, and with practice all the exercises become easier and easier.

It’s important to try not to get frustrated. Pilates is very unique and beneficial. No matter what kind of shape you are in or exercise regime you are used to, when you start something new your body will feel it rather intensely. You may work out on an elliptical everyday of the week and be in superb shape, but that doesn’t mean if you go for a run the jaunt will be a piece of cake. In fact, you’re likely to be pretty sore from using different muscles and potentially pretty winded.

Different types of exercise […]

Summertime is my favorite time to enjoy the outdoors. There is so much you can enjoy in the state of Connecticut without wasting a lot of money on gas. Check out my article about fun ways to enjoy the state this summer. Most of them involve getting up and moving, so you’ll be getting a little exercise in at the same time.

This link will bring you to the article:

http://connecticut.metromix.com/events/article/take-a-staycation/478370/content

One of my favorite exercises is the Roll Over. That is the exercise where you keep your head and shoulders on the ground and bring our feet over your head to touch the floor above you, curling your gluts and back off the floor. It is a challenging exercise and you can make it harder by keeping your hands over your head instead of down at your sides. I used to be able to do this exercise. It took practice, but I got there.

Over my vacation last week, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it with my arms over head and I was struggling with it with my arms at my sides–and I’m a Pilates instructor. It was really frustrating, but I realized I hadn’t practiced it in a while. It was my own fault. I attend regular Pilates classes and practice by myself at home, but I hadn’t opted to do a Roll Over and out of all the exercises to choose from my instructors hadn’t happened to select it in a while.

I have no doubt that if I practice it, I’ll be able to […]