We tend to idolize historic figures. In a similar way, we admire exercise enthusiasts, assuming they have the body we want because they never overeat and never skip out on a day of exercise. Maybe this is true for some people. Jack LaLanne may be one of those people–everything in moderation. And perhaps he can keep to his motto, but even Olympic runners admit to not wanting to get up and run some days. Sometimes it take a lot of effort.

I think it is important to remember what might be considered imperfections in people when we look at them as an example or way of life. No one is always what they seem, and people can often become immortalized and perfected after their death. Joseph Pilates is one of those people. According to individuals who studied directly under him he smoked cigars daily, drank his fair share of whiskey, had a glass eye, and his tattoos are visible in pictures. This seems more like an example of Popeye than a man who created exercises that are now being recognized by doctors and physical therapists.

Joseph Pilates had characteristics that we could considered flawed. He wasn’t perfect, but he was passionate. He […]

Once some people have gotten used to exercising it can actually be hard to stop. We’re all afraid of losing progress or perhaps not getting back into the swing of things. However, if you’ve injured yourself either through life or some type of fitness activity or if you’ve undergone a surgery, you need to let your body recoup before jumping back into the swing of things.

In the long run, your body will be better off. It will be stronger, especially if you follow the advice and exercises provided by a physical therapist. If you are someone who exercises, generally, you not only recoup faster, but when you return to exercise you rebuild faster. It’s not like starting from square one again, although it may feel that way in the beginning.

So give your body time and trust that you will get back there.

In Pilates we do different exercises every class. Exercises like the 100 are nearly never skipped, but the repertoire is so varied we have the luxury to mix it up on a daily basis. We can also do exercises in a different order. We can start with the leg series or the ab series.

It’s important to change your routine when you exercise because your muscles can memorize an exact routine. So, you know you’re getting variety when you come to a Personal Euphoria Pilates class, but are you creating variety in your exercises outside of class? If you lift weights and you always complete the exercises in a certain order, try doing them in reverse one day. If you run for a bit and then bike, try to bike and then run.

If you like to run, try speed walking one day. You’ll have a whole different set of muscles aching by the next day.

Finding a routine that you like and will stick to is most important, of course. But sometimes it can be fun to add a little variety. Don’t get discouraged. […]

Sometimes you wake up in the morning or you get home from work and you just don’t want to have to exercise. You feel too busy or too tired. We can come up with a million excuses, but we really don’t need any. We’re just dealing with ourselves here, right?

Yes and No. Sometimes other people can be our inspiration–we want to be healthy and be around a long time for our children or grandchildren. Sometimes our inspiration is fueled fully by self interest–we want to stay active or we want to reduce a health problem.

People get incentivized to work out by many things in life, but there are ways to create your own inspiration too. Plan to meet with a friend on a regular basis. Meet at the gym and get machines next to each other or go for a walk and use it as a time to catch up on the week. You can think of it as time with friends instead of time for exercise. Plus, then you have a plan that you’re less likely to skip out on.

Put a […]

When it’s hot and sticky most people find it difficult to sleep. That’s a problem when sleep is proven to be both physically and mentally beneficial. Even Joseph Pilates thought sleep was imperative. He also believed we didn’t get a very good night’s sleep because mattresses were poorly designed.

Pilates designed a mattress in the shape of a V. He thought this was the best position for sleeping. If you’re having trouble picturing it, the center of the mattress sunk down like the base of a V and the sides were elevated, like the two top points of the letter V. Look at the letter V on the screen. That would be a view of a Pilates mattress from the foot of the bed, not a bird’s eye view.

Since the Pilates’ bed never took off, we are stuck with our air, water, foam, or regular spring coil beds. So what can we do to keep comfortable? It is easier to sleep when it’s cool, so try and keep the room at a lower temperature. If you don’t have air conditioning, try this trick. Close all the […]