Releasing, like relaxing can be hard for a person who likes to be in control of their busy life. But releasing is just as important as some well deserved rest and relaxation. However, during exercise, we tend to focus on the contraction.

When we weight lift, we think more about flexing the bicep and bringing the weight up. We don’t consider gliding the weight slowly back down to the starting position, but it’s just as important and challenges the muscle in a different way. In Pilates we all tighten our shoulders and neck to help us struggle through a difficult exercise. Releasing those muscles is tough, almost as tough as doing the exercise itself. In fact, the exercise gets more difficult when the muscles are relaxed. So often we push ourselves to do an exercise improperly instead of working at what appears to be an easier level, but challenges the muscles more.

Yesterday I took a Pilates class where my instructor asked me to contract my left hamstring. No problem. My leg was bent and she said I would be able to feel a little tap on my kneecap. […]

Throughout the year we have days like Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Birthdays where part of the festivities include getting together to eat. Eating is a social activity. The problem comes the day after, when we feel agitated with ourselves for overeating, especially if we’ve been doing well on a healthy lifestyle.

There is no reason to get agitated. Days geared to eating are never going away. Instead of getting agitated, try some tactics that might help you feel better about a day of hamburgers, hot dogs, condiments, brownies, cookies, and chips.

First, get up and move. Either try to get some folks to go for a walk between the grilled food and the desserts, or, if there is a game of volley ball or basketball, partake. Who cares if you’re terrible at the sport or only the kids are playing. Go play with the kids. You’ll feel better just for having moved around.

Second, don’t starve yourself until you get to the party, but do consider a low calorie breakfast since you are probably going to be consuming foods […]

Try not to get discouraged when you feel like you’re not improving on an exercise.

The challenges you’re feeling might stem from your body type. Certain body types may discover that a particular exercise is always going to be a challenge. Modifications might help as you try different ways to progress, but it may never be a piece of cake.

Or, perhaps you are actually getting better. There’s a new thought. Sometimes exercises don’t seem to get easier because you are pulling your belly button to your spine more consistently or you hold your pelvic placement better. Or maybe you’ve started breathing properly. Just like you don’t noticed the nuanced changes in someone you live with, you might not notice the subtle changes your body undergoes in Pilates. That means your are improving and getting better at the exercise, it’s just harder to see.

If you ever feel discouraged focus on the positive. Has a different exercise gotten easier? Are you making progress on the Roll Up or the Teaser? Or maybe you can’t name an exercise you feel you’re superb at yet, but you […]

Yes you can! Pilates does build muscle, but there are so many different exercises that you don’t have to repeat the exact workout two days in a row. Pilates is varied and that helps keep your body safe for regular workouts.

The exercises are so gentle on you joints while helping you focus on your breath and lengthening your muscles. Stretching every day is very important for the body, and you get that in Pilates. Taking time every day to take deep breaths is not only good for your muscles, but also good for your brain. So Pilates is a great daily exercise choice. But you also don’t have to do an hour workout everyday (although that’s great if you have the time).

Once you’re comfortable with the exercises, try taking classes from different instructors to change it up or rent a couple different DVD’s from your town library and keep your Pilates classes fresh and new.

If you regularly do Pilates, you know that there is a lot to think about when doing each exercise. You have to keep your shoulders back and down. You need to remain in a neutral spine without cramming your back into the mat. Keep your neck relaxed. Pull that belly button to your spine. Engage the kegel. Oh, yes, and don’t forget to breath–into the sides of your rib cage.

It’s a lot to focus on for what could be a basic crunch, but there is a method to the madness. The purpose of taking time every day or every week to focus on aligning your body and working your muscles evenly helps create a balanced body. The hope is that when you focus on all these points in class, you’ll start thinking about your posture in daily life. Before you know it, you won’t have to think about pulling your belly button to your spine. You’ll just do it.

The goal is to think about your body, use your mind to control the muscles, and learn to have a well balanced body. You wind up […]