Sunday, October 10, 2010
Pilates and Weight Loss
http://pilates.about.com/od/pilatesandweightloss/a/Fat-Burning-Workout-Programs-And-Pilates.htm
Have a great week my Healthy Pilates Body Girls!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
A different kind of post today!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Neck Pain
http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/fitness/h_Chin_Tucks.htm
Thursday, June 17, 2010
About Pilates
What is Pilates: The smart and efficient way to exercise.
Pilates is a method of exercise and physical movement designed to stretch, strengthen, tone, mobilize and balance the body. Through techniques originally created by Joseph Pilates you can restore your posture and increase core strength while improving bone density and joint health. Pilates is great for muscle stamina, mental clarity and overall health, wellness, and awareness.
Pilates: A short history.
Joseph Pilates was born in 1880 near Dusseldorf, Germany. As a child, he suffered from asthma, rheumatic fever and rickets. He overcame his limitations through exercise and bodybuilding. He later became accomplished in many sports, including skiing, diving and gymnastics. Pilates’ equipment was first invented when he worked as a nurse after the onset of WWI. He rigged springs to hospital beds enabling bedridden patients to exercise against resistance. This led to his later equipment designs, which are still used today in pilates studios. In 1926, Pilates immigrated to the United States. On his journey to the US, he met his wife Clara. They opened a fitness studio in New York and shared an address with the New York City Ballet.
How can Pilates help you?
Pilates, if done on a regular basis, has been found to be successful in the prevention of recurring back pain. After a while, poor postural habits that have been “ingrained” over many years begin to feel normal until pain sets in. This pain makes itself known in the form of back trouble, shoulder injuries, tension headaches, neck pain or knee injuries. No amount of undirected exercise will help since the “cheat mechanisms” are not addressed in most methods of exercises. Short muscles only get tighter and weak muscles only get weaker. Because these bad habits are created over time, it takes attentive dedication and determination to re-train the neurological pathways and create healthy habits. This is what pilates can do for you. Pilates can help retrain your muscles to work efficiently and correctly, strengthening your stabilizing muscles so that your mobilizing muscles can more efficiently and safely propel you into your daily life! As you move with this new found efficiency you will notice your balance, posture, flexibility and overall physical capability has improved.
Your session at Project Pilates will focus on; Relaxation, Concentration, Alignment, Breathing, Centering, Coordination, Flowing Movements, and Stamina. We, at Project Pilates are committed to creating workouts that facilitate the practice of the eight principles of pilates.
Why Relaxation, Concentration, Alignment, Breathing, Centering, Coordination, Flowing Movements and Stamina?
Relaxation
The starting point in a session, releasing unwanted tension from the body and leaving the worries of the day at the door — an hour to forget about your daily responsibilities and focus solely on yourself.
Concentration
Continual focus on the self, breath and the moving of your body as a whole will help you achieve your wellness goals. “Concentrate on the correct movements each time you do the exercise, lest you do them improperly and lose all the vital benefits of their value.” J.Pilates
Alignment
All parts of the body affect one another. By keeping joints in neutral, unnecessary biomechanical stress is avoided and “cheating mechanisms” are retrained by laying the foundation for new neurological pathways. These pathways can turn correct posture into habit.
Breathing
In order for the body to receive enough oxygen to perform the exercise, efficient breathing is necessary. Moving on the exhalation enables greater core stability through the hardest part of the exercise.
Centering
We will focus on balance of the body halves while awakening the core through continual concentration, release, strength, breath and awareness.
Coordination
Through breath, concentration, and repetition awkward difficult movements can become familiar exercises performed with ease. With time and practice your mind and body will synchronize and a sense of familiarity will be found within the movement. “The pilates method of body conditioning is gaining mastery of your mind over the complete control of your body” J.Pilates
Flowing Movements
Use of your natural breath during a pilates session will assist you in finding ease and flow throughout the movement. With each inhalation you prepare yourself to move and with each exhalation you move deeper into the exercise. When you have gained strength, confidence, and sense of ease within the exercises, the tempo of a session will increase to match your abilities.
Stamina
Energy will no longer be wasted on holding patterns from pain, stress, or inefficient movement. Pilates focus’ on muscle stamina which will help you maintain correct posture for longer periods of time. You will be able to sit taller, longer. The gained stamina will help you move efficiently for your chosen sport or activity by ensuring that the right muscles are strong enough to do the work.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Exercise and Osteoporosis by Michelle Aultman
About ten million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 34 million have low bone mass, (osteopenia). A disease without symptoms, osteoporosis affects about 20 percent of men and 80 % of women. Given that the bones gradually become weaker, they may break in a minor fall or, if left untreated, even from simple things like a sneeze. The commonest fracture sites can be hip, wrist and spine, although any bone in your body could be affected. A diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis may be scary, leading a number of people to stop exercise because of fear it will cause fractures. The reality is that people with low bone mass should make sure to exercise often. Being active is shown to not only aid the prevention of osteoporosis, but slow bone loss once it's already begun. Before beginning a workout program, you should talk to your doctor for guidelines, as level of bone loss determines what type of exercise is best. Physicians can assess bone mineral density and fracture risk by scanning your body using a special type of X-ray machine. In conjunction with exercise, treatment may include dietary modifications and/or estrogen replacement therapy. The more knowledge you get concerning this condition, the more you can do to help prevent its onset.
To create strength and bone mass, both weight-bearing and strength training work outs are ideal. Weight-bearing work outs are the ones that require the bones to fully support your weight against gravity. Examples are walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing or using an elliptical exercise machine. Non-weight bearing exercises include biking, swimming, water aerobics and rowing. Weight-bearing activities including walking as little as 3 times per week may benefit the bones. Strength training places mechanical force (stress) on our bodies, which increases bone density. Start by lifting light weights, moving in a slow and controlled manner, increasing resistance as you become stronger.
It is recommended that individuals with osteoporosis avoid the following kinds of activity:
* Step aerobics and high-impact activities for example running, jumping, tennis.
* Activities that involve rounding, bending and twisting of the spine.
* Moving the legs sideways or across the body, particularly when performed against resistance.
* Rowing machines, trampolines.
* Every movement that involves pulling on the head and neck.
Exercise Tips:
* Even if you don't have osteoporosis, you should check with your health care provider just before you start an exercise program.
* Be sure you warm-up before beginning and cool down at the end of each exercise session.
* To get the best benefit to your bone health, combine a number of different weight-bearing exercises.
* When you build strength, increase resistance, or weights, as an alternative to repetitions.
* Make sure to drink a lot of water whenever exercising.
* Vary the types of exercise that you do weekly.
* Combine weight bearing and resistance exercise with aerobic exercises to help you improve your overall health.
* Bring your friend along to help you keep going or in addition to this, bring your family and encourage them to be healthy.
* Add more work out to your day; take the stairs vs. the elevator, park further way, and walk to your co-worker's office rather than emailing.
Put LIVE into action!
L - Load or weight-bearing exercises make a difference to your bones
I - Intensity builds stronger bones.
V - Vary the types of exercise as well as your routine to keep interested.
E - Enjoy your exercises. Make exercise fun so you will continue into the future!
Certain factors raise the probability of developing osteoporosis. While a few of these risk factors are controllable, others won't be. Risk factors that may be controlled are: Sedentary lifestyle, excess intake of protein, sodium, caffeine and/or alcohol, smoking, calcium and Vitamin D deficiencies and taking certain medicines. Body size (small frame), gender, family history and ethnicity are risk factors that can't be controlled. Women can lose nearly 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years after menopause, which makes them more vulnerable to osteoporosis. It is never too soon to start thinking about bone mineral density. About 85-90 percent of adult bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls and 20 in boys.
Nutrition and Exercise for Healthy Bones in childhood and Adolescence
Much of the reserve of healthy bone is built in youth and before the age of 30. Women might be more susceptible to an inadequate foundation process at this time than men. Sufficient calcium intake,a balanced diet with a lot of vegetables and fruits and load-bearing exercise are the tips for solid bone growth when you're young. Then, with continued exercise into old age - and this benefits men too -- bone density decline could be kept to a minimum. Although women will be the main focus of data about osteoporosis and low bone density (osteopenia), some men are also seriously afflicted by this problem. In case you do all the right things while becoming an adult and into adulthood, your inherited characteristics - your genes - can present you with bones that are susceptible to osteoporosis. This is even greater reason to maximize your lifestyle to prevent poor bone health.
About the Author - Michelle Aultman writes for the elliptical workout blog, her personal hobby blog dedicated to suggestions to prevent osteoporosis through workout at home.
Author's note: The info provided on this document are designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician. Michelle Aultman has no business intent and does not accept direct source of advertising coming from health or pharmaceutical companies, doctors or clinics and websites. All content provided by her is based on her editorial view and it's not driven by an advertising and marketing purpose.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
What a week ~
I have been fighting a weird infection all week, but I am grateful that I can feel it coming to an end finally. It was a good lesson for me. I usually try to "work" past not feeling good and keep doing what I would normally do as a mommy, as a wife, as an instructor, as a cook, etc.....but this little bug forced me to stay down. But I am grateful to be sitting here thinking about all my wonderful friends and clients and what fun things we can get started on next week ~
I am the Queen of Gleaning. Gleaning great information that is! There are so many respectable and credible people out there with such great information. I love to pass this information on to all of you whenever I find anything of interest or importance.
I have a few of my clients ask me "What is the difference between Pilates and Yoga"? Well most of you know I have a deep love for both. I've done my best to "try" to explain the similarities and differences, but I think this article does a great job. If you have time, it's a great read.
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-90/Yoga-vs-Pilates.html
In addition, I would like to bring you each week a fun new "healthy" recipe to try. I know we are all trying our best to add healthy foods into our diets. It's not always easy when you are running around. And believe me ~ I AM NOT PREACHING. I can eat naughty with the best of them. But it's my goal to try to add one new healthy meal a week. This one looked kind of fun and yummy ~
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-439/Healthy-Recipe-Meyer-Lemon-Olive-Oil-Cake.htm
It's for a Lemon Cake and it looks delicious! I know Cole will love it ~ whether or not the other picky eaters in my house will give it a thumbs up is still to be seen. I'll let you all know.
As ALWAYS ~ I am so grateful to all of you for allowing me to do what I love more than anything. It's such a blessing to do what you love.
Have a fantastic rest of the week and weekend. As for me ~ I'm back to bed.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Pilates and Nutrition
I enjoyed this article and found it really informative. As a nurse, I found this gentleman very credible. I hope you enjoy it.
http://www.fitsugar.com/Interview-Celebrity-Trainer-Harley-Pasternak-About-5-Factor-World-Diet-Healthy-Food-Tips-7808025
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Love the Progress ~
"What is Pilates? An innovative system of mind-body exercise evolved from the principles of Joseph Pilates.
Pilates dramatically transforms the way your body looks, feels and performs. It builds strength without excess bulk, creating a sleek, toned body with slender thighs and a flat abdomen.
It teaches body awareness, good posture and easy, graceful movement. Pilates improves flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can even help alleviate back pain.
Professional dancers have known the benefits of Pilates for decades. Top athletes use it for strength, flexibility, and injury prevention. Hollywood celebrities and supermodels use it to maintain beautiful physiques.
A miracle? Not really. Developed from the rehabilitation techniques of Joseph Pilates, Pilates is a safe, sensible exercise system using a floor mat or equipment, that will help you look and feel your very best. No matter what your age or condition, it will work for you."
Keep up the hard work ~ keep up your home practice and I PROMISE you will find the results you are looking for!!
All my best ~
Friday, January 22, 2010
Pilates and Teens
In the next couple of weeks, I will be adding a 45 minute teen class. During volleyball season at Trabuco Hills High School I had the true blessing of working with the Girls volleyball team. I LOVED working with these girls. They have such a fun energy. Working with them I learned though, that these girls do not have the strength in their core that they need. This leaves a lot of room for injury. I am attaching a great article that I just recently read on the benefits of Pilates for teens. If you have friends with teen age daughters, please feel free to pass this on. As soon as I nail down a day, I will let you know.
http://www.pilates-pro.com/pilates-pro/2009/6/26/pilates-for-teens-a-new-trend.html
As always, thank you so much for allowing me to work with you. I have such a passion for Pilates and I love teaching it and working with you all.
Smiles ~
Kristen
Friday, January 15, 2010
How are YOU doing?
I LOVE working with each of you! I LOVE watching the progress you each make and the strides you are making! Remember ~ be kind to yourself.....one day at a time!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZopL5-P8zgs
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
It's a New Year!!
Beginning this week I will have regular mat classes beginning on Wednesday evenings from 7 -8 p.m and Friday mornings from 9-10 a.m. In addition I am still teaching private reformer classes by appointment!
If you have never tried mat Pilates I promise you will love it. If you are interested ~ e-mail me at healthypilatesbody@gmail.com or call me at 949-230-1907!
I hope that this is the best 2010 for all of us!


