Pilates Videos on YouTube
Posted on: December 3, 2009
I’m a big fan of YouTube. I watch a little bit of everything, from old news broadcasts, silly videos, music videos, how-to videos, it’s all great- and free. YouTube also has tons of different workout videos. Just little tutorials for anyone form beginner to advanced. I like to watch them to get new ideas for my classes, but if you’re not willing to fork over the cash fro Pilates lessons or classes, you can explore the exercises with the free videos!
Some of the instructors are corny and not professional, but you can find pretty good ones too! Some people create playlists on YouTube that walk you through an entire routine, like this one for beginners.
I think this video does a great job explaining and cueing the Pilates 100, one of the fundamental moves in a mat routine- give it a try!
Post-Turkey Workout
Posted on: December 1, 2009
So this past week we might have eaten too much, ok we definitely did. Now that the holiday is over and we’re readjusting to routines, whether it is work or school, and maybe exercise regiments too.
I am guilty of slacking this past week. I went home and slept in instead of running or doing a quick mat routine. Now I’m back to the studio and I feel a little rusty.
I recommend easing back into what your body could once do. Give yourself a little break and don’t pick up exactly where you left off. If you have a running schedule, try repeating last week’s runs before advancing. If you take studio classes don’t be scared to do a few lower modifications at least for the first few sessions after break. It is important to listen to your body and challenge yourself according to your ability TODAY. Just because you could do a full teaser last week doesn’t mean your abs can handle one this week. Just try tabletop!
Pilates for dancers
Posted on: November 24, 2009
- In: Pilates
- 2 Comments
I danced as a child and then I quit to play sports. I came back to dance in high school when I got involved in musical theatre. Pilates came into my life in college, after dance, but I wish that would have been different!
Pilates not only strengthens the core but creates long, lean muscles that look beautiful on stage. The Pilates stance (leg turned out from the hips) is a “lower modification” of ballet’s first position.
Many ballet studios cross train with Pilates exercises to increase flexibility and core strength. Here are some tips for teaching Pilates to dancers from Sonia Rodriguez. I fond this on the Peak Pilates Blog. Check out the rest of the article!
Here are some tips from Sonia for teaching dancers:
1. Work with props, such as the Power Circle or Triad Ball. I use this to help dancers find specific connections and then take the prop away and have them create the same connection imagining the prop is still there.
2. Many times I will work with a prop throughout an entire mat session. During their next session, I have the student/dancer find the same connections as the last session, this time without the prop.
3. If you have dance experience, take the student into a short dance phrase or barre work. As I take them through the dance movements, I cue their bodies with the Pilates vocabulary. This is amazingly affective.
4. Ask the student/dancer what movements in dance they are struggling with. Then determine what the fundamental issue at hand is. This then becomes a theme you can thread throughout their session.
5. Remember that dancers want to make movements big then find control, thus Joseph Pilates frustration in working with dancers. Teach them how to work in a smaller more controlled range of motion, encouraging healthy movement patterns. Once they find control and centering, go for bigger ranges.
6. Work with the jump board on the reformer. This is a great way to teach and correct hip, knee, and foot alignment during jumps and hops. It also provides an opportunity for educating foot articulation and propulsion.
7. Don’t be fooled by a dancer’s gracefulness and ability to learn “choreography” quickly. You have to look closely and make sure that the movement is truly coming from their center and the right firing patterns are being performed.
Anyone can do Pilates. Seriously, anyone. I teach at the Rec Center at MU. Most of the people in my class are girls around my age. There are a few faculty members and adults who are members of the Rec, and every few classes has a male participant. Two summers ago I taught at the YMCA back home and was pleasantly surprised by the wider age range and the regular male clients. In just one class I had a high school junior, a 27-year old man, a few middle-aged moms, and a woman in her 60’s.
Although I usually see 20-something women doing Pilates now, my experience a the Y taught me that anyone can do it and do it well. One man from the Y was probably about 70. He came every Thursday and stayed for the entire workout. Although his Pilates looked entirely different than mine, he still came, tried, and enjoyed his workout just like me. I was so impressed by his dedication and patience. He was not afraid to choose the lower modifications or take an extra stretch when necessary.
At the Rec it seems like everyone tries to do the hardest, most challenging modifications ALL the time. Maybe the atmosphere is more competitive than necessary. I think it is more important to listen to your body and do the lower mod right, rather than cheating or hurting yourself in the higher modification. Older clients seem more comfortable using lower mods than younger ones. Younger clients might also feel pressured to get the most out of their workout, give 100% the entire time. On the other hand, my older clients were happy to relax and get in an hour of exercise.
Pilates is not about competition or rushing an intense workout. It should be a challenging, yet relaxing way to build core strength and unwind.
So what is Pilates anyways??
Posted on: November 11, 2009
I stumbled across this article from the Fort Myers, FL newspress.com. It is written by an exercise psychologist from the area. She seems to know her stuff (or at least did her homework). I could paraphrase, but I think she’s very simple and to the point. Read it and let me know what you think!
Fitness: Pilates, thinking way of moving
Pilates outside the studio
Posted on: November 3, 2009
I fell in love with Pilates by attending classes at the Rec. Then I trained to become an instructor. I’ve since done furter “training” outside of the classroom. I bought a few cheap DVD’s to pick up new exercises and teaching methods. Some of them are really well done and I used their ideas in class, others looked like they were made in my basement. On one hand that gave me hope, that someday I could make my own video and be a Pilates super star, but on the other hand I’ll most likely end up in the $1 bin at Wal-Mart where I found some of these. Oh well, it was only a dollar.
I think the best way to gather ideas and learn new moves is from other instructors. I love teaching with new people and listening to their cues and modifications. Besides in person, lots of people (like me) use the internet to form a Pilates-centered community. I read a few blogs and also follow a handful of instructors from around the country on Twitter. Check out my favorites:
BLOGS:
TWITTER:
I created a list of my favorites, feel free to follow it (and me too!).
Pilates Stance
Posted on: October 28, 2009
Whenever I have new students in my Pilates classes, especially when I’m teaching at the beginning of a semester, I focus on teaching the breath and the basics of each exercise. When working with regulars or a more advanced group I always emphasize the signature Pilates stance.
As pictured (ignore my gross feet), the heels are touching toes a few inches apart. Not quite as wide at first position in ballet. Not parallel either. The inner thighs are glued together keeping the legs, gluts and entire lower body engaged. Try it by laying on your back and lifting your feet into the air in Pilates stance.
This stance is used while laying on the back and doing ab work, including the Fab 5. I feel the biggest difference while I’m laying on my stomach working my back. Keeping the heels together makes lower back exercises challenge the gluts as well. Try it by laying on your stomach, feet in Pilates stance. Now stack your palms under your forehead and use your lower back and shoulders to lift the chest up and off the ground (reverse crunches). See?
Besides during your workout, you can stand in Pilates stance anytime and feel the lower body doing a little extra work- in a good way. Wait in line with your heels together and feel yourself stand up straighter!
I started practicing Pilates my freshman year of college. Over two years later, I’m still hooked. So, why? What’s the big deal? I used to play a handful of sports as a kid, but I burnt out early. I go through phases where I run a few days a week and at my pinnacle I was training for a half-marathon (which never happened). I know it’s only been two years and some change, but I want to make Pilates a permanent part of my life.
All you need...
I teach eight classes a week and many times I dash straight from Pilates to class to meetings, etc. Usually I don’t have time to shower (or even change). Luckily Pilates raises my heart rate but I don’t sweat, I just glisten, a little. This means the people that sit next to me in class aren’t grossed out.
Also Pilates hardly requires any equipment. In mat classes participants only use a mat. This summer I did it on a beach towel in my reshall room. It makes it easy to do at school, at home, in a hotel room, and anywhere else where there’s enough room to lie down on the floor.
This is a BOSU, which stands for BOth Sides Up.
I also teach a reformer class on reformer machines, designed to enhance a Pilates workout. I like to use the reformer, but I still feel the same quality workout without it. Sometimes I teach on core boards or BOSUs to intensify the course. These classes are my favorites! I usually begin these classes by saying, “If it’s too much for you, all of these exercises can also be done on the floor.” BOSU classes actually make me sore the next morning, which most other don’t anymore.
My Pilates classes also have some pretty sweet jams. Instructors take turns making mixes of fun, recent music to play during out classes. Unlike aerobics music, our soundtrack is much more laid back. We listen to lots of Jack Johnson, John Mayer, and Goo Goo Dolls. No crazy thumping base, no re-mixed pop.
So if you are looking for a workout that requires little to no equipment, little to no sweat, fun music and lots of options, you should give Pilates a shot!
Welcome to my blog
Posted on: October 15, 2009
- In: Health | Pilates
- Leave a Comment
My name is Shannon and this is my blog (ok, it’s actually my third one). It’s all about Pilates and getting healthy. I’m not into getting really sweaty or having an achy body tomorrow. I want a fun, relaxing workout that shows results, that’s why I fell in love with Pilates. I know you can read any of the other thousands of Pilates blogs out there, but mine is going to be a little more personal and a little more creative than your average mat routine.
There are great things to come… I just feel it.
stretch with shannon 