Fitness From The Inside Out

I have been in the professional fitness field for twenty years. My interest started, as it did for many of us who grew up in the 80’s, with aerobics, step aerobics, aerobics with weights, etc… etc… The perception then was that if you weren’t on the verge of passing out from pain and exhaustion at the end of the workout- then it wasn’t working. The goal was punish yourself to the point where you’d be too sore to walk for the next two days.

Most type A’s, like myself, endured this torture out of sheer stubbornness. But many people dropped exercise altogether for the following reasons: it wasn’t fun, it didn’t feel good, and most people felt foolish while they were doing it. Good reasons!

Today’s fitness world is very different. I moved on from aerobics into the study of yoga, Pilates and Gyrotonic®. These disciplines not only changed my outlook on exercise, but also shifted my perception of life in general. It helped me to start treating myself more gently and caused me to begin to pay attention to all of the subtle cues my body had been giving me all along. My body had been trying to let me know what it needed- and I wasn’t listening. It is difficult to pay attention to the subtle nuances in step aerobics with Pat Benatar blasting in your ears while you’re flying across the bench hoping you won’t slip and break your neck! Ahh, the good old days.

I have spent the last twelve years delving deeply into the Mind/Body technique of exercise. I have worked with all types of people; award winning actresses who wanted to look their best for the red carpet, top athletes who require the rehabilitation of an injury as quickly as possible in order to get back in the game, children with weight issues, elderly clients whose main concern was learning to balance, and of course- all of the people (like most of us) who are just fighting the effects of gravity and time.

Pilates has proven itself as one of the very best ways to shape and tone the body. Physical Therapists use it world wide to help rehabilitate and correct misalignments in bones and tight muscles. Dancers and athletes love Pilates because it provides stability and balance for the entire body.

It is, perhaps a cliché- but consistency is the key to success. Ninety percent of this work is just showing up. Whether that’s meeting with your private Pilates instructor, visiting your gym’s Pilates Mat class or popping in your favorite Pilates DVD. You have to be practicing the technique three times a week for two months before you will start to see results. It’s not magic and it takes hard work. But you will see the rewards in the form of your new Pilates Body.

The Pilates Body is distinct in its long, lean toned muscles and sculpted dancer’s look. Pilates chisels the body so that you lose inches in all the right places, but it doesn’t add muscle bulk, like weight lifting tends to do. If you put the work in, Pilates will transform you. I’ve seen it happen again and again with my own clients. Pilates works!

Many of us are curious about The Pilates Technique, but feel intimidated by the thought of visiting a studio or are equally intimidated by the cost of private sessions. My goal for this column is to give you in depth, but accessible knowledge of Pilates starting with a solid understanding of the foundation that Pilates is built on. This foundation includes The Breath, Core Activation, Control and Precision, Neutral Spine, Balanced Muscle Development, Rhythm and Flow, Coordination and Relaxation.

After we have laid the foundation, we will move into the specific exercises such as The Hundreds, The Teaser and the classic Five Abdominals. We will also explore specialized exercises for strengthening and lengthening parts of the body we don’t usually pay attention to, such as our feet and our hands. We will also explore common complaints and injuries such as tight lower back and hips, shoulder dysfunction, and other ailments we all encounter.

I hope you will incorporate the tips offered in this column into your everyday routine. If you are consistent – you will see results. Join me next time as we take a look at the history of Pilates and its creator.