Published: Tuesday, 10 February 2009
What It Is:
In this first installment we will bring the Pilates abdominal work back to the basics. In this article and future posts involving abdominal work on the stability ball you will see and feel the extra punch it gives your traditional Pilates mat work! All the same rules apply but now you have to work extra hard to find your center on this unstable environment under you (the stability ball). Let's return to the basic foundation of Pilates, where every movement originates, the breath.
Exercise: Belly Breath
Published: Tuesday, 3 February 2009
What It Is:
In my last post, we explored some leg and hip openings using the stability ball. Today we are going to delve into the hips a bit deeper. You want to be warm before going into these so take a brisk walk, for example, and start with some of the lighter stretches from the last article—hamstring, inner thigh and IT band stretch, PSOAS stretch and quadricep stretch. Also remember the following precautions when going into your stretches:
Published: Tuesday, 27 January 2009
What It Is:
With its pliability, roundness and fluidity of movement, the Stability ball lends itself perfectly to supporting and encouraging stretching and opening poses. The next few exercises help to bring awareness and suppleness to our legs and hips that are often over used and in need of this much deserved TLC! Remember these following precautions when going into any stretches. Stretching under your limit is much better than over your limit. Make each stretch fit your body type and limit. In other words: Do NOT ever force a stretch.
Published: Tuesday, 20 January 2009
What It Is:
The stability ball requires the participant to find their balance. It demands that we find our center on an unstable surface. This will help to develop strong hamstrings and glutes. These muscle groups are less developed because they are on our backside and we are forward moving beings. We don't like to walk backwards even though it is very beneficial. These next exercises on the stability ball will reinforce and create more strength in these areas.
Here’s How:
Published: Tuesday, 13 January 2009
What It Is:
In the last installment we learned to strengthen our upper bodies using Pilates stability ball exercises. Now it is time to create mobility and fluidity in the upper body. The stability ball lends itself magnificently to opening exercises because it is round and pliable so we can move the energy in a fluid manner.
Here’s How:
Published: Wednesday, 7 January 2009
What It Is:
Published: Tuesday, 30 December 2008
What It Is:
Hopefully you were able to explore out our last installment, (Abdominal Work with the Magic Circle Part One) and have been practicing some of these hard core (literally) abdominal exercises with the Magic Circle. Part One will prepare you for some even more difficult (believe it or not!) Pilates exercises incorporating the Magic Circle! Be sure to keep practicing The Part One exercises and then slowly add the new exercises we’ll talk about in this post.
Published: Tuesday, 23 December 2008
What it is:
Using the Magic Circle with your abdominal work can really bring it up a notch. It can make the work more challenging, efficient and connected. I have seen people struggle with The Roll Up for example (look below for more details) but as soon as I give them a Magic Circle to hold between the hands and they can connect and stabilize through the mid back and can start to smoothly roll up without yanking and jerking themselves up. This proves that we can not isolate body parts when we exercise. It has to be a full body engagement to be effective.
Published: Tuesday, 16 December 2008
What it is:
Our last article was all inner and outer thigh toning with the Magic Circle in side-lying position. In this installment we are looking at inner and outer thigh strengthening using the Magic Circle while standing. The standing posture adds a balance challenge and helps us build bone density while we tone the inner and outer thighs.
Here’s How:
Published: Tuesday, 9 December 2008
What it is:
As we already know the Magic circle is an easy, inexpensive and effective tool that will help you achieve your Pilates body. Try to find just twenty to thirty minutes a day to use your circle to tone and lengthen. If you’re consistent you will start to feel and see the results within the month!!!
Here is Part One of some awesome inner and outer thigh shapers. This is one of the hardest places to sculpt for women. The Magic Circle helps you target these hard to get places in the legs.
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