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Angelina Jolie Virtually Masters Pilates

FitSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Angelina Jolie appeared in early October, just a couple months after giving birth to her twins, looking fabulous as ever. She had some people worried last year after she'd finished breastfeeding Shiloh, but this mother of six seems to be happy and healthy these days. In fact, the self-described punk-kid-at-heart seems to be taking some cues from her tech-smart kids and is participating in one of their hobbies by incorporating one of her own. To see what she's been up to,

Recession Proof Your Workout: Free Video Mat Classes From Ultimate Pilates

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0800

In tough financial times, we all start to trim the fat off our budgets. When the monetary trimming comes from your fitness life, be careful. Exercise helps relieve the stress that accompanies uncertain times. Pilates, a mind-body exercise, works as a great mental distraction while you're working out, but it can be expensive. That is why I was so excited when I found free workouts at Ultimate Pilates Workouts. The site offers much more in a tiered fee system, but their free workouts are 30 to 45 minutes long, informative, and challenging. You do have to register with their site, but opt for the free basic package to gain access to their video mat classes.

The site was create by twin sisters, both former Rockettes. Their studio Pilates on Fifth in NYC seems like a great place to work out, and with their videos you get mat class instruction that is certainly not over-produced. For more Pilates tips and in-depth explanations of Pilates exercises and concepts, check out their video podcasts.

To get a taste of the videos, just

The Shape of Faith Hill's 41-Year-Old Bikini Body

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0700

The beautiful country star, Faith Hill, has a gorgeous voice. Who knew she has a gorgeous and strong bod, too. At age 41, she'll be on the cover of Shape magazine's December issue (on sale Nov. 10) showing off her amazing figure, and she has her daily exercise routine to thank.

In her 20s and 30s, Faith went through different phases with exercise. She'd work out right before a video shoot or tour, but didn't do much afterward. Then once she had three children and turned 40, she knew it was time for a lifestyle change. She had knee surgery last January, so she couldn't exercise for six months. So in July, she and husband, Tim McGraw began a daily routine. They did four miles on the elliptical, light weight lifting, crunches, and push-ups. Faith said, "I found I slept better, had more energy and was stronger."

To find out her extra secret weapon, just

Recession Proof Your Pilates

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

In tough financial times, we all start to trim the fat off our budget. When the monetary trimming comes from your fitness life, be careful. Exercise helps relieve the stress that accompanies uncertain times. Pilates, a mind body exercise, works as a great mental distraction while you're working out, but it can be expensive. Here are a few ideas on how to recession proof your commitment to Pilates.

There are so many great Pilates DVDs out there, and here are my reviews of some so you can read about them before you buy. NetFlix has almost 2,000 Pilates titles available for rental.
Speaking of free . . . you can check out my Pilates videos if you need a refresher on the basics.
Double up! If you have been taking private one-on-one sessions, ask your trainer if she has a client with similar ability who wants to share a session. Duets are generally 40 percent cheaper than privates. Who knows? You might make a permanent exercise buddy.

I have two other suggestions, so

Pilates Tip: Avoid the Head Rush

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0700

When I am gardening and move from a deep squat to standing, I get a little lightheaded. It is not really disconcerting, but when it happens when I'm doing Pilates, well that is a different story. Exercises where you move from horizontal to vertical quickly can create a sudden lowering of blood pressure, which can make you dizzy. The most simple way to avoid the head rush is to move more slowly. And moving more slowly will emphasize the element of control central to the Pilates philosophy. This will also increase the difficulty of the move. Think of that as a perk brought to you by your desire to avoid a head rush.

The expert at About.com: Pilates also thinks that increasing the "scoop" of the deep abs on the inhale can help keep the blood pressure from dipping too low. Keeping the low and deep abs engaged while you breathe in means you need to focus on breathing into the sides and backs of your ribs — an element of Pilates we can all work on.

Try these two fixes and see if they keep getting dizzy at bay.

Source

Fit Tip: Try Pilates at Least Once

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0700

While I was doing bicep curls at the gym yesterday, I was reminded of how great Pilates is. Why, you may ask? Because so many Pilates fundamentals extend to other activities, so you can exercise better no matter what you're doing.

If you've never taken a Pilates class, I urge you to try it at least once so that you can apply the lessons to the rest of your fitness routine. For instance, Pilates focuses a great deal on breathing and control, both of which come in handy when strength training. The more you control your movements, the less prone you are to injury.

Even more useful is learning to suck in your abs (engage your deep abs), concentate on your core, and keep your spine neutral. This not only protects your back and improves posture but also helps build your ab muscles. After dabbling in Pilates, you'll learn that sucking in your abs during just about any activity — from weightlifting to canoing — can help you tighten your tummy and protect your back.

So give it a shot and see what you learn. Who knows? You may even find a new workout you love. Are you a Pilates fan? If so, tell me what it's taught you.

Back to Basics: Keeping Your Shoulders Down

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700

When teaching Pilates, I am always telling clients to keep their shoulders away from their ears. Raised shoulders is a sign of serious tension in the neck and upper back and over time it will create pain. Not only that but it wastes energy and can make surrounding areas not function correctly. Pilates clients aren't the only folks with tense necks and raised shoulders. I see this posture all the time when people are working out with weights, biking and running.

In an effort to keep the shoulders down, people tend to tense their necks even more – as if the sheer weight of their neck will calm the busy shoulder joint. Or people tend to grab in their lats or arm pits, which also increases neck tension and interferes with free movement of the arms.

To effectively relax your shoulders, you need to focus on your shoulder blades (scapula) sliding down your back. The muscle that anchors the blades is the bottom part of the trapezius muscle. You also want to feel your collar bone (clavicle) widening and the scapula sliding slightly toward one another. The end effect is an open chest with relaxed shoulders and neck. Nothing should feel pinched or gripped. Imagine the scapula is a slippery bar of soap sliding up and down the back. Try it next time you do bicep curls, sit in freeway traffic or ride your bike.

Source

DVD Review: Jennifer Kries New Body Pilates

FitSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Since many of the exercises require no equipment, Pilates is a great way to work out at home. But it's very important that you do the movements exactly right, so I often worry that beginners may not be getting the instruction they need at home. If you're new to Pilates, but prefer to work out in your living room, then Jennifer Kries' New Body Pilates is a great place to start.

This DVD is a cross between a workout routine and an educational video. Before and during the basic mat workout, Kries — who, poor thing, is much cuter than this unflattering photo! — does a great job explaining both the fundamentals of Pilates and how to do each exercise. For details,

Back to Basics: Pilates 100s

FitSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 03:30:00 -0700

The Pilates method is full of wonderful ab exercises, and the 100s is no exception. Often considered a warm up exercise, the 100s challenges your abs but also challenges your breathing coordination. It helps to get the blood circulating through your body to prepare you for the workout to come.

Start lying on your back with your legs in table top position (hips and knees at right angles). Engage your deep abs to round your lower spine into the floor. Make sure you are not "pooching" your abs, which means you are just working the top layer of abs – a definite no-no in Pilates.
Exhale and lift your upper back off the floor, until the bottom tips of your shoulder blades are just off the floor. Reach your arms toward your feet. Your arms will be about two inches off the floor.
Pump your arms up and down with a small range of motion, keeping your elbows straight. Inhale for five arm pumps and exhale for five pumps. That completes one set or cycle. Repeat cycle nine more times for a total of 100 pumps.

For some helpful hints

You Asked: How Do Yoga and Pilates Differ?

FitSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:00:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

"Hey Fit,
I see that you teach both Pilates and yoga. People ask me what the difference is between the two and I don't really have a good answer. The only thing I do know is that you use machines in Pilates. Can you help me understand the differences and why people practice either?"
– TransformerYoga

Great question. People ask me the differences between these two practices all the time and to see my answer