For Fitness's sake

[sheherazade]

I've tried Pilates a few times in the past- beginners classes. Today I joined an 'ALL' class which was more challenging. I had to stop and rest through a couple of the moves.

 

Has anyone else tried Pilates?

 

My right hip hurts. Tomorrow I will let you know what else does. LoL.

 

I found an excellent video series ; here's the one for abs:

 

for great abs

[Nephissa]

Got the ball thing going and am rather shocked that I haven't fallen off the ball yet, but I don't really understand what pilates DOES.

[sheherazade]

They say this:

 

The Benefits of Pilates

 

A refreshing mind-body workout

Pilates gets your mind in tune with your body. By emphasizing proper breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment, and complete concentration on smooth, flowing movement, you become acutely aware of how your body feels, where it is in space, and how to control its movement. The quality of movement is valued over quantity of repetitions. Proper breathing is essential, and helps you execute movements with maximum power and efficiency. Last but not least, learning to breathe properly can reduce stress.

 

Build strength without "bulking up" - gain long, lean muscles and flexibility

 

Conventional workouts tend to build short, bulky muscles - the type most prone to injury. Pilates elongates and strengthens, improving muscle elasticity and joint mobility. A body with balanced strength and flexibility is less likely to be injured.

 

Develop a strong core - flat abdominals and a strong back

 

Building on the principles of Joseph Pilates, Pilates exercises develop a strong "core," or center of the body. The core consists of the deep abdominal muscles along with the muscles closest to the spine. Control of the core is achieved by integrating the trunk, pelvis and shoulder girdle.

 

Create an evenly conditioned body and prevent sports injuries

 

In conventional workouts, weak muscles tend to get weaker and strong muscles tend to get stronger. The result is muscular imbalance - a primary cause of injury and chronic back pain. Pilates conditions the whole body, even the ankles and feet. No muscle group is over trained or under trained. Your entire musculature is evenly balanced and conditioned, helping you enjoy daily activities and sports with greater ease and less chance of injury.

 

Learn efficient patterns of motion

Pilates exercises train several muscle groups at once in smooth, continuous movements. By developing proper technique, you can actually re-train your body to move in safer, more efficient patterns of motion - invaluable for injury recovery, sports performance, good posture and optimal health.

 

Be confident and safe

No other exercise system is so gentle to your body while giving it a challenging workout. Many of the exercises are performed in reclining or sitting positions, and most are low impact and partially weight bearing. Pilates is so safe, it is used in physical therapy facilities to rehabilitate injuries.

 

And be challenged

Pilates is also an extremely flexible exercise system. Modifications to the exercises allow for a range of difficulty ranging from beginning to advanced. Get the workout that best suits you now, and increase the intensity as your body conditioning improves.

 

source

[Aaliyyah]

Pilates ?

 

It never crossed my mind @ all to try out for pilates lol. But, after reading this I might

[Zafir]

A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM

 

If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong

with you. This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a

regular workout routine.

 

Dear Diary,

For my birthday this year, my daughter (the dear) purchased a week of

personal training at the local health club for me.

 

Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football

cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead

and give it a try.

 

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer

named Belinda, who identified herself as a 26-year-old aerobics

instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

 

My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club

encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

 

MONDAY:

Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was

well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Belinda waiting

for me. She is something of a Greek goddess -- with blonde hair, dancing

eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Belinda gave me a tour and

showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which she

conducted her aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!

Belinda was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already

aching from holding it in the whole time she was around. This is going

to be a FANTASTIC week!

 

TUESDAY:

I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door.

 

Belinda made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air

then she put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the

treadmill, but I made the full mile. Belinda's rewarding smile made it

all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.

 

WEDNESDAY:

The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the

counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a

hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to

steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.

 

Belinda was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered

other club members. Her voice is a little too perky for early in the

morning and when she scolds, she gets this nasally whine that is VERY

annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Belinda put me

on the stair monster. Why the Hell would anyone invent a machine to

simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Belinda told me it

would help me get in shape and enjoy life. She said some other shit too.

 

 

THURSDAY:

Belinda was waiting for me with her vampire-like teeth exposed as her

thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being

a half an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes.

 

Belinda took me to work out with dumbbells. When she was not looking,

I ran and hid in the restroom. She sent another skinny b!tch to find me

 

Then, as punishment, she put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.

 

 

FRIDAY:

I hate that b!tch Belinda more than any human being has ever hated any

other human being in the history of the world. ******, skinny, anemic,

anorexic little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move

without unbearable pain, I would beat her with it.

 

Belinda wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And

if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damned barbells

or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off

and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher.

 

Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the

choir director?

 

SATURDAY:

Belinda left a message on my answering machine in her grating, shrilly

voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing her made me

want to smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the

strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight

hours of the Weather Channel.

 

SUNDAY:

I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go

and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my

daughter (the little shit) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like

a root canal or a hysterectomy.

[Malika]

^LoooooooooooooL..

[Miriam1]

that was too funny, can't lie my experience was not has bad, but after a few aerobics classes I swore off gyms...whats a gym when you can jog by yourself with good music in the cool evening breeze!?

[Ibtisam]

Looooooooooooooooool. HAHAHA I've never laughed so much! hehe lol. Zafir Thanks, I've seen a different side to you! HAHAH lol

[Cara.]

LOL @ Zafir. That gave my abdominal muscles a good work out thanks.

[sheherazade]

For all the effort I felt I put into the Pilates, it left me relatively pain-free the following day. Some discomfort in the abs and arms but that's about it. Back for more, for sure.

[J.Lee]

My friends and I used to work out with one of the School's football players at the rec center until we began to feel like the lady in the story. I couldn't even climb the stairs without yelling my head off. It literally used to take me ten minutes just to move my legs off the bed but on the plus side, I got see results quickly. After three weeks though I couldn't take it so I stopped.

 

There comes a point when the pain starts to actually feel so good that you keep pushing yourself only to pay for it in couple of days.

 

Now, I just do Ashtanga Yoga. It's so relaxing and it's not as intense as core workouts. It makes you flexible, leaner, and just more energetic without a lot of pain.

 

Lol One of my good friends is into Bikram which is only done in a 100°F+ environment. I tried it once but being in a heated room with bunch of sweaty people is not my cup of tea

[Faarax-Brawn]

^This girl once told me that Yoga is Xaaram,I was like,WTF? Howz that possible?

 

Zafir,L0L,that woman is funny. Lmao@ Belinda's transformation from a sweet dazzling cutie,to a b1tch Kix Kix Kix

[SCORPION_SISTA]

I have been going to gyms on and off for couple of years now, I never find a good work out program that entertains me…Till early last year, I enjoyed a Caribbean dancing class because it was fun and got a chance to hang out with my friend…So this year I decided to get serious about it and follow a plan…First I started off with at home Pilates exercise video, and that is going very well…Next would be pole dancing class…Followed by Latin ballroom class…So I am hoping with 8 months of non stop exercise finally I would get some results…bee bye

[-Lily-]

LoL@pole dancing, you go girl SS

 

I think dance classes are definitely fun.

 

Swimming & soon to be joined by running are top on my list.

Pilates sounds good as well, but it's always on in the mornings when I'm at work so I can never join.

[sheherazade]

JLee, that sounds evil, I've felt that way a couple of times but I could never sustain that kind of intensity- pain should not debilitate.

 

FB, they're referring to the roots of Yoga.

 

SS, lol at the pole dancing, sure sounds like fun.

 

Lily, I am pretty good at the running thing but don't like the impact so I leaped on the cross trainer today. I managed a half hour at a gentle pace then worked on my arms with some weights. Bari baan ba'aya.

 

I'm looking forward to a bit of this again:

 

(videos with sound)

 

Body Balance

 

though I think I could do with some of this:

 

Body Pump