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How I Got Caught Up In the Pilates Craze
Linda Nigro
Back in 1995 I bought a new car with a 5 speed standard transmission. I
loved this car but after a few years my body started seriously protesting
after long road trips. Age was catching up with me or so I thought and I
made the decision to trade this, low to the ground car, for one of comfort.
So sell my beloved car I did and settled for a Jeep Cherokee whose entrance
into the car demanded a climb up instead of down. No longer was I the
twisted pretzel on those long car rides. Then a trip to Manhattan to do some
serious shopping, led me to have cause for more complaint. I always use
the subway as my means of travel when I am in Manhattan and I usually
enjoy the subway. However this time it was awful. As you exit the subway
you have to navigate some flights of steps back up to street level and this
is
where my legs protested loud and clear. I found I had to hang on hard to the
side rails and hoist myself up each and every step. Those legs needed the
help of my poor weak arms. Panting for breath I'd finally reached the street
to see that my sister-in-law who, just a few years younger than me, showed
no effects of that climb. Now you know that made me mad. I remembered
thinking "Linda you are in serious trouble here". I had previously thought
that
the car and my age were at fault. Now I had to consider just maybe, my poorly
exercised body was getting worse and the effect of neglect, not car, was the
real reason. No matter the cause, something had to be done. I was too
young for this, right?
I had been hearing the buzz about an exercise program that dealt with
the
concept, if the core of the body (2 inches above, 2 inches below the navel
and all around the trunk)is strengthened, then conditions such as arthritis,
low back pain and sciatica will improve. This seemed very logical to me and
worth further investigation. Here was a ray of hope for this neglected body.
Pilates (pronounced pih-LAH-tees) was invented about a century ago by
Joseph Pilates for injured dancers. His method was not just about exercise
but about teaching a series of controlled movements using both the body and
the mind. I also was encouraged to find that those practicing Pilates show
an increase in strength, flexibility, stamina, posture, and coordination with
the added bonus of a healthy focused mind. Now who couldn't use a
healthier focused mind? There are two ways to practice Pilates either
through specially designed machines or mat work with a series of specific
exercises. I opted to do the mat work.
So start I did with a video for a beginner's mat work out. I've acquired
some workout videos in the past that either never made it out of their
original packaging or those that did make it to the VCR become abandoned
in a short time due to boredom or time restraints. I was pleasantly surprised
to find that this work out was for just 20 minutes long. Wow, 20 minutes
devoted to exercise was very doable. I'm also pleased to tell you that
this is not one of those go for the burn torture exercises. This is more
about the quality of the movement not quantity. Repetitions are limited
to no more than 10. That's also good to hear, right? No fighting boredom
here, because like the art of dance and yoga, learning Pilates is a long-
term process that each day will find you working on the prescribed
placement, rhythm and breathing pattern of each exercise. Knowing
how much I've always looked forward to the end of the exercises I was
surprised about the added bonus of feeling very accomplished along
with refreshed and rejuvenated.
So you're wondering how I feel now that I am 6 weeks into the program.
I feel great and this is why I wanted to tell you about it.
Might have been a good idea to start Pilates before I sold my car.
I look forward to doing my Pilate exercises. Yes, you read that right,
never felt that way about my previously abandoned exercise programs.
These old bones don't creak no more. Hooray!!!!!
The spillage of Pilates. So I ask myself this question, I feel this good
doing Pilates, how will I feel when I start to change my bad eating habits
for
good ones? Or how about some cardio, doing a one half hour of treadmill
3 times a week? Watch out there is no stopping me now!
I walk taller now. I remember as a child the constant reminders to
stand up straight and what an effort it was, well now many years later
I am doing it naturally.
Can't wait for my next visit to Manhattan with Carol, I'll navigate
those
steps like an Olympian, well almost.
Phew. Am I glad my reasoning was all wrong. What I had to do was
fight my neglect and stop worrying about getting older and the effects of
age on this body.
Oh the car business, really that was just plain dumb thinking.
So I am hooked and I love Pilates. Don't believe me just ask my sisters.
They'll tell you how often I tell them about Pilates, how I keep bragging
how great it is and why aren't they getting with the program, yadda
yadda yadda.
Here are some sites with information about this program. Now
should you consider doing Pilates or any other exercise program it is
very important you consult with your physician first.
www.pilates-studio.com
www.hermit.com/hermit/~mjm.html
www.Ivillage.com Here you'll find a lot of encouragement and information
on the Pilates message boards.
You also will find a great resource of information at your local
library.
There too, you might find a good Pilates video to take out on loan to try
before you buy. Let me know how you make out, or if you are doing Pilates
now I would love to hear from you.
E-Mail me at Linda@...
Linda R. Nigro is the author of the ezine Essential News
and owner of First In Line Soap. You can catch her at Craft Shows during
the spring and fall or at her official web site www.firstinlinesoap.com
First In Line Soap the company devoted to adding color to your bath. |
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Inside Health & Medicine |
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November is National Diabetes Month |
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Here are the information on diabetes. 798,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed every year. Diabetes is a fierce disease, with complications such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, amputations, and the list goes on. So, in honor of National Diabetes Month, let's go to the Internet for more information on this disease.
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