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Ready to Tri Pilates? Part 2

Ready to Tri Pilates? Part 2

The swim section of a triathlon is the first of the three legs in a triathlon.  It includes the official start of the race, and usually is the most hectic portion of the race.  The swim leg is held in a large body of water, like an ocean or lake, and the swimmers must complete a course that could be as long as 2 miles, depending on the length of the triathlon. Most triathletes do not find their strength in swimming. In fact, most of these athletes started competitive swimming when they trained for their first triathlon. Learning to swim properly as an adult is more challenging than when learning as a child. Thus, there are some technique and form issues associated with the adult swimmer that regular Pilates training can... Continue ...

Pilates in Costa Rica

Pilates in Costa Rica

It wasn’t but a couple weeks after the Pilates Roundtable in West Palm Beach, that I booked a flight for Costa Rica. The three week trip was part of my plan to decompress and take some time off for the summer. I enrolled myself in a Surf, Photography and Spanish program through School of the World in Jaco (one of the more popular beaches located in Central Pacific Coast). There I planned on brushing up on my picture taking skills, learning to surf and perfecting my Spanish accent. I checked one bag on the plane and boarded feeling a sense of wonderful learning opportunities in the horizon. I arrived 4 days early prior to my “lessons” starting as a way to scope out the scene. That’s when I took a day trip to the nearby... Continue ...

Balancing Pilates with your Commitments

Balancing Pilates with your Commitments

Amanda and her family I am one of the many, many Pilates Instructors who teach because I love the Method, not because it earns me a living.  To do that, I have a full-time job.  In addition, I have two children under the age of two.  Because teaching Pilates is such a personal choice, not often looked at as a “job,” Pilates Instructors must constantly search for ways to better balance their many commitments. Here are some tips that I, and other teachers I know who wear multiple hats, have found to work: Organization: Whether you have a paper planner or you use an electronic system, you MUST know where you are supposed to be and when, and with whom. I use an iPhone and have all of my classes and private lessons... Continue ...

The Psoas is NOT a Hip Flexor

The Psoas is NOT a Hip Flexor

photo credit: Wendy LeBlanc Arbuckle Director of Pilates Center of Austin. The psoas is not a hip flexor – okay, there I have said it!  Usually I warm my students to this idea before I spring it on them. However, I guess I am feeling bold.  Whether or not you agree with me that the psoas is something other then a flexor muscle, I invite you to test out my reasoning during your next practice. The iliopsoas, fondly known as psoas (so-as), is the core muscle of the body and it is the only muscle to attach spine to leg.  The psoas is formally categorized as a hip flexor.  Flexors are defined as muscles that close a joint.  Major flexors are located in the front of the body. Because the psoas moves from the deepest core... Continue ...

Pilates DVD – Jennifer Kries Master Trainer Series

Pilates DVD – Jennifer Kries Master Trainer Series

This collection of Pilates DVDs is the work of well known presenter and teacher trainer, Jennifer Kries. The series offers 5 DVDs; 4 of which address the different Pilates apparatus (Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, and Ladder Barrel) and the fifth which addresses Pilates mat work. Kries is a second generation instructor and teacher trainer and has studied with Romana Kryzanowska, Ron Fletcher and Eve Gentry. She has vast experience in dance, yoga and exercise and she is the owner/founder of the Hot Body Cool Mind studio in the Philadelphia area.  Kries is a certified Iyengar Yoga instructor and has studied other yoga disciplines as well. She has several other DVD titles as well some of which blend yoga, Pilates and other mind-body... Continue ...

Pilates Spine Twist Exercise Video

Pilates Spine Twist Exercise Video

This video illustrates the Pilates Spine Twist exercise. This exercise is great for spinal rotation. The Spine Twist exercise targets the transversus abdominis, pelvic floor, obliques and scapular stabilizers. Focus on maintaining abdominal contraction to prevent extension of the lumbar and thoracic spine. Maintain scapular stabilization and avoid ballistic movement. Modify this exercise by sitting on a towel or pad to assist with tight low back, hip flexors and/or hamstrings. As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any exercise program. If you should experience any pain or discomfort, please discontinue the exercise and consult your doctor immediately. var fbShare = {url:... Continue ...