CoreAlign

What is that ladder looking thing?... and oh my, those pedals move!

That is a common question for both veteran Pilates clients and the newcomers.

The CoreAlign is a unique piece of equipment that is a blend of mind-body, cardio, and strength.  It improves balance, posture and movement patterns.  This revolutionary apparatus was developed by Jonathan Hoffman, a physical therapist, who believes the body heals and functions best when it moves in a balanced and sound way.  It cannot only be used to challenge the devoted Pilates client, but also for musculoskeletal rehabilitation.  Through training, the CoreAlign creates controlled stability and dynamic mobility of the body.  Many of the exercises put the body in a up-right position, which many clients like.  Stabilizing muscles instantly are recruited to perform even the basic exercises.

The next time you are in the studio ask the instructor if you can try it out.

Oh the Pilates Chair!

When we ask clients what their favorite piece of Pilates equipment is, the response is rarely the Pilates chair.  It is a very challenging piece of equipment and can be a little scary with some exercises. 

The original chair, or "Wunda Chair" was designed by Joseph Pilates to be used at home in a small NY city apartment.  Early designs even converted from a Pilates chair in to a chair that someone could sit in.  Over the years modifications to the original chair have been made... increase chair's height to meet the height of the cadillac, adding the number and resistance of springs, splitting the pedals to make 2 pedals instead of the 1 pedal on the original chair, and adding resistance bands hooked on to the chair.

Unlike on the reformer and cadillac, exercises on the chair are done sitting or standing which make for an athletic kind of exercise.  There are many beginner and intermediate exercises that can be done on the chair, but there are numerous advanced exercises that require a lot of body stability.  The Pilates client that wants a challenging workout on the chair will need to have a strong core, good upper body and leg strength, and scapular and pelvic stability.  An exercise series on the chair is good for not only the regular Pilates client, but also runners, bikers, skiers, and basketball, football and soccer players.  Many of the exercises involve explosive movements while maintaining stability. 

Try the chair... you may love it!

Pilates & Golf

The weather has gotten warmer and the grass is greener... time to schedule those tee times.  Is your body ready to play some golf?

Approximately 60% of all amateur golfers experience injuries playing the game.  Amateur men golfers sustain injuries most commonly in the low back, elbows, hands and wrists and shoulders. The most common sites of injury for amateur women golfers are in the elbows, the low back, shoulders, and hands and wrists.

The golf swing is an unnatural, challenging, and total body movement—but in an asymmetrical way.  Imagine doing an oblique curl to just your left side 100 times and you may get a sense of the toll golf puts on a player's body.  Pilates exercises can help create symmetry and coordination, increase muscular endurance and improve range of motion.  Specifically, it focuses on core strength, alignment of foot and leg, joint and spinal flexibility, shoulder rotation, and arm, wrist and hand strength to improve impact with the ball. 

Pilates will advance a players game, prevent injury and improve general fitness.  Pilates is good for you... golfer or spectator!

Reference:

Corey, K. & Corey,P.  MD.  2006.  Create a Pilates Conditioning Program for Golfers. www.ideafit.com