About.com Pilates

Rael Pilates - Art, Science, and Passion

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:00:43 +0000

Exciting News: I have just published a wonderful new interview with Pilates master instructor, Rael Isacowitz.

Rael is the author of the excellent book Pilates, the inventor of the Avalon Pilates equipment, and a teacher of extraordinary skill who shares his special blend of art and science in Pilates through DVDs, workshops, and teacher training programs around the world.

I could hardly be more honored to spend an hour talking with Rael Isacowitz, and to share it with you. In this in-depth interview, Real and I talk about everything from advice for beginners and men in Pilates, to mentoring instructors and the role of spirit in Pilates - and much more. I hope you find it as interesting, and Rael as inspiring, as I did.

Read: Rael Pilates - Art, Science and Passion

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Rael Pilates - Art, Science, and Passion originally appeared on About.com Pilates on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 17:00:43.

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Pilates Foam Roller Fun

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:04:45 +0000

When I first got into foam rollers I saw them as a great stretch and relaxation tool, and maybe a prop to help with certain exercises. But lately, Pilates people have been getting downright ingenious with these things.

I recently reviewed an MP3 foam roller and ring workout from Lynda Lippin where she taught some new foam roller moves that gave me an "ah ha moment" or two. Now, adding on to our exercise of the week, chest lift on the ball, a Pilates Forum member has posted some fun ideas for chest lift variations on the foam roller.

The new roller exercises entail lying lengthwise on the roller and doing chest lift based moves from there. I warn you, they are hard. But hey, you don't have far to fall if you lose your stability. If you are up for a challenge this weekend, try the foam roller chest lift variations posted in the forum, then let us know how you did.

Learn more about foam rollers

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Pilates Foam Roller Fun originally appeared on About.com Pilates on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 13:04:45.

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Exercise of the Week: Chest Lift w Rotation on the Ball

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0000

This week we introduce yet another wonderful video made for us by Movements Afoot studio in NYC. What I love here is that we get to progress an exercise from basic Pilates breathing and scooping the abs, to chest lift on the ball, to adding a twist rotation, and then to a full circular rotation called around the world.

When you watch this video, please notice how perfectly stable our models lower body is as her upper body moves.

Learn Chest Lift w Rotation on the Ball

You might also like to build this exercise up from the mat. Take a look at the following:
Chest Lift on the Mat

Chest Lift with Rotation on the Mat

Have the Exercise of the Week, along with other great Pilates info., sent directly to you each week in the Free Pilates Newsletter.

Exercise of the Week: Chest Lift w Rotation on the Ball originally appeared on About.com Pilates on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 08:00:00.

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Pilates Success Stories

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:29:33 +0000

"I was struggling with constant pain in my upper back due to scoliosis and also a recurring sacroiliac injury. I was a bag of disorganized bones held together by skin - at least that's what it felt like." read more

That's how one reader describes her experience before Pilates. Overcoming back pain is one of the frequently cited benefits of Pilates, but far from the only one. People credit Pilates with helping them get in shape in all kinds of ways, from building an overall toned appearance to vastly improved functionality in movement. You can read Pilates success stories and add your own: see: Reader's Pilates Stories

Pilates Success Stories originally appeared on About.com Pilates on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 11:29:33.

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Notes on Toning the Inner Thighs

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:58:52 +0000

You can do inner leg lifts 'till your leg falls off and still not get the inner thigh tone you are looking for. Why? Because the inner thigh area is actually a complex of muscles that have different functions and actions.

Let me take a wild guess that the groin area is not really what you have in mind when you want to tone your inner thighs. I'm thinking the flab prone area just a tad lower is what is causing swimsuit dread. But sadly, the way most people do their inner thigh exercises does little more than aggravate the adductors at the very top inner leg. Let's get past that now.

I've written an article that will help you get an idea of what it takes to tone the inner thighs. An overall approach to leg-toning that is going to do the most good (well, of course). Inner thigh tone cannot be separated from balanced muscular development and good leg function. So once again, in Pilates, cosmetics and long term benefits go hand in hand! Read: Notes on Toning the Inner Thighs

Notes on Toning the Inner Thighs originally appeared on About.com Pilates on Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at 09:58:52.

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Exercise of the Week - Seated Legs

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:51 +0000

Get your magic circle and try this one: seated legs with magic circle. It is a great Pilates exercise for toning the inner thighs and abdominals, as well as lifting the pelvic floor. If you don't have a magic circle, you can use a soccer size ball.

Get the Full Instructions for Seated Legs

Have the Exercise of the Week, along with other great Pilates info., sent directly to you each week in the Free Pilates Newsletter.

_{photo courtesy of Peak Pilates}

Exercise of the Week - Seated Legs originally appeared on About.com Pilates on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 08:00:51.

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Exercises You Must Do - Or At Least Know

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:00:16 +0000

Elizabeth Quinn, About.com's guide to sports medicine recently outlined 5 exercises that in her opinion every athlete should do to stay strong and prevent injuries. That's a pretty good endorsement for a lucky few exercises so I thought we should take a look.

One of the top 5 exercises from over there at sports medicine is walking overhead lunges. Well, drat. I don't do them. We don't usually do them in Pilates. And I just can't stand them (am I revealing my weaknesses here? Yup.). That said, overhead lunges are good for you and if you want to learn them, Elizabeth has directions. See walking overhead lunges.

Now with our overhead lunges done (done, right?), let's get on to the rest of the exercises on the "must do" list. They happen to be exercises a lot of us in Pilates do already. They are: hover plank (dolphin arm), side plank, and push up. When you do those exercise, you will see what great full body workouts they are, definitely.

The last exercise on the must do list is not a single exercise but a type of cardiovascular workout that is gaining recognition as a safe, effective, and quick way to get a cardio workout - along with all the associated benefits of cardio like heart heath and weight loss: interval training.

Some people wonder about mixing Pilates workouts with interval training. I'm not an advocate of that. I think they are different ideas, both of which require a lot of focus, and are best done separately. Nevertheless, interval training is an excellent option for those who want to add cardio to their overall workout program. I like it because it takes less time than traditional cardio thus leaving more time for Pilates. Read more in Interval Training and Pilates.

5 Exercises You Must Do

Pilates Offers Top Ab Exercises

Learn Pilates Exercises

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Exercises You Must Do - Or At Least Know originally appeared on About.com Pilates on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 01:00:16.

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Set Up Your Home Workout Space

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:00:25 +0000

Even if we do Pilates classes, most of us have to workout at home in order to do as much Pilates as we want/need. A schedule of at least 3, hopefully 4 (or more) workouts per week is optimal. Not only that, but working out at home is a joy - when you can do it in a place you like.

I think home practice is so important I decided to write up a few tips on how to plan a home workout space that will get you to actually workout. If you have a big room you can devote to your Pilates practice, great. It still might need some reality planning to make it work. And even if you can only come up with a slice of floor, if you make some clear decisions about how and when you are going to use it, you are more likely to make the time and workout. Read: Set Up Your Home Workout Space, and make it happen!

More Tips for the Home Workout:

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_{photo: Getty Images}

Set Up Your Home Workout Space originally appeared on About.com Pilates on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 08:00:25.

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Exercise of the Week: Back Extension on the Ball

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:53:27 +0000

Did you know there is an important connection between your abs and your hamstrings? This exercise will help you find that. Extension on the Ball is also going to strengthen your back, and help counter balance the forward bending exercises we do.

This week we have another excellent new Pilates video made for us by Movements Afoot in NYC: See Extension on the Ball on video.

If you don't have a ball, swan prep explores similar principles on the mat. You might also compare prices on exercise balls

Have the Exercise of the Week, along with other great Pilates info, sent directly to you each week in the Free Pilates Newsletter.

Exercise of the Week: Back Extension on the Ball originally appeared on About.com Pilates on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 20:53:27.

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Pilates People, Return to Your Resolutions!

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:43:16 +0000

Yesterday, I watched a video by the world famous motivational speaker, Tony Robbins. In it, Mr. Robbins reported that research shows that by January 15, most people have already broken their New Years Resolutions. That doesn't sound so good.

What doesn't sound good about it is that people fall off their path or don't get started, and then think: Oh that's done, I've blown it. And that's not true! Read more...

Pilates People, Return to Your Resolutions! originally appeared on About.com Pilates on Sunday, January 17th, 2010 at 22:43:16.

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