QPlay - Episode 1

Pilates in the news

(Click links to find out more)

Sofia Vergara's Pilates workout

Pilates in Botswana

Jason Kidd's apartment in NYC with Pilates room up for rent

Studio merges Pilates, ballet and childcare

Medical benefits of Pilates

Pilates not just for the young

Men do Pilates too

Pilates and chronic cancer

Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman and Kim Kardashian devoted to Pilates

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How to prepare for your first Pilates class (Infographic)

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Pilates and weight loss (Infographic)

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Flow

What is it that quality that children have, especially when you see them play, that allows them to move easily, freely, without inhibition or restriction?

Also, what are those similar qualities that you can observe in your pets on a day to day basis; their natural, in-built, grace, strength, stamina, suppleness and speed?

Why is it that we all don’t as adults, also carry these qualities naturally with us? 

What can we do about it?

Movement depends on messages to and from the brain and back and forth from muscle; this happens in constant flow. The brain then remembers patterns of movement as opposed to individual muscle contractions.

By repeating correct movement patterns, you affect and improve how you move, and these messages and patterns of use then get locked into your muscle memory bank.

The incredibly flexible and adaptable systems of the body can be taught how to move correctly again. This is where Pilates is so valuable; it assists the body’s systems in reorganising themselves, and relearning those qualities that children effortlessly possess, by introducing and practicing good movement. The movements then become automatic, as the brain and the muscles remember them.

At QPilates, we will take you progressively through the stages needed to change your existing movement patterns, making sure every action is performed correctly, so that you eventually restore your natural - easy - free - without inhibition or restriction normal movement.

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Reasons for poor posture (Infographic)

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What is ideal posture?

Ideal posture concerns the carriage of the body as a whole and assumes that all of the forces of gravity are evenly distributed throughout it.

All of the joints in the body play a part in posture. 

In an ideal posture, the joint structures would theoretically be in neutral. In neutral there is minimal wear and tear on the joints and as well, the natural balance and correct length and positioning of muscles is maintained. When all of the muscles are balanced, the body’s movement patterns are normal and it requires the least amount of energy to maintain or change position.

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How Pilates helps breast cancer survivors (Infographic)

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Mind Control

The purpose of Pilates exercises is to develop control of and to regain balance of your body through performing progressively challenging movements.

The exercises are complicated and detail oriented and exercise your concentration and focus.

Participants in a Pilates class are corrected and cued in order to optimize their performance of the movements, a practice which in time develops body awareness and proprioception; the sense of the relative position of the different parts of your body with reference to employing them in movement. 

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Osteoarthritis vs Pilates (Infographic)

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Breathing is..

...the first requisite of life. It’s also one of the foundations of true physical fitness and of a uniformly developed, healthy body. Many of us labour under the handicap of breathing in the soot-saturated air of our cities, and almost all of us have never learned the correct art of breathing. 

Breathing is the process by which our bodies produce energy, taking in FRESH air (oxygen) and expelling carbon dioxide as WASTE.

Imagine your LUNGS: They are coated and protected by a ciliated (covered in teeny tiny hairs) membrane which also handily secretes a mucous. These hairs and mucous trap and deliver any dust, dirt or particles in the lungs back up through the windpipe and the nose to be removed by sneezing, coughing or blowing the nose.

If these cilia become damaged through city life (smoking, long-term inhalation of dust or other foreign particles), lung infection and disease is never far away. 

If you could, wouldn’t you do everything in your power to make sure that your lungs are operating as efficiently as possible? 

You can, by learning how to breathe properly. 

BREATHING EXERCISE:

Start by standing erect, opening out your chest and rolling your shoulders back. Squeeze every atom of air out of your lungs - imagining you’d just untied a couple of balloons filled with air, and were squeezing them with your hands to expel all the air. 

This action will probably double you over a bit so, once all the air is gone, stand erect again and notice how your fabulous lungs, automatically refill themselves with fresh air.

Note, too, the impact of this exercise. You’ll have experienced a slight sensation of lightheadedness, similar to the effect you’d experience engaging in walking up a very high mountain. This will be the rush of oxygen you’ve just injected into your system. Keep practicing this technique and this side effect should disappear. 

In fact, come to a QPilates class where we can help you experience this for yourself. If you want additional information, please contact me here. Please Like, +1, Pin, and Tweet it, by using the buttons below.

Pilates and Back Pain (Infographic)

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YOUR heart - Part 2

How can Pilates assist your heart in performing its functions more efficiently, and do so while relieving it from undue strain? 

Simple. Most of the exercises are performed while you are in a sitting or reclining position (recumbent) both of which, contrary to exercises performed in an upright position, are naturally less strenuous.

Also, Pilates has these things called Principles (which youʼll learn about in your classes at QPilates), the understanding and following of which will a) demonstrate why this exercise is so unique and b) assist your heart in performing its functions more efficiently.

The two principles Iʼd most like to draw your attention to are the Principles of Breath and Centering. The circulation system is inextricably linked to the respiratory system (heart pumping oxygen, see?) therefore correct and expansive breathing both affects and is affected by the heart.

In Pilates, it is believed that all movement comes from a “strong core” which we refer to as the Powerhouse. This Powerhouse conveniently houses and surrounds all of your vital organs, including, yup you guessed it, your powerful heart.

I could go on all day about it but I wonʼt. My bottom line is, Pilates will help YOUR heart. Come to a QPilates class, learn more and see for yourself.

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Benefits of Pilates (Infographic)

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YOUR heart - Part 1

How much do you know about your fantastic heart? And how often have you stopped to consider what this muscle does, for every minute of every day and night, for the entirety of your life? Just for today, consider this....

Without you thinking about it, it contracts and relaxes (beats). For an adult it beats on average between 60 to 100 per minute. So for an “average” adult this is around 75 BPM. Now, Donʼt Panic if your heart rate is below or above this average! Iʼm talking about your resting heart rate here, which youʼll only get a good idea of if you take your pulse over the course of 3 days at least (at rest to get an average reading). It can also be affected by a range of factors - sheesh, did no one ever tell you about believing everything you read off the internet?

Your beautiful heart also pumps oxygen and food round your body and assists in the gathering up of waste from it. It can work independently outside the other systems in yourbody, e.g. the nervous system, a phenomenon which is not entirely understood. In fact, it can actually work outside of your body via a external life support system. It's made up of muscle not found elsewhere in the body and has itʼs own independent blood supply.

Youʼve probably heard that all muscle is affected by exercise - improved and strengthened by appropriate levels of it - and this is especially true of your amazing heart. 

What you might not have heard before is that mat-based Pilates exercises can assist your heart in performing its functions more efficiently, and do so while relieving it from undue strain. Huh? What? How? ......

More tomorrow.

Learn more through QPilates. If you want additional information, please contact me here. Please Like, +1, Pin, and Tweet it, by using the buttons below.