Archive for November 14th, 2008

Pilates At Home - The Good and The Ugly

Friday, November 14th, 2008

These days people are used to getting things “Free″ . They don’t want to pay for information and assume that if it’s “Free″ it’s got to be good.

However, getting “Free″ physical exercises may be a double edged sword. Let me explain:

There are two things that you need to bear in mind when you consider Free Pilates Exercises.

Suitability

Pilates exercises are beneficial because they are designed to work particular muscles in a safe and efficient way. The only way you are really going to know if you are doing a Pilates move correctly is to be watched by a qualified teacher in a class. If you try to do Pilates at home, on your own, from a book or a DVD how, in Heaven’s name are you going to know if your form is correct

Even if you are lucky enough to have all round mirrors (and and most people don’t), as soon as you turn your head to check you’re in the right posture, you will be out of alignment. Some of the teaching points for a Pilates workout are subtle, and sometimes even for an experienced instructor they can be difficult to spot in a customer.

Pilates is very “hands on”. In other words, your teacher (as well as giving you spoken cues to help you get into the right position), may come over to you and carefully move you around, so that you can feel the emphasis of that particular exercise in the right group of muscles. Consequently, a beginner attempting to teach themselves will get none of this required feedback.

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Fun Exercises You Can Do With Your Kids

Friday, November 14th, 2008

If you have kids, you may feel guilty leaving them to go work out at the gym. Who says you have to go to the gym to get a great workout? Your kids can provide an excellent source of cardio inducing fun. Here are just a few ideas.

Jump

Remember all of those silly rhymes you used to sing while you jumped rope? Why not teach them to your kid while you have a jumping rope contest. Who knows, maybe you’ll learn a few new rhymes from of the next generation while you work up a sweat.

Hop

Grab a piece of chalk and head to the sidewalk for a game of hop scotch. All of the hopping and bending will make your legs burn and your heart race.

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