Fitness Online

Rael Pilates – Art, Science, and Passion

Written on February 8, 2010 – 5:22 pm | by admin

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 to men in Pilates, and mentoring instructors to 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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Pilates Foam Roller Fun

Written on February 5, 2010 – 10:36 pm | by admin

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

Written on February 5, 2010 – 7:41 pm | by admin

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.

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Everyone Wins At The Olympic Winter Games With Healthy Travel Preparations

Written on February 5, 2010 – 6:54 pm | by admin

Sports fans attending the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympics Games in Vancouver, Canada, in February can be winners if they make plans now to help stay healthy during their trip. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers some simple tips to help travelers share gold medal memories but not the flu at the games.

Teamwork will be the key to everyone enjoying a healthy experience at the Olympic and Paralympic games. You can help in the fight to control the flu’s spread by remembering to “Stop, Wash and Go:”

— Stop: Make sure you feel well before traveling. If you have the flu or have flu-like symptoms, delay your travel plans until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

— Wash: Help prevent the spread of the flu by covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper sleeve and wash your hands often with soap and water.

— Go: If you are healthy and taking the appropriate precautions, go and have a great time.

“Successful Olympic athletes will tell you it’s not enough to know the rules of the game. To win gold, they must devote themselves to training and preparing and make sure they have the right equipment,” said Dr. Gary Brunette, lead of CDC’s Traveler’s Health Branch. “It’s much the same for Olympic travelers who want to get the most out of their trip. By preparing well and taking along the necessary items for healthy travel, Olympic spectators can be sure to stay healthy and have fun.”

Before leaving for the games, talk with your doctor about how to stay healthy while traveling and whether you should get vaccinated against seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu if you haven’t already received them. Contact your health insurance provider to learn the extent of your medical coverage outside the United States and consider getting travel insurance if your plan doesn’t cover international travel.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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