In a recent issue of Health Magazine (Dec 2007), three of the newest books on fitness were rated as books that gave out the best fitness advice for this year. Here is a summary of what each book suggests you do to get the most out of your fitness routines, increase your calorie burn, and build more muscle.
You might recognize that each of these suggestions are exactly what one pilates session will give you!
Multitask
It is suggested that you start doing exercises that work out multiple muscle groups all at once, rather than exercises that isolate specific muscles. The article makes a great point that your body will look more balanced when you work out multiple muscles groups together, because you won't be working out one group more than the other.
Of course, pilates IS working out the whole body all at once, not just over the period of an hour, but also in each and every exercise. So if you do pilates, you are already on the road to balance and full-body strengthening.
Use Your Head
If you do pilates, you know that if you really focus your mind on what muscles are initiating each action, you can feel the exercises much more powerfully.
The article makes an interesting suggestion about another way to use your mind while working out. It suggests that just before you begin an exercise, imagine the targeted muscle as a dull shade of red. As you do the movement and feel the muscle working, imagine the red getting brighter and brighter. As you finish the exercise, think of that red as fading again.
I haven't tried this but it sounds kind of interesting! Might be a cool way to try using your mind in the mind-body connection.
The book reviewed in this section of the article is called, "Mind Over Muscle: The Effortless Way to a Perfect Body", by James Villepique. I'm not sure if a perfect body is realistic to hope for, but this could be an interesting book to read through. I haven't read it , but if anyone does read this book, please feel free to comment on what you think!
Switch It Up
The article also suggests that if you vary the amount of weight you use from work out to work out, you'll see results faster and avoid plateaus. This is definitely true, and we do this in every pilates session. In just one session, you work your arms (for example) in many different ways and positions, using different weights of bars, springs, and your own resistance as well.
If you come to pilates more than once a week, you'll notice that we sometimes do the same exercises as the last time, but with different spring tension. Using different tension settings on the springs occasionally will definitely take you out of your comfort zone and make you work harder!
So, if you do pilates- congratulations! You already do all the things that the article says will enhance your work out and bring you results. If you don't do pilates, it might be time to give it a try, and experience the many and various benefits it will bring. Read more!
In a recent issue of Health Magazine (Dec 2007), three of the newest books on fitness were rated as books that gave out the best fitness advice for this year. Here is a summary of what each book suggests you do to get the most out of your fitness routines, increase your calorie burn, and build more muscle.
Multitask
Switch It Up
You might recognize that each of these suggestions are exactly what one pilates session will give you!
It is suggested that you start doing exercises that work out multiple muscle groups all at once, rather than exercises that isolate specific muscles. The article makes a great point that your body will look more balanced when you work out multiple muscles groups together, because you won't be working out one group more than the other.
Of course, pilates IS working out the whole body all at once, not just over the period of an hour, but also in each and every exercise. So if you do pilates, you are already on the road to balance and full-body strengthening.
Use Your Head
If you do pilates, you know that if you really focus your mind on what muscles are initiating each action, you can feel the exercises much more powerfully.
The article makes an interesting suggestion about another way to use your mind while working out. It suggests that just before you begin an exercise, imagine the targeted muscle as a dull shade of red. As you do the movement and feel the muscle working, imagine the red getting brighter and brighter. As you finish the exercise, think of that red as fading again.
I haven't tried this but it sounds kind of interesting! Might be a cool way to try using your mind in the mind-body connection.
The book reviewed in this section of the article is called, "Mind Over Muscle: The Effortless Way to a Perfect Body", by James Villepique. I'm not sure if a perfect body is realistic to hope for, but this could be an interesting book to read through. I haven't read it , but if anyone does read this book, please feel free to comment on what you think!
The article also suggests that if you vary the amount of weight you use from work out to work out, you'll see results faster and avoid plateaus. This is definitely true, and we do this in every pilates session. In just one session, you work your arms (for example) in many different ways and positions, using different weights of bars, springs, and your own resistance as well.
If you come to pilates more than once a week, you'll notice that we sometimes do the same exercises as the last time, but with different spring tension. Using different tension settings on the springs occasionally will definitely take you out of your comfort zone and make you work harder!
So, if you do pilates- congratulations! You already do all the things that the article says will enhance your work out and bring you results. If you don't do pilates, it might be time to give it a try, and experience the many and various benefits it will bring. Read more!