Do some Pilates people!!

During the past couple of months I have been trying to get back into a regular workout routine, and I have to say, I’ve been doing pretty good! I have a pool and I want a pool ready physique. Strong and lean but not thick like a body builder. I want the energy from being active and the lean body is a wonderful side effect.

So I’ve been trying to find group classes to keep me in a routine. For the most part it’s been strength training based on the morning schedule I have, though yoga has always been my first love. Yoga and I hit it off the first time I tried it. I’m not one of those wimpy yoga girls, I really get a great workout and build strength as long as the teacher is great.

Since I brought strength training into the mix, I have noticed some pain and popping, especially in my shoulders and my thumb. Not that it’s related, but holding a weight was painful in my thumb.

So, I looked at the schedule to find something else and I decided to finally try Pilates. I have heard rave reviews about it and I am not sure why I didn’t do it sooner but I should have! I love using the weight of my own body against gravity to build strength and the core is what most women need the most. I feel amazing! Like a wash cloth after wringing out the water. I imagined this would be so good for detoxing fat cells and so I started looking into what really is behind pilates and why should everyone integrate a day a week!

First and foremost from the research I have done, Pilates creates a very strong body awareness. This is something that has escaped many of us in our full-time desk jobs as we hunch over our computers and cradle a phone between our shoulder and our ear or even as full-time mothers as we carry one child on a protruding hip. With Pilates, you focus so much on body alignment and a strong core that it requires you to pay close attention to what’s happening with your body. More body awareness is always a good thing.

Pilates also creates a very strong core and lean, long muscle throughout your body mostly your own weight. Not only does a strong core help you to have great posture and support the rest of your body but a continued routine of Pilates will help to give many people the exact body type they desire. Fit but not bulky, tall and well proportioned. As one of the few truly holistic exercises I have ever done, I have to say that the balance in my body felt great after that class. No throbbing legs or noodley arms as I left the gym. An all over great feeling…that definitely came with some exhaustion due to a job well done.

So this fantastic feeling got me thinking. How do we know what exercise types or routines are right for us? Everyone’s body is different. We all require slightly different levels of nutrients and vitamins, why is it not the same with exercise?

The first thing that you have to do is decide what your goal is. Do you want to lose weight, tone up or compete in a bodybuilding competition? Obviously each one of those goals requires different action to get to. If you are looking to slim up, lose some unwanted pounds and maybe tone your muscles a bit, cardio is a very good thing to add in, along with something like Pilates or yoga. Then you have to think about what type of cardio is best for your. If you have issues with your ankles, knees or hips, running is probably not the best choice. Maybe try something low impact such as an elliptical machine or even better yet, swimming. For an extreme muscle building workout, weight training (under supervision) or something like CrossFit may be the right choice for you.

Another thing to remember is that your workout doesn’t need to be done in the gym! Take it to the mountains for a nature immersing hike that will not only get your heart rate up but also build muscle, or go for a swim in a lake nearby. Take the family for long walk in the evenings or play Wii Fit with the kids. You have to keep your mind open because if you don’t like your workout routine, chances are you won’t stick with it. The most important thing to remember goes back to the body awareness topic.

If it feels horrible on your body, you probably shouldn’t be doing it. Now this does not mean to give up at the earliest sign of difficulty! Learn the difference between working hard and knowing that something is not right for your body. Stick to that because it is your best gauge of what you should be doing. That should be a lesson throughout your entire life, not just in the physical sense.

Always healthy and happy,

Laura