Find a Workout Buddy

A fitness friend is hugely helpful for keeping motivated,

but

it's important to find someone who will inspire - not discourage.

Make a list

of all your exercise-loving friends and then see who fits this criteria such as; Can your pal meet to exercise on a regular basis? Is he/she supportive (not disparaging) of your goals?

And last, will your bud be able to keep up with you or even push your limits in key workouts? Now that’s a buddy!

If you've got someone that fits all three, make that phone call and we will see you both at your next Pilates workout.

Foot Health: Don't Tiptoe Around its Importance →

We all know how to keep our biceps in shape, but few of us know how to keep feet and toes in good condition.

They take significant abuse from the hours we spend on our feet each day.  

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) considers your feet a marvel of engineering.  Together, your two feet contain more than 50 bones, accounting for about one-fourth of all the bones in your body. And somehow they also make room for more than 60 joints and 200 muscles, tendons, and ligaments that hold them together and help them move.

The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society recommends doing these simple exercises to strengthen toes and prevent foot discomfort.

All shoe wearers will benefit from these exercises.

Toe raise, point and curl:

Hold each position for five seconds and repeat 10 times. Great if you suffer from toe cramps.

Golf ball roll:

Roll a golf ball under the ball of the foot for two minutes.
This is a great massage for the bottom of the foot and is recommended for people
with plantar fasciitis (heel pain), arch strain or foot cramps.

Towel curls

Place a small towel on the floor and curl it toward you using only your toes.
You can increase the resistance by putting a weight on the end of the towel.
Relax and repeat this exercise five times.

Try these exercises recommendations the next time your feet cry mutiny.

You’ll soon be stepping lively again!



For more information on foot health go to: http://www.aofas.org/footcaremd/.aspx

 

Workout Booster

DRINK UP

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

 Pointers that will help you get what you need in terms of hydration.

 1.  About 1 hour before working out, drink 8 ounces of water to help ensure you’re starting off hydrated.

2.  Add a low-calorie electrolyte tablet to your water pre-workout and drink during the workout. This will help you maintain adequate hydration and replace what you loose through swear.

3.  Remember to rehydrate post-workout. Aim for 6-8 ounces.  

Share you hydration tips in our comments section below.

Wisdom Wednesday

"If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old. IF it is completely flexible at 60, you are young."

~ Joseph Pilates

Join Amelia for a Chair Class on Saturday mornings at 10:30am. Text (203) 627-6687 to reserve a spot . Chair Class: $25

Join Dorothy Sunday morning at 9:30 am for a group Sculpt, Tone and Balance class with props.  Text 626-818-0241 or Email to reserve a spot.

Sculpt, Tone and Balance Class: $20

Photo by Joyce McCown on Unsplash

FOBO?

You’ve heard of FOMO…

(a.k.a. fear of missing out), but now everyone is talking about FOBO (fear of better options).

It’s a term coined by Patrick J. McGinnis, who is the host of the podcast FOMO Sapiens. The idea is that we often fall into the trap of researching every single option - like when you are looking for a hotel, or searching for a restaurant - to ensure you pick the best possible thing.

The problem? Experts say it can lead to paralysis, because the more options you have, the tougher it is to make a decision.

P/oP makes your decision making easy, all our classes are tailored to be a great fit for you workout goals.

Join our Group Reformer Classes: $25

Join Samantha every Monday evening at 6pm & 7pm & Wednesday at 6pm for a group reformer class. Text (213) 222-6199 to reserve a spot. 

Join Toni every Wednesday evening at 7:00pm for a group reformer class. Text (707) 416-6162 to reserve a spot. Email to rsvp.

Join Amelia every Thursday evenings at 6pm & 7pm for a group reformer class. Text (203) 627-6687 to reserve a spot .


Get a Better Waistline...Add Obliques to Your Workout

The obliques aid in compressing the abdomen and in forward-bending. They are also the hard workers that help us in side-bending and twisting our torso.

The big reason to include oblique work in your workouts is to make sure you have tone and good function in any muscle group—you want the full benefits that muscle group has to offer.

In this case, it's the side bending and twisting ability along with abdominal compression and forward bending. Many of us want to make extra sure we get our oblique workouts in because toned obliques make for a nice waistline. 

Keep in mind that the obliques work in concert with your other abdominal muscles and really all the muscles of your Pilates powerhouse—abs, back, hips, pelvic floor.

It is not recommended to focus just on obliques, but rather obliques in the context of a full-body workout. We want form and function along with a waistline.

Making bending and twisting exercises effective and safe to get that oblique workout. One example is the Pilates Mermaid Side Stretch Exercise below.

Pin it - Ben Goldstein

One of the best ways to get your oblique workouts is in a balanced Pilates workout which will always feature twisting and bending exercises.

To get a better waistline, contact one of our experienced instructors today they can craft a balanced workout for you in studio and for your at home practice.

The studio is open 7 days a week from 6am to 9pm or

contact us at info@pilatesofpasadena.com

Instructor: Abby Hanson

Abby Hanson has been studying yoga and pilates for twenty years. 

Her inspiration is always aging gracefully and living free from pain.  

Abby believes in restorative movement and recently began teaching yamuna ball rolling.  YBR is ball rolling therapy that combines the release of massage with the strengthening and toning of exercise, providing an effortless workout and a deep stretch. 

The balls

apply traction that frees up connective tissue, reeducates muscles, stimulates bones, and leads to fully releasing negative holding patterns in the body. 

YBR is the perfect compliment to Pilates exercise. 

If you are interested please look for future classes at Pilates of Pasadena towards the end of September, or contact Abby for private YBR instruction today.