Men Do Pilates

Fitness experts now believe that if there is one form of exercise that men of all ages should be doing, it’s this one!

Fun Fact:

Pilates was created by a man -- for men. Creator, Joseph Pilates, had a list of occupations -- diver, wrestler, body builder, self-defense teacher and professional boxer -- that's pretty much the stereotypical definition of manliness. The truth is, Pilates offers a great workout, regardless of your gender.

With its benefits of increased core strength, improved posture and better balance and flexibility, it should come as no surprise to learn that the number of male participants in Pilates classes is rising.

 Pilates includes balance and standing work, it is a total body workout. Let’s face it, there’s not much point in having great abs if they only work when you’re lying down!

 Your core isn’t just your abs — it’s your entire body from your diaphragm all the way to your pelvic floor. Although the focus of a Pilates class is primarily on your core, your inner unit, the class will also work your back, chest, arms, legs, neck, feet… the works! Other benefits are flexibility and coordination will improve with practice.

 That’s not to say that Pilates ever gets easy. Pilates is multi-layered, which is what keeps it interesting for people, even after years of practice.  

At P/op you’ll learn the basics of each movement first, breaking them down as much as needed, then adding things in to deepen the experience or simply add more challenge.

Book a session with a P/op instructor today, you’ll be glad you did!

Too much Holiday Sweets

Feeling guilty about the sweets or food you enjoyed at your Holiday celebrations?

Most people decide to cut back on eating to trim back down.

Don't beat yourself up! It takes a lot of calories—3,500—to gain a pound of body fat. So really, that holiday eating doesn't usually result in any significant weight gain.

It's about what you do the next day and the day after that's really important —so get back and stay on-track with your workouts. So be sure to whittle away at those extra calories over the next day or two, preferably by boosting exercise rather than eating too little. Starvation is not the healthy answer!

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

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.

Benefits of practice

The practice of Pilates may date back all the way to the early 1900’s, but the benefits of its practice are far from outdated.

 

Regularly practicing

Pilates builds core strength, increases flexibility and improves muscular balance and endurance.

Consistency is key for seeing results from Pilates, so add a class or two to your schedule this week! You’ll soon start feeling a much more strong and balanced core, which will only enhance your performance in other areas as well.

We look forward to seeing you at P/oP!

 Intro Offer: 3 private, 55-minute introductory sessions: $180

This set of 3 classes is an introduction to the art of Pilates and is open to first-time clients. Build core strength and learn the beginning moves you'll need to master this timeless exercise. Inquire on instructor availability.

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 .

Increase your brain power with Rosemary

WHY: Shakespeare knew what was up when he wrote, “Rosemary, that’s for remembrance.”

The herbal essential oil stimulates the brain and keeps you on the ball.

A study conducted by the Egyptian Journal of Basic and Applied Science found that inhaling the scent of rosemary increased productivity and improved visual and numerical memory.

HOW: Plugging away at your keyboard?

Block out office distractions by popping an aromatherapy diffuser into your computer and add a few drops of essential Rosemary oil.

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

Simple Steps to Better Sleep

The secret to refreshing sleep is to wake up naturally after a sustained period of REM. There is wisdom in the old saying that ‘one hour’s sleep before midnight is worth two after.’

We spend about a third of our lives in sleep.  Sleep is important on so many levels.

As Leonardo da Vinci said, “…a well-spent day brings happy sleep.”

If only we could sleep like a baby

and get some solid restful sleep.

Short-term insomnia, which is the commonest type of insomnia afflicts as many as one in three people, can be caused by a stressful life event, a poor sleeping environment, and an irregular routine.

 Try these 7 simple steps to better sleep:

1. Set up a strict routine involving regular and adequate sleeping times.

2. Devise a relaxing bedtime routine that helps you to wind down before bedtime.

3. Eat a wholesome evening meal with a good balance of protein and complex carbohydrates.

4. Enjoy a hot, non-caffeinated drink such as herbal tea or hot chocolate before going to sleep. In time, your hot drink could serve as a sleeping cue.

5. Sleep in a familiar, dark, and quiet room that is adequately ventilated and neither too hot nor too cold.

6. Exercise regularly. Exercise reduces arousal and anxiety and also helps with other aspects of psychological and physical health.

7. Reduce your overall stress. At the same time, try to do something fulfilling each day.

Don't make the common, almost universal mistake of underestimating sleep. Time spent in sleep is time well spent; almost everyone could do with better, more restorative sleep.

 Sleep is the best meditation. —Dalai Lama

Tuesday Tip

Looking for fresh looking, healthy skin?

Try peppermint oil in any of these

6 peppermint oil benefits for your skin.

Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash

1. Makes Skin Brighter

Adding a few drops of this oil into your daily beauty regimen is an easy and effective way to achieve healthy and radiant skin. It contains menthol that has a cooling effect and at the same time, works to brighten up the dull skin. Great to do after a Pilates workout!

2. Alleviates Stress And Pain

Peppermint oil can alleviate stress and pain after a long and tiring day. Apply some drops of peppermint oil on your body and take a bath. The refreshing properties of this wonderful oil will energize you and its cooling properties will remove body pain.

3. Hydrates A Dry Scalp

Since this oil has excellent moisturizing properties, you can mix it with your favorite carrier oil like almond oil or olive oil and apply the mixture on your hair.

Wrap your hair in a shower cap and wait for at least 30 minutes. Alternatively, you may use peppermint essential oil in combination with other essential oils like jasmine or lavender. It helps to nourish your hair and moisturize it thoroughly.

4. Eases Digestion

Peppermint oil can cure indigestion. You can add it to your food as a flavoring agent or drink few drops with a glass of warm water after your meal. Since peppermint oil is carminative in nature, it helps to reduce a stomach upset.

5. Peppermint Oil For Headaches

Peppermint oil is the best natural remedy to get relief from headaches. Sprinkle few drops of the oil on a handkerchief or dab it on your wrist and inhale it to get rid of a nagging headache. It is also used for migraines as an excellent stress buster.

6. Oral Health

It is usually added in all toothpastes for that refreshing flavor and if not, you can add it yourself. Put two drops of peppermint oil on your toothpaste and you can stay away from bad breath and toothaches. This is the best way for dental care and fighting against harmful germs. Enjoy a great smile!

Got a beauty tip? Share it in our comment section.

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 .


Boost methylation

Methylation is your body's biochemical superhighway that helps protect your DNA, brain, and gut from inflammation.

It is important to support healthy methylation pathways to lower homocysteine, an inflammatory amino acid.

A great way to help with this is by eating sulfur-rich vegetables such as cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and broccoli.

For more information go to: https://www.mindbodygreen.com

Photos by Keenan Loo,  Lauren Lester and  Reinaldo Kevin on Unsplash

Tuesday Tip

True Self-Care

Photo by John Westrock on Unsplash

True self-care is so much more than an occasional bubble bath, manicure, or massage. While all of these things are fantastic, they are self-care lite.

Nicole Griffin says, "True self-care, in my mind, is not an appointment, but a way of life. When done right, it is a manifestation of self-respect and is deeply woven into the way we show up in the world.”

In Nicole’s blog, she challenges us to think creatively and beyond the every day routine.

True self-care is living your best life Get the shiny nails if that makes you happy, but also do the real work. What makes you feel most alive? Who brings out the best in you and mirrors your fullest potential? Who doesn’t (bye)? What things make you lose track of time? What types of play did you love as a child? Who inspires you and why? What are you good at?

What are you waiting for? To learn more go to http://nicolegriffinwellness.com

Nicole is a yoga teacher and holistic health coach in the DC area. She believes that health and self-care should be a priority and that experiences are more valuable than possessions.

Her adventures in life have been defined by a love of learning, an insatiable curiosity, and a willingness to explore the world and say yes to new experiences.

Source: http://nicolegriffinwellness.com/service/b...

Perfect Podcast Workout Companions

Whether driving, exercising, cleaning, cooking or working, a podcast is the perfect companion that will leave you with even more knowledge than an encyclopedia and give you more clarity and perspective than you’ll know what to do with.

We are lucky enough to live in a world where the opportunities for learning are as infinite as they are accessible.

So many books, journal articles, blog posts and webinars are all available at our fingertips. We recommend listening to our favorite Go-To podcasts no matter what you are doing for continued learning.

Photo by Mohammad Metri on Unsplash

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Her real talk tips and tricks on cultivating happiness through daily actions and habits are a breath of fresh air and with every episode you can always feel a little happier. Gretchen has been interviewed by Oprah, walked arm-in-arm with the Dalai Lama and written a New York Times best Seller.

Stuff You Should Know

From insomnia and probiotics to personality types and claustrophobia, no topic is off limits in this podcast that humorously and intellectually delves into a ton of random topics that will leave your brain even fuller than your belly on Thanksgiving Day. You’ll love all the episode topics! Shout out to episode 612 “Do objects or experiences make us happier” for the perspective.

Achievement VS. Fulfillment – Tony Robbins

The best-selling author, motivational speaker and overall amazing human needs no introduction, Tony is known for creating change and success in minutes, and this particular episode is no exception. Breaking down the significant difference between the science of achievement and the art of fulfillment, he expertly explains why success without fulfillment is ultimate failure. Warning, you won’t be able to listen to it just once.

What is your favorite Podcast? Let us know in the comments below!