Pilates can Help with Sciatic Nerve Pain

It's not always possible to prevent sciatica, but practicing a few good habits can play a key role in protecting your back.

 

Exercise in general is good, but Pilates is excellent in helping bring balance to the muscles of the back, hips, and abdominal muscles to realign the body.

A Pilates session

will teach proper body mechanics to support the body in sitting, standing, and walking.

Functional exercise improves posture, and good body mechanics, which are important to keep your back strong and healthy and reducing the risk of sciatica. 

  • If you stand for extended periods, rest one foot on a low stool or box from time to time. Pay special attention that your hips stay level when doing this.

  •  When lifting heavy objects, bend at the hips and knees making sure to keeping your spine straight and your abdominal muscles pulled in.

  •  Always hold the load close to your body and avoid lifting and twisting at the same time.

  •  Try to maintain a healthy weight

  •  Sit in an upright correct position

 

How do you manage sciatica? Do you know any other exercises or tricks for dealing with sciatic nerve pain? Tell us in the comments.

It’s Simpler Than You Think

Caring for the planet is one of those things that can seem out of our reach.

James K. Williamson’s article,Things You Can Do to Care for the Planet, NYT  Feb. 24, 2019, offers several ideas that we can do in our everyday lives to take part in caring for our community, country and planet.

Hang on to your smartphone

The little computer you carry with you requires a lot of energy to assemble. The production of an iPhone 6, for example, released the equivalent of 178 pounds of carbon dioxide, or about as much as burning nine gallons of gas, according to a 2015 study. Instead of buying a new phone, try to keep yours in working condition for as long as possible (here’s some advice on how to extend its life). But if you must get rid of yours, recycle it or consider buying a used one.

Leave leaves

Leaves provide shelter for worms, moths and some butterflies, which then become prey for neighborhood birds. They also help nourish and fertilize soil, and you won’t burn fossil fuels by using a lawn mower or leaf blower.

Use a dishwasher, not the sink

Dishwashers have improved over the years: Average models certified by the government’s Energy Star program use 3.5 gallons or less per cycle. Compare that with an efficient kitchen faucet, which pours 1.5 gallons of water per minute, meaning that handwashing for four minutes nearly doubles the water use of a dishwasher. If you don’t have the luxury of owning a dishwasher, try to do the two-bucket method: “When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.”

Buy fewer clothes

Manufacturers use water and chemicals to dye and finish cotton clothes. Polyesters and nylons aren’t biodegradable. In this age of fast fashion, it’s best to wear your clothes for a long, long time. (Buying secondhand helps, too.)

Consider your online order, from click to carrier

When you’re shopping online, try to buy in bulk to reduce multiple deliveries, which can help cut carbon emissions from delivery trucks. Research your items to avoid having to return them, and always recycle the boxes.

Be mindful of your food waste

A massive amount of energy goes into producing the food we eat, especially meat and dairy and about 40 percent of food in the United States is thrown away. To limit food waste when you’re hosting a get-together, use this “Guest-imator” to calculate the amount of groceries you’ll need. Also check out the “Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook” for more help on reducing food waste.

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.

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

EARLY REGISTRATION EXTENDED for this Popular Workshop! Instructors Book Today!

Karen Clippinger's Last 2018 California Workshop at P/OP on

Sunday October 14, 2018

9am - 4pm

Save $50 with our $200 Early bird price good until OCTOBER 2nd

Hurry as Space is limited

This workshop is appropriate for reformer (only) instructors, as well as all levels of teachers and practitioners.

$250 - Regular price after Oct 2.

Respond to: info@pilatesofpasadena.com or (626)765-6500.

EXTENDED EARLY BIRD SPECIAL sign up by October 2  for $200, we are at 50% full,  Don't miss this opportunity call now to reserve your space  

626-765-6500.

Join Karen and a dedicated group of instructors in an intimate workshop that is part of an on-going education based on the science of the body and its practical applications. 

Sunday, October 14, 2018

9am - 4pm

This workshop is appropriate for reformer (only) instructors, as well as all levels of teachers and practitioners. Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of rotation because of its common association with functional movement and injury.

$200 - Early bird price good until October 2

$250 - Regular price after September 21

Space is limited 

Respond to: info@pilatesofpasadena.com or (626)765-6500.

Pilates of Pasadena

990 South Arroyo Parkway, Suite # 2

Pasadena, CA 91105

(Core Stability Advancements and Applications to the Pilates Reformer workshop approved for 6 PMA CECs) 

Karen has dedicated her professional career to the Kinesiology of movement and its research. She recently released the second edition of her book, Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology and remains a renowned international presenter.

She has a master's degree in exercise science and is a professor emerita at California State University Long Beach, where her course topics included Pilates, anatomy, injury prevention and care, and body placement for dancers.

Ms. Clippinger has given over 400 presentations internationally and in numerous cities in the U.S, including presenting at conferences for Pilates Method Alliance, IDEA, ACSM, Balanced Body Pilates on Tour and BASI Learn from the Leaders. She is the author of the textbook Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology, co-author of the book Pilates Anatomy, and has on-line classes on Pilates Anytime 

Prior to joining academia, Karen worked for 20 years as a clinical kinesiologist in various medical facilities and helped establish Pilates-based programs at Pacific Northwest Ballet and Loma Linda University Medical Center in the mid to late 1990s. 

Join us! Sign up today! 

Respond to: info@pilatesofpasadena.com or (626)765-6500. 


Attention Instructors...

Karen Clippinger's Last 2018 California Workshop at P/OP on

Sunday October 14, 2018

9am - 4pm

Save $50 with our $200 Early bird price good until September 21

Hurry as Space is limited

This workshop is appropriate for reformer (only) instructors, as well as all levels of teachers and practitioners.

$250 - Regular price after September 21

Respond to: info@pilatesofpasadena.com or (626)765-6500.


Urban Chicken Keeping 101

Great class to attend at McDonalds Urban Farm in Altadena!! This class will cover all you need to know to start raising your own backyard urban chickens.

TOPICS INCLUDE: CHICKEN BREEDS (FOR PERSONALITY AND EGG COLOR), PURCHASING AND RAISING DAY-OLD CHICKS OR MATURE CHICKENS, SAFE COOP DESIGN FOR YOUR CHICKENS, RULES FOR PASADENA/ALTADENA/SURROUNDING AREAS, BEST FEEDING PRACTICES, AND THE REWARDS OF BACKYARD CHICKEN EGGS.

Class includes a farm to table snack and a farm tour for $25.

Adults and children age 8+ welcome.

Sign up at: mcdonaldsurbanfarm.org/classes-events/

or Contact: FARM MANAGER / OWNER: AMELIA MCDONALDMCDONALDSURBANFARM@GMAIL.COM

Jake’s Favorite Mexican Roadside Inspired Summer Snack

Occasionally my sons and I stop after school and pick up the fruit snack the Mexican vendors sell on the side of the road. 

My mother used to make this for us growing up and now I make our version at home for my kids. It's Jake's favorite. 

Ingredients vary as this weekend, I used what was at hand in our refrigerator:

In a large bowl add,

Celery stalks cut to 1 1/2 bite sizes and Carrots sliced on a diagonal

Avocados cut into bite sized chunks and Cucumbers sliced

Add lots of fresh squeezed lime

Our home version we add Olive oil, Sea salt plus Mexican red pepper seasoning, we use "Tajin" 

The Traditional Roadside dish would also include a blend of the following ingredients:

  • Watermelon
  • Melon
  • Mango
  • Jicama

It's healthy and refreshing on a hot summer day! Enjoy.

Maria