STRETCHING

Stretching is important at all stages of your life,

not just as you age.

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The sooner you make stretching a part of your lifestyle, the longer you will stay flexible and limber, which will help you

move easier and alleviate tightness as you get older. 

That said, it is never too late to start stretching at home! You can start now and feel the benefits in your overall well-being. 

➕By stretching regularly, you can increase your flexibility, strength, and range of motion while giving your body an overall "zen" feeling. 

➕Stretching improves your posture by lifting your alignment and opens your body to increased energy levels by helping your circulation and blood flow. 


➕It also helps injury prevention, muscle condition, and improves exercise performance. 

⏩⏩⏩JOIN Mirko’s MAT CLASSES Tuesday at 9:30am and Friday at 5:00pm for an overall “zen” feeling after class

🌝 🐛 EARLY BIRDS CLASS RISE & SHINE for Dorothy's 7am Saturday morning class will get you energized for the weekend. 

RSVP and Check out our website to RSVP online



Eat Berries for Breakfast

Berries are an incredible food, rich in nutrients for our brain, our digestion, and they’re disease-preventative.

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Photo by_ alex-block-597468-unsplash.jpg

They’re also a fresh source of produce and keep us fuller than processed cereals with dried fruits. Add 1/2 cup of your choice frozen or fresh berries to either a smoothie, oatmeal, or just have some with some unsweetened coconut yogurt and a little chia or flax seeds.

Berries are also a great source of vitamin C to kickstart your immune system.

Say Hello to H2O

When you're heading off to pilates, yoga, or any other exercise class, it's always important to hydrate so you can stay energized and have your best workout.

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Electrolyte-loaded athletic drinks can be a source of unnecessary calories, so drinking water is usually best until you're exercising for more than one hour.

At that point, feel free to go for regular Gatorade-type drinks which can give you a beneficial replenishment boost.

Do you have a favorite athletic drink..share with us in our comment section below.

Veterans Day

Today we pay our respects to those who have served.

We celebrate and honor all of America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

For one day, we stand united in respect for you, our veterans.

Photo by Rick Lipsett on Unsplash

This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country's service and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on Nov. 11 because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to "Veterans Day" in order to account for all veterans in all wars.

Join us in saluting our veterans.


Diamond Down

Pilates Exercise Tips for Strong and Healthy Shoulders

  • Have you ever injured your arms and shoulders?

  • Do carry stress and tension in your neck, upper back?

  • Do you ever notice your shoulders hiked up around your ears?


    It’s not surprising that so many people these days experience one, or all of these shoulder issues.  To maintain our erect human posture we have two options – good core support, or overuse of our arms and shoulders to try and hold us up!

Think of it this way…  You are either like a coat on a hook (shoulders up), or a circus tent with a tall pole up the center and the edges sloping down (core support & shoulders down).  Being like a coat on a hook means lots of neck and shoulder tension.  You might experience more headaches, or be prone to shoulder injuries and rotator cuff problems.  The good news, things can change quickly with the right body awareness, exercises, and improving your posture.

So the first important tip for strong healthy shoulders is to strengthen your core.

  •  The stronger your abs and back are to help keep you sitting and standing with tall posture (like a circus tent) the more your shoulders can relax.

  • But just relaxing your shoulders may not be enough.  Some active work to pull them down away from your ears may be necessary.  One of my favorite cues for strengthening the lower trapezius muscles (the muscles that help to pull the shoulders down) is “Diamond Down.”

The Trapezius

muscle is a broad diamond shaped muscle that has fibers running in three different directions. The upper fibers elevate the shoulders. Middle fibers assist in pulling the shoulder blades together, and the lower fibers draw the shoulder blades down.

Generally speaking, the weakest and most important action for shoulder support and stability is the downward action of the Trapezius, thus my cue of “Diamond Down” when preparing to do any exercise that involves using the shoulders and arms.

Benefits of Strengthening the Lower Trapezius Muscle with “Diamond Down”

  • It places the shoulder joint in a more optimal place for movement of the shoulder and arm during exercise.  Better movement improves strength and flexibility and reduces risk of injury.

  • It provides the counter-leverage  necessary to lengthen and open joint space for the upper thoracic spine, neck and head, which means improved posture and upper spine mobility.

Tips for Practicing “Diamond Down”

  1. Start Standing with good posture and core support.  The upper spine should be slightly curved in its natural position so that the shoulder blades can lay flat on the back.  Just let the arms hang by your sides.

  2. Inhale breathing into the back to lift the ribcage and lengthen the spine, Exhale and from the bottom tips of the shoulder blades and draw the “Diamond Down” gently pulling the shoulder blades down towards the back of your waist.

  3. Repeat this three times,  lifting the spine higher, and deepening the “Diamond Down” contraction. Then release.  Repeat your “Diamond Down” exercise 3-5 times as a warm-up exercise before any other Pilates or gym exercises.  Or do it as a stand-alone exercise a couple of times throughout your day to remind you to keep your shoulders away from your ears!

What to Watch For

  • Be sure as the shoulder blades only pull down, that they don’t pinch together, but stay flat on the ribcage.

  • Watch your posture, allow the blades to move, and keep the rest of the body still.

  • Make sure the lower abdominals are lifting for core support and remain lifted while you draw your “Diamond” down.

Get More Core

Good Pilates exercise techniques makes a healthy body.  If you have a weak core, chances are your shoulders like to be hiked up around your ears.  With a strong center it’s much easier to improve shoulder mechanics, reduce joint pain, and maximize your Pilates workouts.  Doing the right exercises to strengthen your abdominals and back, along with practicing your “Diamond” down shoulder blade cue and you’ll be off to a great start for developing strong and healthy arms and shoulders with any and all of the exercises you do.

 

 © MMVIII-MMXIII, Aliesa George and Centerworks©. Used by Permission. Originally posted on Centerworks.com.

 

Source: http://www.centerworks.com/pilates-exercis...

Workout Motivation

Motivation Boosters can be difficult to tap into…

Try these 5 green light tactics,

now; Whatever the reason, they can help you continue or even start exercising when it feels impossible.

  1. Invest money. Money has a way of changing your perspective because no one wants to waste it. Think of it as the best kind of investment—in your health. Start small and grow into group or duet classes that are cost savings.

  2. Schedule it. Setting and maintaining a consistent exercise schedule turns it into part of your day. In other words, prioritize working out as if it were a doctor’s appointment, no skipping allowed. Just remember that it’s important to make a schedule that’s realistic and can be maintained.

  3. Add Variety. If you dread your sweat sessions, get creative and try something new. It could be that you just haven’t found your workout motivation sweet spot yet. Love cardio? Look into spinning or boxing. Want to tone, strengthen and tighten? Try a Pilates class.

  4. Workout with a Partner. Working out with a friend creates accountability—it’s harder to bail when you know you’ll be letting someone else down by not showing up. Bonus: research has shown that exercising with a partner can push you to work harder during the sweat session, and it’s bound to be way more fun, too.

  5. Treat yourself (post-workout). Choose something to serve as a reward after working out (skip the ice cream). Think along the lines of a warm shower followed by a great face mask, or bigger treats for hitting specific goals.Think of something that really resonates with you, personally, that makes you proud of keeping your focus and working towards those bigger health and fitness goals.

Featured Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash

Wunda Chair Benefits

P/oP Wunda Chair Benefits

One may assume that the Wunda chair got its name because it works wonders.

At P/oP we believe that it does!

 The Wunda chair is often used for simple strength and balance exercises or for a medium to advanced range workout. 

** Enjoy these benefits from a Wunda Chair routine:

Stretching on the Wunda chair helps increase your range of motion, improve your flexibility and decrease tension in your whole body.

Wunda chair exercises using the feet help strengthen the legs and ankles while also working your core.

The Wunda chair can help you build strength in your arms and chest.

Specific moves on the Wunda chair offer an intense, challenging workout for your core abdominal area.

 

A Wunda chair class is a great addition to your exercise routine.

**check with your pilates instructor about adding the chair to your routine

 

Spring Into Action

Tuesday Jump Class with Toni at noon

Get your heart rate going and get ready to move.

Jump boards and trampolines attached to reformers transform your Pilates workout into a jumping cardio workout. Jumping horizontally against the springs, rather than fighting gravity, provides low impact to joints while using your core to stabilize the body.

This is a 40-minute class. $25.00

TO BOOK CLASS GO to:pilatesofpasadena.com/book-classes

THURSDAY MOVEMENT 360 CLASS

Thursdays at noon with Charletha

Charletha utilizes small props, (i.e., small balls and 18” dowel sticks) for closed chain movements. This class is a combination of Pilates mat work and stretching, as well as an emphasis on joint articulation, fascia release and standing balance.

The goal is to increase overall core strength, achieve better functional range of motion in joint structures, and maintain overall body movement and balance awareness.

This is a great class

for anyone, especially older adults who wish to remain fit and maintain a full range of motion.


SIGN UP FOR CLASS AT: pilatesofpasadena.com/book-classes $25.00


“ I see so many of us lose our balance as we age, any way to continue to improve our balance will ultimately prevent injuries caused from falling “ — Maria

Wednesday Tips

For Side Kick Front/Back Series...Imagine, stacked coffee cups...

Lie on your side with your elbow, shoulder, midback and buttocks aligned with the back edge of your mat.Think shoulder over shoulder, hip over hip.

Lift your top leg to hip height and turn it out ever so slightly from the hip. Inhale, pressing your navel deep into your spine.

Swing your leg to the front and pulse it twice (like two small kicks) as far forward as it will so without rocking forward in your hips or scrunching your waist.

To stabilize your shoulders, imagine balancing stacked coffee cups on your shoulder and do not rattle the cups as you go.

Exhale as you swing your leg back, reaching for the back corner of the room. Watch those cups.

Repeat 10 times

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