According to an article in the Huffington Post, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has ranked the top 20 fitness trends for 2012.  A survey was completed by 2,620 ACSM certified fitness professionals.  While some things have remained the same, Pilates is off the list for the second year in a row.  But let’s take a look at the list…  Then help decide if you think Pilates should still be considered a player in the top 20 trends.

ACSM’s Top 20 Fitness Trends for 2012

OK, Pilates teachers & students…what do you think about this list?

As I look at it – and think about what I do when working with my clients to improve their whole-body health with Pilates, I see Pilates as a key fitness player in at least the following categories:

Patient Referrals – many doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists are referring their patients to Pilates.

Sport-Specific Training – I know that I’m working with runners, tri-athletes, dancers, equestrians, football players, soccer players, swimmers, cyclists, and other athletes who are using Pilates to help them stay safe, injury-free, and improve their sports performance.

Functional Fitness – Pilates is the tool I use to help my clients understand how their body is designed to move.  Everything in Pilates IS functional fitness!

Group Personal Training – Yes, we teach Pilates as a group personal training experience with duets, trios, quartets…

Core Training – Pilates is primarily thought of as a “core training” experience.  Of course it’s much more, but with every exercise we are working the core.

Personal Training – In my opinion, the very best way to start as a Pilates student is with one-on-one Pilates personal training.  Pilates teachers ARE in the Personal Training business.

Fitness Programs for Older Adults – What is “older” anyway?  Isn’t 60 the new 30?  I find that many “older” adults are embracing Pilates because it is a life-time fitness activity that is much gentler on their bodies, and provides great benefits without the additional stress or strain from activities they enjoyed in their youth.

Strength Training – Pilates IS a combination of strength and flexibility with every exercise.  Pilates is strength with length, a great combination for a sleek physique.

Certified & Educated Fitness Professionals – Well to be a Pilates Teacher requires a great education!  A well-qualified Pilates Teacher has put in the time to develop their professional skills, has completed a comprehensive Pilates Teacher-Training program, and has the opportunity to sit for a nationally recognized Pilates Teacher Certification Exam through the Pilates Method Alliance.

So by my count….out of the top 20 fitness trends for 2012 – at least NINE of them can be achieved through Pilates!

Who says Pilates isn’t still on trend?  Perhaps now Pilates has moved beyond “trendy” and into the mainstream consciousness of intelligent people looking for an efficient and effective way to improve their fitness and whole-body health.

Let’s bust this fitness “trend” list
and show the world how many benefits Pilates has to offer!

• What was your reason to start enjoying the benefits of Pilates?
• What has Pilates done for you?
• If you are a Pilates Teacher, How many of your clients use Pilates as their primary method of exercise for fitness & wellness?

Do you agree with the ACSM’s Top 20 Fitness Trends for 2012, or do you think Pilates should still be on this list?

Voice your opinion, and let’s keep Pilates relevant in the fitness industry as one of most participated activities for strength, flexibility, and a healthy mind, body, and Spirit.

This question about the difference between toning shoes vs. a regular pair of running or walking shoes always comes up when I teach my Fantastic Feet Workshop!

Everybody’s looking for the best option to get the most bang for their buck for a workout. But lots of bucks it takes to buy these fancy “toning” shoes! Is the cost for the claims of burning more calories, solving joint pain, working your hamstrings, butt and calves harder really worth it?

According to the ACE study – there is no statistically significant increases or evidence to support the advertising claims. A regular pair of tennis shoes can provide the same benefits as your MBT’s or other Shape-Up shoes, based on the ACE research study which measured fitness and wellness benefits.

Do I own a pair of Toning Shoes – YES. Do I wear them often – NO.

Why did I buy them? Because I had so many clients asking if they should buy a pair that I wanted to experience what it felt like to wear them so I could give a more educated opinion on what these shoes felt like during a workout and how they affected my gait and stride.

What’s my opinion?
Since so many people are running around in flip-flops and other strapless or backless shoes – in general, for most of the population – stride length has been compromised. If you watch people walk, the legs swing more to the front of the body than behind the body. (We’ve made this adaptation to keep our flip-flops from falling off our feet!) Because of this the hips, hamstrings, and glutes don’t get a chance to work like they should because the legs are never in extension (behind the body) far enough for these muscles to fire.

Our strength to propel the body forward when we walk and run comes from the back of the legs – hamstrings, glutes, ankle and foot. Without a long enough stride, hip, knee, and ankle mechanics are compromised. And if you take a look at most of the cardio equipment on the market (with the exception of a treadmill) the stride/swing for the legs is primarily to the front of the body which continues to enhance the imbalance that has been created by our poor shoe choices and shortened stride!

So accepting by the research that you’re not going to burn more calories, or work harder by wearing toning shoes what might be the value of wearing toning shoes for a workout? For me, the rocker-bottom helps free up the swing of the leg and makes it a bit easier to increase stride length to feel what I should be doing all day long (in any pair of shoes) to get the legs behind the body for better stride length.

I wear my MBT’s every once in a blue moon! The rest of the time I prefer to focus my attention on making my body do things right (rather than rely on my shoes to do the work.)

What Do YOU Think About Toning Shoes?

• Do you own a pair of toning shoes?
• Why did you buy them?
• How much do you wear them?
• What’s your overall opinion of toning shoes?

If you want to read the research, click here for the ACE Fitness article.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.It seems evident to me that this author has probably never experienced a Pilates workout!  And in my study of Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and meditation,  I believe that these great mind-body methods are more similar than one might think for improving whole-body health.

Here’s Why:

It’s not just, let’s move the body, but let’s be aware, in-tune, and conscious of what we’re doing, how, we’re doing it, the initiation point, end point, and in-between points for every movement.

I think it’s wonderful that we have options for focused fitness and enhanced wellness for improved mind-body health.   There is a method out there to help meet the needs of each of us as individuals.  And if you want to develop and fine-tune your skills, cross-training and exploring different mind-body methods may give you an increased appreciation for your body, health, and the ancient wisdom that is at the root of each of these techniques.

Look for my series of upcoming posts on the benefits of each of these great mind-body methods.

• Pilates
• Yoga
• Tai-Chi
• Qi Gong / Chi Gung
• Martial Arts
• Meditation

And I’m curious to know… What’s your  #1 favorite Mind-Body Wellness method?  Answer the  survey, and if you have a moment – tell me why it’s your choice in the comment section below.

A great body position on push-ups, makes the exercise so much easier to do! And with great technique you’ll be getting a lot more bang for your buck from every repetition to improve your upper body strength and fitness.

Push-ups in Pilates normally are done at the end of a Mat workout, but they’re a great exercise that you can do anytime, anywhere without any fancy equipment to maintain your fitness.

To Start the Exercise:

• Stand with your feet in a V-position, arms extended over your head.
• Walk your hands down the front of your body while you bend forward to reach the floor.
• Walk your hands out on the mat taking 3-5 steps to get into a long and strong push-up position.

While you are getting into your push-up position…the following things should happen in this order:

1. Heels lengthen away from the head
2. Tailbone tucks under and reaches towards the heels
3. Lower abdominals lift up and in
4. Glutes & Inner thighs squeeze
5. Shoulder blades pull down the back
6. Spine lengthens through the top of the head

To do a Push-Up and keep a great body position, the sequence of what happens is really important.

Inhale to lower the whole-body, exhale, pull the low belly up, shoulders down, then engage the muscles under the shoulders, around the ribcage and into the belly to help lift the body up while straightening the arms.

Here’s a video clip with my fitness tips and a Push-Up demo to help you improve your body position and Push-Up power.

Have Fun Practicing Your Push-Ups!

Click here to view the embedded video.

There are so many different reasons that each of us is inspired to exercise.  And your inspiration might change throughout the year.  Finding the motivation factor to keep fit is one of the keys to success.

I believe that if you know what motivates you, you’ll be more apt to do whatever it takes to stick with your workouts.  And if your reason isn’t important enough…well you might workout occasionally, but not enough to really reap the benefits you’d like to achieve.

So take a moment to answer this question on my poll for the day.  And then on those rare and occasional moments when you’re feeling un-motivated, and un-inspired to “get your sweat on…” perhaps you can think back to your response to this survey and recommit to your self and your health to get your tennies on (or swim suit, or Pilates attire) and make the most of your workout!

If you’re one of those die-hard, “I never miss a workout” types – Congratulations, You are truly inspirational and it shows in your attitude, commitment, and physique.

I’d love to know the WHY behind your #1 reason too, but there’s not a fill-in the blank response on the poll form, so if you’re inspired to comment and share, please pop your thoughts into my comment form below.

Have a Fit & Fabulous Day!

So far the Olympics have been met with both tragedy and success!  Is there a sport that I don’t like to watch?  Not yet…Most of the winter sports have me sitting on the edge of my chair and seem to be for speed demons!

Last night the commentators were quick to point out that Winter Olympians are a fearless bunch, and I have to agree.

Here’s a quote from American Todd Lodwick on his comparison of real-life to ski jumping.

“The best way I can describe it is to go up onto the thirtieth floor of any building, and then get in the car and drive that car off the top roof, and then land safely. That is pretty much what it is.”

So I’ve got to ask…

1. Would you willingly volunteer to take a wild ride like this? And not just once…but over and over again until you’re confident, in control, and know that 99% of the time you’re going to land safely!
2. Would you even consider jumping if you had the slightest thought that you might fail?
3. Does this sound like FUN to you?

These great athletes from all over the world have spent endless hours practicing their sports, paying attention to diet, nutrition, cross-training, injury-prevention (or rehabilitation) and many have still had to work, take care of their families, and handle other responsibilities.

And they are now reaping the benefits of their dedicated efforts by being the best in their sports and selected to represent their country in the Olympics!  Way to go – I’m proud to cheer you on!

If these athletes can juggle life with Olympic training to achieve success in their sports, perhaps those of us with regular lives can also strike a balance to achieve success, whether it’s for fitness, business, or other endeavors. The drive, determination, and motivation that these athletes share definitely lights a fire of inspiration under me to make better choices and continue striving for success until I reach my own “Olympic-sized” dreams.

Do the stories of Olympic athletes help to motivate you? I’d love to hear what’s helped inspire you to stay focused on achieving your dreams.

Here’s a great health article that was recently in The San Diego Union-Tribune about dangerous stretching techniques and the benefits of dynamic stretching before exercise.  It also includes some great tips on how to stretch safely, and a few examples of good stretching exercises for your post-exercise cool down stretching routine.

Are you on track with your flexibility training exercises to stretch safely for your fitness workouts and sports performance goals?

One of the things that keeps Pilates exercises so challenging, regardless of how long you’ve been doing them, is the concept of developing strength with length.  The muscles of our abdominals and back are the ones that help provide the lift, length, and space between the ribcage and hip bones.

Here’s a video with a few thoughts on practicing better breathing habits to help improve your ability to be long and strong.  Start practicing this, and then learn how to apply it to all of your Pilates exercises (and other fitness exercises) to get maximum health benefits from your workout program.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The benefits of this simple kneecap dance exercise include: Less time standing with your knees locked, stronger quadriceps, freer movement of the leg, and better tracking of the patella (knee cap), which all help to reduce knee pain.

Have fun playing with your dancing kneecaps!

Click here to view the embedded video.

You don’t have to be plagued by chronic ankle pain and problems. There are lots of great ankle strengthening exercises that can help you get fit, and enjoy all the sports and fitness activities you enjoy participating in.

Here are 4 of my favorite ways to help be sure your ankles are in top training condition!

For Pilates Reformer workouts, find a studio near you. Everything else you can practice on your own at home or add to your current workout!  It doesn’t take a lot of time to improve ankle strength, just a few minutes focused on your feet a couple of workouts a week, and you’re on your way to staying healthy, fit, and injury-free!

You can find all of these great foot and ankle care products at Centerworks.com.  Get a copy of the book Fantastic Feet with the Standing Footwork and Theraband  exercises.  Buy Therabands from super-easy to advanced strengths, and get a Super-Ankle Board all online in the Foot Care Products section at the Centerworks store.