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Posts Tagged ‘Pilates Mat Exercise’
“True flexibility can be achieved only when all muscles are uniformly developed.”
Joseph H. Pilates
As I was chatting with a gal in my triathlon training program today, she began asking me questions about Pilates, and the difference between Pilates and Yoga. As a triathlete, she made the comment that she runs, bikes, swims, and does some weight training, but had never really worked much on her flexibility, and is now realizing that she needs to do something to improve it. She wondered which would be better to do for improving flexibility – Yoga or Pilates?
Continue reading ‘Pilates Mat Workout to Improve Flexibility’ »
Tags: Aliesa George, Centerworks, flexibility, Improving Flexibility, mat exercises, muscle stretching, pilates mat, Pilates Mat Exercise, Pilates Mat workout, Pilates Matwork, relaxation exercise, Stretching, Yoga vs. Pilates
Posted in All Posts, Flexibility & Stretching, Pilates, Pilates Exercise by Aliesa George on January 11th, 2012.
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A Quick & Easy Pilates Exercise Tip for Improving ROM for the Arms & Shoulders
Do you or your Pilates clients ever struggle with shoulder pain or limited range of motion to lift the arms overhead? Is it a challenge to keep the back or ribs from popping up off the mat when the arms go overhead on exercises like Ribcage Arms, or the Roll Up in Pilates Matwork? Are you interested in discovering an amazingly simple cue/secret to help reduce shoulder pain and increase your range of motion to more easily lift the arms overhead?
Continue reading ‘Pilates Exercise Tip: Chest Release for Pain-Free Arms & Shoulders on Overhead Arm Exercises’ »
Tags: Aliesa George, Arm Exercise, Centerworks, Chest Release Exercise, chest stretch, Core Training, Overhead Arm Exercise, Pain-Free Shoulders, Pilates Exercise Tip, pilates mat, Pilates Mat Exercise, Pilates Matwork, Pilates Matwork Exercise, Reduce Shoulder Pain, Ribcage Arm Exercise, Shoulder Flexibility, Shoulder Strength
Posted in All Posts, Pilates, Pilates Exercise, Pilates-Teaching Tips, Videos by Aliesa George on September 28th, 2011.
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Today I want to share some fitness tips on the Pilates Intermediate Matwork Exercise Swimming. Swimming is a lot of fun in a pool, and a little more of a challenge out of the water on the mat in Pilates class. But practicing this exercise on the mat can really help improve strength in the back of the whole body from your arms, shoulders, and upper back, through the lower back and into the hips and legs.
Continue reading ‘Pilates Matwork Exercise Tips: Slow Swimming to Improve Hip Extension and Back Strength’ »
Tags: Aliesa George, back fitness, back strength exercise, Centerworks Pilates, hip extension exercise, hip strengthening, Pilates Exercise Tips, Pilates exercise video, Pilates Mat Exercise, Pilates Matwork
Posted in All Posts, Pilates, Pilates Exercise, Pilates-Teaching Tips, Videos by Aliesa George on April 8th, 2011.
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Enjoy Whole-Body Strengthening Without Any Fancy Equipment!
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:
- Heels lengthen away from the head
- Tailbone tucks under and reaches towards the heels
- Lower abdominals lift up and in
- Glutes & Inner thighs squeeze
- Shoulder blades pull down the back
- 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!
Tags: Chest exercise, Exercise Tips, fitness tips, Pilates Mat Exercise, Pilates Matwork, Push-Up Exercise, Push-Ups, upper body strength
Posted in All Posts, Exercise and Fitness, Fitness, Pilates, Pilates Exercise, Pilates-Teaching Tips, Videos by Aliesa George on February 22nd, 2010.
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This post is brought to you by guest blogger, and Pilates Teacher, Julie A. Schonfeld. Julie owns Pilates-Barre Studio in Farmington Hills, Michigan. To read more posts on Julie’s blog go to: http://pilatesforthepeople.blogspot.com
Is this exercise everyone’s nemesis or what? Is it because the abs are tired by the time we get to it? Let’s break this one down a bit.
Start lying down on your back with feet as wide as your mat flexed (or slightly wider than hip width apart). There are two different placements for the hands. Place your hands to your forehead elbows wide or behind the neck.
Start to bring the chin to the chest on the inhale and then exhale to round all the way up and over into a round back with the head towards the knees and the belly in. Gently stack the spine to an upright, seated position on the inhale and then gently roll back down one vertebrae at a time till your laying flat on the mat. Exhale at about the halfway point of the rolldown. I’ll save the flat back and twist variations for another day.
I’m taking a guess that most of you got stuck at the chin to the chest part right?
Here’s some helpful hints to get up past that hump.
Continue reading ‘OH…….The Neck Pull – by Guest Blogger, Julie A. Schonfeld’ »
Tags: Pilates, pilates mat, Pilates Mat Exercise
Posted in Pilates, Pilates Exercise, Pilates-Teaching Tips by Aliesa George on August 20th, 2009.
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I’m excited to be traveling back to Little Rock for 2 days of Pilates Workshops, April 18 & 19th, 2008. These courses are geared towards participants and open to teachers. If you’re looking for a little fine-tuning on your technique, or the chance to learn a few new exercises, you won’t want to miss this opportunity! To download a copy of the flyer and/or register online, visit www.CenterworksPilates.com/littlerock2008.html
Tags: Centerworks Pilates Workshop, Continuing Education, Exercise, Feet, Feet Health, Fitness, Foot Exercise, Health, Pilates, Pilates Mat Exercise, Pilates Matwork, Pilates Teacher Education, Pilates Workshop, Shoulder, Shoulder Exercise, Teacher Education, Wellness
Posted in Health, Pilates, Workshops by Aliesa George on March 2nd, 2008.
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