Pilates Exercise Program

Jan | Leave a Comment

Thinking about trying a Pilates exercise program this year? Here are some quick facts that will help you out. The Pilates exercise program is one of the best known and popular exercise programs in the United States today, enjoying a huge following of people in a range of ages. The Pilates method was developed in the 1920’s by a man named Joseph Pilates.

His exercise method was originally used to physically rehabilitate prisoners of war, with startling success. Further studies showed that his methods benefited anyone desirous of attaining a fit body. Athletes and dancers, more prone to injuries of the body, find these exercises enable them to stay fit without stressing injured knees or arthritic conditions.

Only a few short years ago, the Pilates exercise program was practiced by a select few of continuing generations of Pilates devotees. When ergonomics met science in the forum of exercise programs, there was an explosion in the popularity of the program. Post-pregnancy moms, seniors, athletes, dancers, ordinary fitness seekers and physical therapy patients find the Pilates exercise program to be highly adaptable to their individual needs.

What distinguishes the Pilates exercise program is its emphasis on an integrated balance of “core strength”, flexibility, suppleness of muscle tissue, and a mental awareness of body movement. People participating in a Pilates exercise program typically gain a highly toned body, fluid in movement, yet strong, with a leaner appearance.

If you join a Pilates exercise program, you’ll be taught the six principles of Pilates’ methodology. These six principles are centering, control, flow, precision, concentration and breathing. Pilates exercise programs echo similar disciplines, such as yoga and tai-chi in slow controlled movements, yielding big results. Unlike the old gym class exercise programs requiring strenuous workouts and exhausting repetitions, the Pilates exercise program relies on quality of movement rather than repetition. Surprisingly, less expenditure of effort on the participants’ part often results in fantastic results in a much shorter time frame.

The centerpiece of any Pilates program is that of core strength. Core strength development focuses on the abdomen. Interestingly, there is a correlation between the Pilates concept and that of the chakras of yoga and meditative disciplines. If the core strength of your body is solid, the rest follows. Core strength, as defined by Pilates, enables your body to relieve tension, resulting in free, strong and graceful motions with little expenditure of effort.

Development of the signature core strength of a Pilates exercise program eventually results in a stabilization of your torso, considered to be key to free mobility without pain or effort, followed by mastery of the entire body, toned and fit.

The Pilates exercise program may be contrasted to weight lifting programs, where arms, legs and abdomens are “buffed up” while neglecting the remainder of body and spirit.

While running or swimming provide a whole body workout, they do not address the centered and emotional focus of a Pilates exercise program. If you’re looking to get fit, you owe it to yourself to look into Pilates programs.

Weight Gainers

Dec | Leave a Comment

You’ve heard of the people who’re trying to lose weight, right? They’re all over the place. It’s like I can’t turn a corner without seeing someone power-walking, eating a salad, or counting calories. We clearly live in a world full of obesity. But, these folks aren’t the only ones with a serious diet plan. There are others working hard to alter their bodies. While they may not be focused on shedding pounds, they are determined to look their best. They’re the ones struggling to gain weight. No, it’s not an urban legend; these folks do indeed exist. I should know; I’m one of them. So who’s up for some tasty weight gainer?

Supplements for packing on the pounds haven’t really been around that long. Do you think Arnold was chugging whey protein back in the 70s? Of course not. The guy probably had a crazy diet, filled with raw eggs, meat and calories galore. This was the way men built mass back then. I recently read a piece on weight gainer, and the body builder stated that he and his buddies used to chug gallons of milk back in the day. YUCK! Can you imagine working out and then heading straight for a gallon of whole milk? Gees, that doesn’t sound like a pretty picture. I would have probably hurled. Fortunately we modern-day males have weight gainer supplements to choose from. Now maybe the cows can take the day off. One of the best weight gainer supplements around is premium whey powder. This is a protein rich powder that lacks major fat content. This way you can have your cake and eat it too. I use chocolate whey protein powder as a supplement in between each meal. Each serving has about 25 grams of healthy protein. You can mix it with water, milk, juice or even yogurt. And guess what else? It doesn’t taste bad. Mix it with milk, and it’s like drinking Ovaltine.

A few other great weight gainer products on the market now are Muscle Advance nutritional shakes and Muscle Advance Weight Gainers. Both offer all the good stuff you need for muscle repair, and proper nourishment. Keep in mind that calories are crucial. You do want plenty of protein, but you also need more calories than your body uses. This way some is stored and you gain mass. Try whey protein and Muscle Advance weight gainer products and find out for yourself.

Perfect Body — What Is That Exactly?

Dec | 1 Comment

In search of the perfect body? First we must know what perfection is!

Today, our society places a great deal of emphasis on the so-called perfect body. Both men and women engage in this quest, some quite obsessively. Plenty of people work out daily at the gym, counting calories, carbs and fat as though due diligence will reveal the holy grail of the perfect body. These people may also adopt strict eating habits that allow for no excuses, eschewing food pleasures as tantamount to a great sin. With a perfectly disciplined regimen, you might just approach that perfect body, according to your own definition. However, you can spend most of your time and effort to achieve this goal and still end up dateless on Saturday night. So the quest for your imagined bodily perfection may only pay you back in vanity for your accomplishment, in wresting your physique into a pleasant view in your mirror.

This is not to say that a healthy, well nourished body should not be pursued. Exercise will tone your muscles, making you better looking, more energetic and stronger. Let’s say you inherited your Mom’s knock knees. There is absolutely no amount of exercise, dieting or any other regimen which will change that. Does this mean you don’t have a perfect body? You may think so, but maybe your boyfriend or spouse feels you’re just perfect.

Men may obsess endlessly about those elusive and prized ’six-pack abs’ touted by the exercise machine manufacturers. Well, here’s a newsflash. Many women do not find these unnatural looking, tightly defined muscles attractive.

So how may we accurately define the perfect body? Historically, the perfect body has gone through a number of iterations and definitions, according to the times. Michaelangelo, in his desire to represent the human anatomy accurately, was a muscle definition freak, but produced nothing on the order of today’s body builders. Reubens favored a generous female form, with hips and waistlines of ample proportions, along with a good dose of fat here and there. In that day, his paintings represented the perfect body of every man’s desire. Today’s woman would be on a diet and exercise program in a heartbeat, to make the necessary corrections! Fast forward to Twiggy, of 1970s fame. This skeletal girl’s body was the goal of every female under 30.

So what’s to be learned from these examples? First, the definition of bodily perfection is truly in the eye of the beholder. If your body doesn’t match up to today’s top model or womanhood’s latest celebrity heartthrob, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to force the issue. Although you can’t change your height, proportions or bone structure, you can still look your best. Do eat healthy, do exercise and practice a moderate lifestyle. You will then have your perfect body and no one can take that away from you. You’ll be happier and have time for more substantive endeavors, such as who you are on the inside!

Categories

• Diet
• Exercise
• Home Gym
• Mental Fitness
• Weight Loss