Hey New York readers, if you are available this Saturday, SHAPE Magazine is hostingPilates for Pink to raise money for breast cancer research in Union Square. One of my fellow co-workers and friend, Caroline Leone, will be demonstrating her Pilates magic for instructor Julia Starobin, in her "Elite Pilates" class, held from 1-1:45pm. It will be an open class designed to challenge all levels. Each class costs $25, with 100% of the fee going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Additionally, each participant will receive a goodie bag and a Pilates mat from SHAPE.
The event begins at 9 am with plenty of classes to please the pickiest Pilates participant.
Although I love warm weather, I have an aversion to working out in it. I get super sweaty and I break out in heat rash behind my knees, the crooks of my elbows, and my neck! It is torture. I can't NOT workout, so I have my "go to" workouts that keep me trim, sane, and help me beat the heat. They are all based on small muscle movements, a ballet barre, resistance bands, pilates, and yoga. Similar, but different.
SQUEEZE: Created and led by Tracy Effinger, Squeeze is one of my favorite workout series. I own the original Squeeze, Squeeze Stronger, and Squeeze lower body challenge. It is a more athletic approach to small muscle movements: Tracy keeps a brisk pace throughout and doesn't spend a lot of time setting up the movements. She uses light weight and a lot of reps to tire out your muscles in a way that most heavy weight exercises can't. Her ab workout is one of the toughest around- you won't die but you'll want to! Equipment: mat, light hand weights, a medium sized ball, a dance barre or high backed chair
THE LOTTE BERK METHOD: Lotte Berk was a famous Russian ballerina who created this pilates-esque workout that has been around since the 1950's. This version was created by Lydia Bach who opened a studio here in NYC and is similar to popular classes at Exhale (Core Fusion), Bar Method, and Physique 57. I own all four DVDs: Basic Essentials, Hip Hugger Abs, Muscle Eats Fat, and High Round Assets. Each video is about 30 minutes in length and is very instructional. Once you get past the over instruction it is a really great series and wonderful when I am short on time or don't have the energy for Squeeze. Equipment: mat, light hand weights, a dance barre or high backed chair
FLUIDITY: I love infomercials and bought this series off of one. It came with four DVDs: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced and a Seat and Thigh video, two resistance bands, a rubber ball, and a beautiful ballet barre that sets up on it's own without being attached to a wall. I use the barre for all my ballet workouts! It was a great purchase even though it was pricey. Led by Michelle Austin, the workouts are very similar to Lotte Berk and Callanetics, but I feel they are a little more ballet inspired. I love the stretching after every move and feel these workouts made me better at my other workouts because of the control that I gained over my muscles. The ab workouts are TOUGH. Equipment: Fluidity barre, resistance bands, rubber ball
I just bought Core Fusion Pure Abs and Arms and will be doing a separate post about it (I liked it!). All these workouts are proof that you don't have to jump around and sweat like silly to gain strength, muscle tone, and grace. I use them regularly in my rotation and find they help in all aspects of my fitness gains.
I injured my back/hip one week ago and had to postpone my final week of Insanity (I would have been finished on Monday!!!!) until I am back in business. Since that day I have engaged in gentle yoga and stretching, walking in the park, and yesterday was the first day I tried to ramp it up a bit by doing Tracy Effinger's Squeeze. It was a lot more hip rotation, stretching, and pilates action and I was nervous that it would make my traveling injury seize up again.
I am happy to report that all muscles are fine, still a little sore, but I can move pretty normally. When I say traveling injury, I mean it started in my low back, moved to the middle of my hip, moved to the side of my hip, traveled to my hip flexor and my inner thigh, and today it seems to be focused mid glute. Every day is an adventure with this injury!
I never dreamed I would be out of commission for for a week or more when I ignored my body's warning signs. This has been an excellent lesson. :)
NEW NEWS: The date for my PT test is April 23! Plenty of study to be done between then and now. Please send lots of positive vibes my way!
Level 3 of the Shred complete, plus 30 minutes of the 10 Minute Solution Slim and Sculpt Pilates with Suzanne Bowen (she's on all those Lotte Berk DVDs) DVD. I chose total body, upper body, and pilates stretch. It comes with a resistance band which is muy bueno and really ups the "pilates factor" aka butt kicking.
Looking forward to yummy dinner with my boyfriend and a relaxing rest of my Sunday.
I survived Halloween without any candy, so I was feeling pretty positive today. An extra hour to play with!!!
I spent my extra hour doing positive things: blogging about DietTribe and doing the Shred!
Level 2 of the Shred came a little easier today. The in and outs were far less traumatic, and I feel my shoulder girdle getting stronger. Maybe I will try to get up to those 5 pound weights on those V raises!
I rounded out my workout with Fat Burning Fusion with Ellen Barrett. This is a great standing pilates/ballet video that lasts about 45 minutes. I always feel super light and graceful when I perform the exercises, and I am not always light or graceful. Ellen Barrett is a great instructor- she is perky, cute, and informative and her cuing is really sharp. Highly recommended!
Movin' on up! To Level 2! In my deluxe apartment in the sky!
Level 2 Shred is hard, but I am so thankful I completed seven days of Level 1 to prep for it. I started with 5 pound dumbbells, but it was my butt that was yelling at me for most of the workout. All those static lunges! Aye yai yai! I moved to 3 pound dumbbells for the second set of V arm squat thingys. Which my shoulders thanked me for when I got through all that plank work!
Since I was given my monthly gift, I wasn't much for all the jumping today. I did a 20 minute pilates foam roller workout by Karen Voight, the queen of form. Her Sleek Essentials workout series is just what the doctor ordered for my tight low back and sore shoulders.
One of the challenges of at home workouts is finding the videos that inspire you to push yourself and that are just as challenging as something you could do at the gym with a professional trainer or teacher.
I love pilates, and I have taken group mat classes and private reformer classes, and Jules Benson is the closest I have found to the same quality teacher experience without having the teacher there in person. And the Total Core Pilates workout is one of the best DVDs I have found!
Jules is a warm and welcoming instructor with a charming Texas twang. The set is cool and uncluttered, and the music is really peaceful, putting you in the mood to work. And work you will, because although Jules seems like a real sweetheart, this workout is a muscle killer!
The 60-minute workout manages to challenge your core (abs especially), your adductors and abductors in your inner and outer thighs, and even your arms and shoulders with the addition of side planks. The leg series is one of the toughest around- she even jokes that you shouldn't quit because you might not come back. But you won't want to quit this workout- you can feel the movements really working to sculpt and tone your muscles.
Total Core Pilates definitely shows results. I attribute my excellent core strength and toned legs to my pilates practice: and most of that practice involves Jules Benson and her Total Core Pilates workout.
I had always been interested in working out and being fit, but never could stick with it. I rode bikes and did martial arts and dance as a kid, but always opted for the more creative choices when I got older, instead of the active choices. NO organized sports for this kid!
I was the newspaper editor and drama queen in high school, and my love of the arts took me to college as a Musical Theatre Major, and that led me to living in New York City. All the while, I was the chubby one, the funny best friend and side kick. I wanted to lose weight, but never really knew what to do about it.
After September 11, I moved back to my home state of Oklahoma to help take care of my older sister who was suffering from kidney failure. The defeat I felt in moving home only added to my weight problems. My sister had me weigh myself at her doctor appointment one day, and I weighed over 200 pounds. I refused to believe it, and blamed the fact that I was wearing clothes for the extra 50 pounds.
Then everything changed: my sister passed away in September of 2002. I was lost and confused, and was medicating myself with food and drinks. One morning in November of 2002, I woke up and was tired of feeling bad. I needed to change. I started my fitness journey that morning by putting on an old pair of sneakers and I never looked back.
I have lost over 60 pounds on my own through diet and exercise. No fancy tricks, but lots of sweat and hard work. I am amazed when people can change their lives by doing the same thing. I'm an ACE certified personal trainer, personal trainer at Equinox Sports Club West LA, licensed Zumba instructor, and intenSati leader (with more to come!!!), and am happy for the chance to touch people with my enthusiasm for fitness everyday.
Posts
