On the road to fitness when an injury throws you lemons make lemon-aid...
I’ve been getting fit with Dynamic Fitness for just over a year and even though I’m an ulimited member I had yet to try pilates. To tell you the truth; it totally intimidated me. I’ve lost a lot of weight over the years but have never really got to know (or like) my stomach.
After an accident and injury last fall I was devastated to learn that I could no longer attend spin class (my favorite). My trainer and I decided that pilates would be a great way to nurse the right calf tear and whi
plash back into shape. That’s right you can ALWAYS work on core strength.
In October I incorporated pilates into my Dynamic Fitness routine and joined Megan’s Wednesday 530 beginner class. Because the class size is small participants get a lot of attention, which I totally needed. Megan explains the body in a really simplistic yet comical way (probably because she’s also a school teacher, athlete and coach). With her help I eventually caught on and enthusiastically joined her Saturday 8 am level 1 class.
Pilates and Yoga are completely different practices with a similar end result; to make you more aware of your body. Over the past 4 months of practicing pilates I must say that I’m walking in a completely different way. I can feel every stomach contraction and breath. This inner body awareness has also improved my hot yoga practice. Every move I make and breath I take is with my core. It just took a year to get me warmed up to the idea of learning to work WITH my stomach.
Over Christmas I decide
d to try out a local high intensity cardio class with a friend (tho I rarely step outside of the gym). We were a small post holiday bunch and the music was loud and upbeat. The class was choreographed but I caught on quickly. Yes I was rocking it even with a “slight” injury. We were shuffling, punching (with 3 lb weights), lunging and dancing up a storm.
After 40 minutes it was time to work on our abs. We were instructed to lie on a yoga mat and do a series of 12 crunches, 12 v- sits, 30 second planks and 6 push-ups & tricep push-ups, all three times. My friend looked over at me from the floor with fear in her eyes while I sported a grin.
The first set I concentrated on proper form and technique. To my surprise this just happened naturally. In the second round I added pilates rhythmic breathing. Who cares if I was hissing? Everyone else was panting. I found that plank was a little boring; I usually like to hold it for 90 seconds with alternate heel raises.
Round three I decided to be a little nosey and took a look around the room. Every time I crunched-up I noticed more bodies simply lying on mats. I saw people doing plank from elbows and push-ups from knees. Looks like I was the only one doing 3 sets of (proper) push-ups from my feet!
I get lots of push-up practice in pilates, infact Megan is the tricep Queen. On Wednesday and Saturday she always includes a set of push-ups into our pilates practice. I’ve properly done them from a foam roller, bosu, my toes and knees.
And just for fun we often play with pilates rings just for that “extra squeeze”.
In December I had a 3 month assessment with my physiotherapist to address my injury. She gave me the ok to return to spin class but I’ve yet to be back. True biking season is just around the corner and I bet more core strength and pilates breath will help me to excel with that.
The best part about working out at Dynamic Fitness is the variety of classes I get to attend. They really have it all and are able to work professionally with any injuries that you may have. A huge thanks to each and every trainer who has made my recovery such a success. And if you're an Eli Gold member be sure to attend my Eating To Win sports nutrition seminar this Saturday at 10am.