Move & Hold Still

It is one of the many challenges in Pilates: to move and hold still at the same time. Yet that is one of the aspects of Pilates that makes it so unique and provides you with so much control.

Think about moving and holding still the next time you do the following exercises:

The 100: You move your arms, but try not to move the rest of you body, espeically the rest of the upper body.

Leg Circles: You move your leg in the hip socket, but try not to let the opposite side of you pelvis lift.

Spinal Rotation: You twist at the spine without letting your hips move with you.

Can you think of another exercise in Pilates that requires you to move and hold still at the same time?

Learn A New Word

Euhydration: A normal state of body water content.

Remember to keep hydrated.

Bad Day?

It's bound to happen. Some days just don't get started on the right foot and seem to get worse by the minute. Next time you feel tension from a day that just isn't going your way, try to calm yourself with the following tips:




1) Ask yourself whether what's bothering you is really important? Will you care tomorrow? A month from now?

2) Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and imaging yourself somewhere you love--the beach, a hammock in your back yard, in bed.

Challenge #14

This week only eat foods your Grandma would recognize. This will probably be easier if you don't eat anything that comes out of a box, since packaged foods can contain a lot of ingredients Grandma probably never heard about before.

Years ago, my father took this picture of my Great Grandma with one of her yummy apples pies.

Voting & Pilates

When you vote today, remember to keep your belly button pulled toward your spine.

No Fat Burning Zone

The fat burning zone doesn't exist. When you see "fat burning zone" listed on an elliptical or have a trainer tell you that you should be working in the "fat burning zone," it's not true. It is all about calories in, calories out. It really is that simple.

The so-called "fat burning zone" is usually a lower heart rate than the cardiovascular zone. Working at this zone actually does burn fat while working at a higher intensity burns carbs, but that is deceptive. More calories are usually burned by increasing the intensity level. And more calories burned, ultimately (if you don't replenish them) means more fat loss.



And research has show that working out at a higher intensity maintains higher level of metabolic rate (fat burning) throughout the day than lower levels.

Working out in the fat burning zone is fine if that is where you feel challenged, but don't hang out there simply because you think you'll burn more fat there. You won't. It's a fallacy.

Happy Halloween

Enjoy tricker treating or attending costume parties this weekend. If Monday morning you find yourself with an abundance of candy your willpower can't resist, bring it to the office to share or consider mailing it to a soldier serving overseas. Do that and you'll feel good about your good deed and good that you aren't experiencing a sugar rush.




In the past towns have organized to send soldiers left over Halloween candy via Soldiers Angels. Check them out and perhaps you can work with them to send a package.