A staple beginner’s Pilates exercise, clams come in many different shapes and sizes and can be made more advanced in many different ways. The Starting Positions For most variations of clams you begin by lying down on your side, with an arm or pillow under your head for support. You want the heels to… Continue reading Gluteal Exercises Part 1: Clams
Recently one of my clients came to me with pain in his hip extensor tendons. What had happened was that after many years of bad postural habbits and extreme tightness in the backs of the legs, the tendons in the backs of his hips had inflamed. Inflammation of the tendons is commonly referred to as… Continue reading Simple stretches to prevent and relieve tendonitis in the back of the hip
Today’s young women are faced by many ridiculous and often contradictory expectations – something which Amy Schummer expertly encapsulates in this video – but perhaps the most ridiculous of all is the thigh gap. In a world where we have supposedly commonly acknowledged that size-0 fanaticism is unhealthy – and y’know, killed a bunch of… Continue reading How today’s beauty standards are harmful to women’s posture
Recently I was given the delightful opportunity to stand for 11 hours straight, with intermittent squatting and dancing thrown in for good measure. Now this may not sound like very much to a lot of you, but this is something I have not done in a while, and let’s just say if I never stand… Continue reading PNF Stretching: a basic overview
We all know that being stuck in transit for copious amounts of time is no fun, so here are some easy tips and pointers to help you not feel like a sack of potatoes when travelling. Keep moving Basically if you stay still for too long your circulation suffers, which increases your chance of blood… Continue reading Tips for Travel Stiffness
The Mermaid Stretch is a great exercise. Primarily, it unilaterally stretches and engages your intercostal muscles – which are primary breathing muscles – your back extensor muscles and your Quadratus Lomborum. There is also a minimal abdominal engagement to maintain the integrity of the torso. This exercise is considered by most Pilates instructors to be of a beginner/intermediate… Continue reading The Mermaid Stretch
The Diaphragm So this is your diaphragm – and no it’s not just a contraceptive method that seemed to be disproportionately popular in 90’s American sitcoms. During normal or “quiet” respiration, a mechanical process is repeated where the diaphragm contracts, pulling… Continue reading Breathing
The Spinal Tilt is also commonly known as Spine Curls and Shoulder Bridge. I tend to choose to avoid calling it the shoulder bridge though since, for me, this is to reminiscent of the classical (designed by Joseph Pilates) mat exercise which is quite advanced and more heavy on the posterior sling – gluts, hamstrings, calf… Continue reading The Spinal Tilt
Posture: why it’s not just for society gals A good posture is a good habit, in the modern day you’re more likely to find an honest politician than you are someone with a naturally excellent posture. What I’m getting at is that we all have to work at our posture. “Why should I worry… Continue reading Pilates and Your Posture
The Pilates Stance 