ACSM Clinical Exercise Specialist

I have been eye-ing on this course for few years! Finally, after 5 years, I can afford the time and money to take this course - ACSM Clinical Exercise Specialist Certification course!

In the past, like many other trainers, I trained my clients with mild lifestyle diseases (like high blood pressure, diabetes) with a lot of caution and common sense. But now after the course, I am armed with the knowledge to be much more confident in dealing with high risk clients with cardiovascular and metobolic diseases.

I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to learn so much from Mr Peter Brukner (the only angmo in the photo below) and other fellow course mates who were doctors, cardiologists and physiotherapists. I just love attending courses because not only I get to learn new knowledge but also to reflect on the old and think of ways in improving my practice.

Now I need to study real hard for the certification exam. As i do so all those vague memory of physiology and biochemistry i learnt from my undergrad and postgrad are slowly creeping back...Gosh, how i wish i can do so by gulping down the 2 inch thick text book. S The exam is not easy as 90% of my course-mates failed and re-taking...

Wish me luck (a lot of it) to pass!

Give your brain some downtime

I was checking out my friend's status updates on Facebook during my few minutes "work" in the toilet, an interesting article from New York Times caught my eyes:

"scientists (from Universities of California, San Francisco) point to an unanticipated side effect: when people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting downtime that could allow them to better learn and remember information, or come up with new ideas."

I am definitely one of those who constantly occupy my shortest available "free" time with my iphone, hoping to make myself more "productive". Check and reply emails, socialise with friends on FB, admire Charles' photos, chat on Whatsapp and read the Bible on my iPhone, in the tiniest windows of time, like when I am walking down the corridor at home and even when I am doing business in the loo. My phone literally lives and breathes in my palm almost 24/7. My "productivity" reached new height when i mastered the skill to read magazine/books while I jogged on treadmill!

Maybe lack of downtime is causing me running out of creativity and mental focus. No wonder it is now so difficult for me to sit down, organise and blog my thoughts! I am sure I am not alone in suffering iphone-obsession syndrome. So often that we see families sitting together at restaurant but each member individually dwell on their own iphone/ipad/PSP and have minimal conversation or interaction with each other. It is so sad to see precious family time is invaded by technology...

So let's take few minutes off reading this blog or net-surfing, look out of the windows and look at the trees and flying birds outside, take a walk with your family, or lie down on a mat and do some simple pilates exercises. Let our over-worked brain rest and recharge, so to allow it to take up other challenges in our daily life.

The Forgotten Fundamentals

I came across this video and was truly thankful to its creator. The video is so beautifully made, capturing the fundamental somatic movements that most of us have forgotten, as our movements became more "sophisticated".

I am so-going to read more about the Feldenkrais Method. It seems to be really interesting and good for functional rehabilitation.

A week's treat

Sudden craving over junk food when I was in Wheelock place after Pilates course. Must be my hormones to blame.

This looked good on the number (of calorie) but definitely tasted bad.
Costed me $3 for a tiny pack (palm size only). I should have sticked to my organic sweet potato chips which tasted much better and cheaper... so sad that my junky calories of the week wasted on this horrible pack. :-(

P-Latte has found HOME!

What have I been busy with lately?

I am overwhelmed with setting up my own business, which is a combination of Pilates studio and organic food market.

Yes, I have quited my day job and followed my heart to do what I like. But man, it's a tough journey!

Finally after months of hard work, P-Latte has found home in Planet Earth Specialty!

We are now just 2 minutes from Marymount MRT, providing a cozy and convenient place for the health conscious to indulge in healthy eating and active mindful movements!

Come join me to celebrate the birth of my "baby" this Saturday 2pm. More details can be found on the FB page.

Karen, you are officially invited, hope to see you! ^_^

Post Birthday Thoughts

One of the best things of being a Pilates instructor is that I get to know people from all walks of life. I get to know them well, understand the uniqueness of their jobs, heard their vivid life story, their family etc. I met a stay-home-mom who taught me lots of parenting and baby-care tips (not forgetting giving me loads of beautiful hand-me-down baby clothes and toys); I got to know my dear friend, Karen, who has now embarked on the journey to be an instructor too; I also taught highly-intelligent researcher, professionals like gynae and even national athletes... some of them are well and fit and some of them have nagging medical issues. They have nothing much in common except that they have one identical goal, that is, to improve their lives through improving their physical health. Like what the wise man, Joseph Pilates, said, "Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness." How true! How can you truly enjoy life without first of all have good physical health?

Among the people I met through Pilates, I made some really good friends. I was especially touched that on my 30th birthday last Tuesday, one of the regular from a corporate mat class (who literally attended my class no matter rain or shine, even once with an injured knee!) presented a small birthday cake with a lighted candle to me after class! That really warmed my heart!!!! Back home, my fave chocolate banana cake was delivered by a super caring client (who has also became my great friend), what a lovely surprise!

Someone asked me why am I so excited to tell people that I now joint the big THREE club. But hey, i should be happy, though I am no longer in my twenties, I have so many people love and care about me! Moreover, I am only as old as my spine, and thanks to Pilates, it is quite young really! ^_^

Joseph Pilates, Returned to Life through Contrology:

"... the only real guide to your true age lies not in years or how you THINK you feel but as you ACTUALLY are as infallibly indicated by the degree of natural and normal flexibility enjoyed by your spine throughout life."

GYROTONIC instructor course

Fitness equipments are mostly scary-looking to the novice.

I was first intimidated by all the stack weights machines in school gym.

Then the torture-tools-alike Pilate equipments wow-ed me.

But until recently, i found yet another complicated yet interesting machines, and it's called GYROTONIC pulley tower:

I always want to learn GYROTONIC as I find it complements very well with Pilates repertoires. However I can't quite afford the time and money to jump into it, yet.

The next round of instructor training course is commencing soon. Here are the information:

GYROTONIC® Pre- Training

Date: April 2- 4, 10 - 11

Cost: USD$850 + Studio fee: USD$150

Pre-Trainer: Audrey D'cotta

Prerequisite: GYROTONIC® introductory Pulley Tower experience recommended

GYROTONIC® Level 1 Foundation Training

Date: Part 1 May 9- 14, Part 2 June 20-25

Cost: USD$1500 + Studio fee: USD$400 ( 2 Instalments)

Master Trainer: Dawnna M. Wayburne

Prerequisite: GYROTONIC® Pre-Training

Enrolment Deadline 31 Jan 2010

Call The Moving Body for more information and registration.

Bone for Life Workshop

I am going to attend a workshop about osteoporosis and bone health, and here are the details of the workshop for anyone who wants to join me ^_^

BONES FOR LIFE® WORKSHOP

The program for stimulating Bone Strength

Through Dynamic Movement and Weight Bearing Posture

Date: Fri 5th February
Time: 2-5pm Fee: SGD$140
Venue: The Moving Body Singapore
Guest Presenter : Dawnna M Wayburne, Pilates Master Educator, GYROTONIC® Authorized Master Trainer, Registered RAD & ISTD teacher, Bones for Life Educator

Enrolment Deadline 23 Jan 2010

WHY PARTICIPATE?
BONES FOR LIFE® is a natural program put together by Ruthy Alon, an original student of Moshe Feldenkrais (based upon the Feldenkrais Method®) which aims at improving bone strength through dynamic movement and weight-bearing posture. Without drugs, herbal supplements, or strenuous exercise you can learn ways to improve bone tissue and enhance your weight-bearing posture. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) says that osteoporosis is not part of normal aging and can be prevented through such activities as exercise. But in your (or your client's) busy life do you/they always have time to exercise? Have you/they ever been injured from exercise?

BONES FOR LIFE® addresses one of the chronic problems of today's western society: the deterioration of bone tissue. This pioneering work focuses on a preventative strategy for dealing with osteoporosis.

BONES FOR LIFE® allows you to integrate movement into your daily life to make your bones stronger without excessive exercise. It also incorporates self-generated vibration.

Ruthy Alon's breakthrough methods were inspired by studies of the African women who bear heavy loads on their heads effortlessly. These women have only five percent of the bone fractures of Western women despite having a lower bone density. These studies suggest that our everyday activities and posture can affect the way we build bone strength.

BONES FOR LIFE® consists of various movement strategies that encourage better quality of movement and alignment in everyday life. Simple tools are used such as a strip of cloth as a wrap and light weights. Many of the movements are done while pushing into a wall whilst lying down, in sitting, and in standing postures.

BONES FOR LIFE®'s dynamic movements enable the blood, which carries oxygen, calcium and other nutrients, to penetrate the solid tissue of the bones providing for growth of new bone cells