Know Your Bones & Joints

Just saw on Straits Times that there is a new book called Know Your Bones And Joints.

It is writen by an Singapore orthopaedic surgeon and it aimed to provide a comprehensive guide to the prevention of bone and joint problems. Besides describing the causes and treatment options for each orthopaedic condition, the book also elaborates on how each condition can be avoided or delayed.

Sounds like a good entry level educational book for injury prevention. I think I will buy it not only because I believe "prevention is better than cure", but also because it claims that proceeds from its sales will be donated to the Straites Times School Pocket Money Fund and the Assisi Hospice. So I can lend it to my client for extra info and do some charity at the same time.

Can Christians practice Pilates?

Recently one of my friend told me she can’t join in my Pilates class because her pastor told her she is not supposed to do yoga and Pilates (without explicitly explaining the reason why). I understand that yoga is discouraged by some Christians because, in its most original form, it involved meditation, and Christians are not allowed to practice meditation. As mentioned in my “Yoga VS Pilates” article, Pilates is an exercise system, thus differed from yoga, which does not involve any spiritual meditation.

Quoting from the book, “The Pilates Method of Physical and Mental Conditioning – The Original Pilates Book” (2005, Friedman & Eisen):

“Unlike most exercise programs, Pilates follows carefully laid-out principles based on a well-constructed philosophical and theoretical foundation (with no mysticism or appeals to unseen forces, divine or otherwise).”

Pilates is a “mind and body exercise”, but it doesn’t mean it trains the mind through meditation. It actually emphasizes on neural muscular connection, that is, to control every muscular moment with mental focus and concentration.

So to all my dear Christians friends, please rest assured that Pilates does not have any conflict with your faith, so do join me in my classes to learn more about how Pilates can benefit your mind and body.

*Related post: Christian's View on Pilates

Return to Life Through Contrology

I am quite excited to be able to locate Joseph Pilates' book published in 1945, Return to Life Through Contrology, in the Orchard library.

When I read the book, I felt like as if I was talking to Joseph himself. Like what my mentor always jokes about, he did talk like an old school German.

There are lots of photos in the book that show Pilates demonstrating all the original exercises. Man, he was really super fit to be able to do all those almost acrobatic exercises. I am glad that I chose to be certified by Polestar Education, which advocates "evolved-Pilates" instead of the classical ones. There are many classical or original exercises which are contraindicated or unsafe to practice under modern understanding and knowledge of physical movements.

Though times have changed dramatically from the time he wrote this book , the fitness problem Pilates saw around him haven't changed much at all. People still suffer from too much stress from the fast living pace, tend to lead sedentary lives, and too often try to "buy" a fast fitness fix or cram their entire fitness program into a few muscle wrenching workouts a week.

Pilates realised, "I am fifty years ahead of my time." I think that was a very modest claim, as he was definitely more than fifty years ahead of his time to give such accurate prediction of modern lifestyle.