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."

Starting Pilates?

The great thing about pilates is that just about everyone of any age - from couch potatoes to fitness buffs - can do it.

The best way to get started with pilates is to join a class and learn the basics from a qualified pilates teacher who can lead you through from the basics to more advanced exercise. These classes may be held either in studios equipped with specialist exercise equipment or in studios in community centres and commercial gyms where mat work often takes precedence.There are also many DVDs and books available for you to practise pilates at home. However it is really recommended to take them as adjunct to the teaching of a qualified pilates instructor.

The fact that pilates is hot and classes are springing up everywhere does have a downside, though: inadequate instruction. As with any form of exercise, it is possible to injure yourself if you have a health condition or don't know exactly how to do the moves. Some gyms send their personal trainers to weekend-long courses and then claim they're qualified to teach pilates (they're not!), and this can lead to injury. So look for an instructor who is certified by a group that has a rigorous training program. These instructors have completed several hundred hours of training just in pilates and know the different ways to modify the exercises so new students don't get hurt.

When you first begin Pilates you may feel that it moves very slowly and that there is too much detail to think about. But wait!! As soon as you learn the basic techniques, the level of difficulty in the class will increase and you will find that eventually the exercises will flow from one to another, with no break, which will really challenge you when you consider you will eventually perform 38 exercises, with no stopping, in a 1-hour class!! But the emphasis is on performing the exercises correctly rather than the speed and the heart rate, so be patient and this will come!

Stay focused. Pilates is designed to combine your breathing rhythm with your body movements. Qualified instructors teach ways to keep your breathing working in conjunction with the exercises. You will also be taught to concentrate on your muscles and what you are doing. The goal of pilates is to unite your mind and body, which relieves stress and anxiety.

Be comfortable. Wear comfortable clothes (as you would for yoga - shorts or tights and a T-shirt or tank top are good choices), and keep in mind that pilates is usually done without shoes. If you start feeling uncomfortable, strained, or experience pain, you should stop.

Let it flow. When you perform your exercises, avoid quick, jerky movements. Every movement should be slow, but still strong and flexible. Joseph Pilates worked with dancers and designed his movements to flow like a dance.

Don't leave out the heart. The nice thing about pilates is you don't have to break a sweat if you don't want to - but you can also work the exercises quickly (bearing in mind fluidity, of course!) to get your heart rate going. Or, because pilates is primarily about strength and flexibility, pair your pilates workout with a form of aerobic exercise like swimming or brisk walking.

Do remember, before you begin any type of exercise program, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor, especially if you have a health problem

"Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness." - Joseph H. 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.