Why Pilates? Why not!

People have asked me "why should I do Pilates" but my answer "because it's awesome" usually isn't good enough though! So here are some complete answers that may help you understand Pilates a little more. Scroll down for a special promotion at Core Pilates and Yoga! Their website is www.corepilatesandyoga.com.

What is "the Core"

Functional movements are highly dependent on the core, the area where all movement is generated. The muscles of the body are the deep muscles of the back, abdomen, and pelvic floor. These are the muscles we rely on to support a strong, supple back, good posture, and efficient movement patterns. When the core is strong, the frame of the body is supported. This means the neck and shoulders can relax, and the rest of the muscles and joints are freed to do their jobs. You'll find yourself standing stronger and taller than you did before starting Pilates.

Oh...and that gorgeous stomach that we all covet....yeah that's a nice side effect.

A Pilates Workout is a Full Body Workout

Unlike some forms of exercise, Pilates will not over-develop some parts of the body and neglect others. Pilates training does focus on core strength by training the body as an integrated whole. This discipline promotes strength and balanced muscle development as well as increasing flexibility and range of motion for the joints.

Adaptable to Most Fitness Levels

It doesn't matter if you're a couch potato now, a Crossfitter, or an elite athlete, the foundations of Pilates movement apply to you. There are thousands of possible exercises that include modifications and progressions to tailor any routine to your individual needs and goals.

Strength Without Bulk

You've heard of long, lean muscles. Pilates will build toned muscles that will not only look good but help you move through life easily!

Increased Flexibility

We train functional range of motion while highlighting correct body alignment leading to an increase spinal and peripheral joint flexibility without stress.

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Take some time and do a little research on Pilates and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. If your mind is already committed, take advantage of the special offered now through June 1 at Core Pilates and Yoga in Wexford/Sewickly (near Baierl YMCA).

This One Goes Out to the Moms

Earlier this year, as I sat in the Starbucks wondering what I was going to write for a sponsorship application, my friend asked me where I found my inspiration over the years. She sat and listened as a smile spread across my face and I told her about my beautiful mother. At the end of my precious walk down memory lane, she looked at me and said, “That’s it Dundee, that’s your story, you are your mother's legacy.”  The thought was humbling.

 

The days following that meeting, I reflected on my mom’s life and on her impact in this world. She was a woman who walked the walk and people would solicit her input. The subsequent guidance she shared always seemed to be exactly what they needed, whether it was in the form of words, a hug, or the simple touch of her hand on their cheek. I wondered how it was that she could impart such wisdom; how did she know just what to do or say? Then it hit me – she always listened before she spoke. It was through her complete understanding, that she could give the best advice.

 

Throughout my life, I witnessed the strength she exhibited; as a mom, as a wife, as a professional and as a friend. Her love was all-encompassing and her gentleness palpable. As my sisters and I grew, my mother shed light on our strengths and encouraged us to make the right decisions and reach beyond what we thought was possible. She fueled our interest and through discipline she honed our work ethic. She expected us to set bold goals and work hard to reach them. She gave us and those she touched, the tools to believe that there are no barriers, there are no walls. More than anything, she encouraged us to identify what was important and challenge anything that got in the way.

 

Taking risk is the hardest thing you'll ever do but imagine how amazing our world would be if we were all unafraid of what might happen if we walk out on that ledge. Are you fulfilling your life's work or have you taken a wrong turn along the way? It's never too late to step into the unknown and shake things up. What is holding you back from reaching your goals; whatever they may be? Get in the driver's seat of your life and change your course if needed. Risky? You know it is...but what's the worst that can happen?

 

Know one thing...you are never promised tomorrow but you have the moment NOW to make a change in your life and be a part of something bigger than you.

 

In 2005, my mother was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Over the next two years, she would go through the biggest fight of her life, one we would ultimately lose her to on October 8, 2007. Throughout that fight, even when that very cancer robbed her of her ability to move and communicate, she still displayed grace and beauty.

 

As we celebrate amazing mom's everywhere, I write today’s blog post in remembrance of a loving woman who touched the lives of many. I wish she could meet the people who have come into my life over the last five years. I truly believe that they came into my life at the right time, each uncovering a different dimension of me and inspiring me in a different way. I love these people and the role they hold in my life. They inspire me to dig deeper and become a better person.....the person she always believed I could be.

Thanks Mom for sending them all my way, you did good. ~ Happy Mother’s Day.

"Don't be superficial. Take time to really listen, to store away, to really hear. Don’t be so eager to speak, to draw attention to yourself, that you don’t savor the moment with the person you’re with. Moments are few and pass quickly. Take time – make time – to be real." ~ from my mother's journal September 9, 2003

 

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Be Happy. Be Healthy. beSTRONG©

Michelle