NEA Total Fitness now has an iPhone application so you'll be able to check on the class dates/times plus keep up on the new classes coming soon. Very soon you will also be able to schedule or cancel your classes from your iPhone.
The app is of course FREE so download the Pilates app from MINDBODY today!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Six Principles of Pilates (part 6)
The 6th Principle of Pilates is Breath. When doing Pilates you want to "move as you breathe and breathe as you move". Our goal is to have our Breath match our movement. Your Breath should start and stop each movement. This way we connect to (or stabilize) our "core" with our Breath before we move our arms and legs.
Joe use to say "Above all else learn to Breathe correctly". Now my interpretation of that is to inhale as deeply as you can and exhale as deeply as you can.
I like to teach a Breathing technique called "fog the mirror". So when you exhale you open your mouth, soften the back of your throat and exhale almost like you're sighing. As you're exhaling you're going to pull your navel toward your spine to connect to your core. Just by exhaling like you're fogging a mirror you can start to work your core muscles. This is also a great way to relieve stress.
So you inhale into your chest so it rises side to side and front to back. Then start to exhale and try to release the stress around your ears, sides of your neck and back of your throat. It may take a couple of times to get the hang of it but its well worth the practice.
So let's recap all 6 Principles of Pilates. In a Pilates Reformer class the first thing you want to do is Center yourself on the Reformer. Then take a couple of deep breaths to start to Center your mind on your body. So as we move on the Reformer we Concentrate on the Control we have over the Center line of our body as we move through different planes of motion with Precision and Flow as we Breathe!
Once a Pilates student understands the importance of Breathing as they move then their Pilates sessions go to another level. They literally connect their Mind to their Body with their Spirit (Breath) as they move.
Pilates can have an extremely powerful affect on one's outlook on life because as Joe use to say, "Fitness is the first requisite to Happiness".
I hoped you enjoyed my take on the Six Principles of Pilates.
For more information on Pilates in Jonesboro, Arkansas just visit my
website at http://www.jonesboropilates.com
Joe use to say "Above all else learn to Breathe correctly". Now my interpretation of that is to inhale as deeply as you can and exhale as deeply as you can.
I like to teach a Breathing technique called "fog the mirror". So when you exhale you open your mouth, soften the back of your throat and exhale almost like you're sighing. As you're exhaling you're going to pull your navel toward your spine to connect to your core. Just by exhaling like you're fogging a mirror you can start to work your core muscles. This is also a great way to relieve stress.
So you inhale into your chest so it rises side to side and front to back. Then start to exhale and try to release the stress around your ears, sides of your neck and back of your throat. It may take a couple of times to get the hang of it but its well worth the practice.
So let's recap all 6 Principles of Pilates. In a Pilates Reformer class the first thing you want to do is Center yourself on the Reformer. Then take a couple of deep breaths to start to Center your mind on your body. So as we move on the Reformer we Concentrate on the Control we have over the Center line of our body as we move through different planes of motion with Precision and Flow as we Breathe!
Once a Pilates student understands the importance of Breathing as they move then their Pilates sessions go to another level. They literally connect their Mind to their Body with their Spirit (Breath) as they move.
Pilates can have an extremely powerful affect on one's outlook on life because as Joe use to say, "Fitness is the first requisite to Happiness".
I hoped you enjoyed my take on the Six Principles of Pilates.
For more information on Pilates in Jonesboro, Arkansas just visit my
website at http://www.jonesboropilates.com
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Six Principles of Pilates (part 5)
The 5th Principle of Pilates is Flow. When doing Pilates you want each movement to have a certain Flow to it. Sometimes it's a slow smooth motion and at other times it may be a quick move to start and then a controlled move to stop.
Also in Pilates mat and Reformer classes the transitions between each movement have a certain Flow. Especially in some Reformer Classical moves the transitions' flow is just as important as the movement itself. It is the Concentration a student possess during the transition which keeps them connected to their body with their mind. It's sorta like a football player staying focused while in the huddle between plays. In other words always being "in the game".
A lot of moves on the Reformer have their own flow just because of how easily it moves. The students job is to Control the Flow of the Reformer so they work their complete range of motion.
So to recap in a Pilates Reformer session a student Concentrates on the Control they have over the Centerline of their body as they move with Precision and Flow.
To learn more about Pilates you can visit my website or take a Free class at my studio in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Go to http://www.jonesboropilates.com for more information.
The next blog will be about the 6th Principle of Pilates, Breath.
Also in Pilates mat and Reformer classes the transitions between each movement have a certain Flow. Especially in some Reformer Classical moves the transitions' flow is just as important as the movement itself. It is the Concentration a student possess during the transition which keeps them connected to their body with their mind. It's sorta like a football player staying focused while in the huddle between plays. In other words always being "in the game".
A lot of moves on the Reformer have their own flow just because of how easily it moves. The students job is to Control the Flow of the Reformer so they work their complete range of motion.
So to recap in a Pilates Reformer session a student Concentrates on the Control they have over the Centerline of their body as they move with Precision and Flow.
To learn more about Pilates you can visit my website or take a Free class at my studio in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Go to http://www.jonesboropilates.com for more information.
The next blog will be about the 6th Principle of Pilates, Breath.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Six Principles of Pilates (part 4)
The fourth Principle of Pilates is Precision. When doing Pilates the moves you make sometimes have a very small range of motion along with a certain flow.
This is called working the Precision of the movement. You Control the movement with Precision. Sometimes this means maintaining tension on the springs of the Reformer as you move or not letting the Reformer stop against the bumpers.
Precision also has to do with your Breath because in Pilates we want to "move as we breathe and breathe as we move." So if you can time your breath with the movement it takes Precision. You have to Concentrate on the Precise time you breathe and move. This is where the "Mind, Body, Spirit" of Pilates starts to come into your awareness.
After doing Pilates for about a year I finally started to realize the profound affect Pilates can have on somebody if they start to breathe with Precision.
You hear athletes talking about getting into a "zone" as they play their sport. Well Pilates can give the average everyday person a way to get into "their zone" as they move through different planes of motion while they stay Centered with Concentraion, Control and Precision.
For more information about Pilates you can visit my website at http://www.neatotalfitness.com
Stay tuned for the next blog where we'll discuss the 5th Principle of Pilates, Flow.
This is called working the Precision of the movement. You Control the movement with Precision. Sometimes this means maintaining tension on the springs of the Reformer as you move or not letting the Reformer stop against the bumpers.
Precision also has to do with your Breath because in Pilates we want to "move as we breathe and breathe as we move." So if you can time your breath with the movement it takes Precision. You have to Concentrate on the Precise time you breathe and move. This is where the "Mind, Body, Spirit" of Pilates starts to come into your awareness.
After doing Pilates for about a year I finally started to realize the profound affect Pilates can have on somebody if they start to breathe with Precision.
You hear athletes talking about getting into a "zone" as they play their sport. Well Pilates can give the average everyday person a way to get into "their zone" as they move through different planes of motion while they stay Centered with Concentraion, Control and Precision.
For more information about Pilates you can visit my website at http://www.neatotalfitness.com
Stay tuned for the next blog where we'll discuss the 5th Principle of Pilates, Flow.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Six Principles of Pilates (Part 3)
The third Principle of Pilates is Control. There are several things we want to Control when we do Pilates. For instance when taking a Pilates Reformer class you always want to be in Control of the carriage as you move. It doesn't matter if your feet or hands are in the loops you always want to be in Control of the movement of your hands or feet. If you're standing on the Reformer then you'll be in Control of the carriage as you move it.
Besides being in Control of the carriage or loops (while you're on the Reformer) you also want to be in Control of your breath. You Concentrate on the Control you have over your breath while you move. This is the first part of connecting your mind to your body as you move.
So to recap the first three Principles of Pilates; Centering, Concentration and Control.
Let's put these three together. You Concentrate on the Control you have over the Center line of your body as you move through different planes of motion.
Stay tuned for the next Principle of Pilates; Precision.
For more information about Pilates in Jonesboro, Arkansas you can visit my website at http://www.jonesboropilates.com
Besides being in Control of the carriage or loops (while you're on the Reformer) you also want to be in Control of your breath. You Concentrate on the Control you have over your breath while you move. This is the first part of connecting your mind to your body as you move.
So to recap the first three Principles of Pilates; Centering, Concentration and Control.
Let's put these three together. You Concentrate on the Control you have over the Center line of your body as you move through different planes of motion.
Stay tuned for the next Principle of Pilates; Precision.
For more information about Pilates in Jonesboro, Arkansas you can visit my website at http://www.jonesboropilates.com
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Six Principles of Pilates (part 2)
Today we're going to discuss the second Principle of Pilates, Concentration. It seems pretty obvious what this is going to be about. But in Pilates we not only concentrate on the movement of our body but also on our breath. You always want to concentrate on your breath as you move.
Most people don't think about breathing because our body does it automatically for us. But when you concentrate on your breath as you move it helps connect your mind to your body. You may have heard the phrase, Pilates is a mind, body, spirit workout. This is true to those who understand how to concentrate as they move.
In Pilates there are certain times that you inhale and exhale as you move through the exercises, therefore, you must concentrate on what you're doing.
I"ve heard my students say that after they've done Pilates for a month or two that their ability to concentrate at work, school and home is easier and that they get more accomplished in their day because they're able to stay focused on the task at hand.
For more information about the Six Principles of Pilates you can visit my website at
Check back because the next Principle we'll discuss is, Control.
Six Principles of Pilates (part 1)
Today we'll talk about the first Principle of Pilates, Centering. When doing Pilates the first thing you want to do is make sure that your body is centered on the equipment (Reformer, Chair, ets...) or mat.
Then you should take a few deep breaths so you can start to center your mind. In other words start to focus your mind on what you're about to do.
So as you move through different planes of motion your body will remain centered. In Pilates we try to control the centerline of our body as we move.
Some things that your Pilates instructor will notice about your body as you move are; are the shoulders centered over the hips, are the heels on the footbar placed directly in line with the center of your body and is your head centered between the shoulder blocks.
So remember stay centered and check back next week when we'll discuss the second Principle of Pilates, Concentration.
For more information about Pilates classes in Jonesboro, Arkansas visit my website at
http://www.jonesboropilates.com
Then you should take a few deep breaths so you can start to center your mind. In other words start to focus your mind on what you're about to do.
So as you move through different planes of motion your body will remain centered. In Pilates we try to control the centerline of our body as we move.
Some things that your Pilates instructor will notice about your body as you move are; are the shoulders centered over the hips, are the heels on the footbar placed directly in line with the center of your body and is your head centered between the shoulder blocks.
So remember stay centered and check back next week when we'll discuss the second Principle of Pilates, Concentration.
For more information about Pilates classes in Jonesboro, Arkansas visit my website at
http://www.jonesboropilates.com
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