Posts Tagged ‘ health ’
What an exciting opportunity to be part of this great book expo in New York City! Lulu is presenting my book ” Can you touch your toes” which is under the category of health, fitness and exercise. If you are in NYC and if you love to read don’t miss this great occasion to find new exciting titles.
Lulu publishers booth is #3476
Today is Pilates Day!
Side kicks
What a wonderful day for all those who are experiencing the many benefits from the best fitness routine the Pilates Method. Joseph Pilates was ahead of his time in terms of physical fitness. Inspired by oriental disciplines he devised his exercises so that all energy and effort originated from the center of the body. He called it the “powerhouse”. I consider my clients and even myself living testimonies of the amazing rewards that we enjoy from this revolutionary method.
What other fitness program can help you with posture, body mechanics, spinal flexibility, breathing and balance? None other than Pilates. As I explain to my new clients it is never too late to embrace this discipline because it offers levels to choose from to suit every person needs and goals. There are not limitations to this program of exercises. I have had great results among people affected with cancer, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, back and neck surgeries.
Start today and experiment the advantages of practicing Pilates regularly. Feel good, rejuvenated and restored after every session.
Empower yourself with Pilates!
Defining good health is easy, it’s a sense of well-being, a balance between your body, mind and spirit. As a mother of two grown ups I feel that parenting has been a great experience. Easier said than done being a good parent takes plenty of time, effort, commitment, knowledge and sacrifice.
I had the fortune to have two great parents both very different from each other but with the same determination to help me evolve into the best person that I could be. Despite their differences, there were three things that both shared in common that I also implemented as I was raising my kids:
4. The last 7 tips are from my experience. I reinforced the value of accepting yourself with pride. No one is perfect but we can always be better in every aspect of our lives. Self image is very important, one vital step is keeping your weight under control by eating right and definitely by controlling the size and the amount of the portions.
5. Being a 24-7 good role model. Kids are the vivid image of their parents and their home values. Be in sync with your husband to avoid confusions and misunderstandings. They have a great memory when it comes to remind us of our mistakes.
6. Hygiene is vital for keeping a healthy body. One habit that I always reminded them was : wash your hands as soon as you get home, before eating, and after doing any kind of activity or sport. Carry anti-bacterial soap or wipes in your purse or back pack. Besides personal hygiene I taught them to keep their rooms tidy.
7. Body awareness is vital in keeping your body healthy. Listen to your body, don’t force your body, if something feels wrong, stop immediately. You can save your kids from injuries and unnecessary aches and pains just by teaching them to pay attention to their bodies, specially if they are physically active.
8. Positive attitude, value yourself and your positive attributes so people can value you as well. Go with the flow. Laugh it off.
9. Love is essential in your life it nurtures your mind and spirit. Love yourself first, your family, your country and choose a job that you love. Volunteer and give back as much as you can. Treat others well and avoid being judgmental.
10.Be grateful for everything you have, specially all those things that are priceless not the material things. The practice of simple meditation helps you relax and enjoy the present. With or without music, indoors or outdoors or in a quiet or a crowded place meditation is a great source for peace and mental health. My kids love to relax and unwind with music.
I hope these tips will be useful for parents to follow and a real eye-opener for those seeking for a little advice.
Pilates Training – Shaving the Head exercise
Level: It depends on how much tension you can have in the springs. The more tension the harder.
Targets: your arms, your back and your core as you keep your torso stable. You will feel the most effort in the back of your arms (triceps).
Repetitions and sets:Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions each.
This exercise is one of my favorite Pilates routine, because it targets one of the most important body part in a women’s body : the back of the arms.
The main reason for having headaches is your bad posture as you type, answer the phone or read while seated at your desk. Your head weights up to 10 pounds; holding up your head is not easy as you do your tasks in the sitting position. You tend to slouch which can strain your neck and lower back. Therefore you will suffer from headaches, neck and lower back pain. Also check if you are able to keep your elbows, hips and knees in a 90 degree angle, (I call it the ergonomic rule of the 3 nineties). If you want to ease the discomfort in your neck and to prevent headaches and lower back pain, you need to stretch to release the stress from your neck and upper back.
Follow these simple routines:
1-Start by doing the lateral bending of your head, always looking forward and never forcing the stretch. Keep your shoulders nice and soft.
2-Rotate your head from one side to the other, also keeping your shoulders relaxed without forcing the stretch.
3-Bend your head over , do it slowly so you can control the movement without forcing the stretch, shoulders relaxed.
Do not forget to breathe, and try to keep your arms relaxed as you do the stretches. Do at least 10 repetitions each stretch throughout the day.
Okay busy women no more excuses I will give you some tips on how to organize your daily workouts. I gave you this week the most important tip to begin your journey to health and fitness: reprogram your mind. Put your wellbeing first, you need to understand that exercise has to become one of your first priorities. Once you have understood how important is to keep your body strong and flexible you will be mentally ready to start.
Tips:
2-Pre-cook your meals to save time. Be aware of the size of the portions and always choose healthy meals.
3-Choose the best time of the day to exercise. It may vary, I workout when I have the time during the day. As soon as you set up the time for your workouts you can’t miss your exercise routines.
4-Pick your favorite pair of pants, skirt or dress. Put it on, see how it looks on you. Take a picture and save it. After a month of exercising regularly try it on and see the difference. I don’t waste my time using the scale. This is the reason I always use a pair of jeans as a reference to see if I have gained some extra pounds!
5-In case that you can not exercise on a certain day, make it up any other day. Stay motivated, remember that you are worth the effort!
I was reading the last issue of Newsweek ( August 22 & 29, 2011 ) when on page 42 I had the great surprise of finding a great article on Jane Fonda. She has been my exercise icon since she started back in the 90’s with her videos, teaching great aerobic exercises with or without the step. Before her, I used to go to the gym where I had a great personal trainer; I did yoga for the mind and body connection, and I also used to meditate daily. Throughout the years I was doing the same fitness routines until I discovered The method! In this interview of Jane Fonda you can see how beautiful she looks, perfect posture and vibrant. She gives brief tips on how to feel, look and enjoy your life after 60. As a baby-boomer myself I can totally relate to that need of self-reinvention.
One tip that called my attention: For fitness she recommends The Pilates Method, I was not surprised because I know that the best bodies at any age are the Pilates bodies. The secret for a supple and strong body.
She also believes in keeping your entire body flexible. For her sense of well-being she practices Zen meditation. I never thought that I had so many thing is common with my exercise icon! I have found the fountain of youth in Pilates and stretching. Meditating daily is also a very important part of my day, keeps me centered and balanced. Now, I feel better both physically and mentally than when I was in my thirties and forties. Thank you Jane for inspiring all of us!
The Hundred Exercise Training – Pilates
Level: basic with the legs higher or intermediate with your legs low.
targets:core muscles, arms and legs.
sets and reps: one set, pump your arms up and down.Breathing in and out for five counts each, until you reach 100.
Tips:keep your neck and your shoulders relaxed. Your back has to be flat on the bed.
Working from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, getting home, fixing dinner and taking care of your family is the average routine that most women have on a daily basis. I have heard so many times from my female clients the same complains ” Mariela I don’t have time to commit to exercise, and when I have the time I don’t have the energy to exercise!” I include myself in this group of hard-working women. Some days I am so exhausted that I have to think twice before lying on the Reformer and start my Pilates routines, but once I start, I feel that I am worth the effort! Remember that human beings are trainable. If you train yourself to think that you are important and put your health and well-being first, it will help you start your fitness routines and keep a healthier diet. The benefits are immense, it boosts your self-esteem at every level, either at work or at home. This week I will give you tips on how to start and prioritize your everyday goals.
The aging process affects not only your external appearance but also your brain function. Balance and coordination diminish as we age. In order to keep your brain alert you need to practice everyday drills to maintain your balance and coordination. How do you train your brain ? I instruct my clients to do simple and easy tasks on one leg always alternating sides. For example: brush your teeth on one leg and switch, brush your hair on one leg and switch,and so on. Another simple exercise is: standing in front of a mirror raising one foot off the ground (either with your leg straight or bent) keeping your back straight and your hips stable. It is very important to understand that balance is the correlation between your brain, your core and your feet. Always begin by paying attention to your feet. If your foot begins to wabble as you are standing on one foot, try to control your foot. Plant your foot on the floor from your toes to your heel, and keep your whole foot grounded. Just by doing this you will keep your balance better. Then pay attention to your core. Keep your stomach in at all times, this will help you keep your back and your hips stable. And last but not least, is to concentrate in keeping everything stable. Focusing on your balance keeps your brain alert and aware. I invite you to begin today to do simple and safe tasks on one foot everyday so you can experience how your balance improves in less time that you can imagine.
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
Mariela Carter 