JANUARY OFFER

NEW YEAR 15% DISCOUNT OFFER FROM FLUIDE PILATES

10 CLASSES FOR 102€

(Usual price 120€)

Beat the January blues & join a class.

Classes recommence on Wednesday 7th January.

 (Offer ends 29/1/15)

SHOULDERS

Discomfort in the shoulders & the surrounding area have become a very prominent complaint for many people these days.

Contemporary lifestyle is without doubt to blame.  Most of us sit at a computer all day, then make stressful commutes home either in a car or an over crowded train or bus.  Additions like over sized bags habitually carried on the same shoulder do not help either.

Here are a few tips:

• Be aware that the shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint made up of 3 bones: the arm bone (humerus), the shoulder blade (scapula) and the collarbone (clavicle).  The correct position of the entire shoulder girdle is integral in order to obtain healthy shoulder placement.  
• Observe your upper body by standing in front of a mirror.  The collarbone should lie like its smiling, nice & open across the chest. Stand profile, the acromion bone (the little pointy bone at the end of the collar bone/on top of the shoulder) should roughly be below the ear lobe.  The shoulder blades are obviously impossible to view unless you ask someone to take a picture.  The only thing I can suggest is just to feel & sense your way around this tricky bone.  The shoulder blades should sit like the bottom sides of an anchor.  So think of them spreading wide across the back, away from the spine & ignore the diection you might have heard "Pull shoulders back".  This advice is unhelpful & actually weakens the surrounding muscles around the shoulder blades.
• The upper body isn't the only area that affects the position of the shoulders.  Take a moment to observe the placement of the rest of the body.  For example; are the knees, pelvis or feet aligned?  They might be far from the shoulders, but misalignment has a funny knack of spreading itself!

If you can try & implement some of the above, you will begin to notice a difference.  As always try to be mindful of your shoulder placement during the day, & perhaps do a few shoulder rolls at your desk to keep the joint lubricated.
 
Have a lovely weekend & I remember those poor shoulders!

POSTURE & PILATES

How does Pilates aid posture.............?

To put it simply, there are 2 basic principles-

*Pilates focuses on strengthening the muscles that support the spine- 

• Tranverse Abdominus (the front & side stomach muscle)
• Multifidus (the deep back muscle)
• Pelvic Floor (the muscle underneath the pelvis) 

These muscles act as a cylinder of support around the spine.

*Correct alignment-

•  If the core (cylinder) muscles are strengthened, the joints are better supported and in turn better aligned.

However posture cannot be improved long-term if the above are not applied through out everyday life.  Postural awareness should be something we should strive to be aware of in all areas of our lives.  It is hard I know, modern day constraints are against us, & it feels like a loosing battle at times!  

All the same, little adjustments will make a huge difference even if it's swapping your handbag strap from one shoulder to the other, or making sure you switch your phone to the other ear. 

So there we have it, a very simplified explanation of how Pilates can help posture!  Therefore if you can try & attend a Pilates class (ideally twice per week) it will vastly help to improve your posture, & support you in applying it to your life in general.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR PILATES

It is a question I get asked a lot & in fact there really is no uniform for a Pilates class.  Choose something you feel comfortable in & that allows you to move freely. 

For me, I prefer to avoid too much of a 'sporty' look as the fabrics are often uncomfortable & the cuts can be unforgiving! 

Cos, Hennes & Zara are some of the places I usually manage to find pieces I like.

Here are a couple examples of looks I go for.....

Cos wool/cashmere trousers 69€

Zara loose top 25.95€

  
















As I mentioned before, there is no specific outfit for a practice like Pilates.  So just choose what works for you as an individual, & allows you the freedom to move easily.  

And remember the last thing you should be feeling in class is self-conscious about your choice of attire, the important factor is the class itself.

On a completely different note......

DOUGHNUTS & PILATES, WE CAN BUT DREAM........

Just wish there was some way of incorporating doughnut eating into the Pilates repertoire........!!

PILATES STUDIO

 Here are some photos of the lovely studio where my classes take place......
I feel very fortunate that I found such a space.  It's a very serene and inspiring place to teach in.

THE PRESENCE OF AUTUMN

Even though we have been blessed with an 'Indian Summer' over the last couple of weeks here in Toulouse, it is actually Autumn & today feels a little autumnal......

Each season brings a shift in many areas of our life, but particularly the well being of our bodies.

Autumn could be the time to start preparing ourselves for the colder months ahead & perhaps an opportunity to adopt new habits.

Pilates can help to support the immune systemm.  When we exercise the brain releases endorphine (the 'happy' hormone!)& recent research has shown that endorphins released through exercise increase the number, percentage and effectiveness of the immune cells.   

Anxiety & stress have a very negative effect on the body, so we need to get those happy hormones working!