Monday, February 23, 2009

Sit up straight! See how pilates can improve your posture, burn off unwanted calories

Did you have a grandparent who frequently told you to sit up straight? Does that familiar voice sneak into your head whenever you find your shoulders drooping south or you are slouching over a laptop?

Grandma and grandpa probably had good reason to correct you. Poor body posture and mechanics causes abnormal stress on the back and neck. Over time, poor posture can change the structure of the spine, causing the discs and joints to degenerate, ligaments and muscles to shorten and cartilage to wear and tear.

A popular way to maintain good posture - while burning unwanted calories - is pilates.

Pilates founders have spent more than a decade refining the STOTT PILATES® method of exercise and equipment. This resulted in the inclusion of modern principles of exercise science and spinal rehabilitation, making it safer and more effective.

With an emphasis on breath, core conditioning and body awareness, STOTT PILATES® exercise is a safe and highly effective way to stretch, strengthen and streamline your body without building bulk or stressing your joints. Performed on a mat or specialized equipment, STOTT PILATES® is a fitness regime for a lifetime. The perfect complement to cardiovascular exercise, sport, rehab and life, STOTT PILATES® exercises will leave you looking toned, feeling revitalized and moving with ease.

Some of the many benefits of STOTT PILATES® include:
  • Longer, leaner muscles (less bulk, more freedom of movement)
  • Improved postural problems
  • Increased core strength/stability and peripheral mobility
  • Injury prevention
  • Enhanced functional fitness and ease of movement
  • Balanced strength and flexibility
  • Heightened body awareness
  • No-impact – easy on the joints
  • Can be customized to suit everyone from rehab patients to elite athletes
  • Complements other methods of exercise
  • Improved performance in sports (golf, skiing, skating, etc.)
  • Improved balance, coordination and circulation
LifeBridge Health & Fitness has a dedicated STOTT PILATES® studio, where you will enjoy expert one-on-one or group instruction by our STOTT PILATES® instructors on 13 STOTT PILATES® machines. Our STOTT PILATES® instructors provide participants with progressive instruction from beginner to advanced in a small group setting. Nonmember rates are available. Please contact our Pilates coordinator at 410-318-6831 for more information.

One-on-One Pilates
Experience the benefit of one-on-one Pilates instruction in a private studio setting. Let our experienced instructors teach you the correct techniques of this core-challenging, body-transforming method. Sessions are available in packages of one, five, and 10. Nonmember rates are available. Please contact our Pilates coordinator at 410-318-6831 for more information.

And click here to see a video on how pilates can work for you.

Have you taken a pilates class before? What did you think of it? Did you see results?

No comments: