<![CDATA[Just Breathe Pilates - Blog]]>

<![CDATA[Just Breathe Pilates - Blog]]>Wed, 18 Sep 2024 02:58:10 -0700EditMySite<![CDATA[It's been a winner!]]>Fri, 20 Jan 2023 15:00:00 GMThttps://www.stlouispilatesfusion.com/blog/its-been-a-winner

Mary B.

Just Breathe Pilates would like to congratulate Mary B. on her success. Her dedication and hard work have served her well. Her body awareness and core strength have realigned her posture to be more streamlined with deep strength.

Way to go Mary! You’re a winner in our hearts! Continue scrolling to read more about Mary's fitness journey...

Regular physical activity was never part of my upbringing. And as an adult, I worked in an office environment, hunched over a computer most of the day. Like many other people I would occasionally go to a gym and exercise a bit, but inevitably within a few weeks I would lose interest and stop going.

Life changed after I retired. Within a year I gradually lost 10 pounds, mainly because I took walks most days for exercise. However, I realized I was weak and needed to do more for my aging body. On a whim, I attended a Pilates class in November of 2015. The class was conducted by Christy, founder of Just Breathe Pilates and is a STOTT certified Pilates instructor. I posted on social media that I’d attended the class and commented “I am weak”. That was an understatement.

Seven years later, I still attend Just Breathe Pilates, and practice it at home several times a week. I feel great after class! It has been a life-changing experience. I’ve lost over 25 pounds, gained strength, and become more aware of my postural strengths and weaknesses. My husband also started Just Breathe classes as well. He is also redefining his body and posture. Recently, he paid me the nicest compliment. Out of the blue, he said “you’ve transformed your body”. How sweet!

I am thankful for being part of Just Breathe Pilates which provides an encouraging environment with helpful instruction.

It's been a winner!

]]><![CDATA[Dynamic Hip Stabilizer]]>Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:30:00 GMThttps://www.stlouispilatesfusion.com/blog/dynamic-hip-stabilizerHey there,

It's been awhile since I've published a blog post, but I figured you might have increased your screen time at home during this pandemic, so I am reaching out to those that have time to connect. I am thankful for being still because it’s allowed me to listen more, and feel deeper by doing less which seems to be a good discipline to live by, and enjoy life more.

I love Pilates because it connects me to the core of my being. I want to share my love of it with others so that they can, too, feel alive. I hope you are finding ways to breathe, laugh, be still, and enjoy the beauty of Spring, the season of renewal.

And this brings me back to why I decided to post this blog on Just Breathe's website. Pilates has been a life saver for me in many ways. Four years ago, I was diagnosed with Spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis is a forward slippage of vertebra on another. My case was L4 AND L5. It was excruciating. Fortunately, Pilates saved me from surgery.

After many months of physical therapy, Pilates classes, and research, I learned about stabilizing and strengthening my pelvis. For years, I had been tucking and flattening my low back which aggravated my spine and created an intense nerve pain.

Fortunately, there was light at the end of the tunnel, a renewal of sorts, which leads me to the exercise in today's blog. The dynamic hip stabilizer has made a huge difference in balance, stability, core strength and overall posture. I am forever grateful. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me.

DYNAMIC HIP STABILIZER

Lie on your back, knees bent hip width apart. Take a magic circle or a band and wrap, or place it around your thighs just above the knee.

Then place a pillow or a medium size ball and place it between your ankles.

Flex your ankle and squeeze the ball while you dig your heels into the floor for 10 to 20 counts. You will not need to push out in the thighs because the action firing the pelvic floor and the inner thigh will be sufficient enough to stabilize your hips.

While you are activating the abs and inner thigh you will also need to keep the Asis and the Pubic Symphysis parallel to the floor.

This neutral position of the pelvis is the most stable and optimal shock-absorbing one by allowing the weight of the sacrum to rest on the mat (see photo).

Yours in good health,
Christy

Pilates Barre Workout, Just Breathe Pilates

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