A quick note to let you know that I’m restarting my 2017 Pilates, Exercises and Fitness Classes during the week of Monday 9th January 2017.
You might also check out the information about a *new* Nutrition & Health Coaching course that I’m starting on the 20th January 2017, see timetable I plan to update the rest of the website with exact details in the next three to four dates.
Yours in Health and Fitness,
.. Martin
In this Posture Video you are going to learn three Posture Improvement Exercises >>> with a Foam Roller <<< that
(1) Stretch your Back and Spine out, (2) Mobilize and Loosen your shoulder area, (3) Stretch your chest out to prevent rounded shoulders.
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Keep your core muscles, your TVA (Transverse Abdominis) slightly engaged throughout to make these exercises safer for your lower back. Always consult a GP / physician before starting a new exercises regime, especially if you haven’t exercised for a long time on a regular basis.
(1) Foam Roller – Side Sway to Right & Left
( massages the area between your shoulder blades, stretches your chest out )
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Lie flat on your foam roller, your feet are flat on the ground, your knees are bend. Make sure your mid and lower back stay reasonable close to the foam roller. Avoid overarching your lower back, lumbar spine, as this would put pressure on your back. Ensure that the back of your head is well supported, avoid dropping the head over the edge of the roller, as this would overstretch your neck.
Then simply sway one to two inches from side to side, to massage your mid back and either side of the spine. Most class participants find this exercise very relaxing. This will also help you to prevent rounded shoulders, bad posture, as your pectoral muscles, your chest gets stretched out as well.
Sit w.
(2) Foam Roller – Full Body stretch – Back Stretch and Shoulder Mobility
( focuses on stretching your whole spine and back, increasing shoulder mobility, includes a chest stretch )
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This a very simple yet effective exercise. Start in the same position as in exercise number one, then stretch and lengthen your legs away on the Pilates mat. It might be slightly challenging to keep your balance, which will activate your general core muscles a small bit. Aim to keep your mid and especially your lower back, reasonable close to the foam roller, avoid overarching your lower back. Reach with your hands towards the wall behind you, stretch as far as possible through your fingers away to increase the back and spine stretch. This will work on mobility of your shoulder area and stretches your chest out, preventing rounded shoulders >>> Posture Work ! 🙂
Hold for around 10 long, deep breaths and aim to lengthen further away each time you exhale.
(3) Shoulder Mobilizing with a Foam Roller
( focuses on shoulder mobility, posture improvement, a small chest stretch and a bit mid-back strength )
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Another simple exercise to loosen and mobilize your shoulder area and improve your posture. Start in the same position as in exercise number one. Reach with your fingers towards the ceiling, let your palms face towards each other, straighten your arms nearly completely, keep your neck long and relaxed. Draw your shoulders down your back, away from your earlobes.
Breath in as you aim to lift / round your shoulder as much as possible off or away from the foam roller towards the ceiling, stretch your fingers as high as possible up towards the ceiling, while keeping the back of your head on the foam-roller. Breath out as you draw your shoulders back toward the ground, it is a bit like wrapping your shoulder blades around the foam roller, aim to keep your arms straight as you do this. Breath in as you restart. Repeat 10 times.
Same as above, just crisscross your arms in front of your chest to intensify the movement..
Let me know how you get on and e-mail or facebook me your questions, comments or feedback.
Thank you
_ Martin
In this Pilates Video you are going to learn three exercises, two Pilates, Core Strength Exercises and one Upper-Body Toning and Strengthening Exercise.
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Keep your core muscles, your TVA (Transverse Abdominis) slightly engaged throughout to make these exercises safer for your lower back. Always consult a GP / physician before starting a new exercises regime, especially if you haven’t exercised for a long time on a regular basis.
(1) Pilates Push-Up & Roll-Down >> Focuses on increasing upper-body strength (arms, chest), improves spin & back mobility a small bit.
Stand tall, arms, shoulders and the neck area are relaxed. Roll-down into a push-up position, place your hands wide, to the right & left of the mat, aim to keep you neck long, avoid dropping your head if possible to avoid tension in the neck. Keep your hip lifted, maintain ideally a straight line – ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, top of your head. Breath in as you lower your upper-body, breath out as you push away from the mat or floor. Roll up on the next breath out and come into a standing position.
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(2) Swiss-Ball / Gym-Ball Roll-Out >> Focuses mainly on increasing your “global abdominal” strength (it strengthens various abdominal / stomach muscles at the same time)
Kneel in front of the ball, your wrists rest on ball, your elbows are slightly bent. Maintain a straight line from your knees to your shoulders and the top of your head. Keep your shoulders and neck loose and relaxed. Breath out as you roll out, breath in as you roll back up.
Avoid dropping your hip and keep your TVA, core muscles slightly engaged to protect your lower back.
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(3) Russian Twist with a Gym / Swiss-Ball >> Focuses on toning your waist / increasing oblique strength and gets your thighs, buttock / gluteal muscles and mid / lower back a bit as well.
Rest the top of your upper back and the back of your head on a gym-ball, lift your hip to create a straight line from your knees to the crown of your head, keep your hip lifted and your ankles below your knees. Reach with your arms towards the ceiling, palms facing inwards. keep the shoulder relaxed. Breath out as you turn from your waist to the right, remember to keep you hip lifted, breath in as your return to the centre, turn to the left on your next out breath, breath in returning to the centre.
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To-Do-List:
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(1) Do a brief warm-up of 5-8min including some rotational and loosening moves for your neck, back, shoulders and your lower back or do some cardio exercises for 5-8min e.g. brisk walking.
(2) Do each exercise up to 10 times, assuming your back, neck, shoulders, knees and other joints etc. agree with the movement and there is no pain. Do three sets of each exercise.
(3) I suggest to keep an exercise and activity diary, which will allow you to recognize progress.
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Make a note of
(3.1) when you exercise time/date/duration,
(3.2) how many reps / sets you do,
(3.3) how the exercises are getting easier over time. I came up with a rating system.
I use a scale from 1 to 10 ( 1 = very very easy; 10 = extremely hard, nearly impossible).
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Let me know how you get on and if you have any questions.
Martin
