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
Click here >>> For Updates --- on *local In-Person Classes* - Register here.
> A *new* set of Men Only Pilates classes start during the week of Monday 7th March 2016. << Mens Pilates classes for men, taught by a man.
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I generally mix up the Mens Pilates and Core Strength Classes ( in the various South Dublin based venues ) in different ways to keep the classes interesting and motivating. This will give you ideas what you can do at home or as part of your own exercise and fitness routines.
Some class participants do three or four variations of exercises at the end of their own workouts, runs, resistance or weight training, or after a game of golf or tennis, or they incorporate it into their club training at the end of a ruby, GAA, or soccer training session.
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This includes the use of various fitness and exercise props e.g.
(1) Foam Rollers
(2) Pilates Rings
(3) Resistance Bands
(4) Smalls Balls
(5) occasionally Swiss Balls or sometimes called Gym Balls
Pilates Exercises can be combined in Duos, Trios, or just done as an ongoing sequence. There are various ways of teaching and incorporating these Pilates and Core Strength moves into your general daily or weekly workout routine and other exercise programs.
Knowing is not enough; we mus apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Pilates Sample Program for Men:
Exercises were picked in a way to maintain balance in the body, avoid overuse of one particular muscle group and therefore injuries. I see it over and over again that people work only on their abdominal, stomach muscles and neglect back strengthening and mobilizing exercises, which will ultimately lead to back trouble and possibly injuries.
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(1) Warm-up: Various neck, shoulder, upper back, and spine mobilization, loosening and stretching exercises (these are generally good as most of us sit for hours in front of various screens and build up tension in the neck and shoulder area), sometimes a few simple body-weight moves e.g. squats, Pilates Push-ups, etc..
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(2) Main Section:
These Core and Pilates exercises are generally done in sets of 10-12 moves.
(2.1) Shoulder Bridges – to give the back and spine another good stretch before more core and abdominal exercises. This exercise is also good for glute activation.
(2.2) Single Legs Stretches – focus mainly on abdominal / core strength, rectus abdominis.
(2.3) Pilates Swimming or Superman – works on lower back strength and lengthens the back and spine at the same time, if done correctly, without putting pressure on the lumbar spine.
(2.4) Straight Arm Plank – mainly core / abdominal strength, plus a bit of upper body strength.
(2.5) Back extension – a mid and/or lower back strengthening exercise, depending on which version you do.
(2.6) Side Bends or Elbow Side Planks – another move to maintain balance in the body, it focuses mainly on the waist, the mid-riff also called obliques. I generally recommend that you keep moving during this Pilates movement, to get more out of it.
(2.7) Roll-Up – an exercise that works on your straight abdominal muscles, a bit spine mobility/mobilization and adds in a very good hamstring/back of the leg stretch, all meaning is a great combination exercise (flexibility and mobility).
(2.8) Check opening or Crocodile: a pure mobility and loosening exercise for your spine, mid and lower back. This exercise can stretch the neck muscles as well depending on how the exercise is done.
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(3) Cool Down and Stretching:
We focus here on loosening and stretching the muscles we used during the Pilates and Core Strength exercises, of the main section. This will include a lot of back, neck, hip flexor and hamstring, etc. stretches.
Contact Martin with any questions you might have and or to book a class.
>> The *New* set of Mens Pilates and Core Conditioning Classes start: <<
[1] Tuesday 8th March 2016 6-7pm Sandyford Community Centre, Lambs Cross, Dublin 18, D18
[2] Tuesday 8th March 2016 8.15-9.15pm Taney Parish Centre, Dundrum, Dublin 14, D14, close to the LUAS Bridge.
[3] Wednesday 9th March 2016 6.30-7.30pm IrishFit Shop, Running.ie Shop, Sandyford Industrial Estate, 5min walk from the Stillorgan LUAS stop, a view minutes drive from Stillorgan Village.
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Please contact Martin before paying online, to check class suitability and availability.
Class fees are €100 for 8 consecutive weeks (classes last for 1 hour), €14 Drop-in, Trial, or Pay-As-You-Go.
Skip the first few paragraphs and start reading below the video if you are not interested in New Years Resolutions and go straight to the Mens Pilates Class information.
It is that time of the year again …. some folks set “New Years Resolutions” or NYRs as I call them.
I’m not a fan of NYRs. Most of us are just about able to stick to them for the first three or four weeks of the year. Then it’s back to the old routines, habits and procrastination. Is that you?
What about picking a theme for the year in different areas of your life, e.g. “Freshness” in terms so of what you eat (bin processed foods) or “Positive Outlook” in terms of mental self-talk or “Healthy Habits” in terms of being active and exercising.
Once you identified three or four themes, jot them down, write them into your diary, onto yellow Post-Its and place them into your wallet, at the dashboard of your car, on your phone, maybe set alarms to remind you of the themes regularly, ideally daily and ask yourself “What simple action can I take today to align my day with that theme and have fun 🙂 ?”.
Here a sample for above themes “Freshness” + “Positive Outlook” + “Healthy Habits”:
Get two pieces of fresh fruit for your in-between snacks in the office or when studying, take the stairs when bringing that important report to your manager or cycle/walk to the library when dropping off that novel or text book, encourage others to join in and “Always look at the bright side of life …. ” or think of James Brown’s song “I Feel Good”.
Make it easy for yourself to succeed and have fun doing so !
Get those post-its and your diary out and start writing … come on lets do it now !
Martin
I’m teaching these classes for around six years now. Most guys join initially because of some lower back issues, some as they want to improve their core strength as they play golf, others look to get a bit more flexible and to loosen their back after a regular running sessions and so it goes on.
I mix (1) traditional Pilates with (2) general core strength exercises, similar to what you might have done as part of your GAA, Football, Rugby, Golf or other training, think 5-6 variations of planks and add (3) a good bit mobility and (4) flexibility work in, as most guys are simply to stiff. I round it up with (5) various body weight exercises e.g. squat or press-up variations to boost general strength.
The age profile of past class participants in the “Men Only Pilates Classes” varied from mid 20s to early to mid 70s, whereas the age of the majority of class participants probably ranges from early to mid 30s to early to mid 60s. All ages are welcome.
I generally look at what participants can do and what the exercises allow them to do if they keep them up.
Every class participants takes it at his own pace, as everybody has different exercise backgrounds or possibly back issues or minor niggling bits. I show always two or three different variations of the same exercise, so you can pick which every version is right for you.
Drop-Ins classes or Trial classes are possible. Please contact me a few days in advance to check availability, if you plan to try a class.
The fee for 8 consecutive weeks is €100 one class per week, Drop-Ins are €14.
These classes take place:
1. Tuesday 6-7pm – Dublin 18 – Sandyford Community Centre, Lambs Cross
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2. Tuesday 8.15-9.15pm – Dublin 14 – Dundrum, Taney Parish Centre
Contact me with any other questions you might have or to book your course.
Martin
I’m going to start a new set of *Pilates* and *Fitness* Classes in the greater South Dublin area during the week of Monday 11th January 2016. Classes will include:
Contact Martin for further information or to book your Pilates Classes, Trial & Drop-In Classes possible if availability allows.