tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53591592467298718702024-03-13T21:47:03.617+08:00b-inspired PilatesIt is my passion for the movement that prompted me to make teaching Pilates my commitment.
I wish to inspire and guide others to take changes that will impact their lives positively.Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-88151979276534463642019-04-25T20:28:00.001+08:002019-04-25T20:28:51.927+08:00A Ballerina’s Second Act | Miko Fogarty | TEDxBerkeley<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Thanks Miko Fogarty for sharing your story! It takes courage to make that decision - to change the course and pursue one's passion. Just I took that leap of faith some 9 years ago. Aspiring to use the knowledge and experience acquired through anatomy courses, Pilates training, and various courses to contribute back and help the dance community. My way of loving dance.</span><br /><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Q-KcrLGnco" width="480"></iframe>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-63346173040736900222016-01-17T11:01:00.001+08:002016-01-17T11:01:15.330+08:00Dance and Sports Science - Gjuum<br /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Brilliant!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"> T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">ake the time to watch this!</span><br /><br />
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<br />Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-37497856951624409032015-12-05T19:09:00.001+08:002015-12-05T19:41:06.722+08:00Completing the year 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year has been a fruitful one, fulfilling on a personal and professional front.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taking stock of what I have done / completed for the year, as we are about to bid adieu to year 2015.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the first quarter of the year, made some progress with the Gymnastics Strength Training foundation course which I signed up for, and attended the workshop in which Coach Sommer, President/CEO of GymnaticBodies.com, personally came to coach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I kicked my butt to find the time to resume ballet classes - something which I had procrastinated for the past 2 years. So, finally some time mid of this year, got around to dancing once again! And what's more, learning a different style of ballet this time - Vaganova! Having done the only the R.A.D syllabus, it's a refreshing start. Discovering the differences in some terms, and emphasis. In case any of you are interested to take up adult ballet, you may look up ballet51.com. Yes, they have Introductory class for adults who are learning ballet for the first time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Talk about serendipity, workshops related to/for dancers were up this year! Going with my intuition and the flow of time of events - I signed up for them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lisa Howell, owner of Perfect Form Physiotherapy in Sydney came to Singapore for the first time in September! It was a good 3-day workshop - reminder of how crucial the fundamentals are, as well as learning some other tools and exercises from a Physio perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Concluding the year with one final workshop by Karen Clippinger. I flew across the globe to BASI Pilates studio in Costa Mesa, CA in November. Her textbook Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology which was released in 2007 has been used by many universities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I loved her repertoire of exercises - from Matwork with Thera-bands, on the Fitball, and across various Pilates apparatus! The exercises looked deceivingly simple and easy, but they certainly are meant for dancers - improve their range and strengthening!</span></div>
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Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-12077973508232792222015-08-03T13:54:00.001+08:002015-08-03T13:54:58.199+08:00The benefits of good posture - Murat Dalkilinç<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OyK0oE5rwFY" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here we are, this animated video on why optimal posture is good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is why and where Pilates is one of the recommended methods to for improving our posture and alignment. The other benefits include:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Increased/Improved body awareness and coordination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Improved core stability and strength.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Improved muscular strength and balance</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hence, this resultant improved muscular balance reduces muscle tension. Moreover, we move more efficiently from walking during our day-to-day activities to while participating in sports and/or dance related activities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a fabulous start to August everyone!</span>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-47583973602488359042015-07-12T08:01:00.001+08:002015-07-12T08:01:51.976+08:00Man doing Pilates on the Reformer "The Art Of Control"<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CwhZ2vNckKg" width="459"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, I've posted short video clips of myself doing Pilates on the Reformer on Instagram and Facebook page. However, we don't often see or have videos on men doing Pilates.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, here's one - showing strength, control and flexibility in all the movements, by Bluebird Pilates Munich. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Sunday everyone!</span>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-63115315679724874562015-04-04T16:32:00.001+08:002015-04-04T16:32:35.812+08:00'Body in mind - the role of the brain in chronic pain'<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A physiotherapist explains how our perception of pain - chronic pain, is shaped by prior experiences and previously held beliefs, than actual tissue damage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He explains it using storytelling, injected with some hilarity. Take a listen.</span><br />
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<br />Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-14714209917239498802015-04-02T22:02:00.002+08:002015-04-02T22:41:30.946+08:00Pilates Mat Trial class at SMU<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
If you have been wanting to try Pilates and have not got to it. This is your chance! Come for this Pilates Mat Trial session that I'm conducting at my alma mater on April 13th, 7pm!</div>
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The dates and time for the subsequent series of 8 classes will be in the months of May and June, on Thursday evenings at 7pm.</div>
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The 8-session programme is a good introductory to allow yourself to experience how you might improve your body awareness and learn the basics of core conditioning.</div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information and registration, you may go to <a href="http://smu.sg/pi">http://smu.sg/pi</a> by 9 April 2015</span></h3>
Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-3573894239768216172015-03-23T12:59:00.001+08:002015-03-25T10:25:17.511+08:00Paying tribute to our founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning I woke to news that I've dreaded to hear. Although one's passing is inevitable, for we are humans and we have to meet death one day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had the privilege to live in a peaceful multi-racial, multi-religion country, in a clean and green state, received education, a city that has an efficient and robust infrastructure (healthcare, transport, finance, telecommunications) and being able to walk on the streets without having to worry about my safety. This last point is what I'd call freedom, free of fear and worry for our own safety.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Singapore was built very much on the backbone of the first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew - his vision and tenacity, and we have been sitting on this giant shoulders of his as long as he lived.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was a man of courage - in standing up to lead a country, and with firmness that was necessary to gather his team and fellow citizens towards achieving the vision of making Singapore a successful first-world country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To our dear founding father of Singapore,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for setting the foundation and providing us with the Singapore we have today. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grew up watching you on TV, when there were broadcasts of the rallies that took place in the earlier years and thereafter giving speeches. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My family (grandparents and parents) had impressed upon me as a child on the contributions you've made, and I have enjoyed the fruits of your labour and that of your founding team's labour. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, we'd have to do our part by taking it upon ourselves as Singaporeans to carry on your legacy in making Singapore a better place.</span><br />
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<br />Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-69042865271658410822015-03-08T11:44:00.001+08:002015-03-08T11:53:00.570+08:00Why sitting is bad for you<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wUEl8KrMz14" width="480"></iframe></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TED-Ed has summarised and depicted in this video what happens to our body when we sit for prolonged periods of time. We are meant to move (more than sitting or standing for hours).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, get on up right NOW, to walk, do some squats, stretch (side ways, rotate your chest, front and back of your body) :D</span>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-71354762743396498632015-03-02T17:28:00.002+08:002015-03-08T11:51:09.010+08:00Marking my Fifth Year<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a long while since I penned something here personally.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, this year, coincidentally it's my 5th year since I embarked on teaching Pilates my profession, I had the opportunity to join and be part of an amazing (pioneer) team in setting up Lululemon's very first store in Asia and in Singapore! I'm so grateful for this opportunity, where I met and got to know so many different like-minded people. Here's my journey in the seasonal term I had - during the festive holiday period.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, the team (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lululemonionorchard/info">Lululemon Singapore</a>) spirit is nothing but fantastic - Go Lululemon! Who would have thought unpacking/packing of apparel would be done with such high energy and fun - making work fun, have fun working!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The team - we simply love our workouts! We'd call it "sweat together". It's so encouraging and motivating to have people to work out with; plus, we have the freedom to try different types of workouts and go to all the different workout spaces/studios in Singapore!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, I got to meet and attend each Lululemon Singapore's ambassadors sweat sessions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My firsts at these workouts with the ambassadors were:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got to do Mysore (by <a href="http://www.ashtangayogasingapore.com/teacher.html">Stanley Lim, Founder of Ashtanga Yoga Singapore</a>), CrossFit (by <a href="http://crossfitfirecity.com/coaches/">Samuel Lim, Owner and Head Coach at CrossFit Fire City</a>) and Capoeira by <a href="http://www.mightymay.com/">May Ooi, MMA Fighter</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also attended quite a fair number of classes by Lynn & Sumei at <a href="http://spaceandlightstudios.com/contact.html">Space & Light (R-evolution</a>). Personally, I liked it because of how much they emphasise on alignment on cuing the poses. Having attended <a href="http://www.yinspiration.org/">Yin Yoga by Jo Phee</a>, I understood what Yin is for and about better; though my initial encounter at Yin some years back was it was a tat too slow for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not forgetting, attending a class by <a href="http://yogamovement.com/teachers-profile/">Alicia Pan, Founder and Owner of Yoga Movement</a> and attend the Pilates community class by <a href="http://www.breathepilates.com.sg/team.html">Thicha, Instructor Trainer and Trainer at Breathe - The Movement Specialist</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually, I must say experiencing various workouts is not only fun as I love working out, but I've found how it enables me to improve my teaching!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. When I learnt the correct technique and alignment of some of the basic yoga poses, when I learnt the general principles of the yoga breath - i.e when to inhale and when to exhale in the various poses, I am in a better position to understand and explain to my clients the general differences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Having done CrossFit, Crucycle (it's incorporating spinning and weights for arm workouts </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with music), Aerial Yoga, I've discovered how I'm able to do them with relative control due to Pilates, a body conditioning regime. The improved body awareness, especially in alignment means no injury and engagement of the core muscles means working from the centre out and not put strain on my extremities (i.e joints on shoulders, wrists, knees and ankles).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Now, I have a better idea of how and what CrossFit is, what CruCycle and 7Cycle is, how Aerial Yoga is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plus I was reminded of the message(s)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Trust Ourselves, learn to fall as more importantly, it's getting up and go at it again, and not to let Fear take over"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've learnt so much from each and every one of the teachers/instructors and from the various classes. As this phrase a relief teacher gave us in my early teens:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Every moment is lesson, Every person is a teacher. Grow!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A heartfelt appreciation to everyone I've met and got to know - the ambassadors, the team, and guests at the store!</span></div>
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Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-85565815550611425542015-03-01T18:06:00.001+08:002015-03-01T21:02:21.767+08:00My Personality Type: The Independent Thinker<a href="http://www.ipersonic.com/type/IT.html#.VPLjPALIBLc.blogger">My Personality Type: The Independent Thinker</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I'm just deciding to share a little about myself - my personality as the results is quite spot-on and is described succinctly my innate desire for learning, improvement and growth, amongst other aspects:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">"in the work place you are always striving for as much knowledge and expertise as possible. You are rarely or never satisfied with your accomplishments"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">"considers controlling nature and his environment to be much more interesting - the main motivation for your continuous hunger for more information. Improving your capabilities and expanding the store of your knowledge and experience is your life’s main objective."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is in part as a way to let everyone know/understand what really moves me (behind the cool/reserved face), marking the 5th year since I decided to make this profession my work, my life. </span>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-84512760116300230482015-03-01T11:29:00.001+08:002015-03-01T11:29:52.369+08:00Physical activity for cancer survivors, starting somewhere and feel safe<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pilates is a gentle, safe place to begin for those who has just undergone cancer surgery and treatment. A breast cancer survivor has listed the 12 Benefits of Pilates she experienced in this article:</span><br />
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<a href="http://noumagazine.org/12-benefits-of-pilates/" target="_blank">Pilates for Breast Cancer Survivors</a>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-64599571228299846242014-10-27T11:06:00.000+08:002014-10-27T11:06:47.920+08:00Enjoy the Challenge and the Proces<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I enjoyed this article and it's so true that I just want to share it! I'd say apply this continuous strive in life too - be it your relationships at home and at work, apply to your attitude to the work you do (and that it's not just a job).</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">..<br /><br />Excerpts: Mr. Balanchine once said: “If you don’t feel challenged, it’s because you’re not doing enough. Ballet should never feel comfortable. Comfortable is lazy! If you’re comfortable when you dance, you’re not pushing yourself hard enough. 100% is not enough. You have to give 200%. One tendu takes years of hard work and will never be perfect. Everything in ballet is a challenge.”<br /><br />...ballet is a process that takes many years and that professional dancers are still trying to perfect their technique.<br /><br />As a teacher, I want to see my students succeed beyond their expectations, and even mine for that matter. I cannot make them work hard, that’s something they have to do for themselves. I can only give them all my knowledge, information and time and try to inspire them to do their best. What they do with all of it afterwards is totally up to them. One of the lessons I try my very best to teach them is that ballet is certainly not boring, especially if you’re doing it properly.</span><br />
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<a href="http://atthebarre.net/ballet-is-boring/" style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">http://atthebarre.net/ballet-is-boring/</a></div>
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<br />Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-61831465270164633402013-07-04T11:57:00.001+08:002013-07-04T11:57:35.946+08:00Ballet, sweat and tears<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Young, aspiring ballet dancers, prima ballerinas and experienced ballet teachers all agree on one - this beautiful and extremely challenging art requires sacrifices to make it into a handful of dancers that will reach the top.</span><br />
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Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-53383318937405343732013-05-08T11:40:00.001+08:002013-05-08T11:40:04.046+08:00Be Great!: Juliet Doherty at TEDxABQ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You are the only one who can authorise yourself being Great. You're the only one who can own your own greatness!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the struggle for Excellence, it's so easy to lose sight of just enjoying our gifts.</span></div><br />
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Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-42228174181103811812013-05-07T17:58:00.001+08:002013-05-08T12:11:17.329+08:00Don Quijote PD: Iana Salenko and Daniil Simkin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thought I'd share this fantastic performance of Don Quijote by excellent dancers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy! :-)</span></div>
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<br />Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-63174982481368159112013-02-07T10:30:00.000+08:002013-02-13T10:43:55.812+08:0015 Truths About Being a Professional Dancer<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://www.theportlandballet.org/BalletBlog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/yess.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="yess" border="0" src="http://www.theportlandballet.org/BalletBlog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/yess.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Written by Melanie Doskocil, original post found at her blog, </span><a href="http://balletpages.blogspot.com/2011/10/15-truths-about-being-professional.html" style="color: #939300; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank" title="Ballet Pages">Ballet Pages</a></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love that these principles comes as a reminder to myself once again and they apply to life as well (as originally adapted from </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/04/11/16-harsh-truths-that-make-us-stronger/" target="_blank">16 Harsh Truths that Make Us Stronger</a>)</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">Natural ability and talent will only get us so far. We must </span><b style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: red;">work hard work and persevere</span></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><b>You </b></span><b style="line-height: 20px;">won't always get the role you want</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"> - this</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"> teaches us humility and respect for the process</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">, </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">the art form and the masters we have chosen to teach us</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">There's a lot you don't know</span></b> - the minute we think we know it all, we stop being a valuable asset.</li>
<li>There may not be a tomorrow - <b><span style="color: red;">infuse your routine with passion</span></b>.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">There's a lot you </span></b><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><b><span style="color: red;">can't control</span></b> - focus on honing your craft, being the best you can be in your work. Keep an open mind and a positive attitude.</span></li>
<li>Information is not true knowledge - <b><span style="color: red;">knowledge comes from experience</span></b>.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">Prove you are valuable</span></b> - show up early, know your material, be prepared, keep your opinions to yourself unless they are solicited and above all be willing to work hard.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">Someone else will always have more than you/be better than you</span></b> - rather than get caught up in the drama about what others are doing around you, focus on the things you are good at, the things you need to work on and the things that make you happiest in your profession.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">You can't change the past</span></b> - Everyone has a past; made mistakes and has glorious moments they want to savour. Be in the moment.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">The only person who can make you happy is you</span></b> - the root of our happiness comes from our relationship with ourselves, not from how much money we make, what role we were given. These things can have effects on our mood, but in the long run it's who are on the inside that makes us happy.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">There will always be people who don't like you</span></b> - You can't be everything to everyone. Not matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently. So concentrate on doing what you know in your heart is right.</li>
<li>Sometimes you will fail - <b><span style="color: red;">failure is a part of life</span></b>. Failure can be the catalyst to some of our greatest growth and learning experiences. Be willing to fail. When it happens, <b><span style="color: red;">embrace the lesson that comes with it</span></b>.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">Sometimes you will have to work for free</span></b> - there are many good reasons to work for free and there are just as many reasons not to. Ask yourself if the cause is worthy, if the experience is worth it, if it will bring your joy. Go into the situation fully aware of the financial agreement and don't expect a hand out later.</li>
<li>If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting. If you want to grow beyond your comfort zone, you must <b><span style="color: red;">push yourself beyond your self-imposed limitations</span></b>.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: red;">You will never feel 100% ready</span></b> - nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. You have to be willing to take risks. Have a flexible mind and attitude. The greatest opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means you won't feel totally comfortable or ready for it.</li>
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Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-78067074084402714672012-11-05T18:06:00.000+08:002012-11-05T18:09:37.927+08:00Fletcher Intensive in LA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just returned from a 5-day Fletcher Intensive course held at </span><a href="http://www.pilatesbodyshopla.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pilates Bodyshop</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> located in Los Angeles. It was an awesome time spent with Pilates teachers trained in the other schools, and having the privilege of having </span><a href="http://www.fletcherpilates.com/teachers/faculty" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kyria</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Program Director of The Ron Fletcher Program of Study) teach us over the 5-day workshop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a good time to revisit the Pilates Principles, what do they mean and how do they apply to the Pilates work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What exactly is Fletcher Intensive about?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This licensing course is for existing Pilates teachers, Fitness Instructors and Physical Therapists who are keen to learn the Fletcher Pilates</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">®</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> tecniques, comprising:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Fletcher Percussive Breath™<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />• Fletcher Fundamentals™<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />• <a href="http://www.fletcherpilates.com/programs-events/towelwork-technique" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fletcher Towelwork®</a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />• <a href="http://www.fletcherpilates.com/programs-events/floorwork-technique" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fletcher Floorwork®</a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />• <a href="http://www.fletcherpilates.com/programs-events/barrework-technique" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fletcher Barrework™</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, personally, this is very timely for me to revisit the fundamentals and to take stock of what I've done since I committed myself to teaching this work (about 27 months ago) and where I could step up in my teaching.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I review the notes written...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First Fletcher Fundamental -<b> Percussive Breathing</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The percussive breath comprises lateral rib motion, anterior/posterior rib motion, engagement of all four layers of the abdominal muscles, and has volume and control.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main reasons the Breath is important:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">oxygenation of the cells and body, a detoxification of the body</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">works the core musculature (most of the muscles of the trunk)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">improves posture</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sound that is produced and heard is a by-product due to the narrowing of the mouth aperture that forces the abdominal muscles to work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Fletcher Percussive Breath has sounds and rhythm, and lead the movement!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next is the <b>Seven Standing and Centering Cues</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starting from the feet, the cues are meant to help align our body alignment.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Foot Centers - ensuring we place weight evenly on the 3 foot centers (on the ball of the feet below the big toe, between the last and second last toe, and the heel)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Magn</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ets - first pair of magnets between the 2 legs is at the ankles, second pair is at the knees, and the last is at the top inner thighs. This is to bring awareness to one's body mid-line, help to prevent supination and pronation of the feet.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bolts - there are 2 sets of bolts. One is on the front (pubic bone) and back (sacrum), the other set is on the side of the hips where the hipbones are. The placement of pelvis is critical to one's spinal alignment and is a link-way between the upper and lower hemispheres of the body. At the same time, in order to assist with the correction of one's leg alignment (in the case of a person with knocked-knee legs), the correction usually starts from the pelvis.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Girdle of strength - the trunk (abdominals - front, sides and back). This is where most Pilates movements are initiated from.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Percussive breathing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shoulder Girdle placement - placement of shoulder girdle in relation to thoracic and cervical spine. The shoulder blades ideally be 'sitting' at the back of the ribcage, with no elevation, protraction or retraction.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Head and Neck placement - we want to think about lengthening the throat (front) and back of neck evenly, so there is no forward or posterior placement of the head.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Applicable Application!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, what do we do with theory and fundamentals explained? It's the application that matters! For the past year, I often found myself questioning the application of certain Pilates movements that would be beneficial for a specific client. Sometimes, I figure it out intuitively sometimes, I had to seek advise from colleagues. I like that during this course, I learnt the application of teaching the Breath, depending on what the person needs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example, a client with kyphotic posture would need emphasis on inhalation to elevate the collapsed thoracic spine and ribcage. This means bring emphasis and awareness to anterior/posterior rib motion breath, using a cue like "reach through the crown of your head as you exhale" to help the client retain the lifted spine on the exhale.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I liked and one which I thought was a good takeaway personally, was the discussion and application of the Pilates movements segment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were asked to pair up and do a postural assessment for one another. Then, we were to recommend/'prescribe' 3 movements that may help improve the person's posture and/or weak/tight spots of the body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm now on to hone my skills in determining what a client should work on first to address their concerns and subsequently how to progress their movements as they improve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A final point on an observation I made.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to the difference in teaching style, I noticed a difference in tonality, pitch and vocabulary used - in terms of words of praise and encouragement, the teachers in the US had. Perhaps, culture has a part in this.</span></div>
<br />Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-28891111815997259122012-08-14T22:50:00.001+08:002012-08-14T22:50:39.983+08:00Cultivating Concentration<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">"Knowing when to step in, when to guide, and when to step away requires much more thought and concentration on the part of the Pilates teacher. Further, it contributes to a much more productive teaching and learning process, a mutually beneficial outcome.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Within the context of a private session or group class, it's about doing and saying progressively less. It's about allowing each of our Pilates students, patients and clients the opportunity to develop their own sense of movement awareness, to feel the rhythm of each movement and to deepen their ability to concentrate. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">It's about continually editing our choice of cues and teaching techniques, with the explicit intent of guiding the client to build concentration, self-awareness and self-reliance."</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">Thank you </span>Kyria Sabin<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px;">, for sharing on how we may progress as teachers, and in turn allow clients to be increase their self-awareness and self-reliance.</span> </span><br />
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</span> <img alt="Fletcher Pilates Blog" height="191" src="http://www.fletcherpilates.com/images/company-images/blog.jpg" width="400" />Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-15538313323725854822012-07-12T00:03:00.001+08:002012-07-12T00:10:54.315+08:00Common Mistakes Dancers Make<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">"Static stretching before classes decreases strength, speed, agility, and useful range of motion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I find dancers doing static stretching between the barre and center work, and again before rehearsal, where often speed, power, and agility may be in demand.” says Jennifer Gamboa, president of Body Dynamics, Inc., in Arlington, Virginia</span><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It’s not that static stretching is bad in and of itself, but it puts you at risk. “You are more likely to land incorrectly, and are more susceptible to injury,”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Gamboa prefers dynamic stretching, which involves movement that is of low intensity and uses a broad range of motion. Leg brushes, arm circles, trunk rotations, lunges across the floor, and other large movements constitute dynamic stretching. “Even walking or biking to class is an ideal way to get the blood moving and raise the body’s temperature. Simply put, the body needs movement to get ready to dance.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You don’t have to stop having those long, luxurious stretch experiences. “Static stretching should be done at the end of class, the end of rehearsal, and the end of the day,” Gamboa says. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">“Walking with the hips and the feet turned out on a daily basis creates too much stress, especially on the feet and ankles,” says Marika Molnar, president and founder of Westside Dance Physical Therapy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">“The gait pattern is a bad habit, a sort of identity,” she says. “The 180-degree first position happens because that’s what they were taught early on. We need to bring awareness to the importance of walking correctly. Dancers should get to class earlier and warm up their bodies before assuming the strict ballet position. Teaching good walking skills nurtures the spine, hips, and feet.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Turnout and Bones; Cross-training</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">“Forcing turnout is the source of lordosis, increased strain on the sacroiliac joint, and torque on the kneecap—which can lead to patella and anterior knee pain,” says Bridget Quinn, MD, who works with Boston Ballet’s dancers. “It affects the whole kinetic chain.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There are safe ways for dancers to improve their turnout. First they need to remember that turnout starts at the hip. “You can build deep external rotation strength,” says Quinn, “and improve the flexibility of the iliofemoral ligaments.” She suggests the classic clamshell exercise to improve the hip’s external rotators. Lie on your side with your knees bent. Without moving your hip back and forth, open and close the top leg. You can increase the tension by using a Thera-Band as resistance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Quinn would like to dispel the myth that all great ballet dancers had perfect turnout. Many did not have 180-degree turnout, and went on to highly successful careers. “They danced,” Quinn says, “and we never noticed their turnout.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Another trouble spot is the belief that you can get all you need within technique class. “Dance is an art form, not a whole-body conditioning regime,” says Quinn. “There are still too many dancers who do not do any cross-training. Class alone leads to imbalances and weaknesses, and there are not enough aerobic challenges.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">An excerpt from <a href="http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/July-2012/What-Are-They-Doing-Wrong">Dance Magazine – If it's happening in the world of dance, it's happening in Dance Magazine.</a></span></div>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-53989371082740389112012-07-11T13:58:00.005+08:002012-07-12T00:06:00.935+08:00Your Muscles Remember<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Muscles retain a memory of their former fitness even as they wither from lack of use.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">That memory is stored as DNA-containing nuclei, which proliferate when a muscle is exercised.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Researchers report online August 16 in the <i>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</i>, those nuclei aren't lost when muscles atrophy. The extra nuclei form a type of muscle memory that allows the muscle to bounce back quickly when retrained.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">The findings suggest that exercise early in life could help fend off frailness in the elderly, says study leader Kristian Gundersen, a physiologist at the University of Oslo in Norway. Muscles cells are huge. And because the cells are so big, more than one nucleus is needed to supply the DNA templates for making large amounts of the proteins that give muscle its strength. Previous research has demonstrated that with exercise, muscle cells get even bigger by merging with stem cells called satellite cells, which are nestled between muscle fiber cells.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">In the new study, Gundersen's team simulated the effect of working out by making a muscle that helps lift the toes work harder in mice. As the muscle worked, the number of nuclei increased, starting on day six. Over the course of 21 days, the hardworking muscles increased the number of nuclei in each fiber cell by about 54%. Starting on day nine, the muscle cells also started to plump up. Those results indicate that the nuclei come first and muscle mass is added later.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">In another set of experiments, the researchers worked the mice's muscles for two weeks and then severed nerves leading to the muscle so the tissue would atrophy. As the muscle atrophied, the cells deflated to about 40% of their bulked-up size, but the number of nuclei in the cells did not change.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Gundersen's team examined individual cells in the wasting muscles and found that there is apoptosis going on, but that other cells are dying, not the muscle fibers or their extra nuclei. The extra nuclei stick around for at least three months - a long time for a mouse, which lives a couple of years on average.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">He says, "I don't know if it lasts forever, but it seems to be a very long-lasting effect". Since the extra nuclei don't die, they could be poised to make muscle proteins again, providing a type of muscle memory.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">If the results hold up in people, sports agencies may want to reconsider how long they ban athletes suspended for taking steroids. Previous research has shown that testosterone boosts the number of nuclei in muscle cells beyond the amount produced by working out. "If you have nuclei that last forever, then you would also have an advantage that could last forever," Gundersen says.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Well, maybe not exactly forever. As people age, their ability to build muscle mass declines. The new study suggests that pumping muscles full of nuclei early in life could help stave off muscle loss with age. "This could be an argument for mandatory physical training in schools," says Bengt Saltin, a muscle physiologist at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">An excerpt of the original article: </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/muscle-memory/" style="background-color: white;">http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/08/muscle-memory/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Image source: <span style="background-color: white; color: #228822; line-height: 14.5455px;">chen2820.pbworks.com</span></i></span></div>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-7371253969967945462012-06-09T22:47:00.001+08:002012-06-09T22:47:52.154+08:00Change your posture, change your life!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/odIUNbt3ev8?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-60408543990434200782012-06-05T01:32:00.001+08:002012-06-05T01:32:48.760+08:00Proprioception: Your 6th SenseHave you wondered how you're able to stand, walk, and drive a car without having to look at your limbs?<br />
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It's all because you of your Proprioception<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"The ability to sense the position, location, orientation and movement of the body and its parts.”</span></span></blockquote><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Improving proprioception has many benefits for everyone from athletes to seniors:</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span>Improved</span><span> balance and stability</span> </span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span>Improved agility to help you quickly change your body’s direction in a situation s</span><span>uch as tripping up a step</span> </span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span>Improved overall coordination</span> </span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span>Reduced risk of injury and helps to prevent falls</span> </span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: small;"><span>Improved body reaction time to outside changes such as stepping on uneven terrain or something slippery</span></span></li>
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Reference:</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.putmebacktogether.com/Home/PhysicalTherapyArticles/PhysicalTherapyArticle/itemId/259/Proprioception-Your-6th-Sense.aspx?goback=.gde_158092_member_120441734#.T8zvCKGHWUo.blogger">Proprioception: Your 6th Sense |PutMeBackTogether.com</a></span>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-65978239635167827742012-03-26T14:40:00.003+08:002012-03-26T15:03:31.174+08:00What can Pilates exercises do for you<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOr1sS19XFo/T3ARSgDKOYI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/HAonolnGoNk/s1600/Quote+from+Jo+Pilates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xOr1sS19XFo/T3ARSgDKOYI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/HAonolnGoNk/s1600/Quote+from+Jo+Pilates.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Excerpts from <a href="http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/the-benefits-of-pilates">WebMD article</a> (and reiteration of Benefits of Pilates). <br />
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<b>1. Body Awareness</b><br />
"It is an education in body awareness..It teaches you how to train your mind and build symmetry and coordination in the body, And when you can get control of the little things, that's practicing willpower." says Pilates teacher Siri Dharma Galliano.<br />
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Aliesa George, a Pilates teacher in Wichita, Kan: "The biggest benefit in my eyes would be personal awareness -- awareness of how you sit or how you stand or how you move and being able to relate those habits to the aches and pains and injuries you have or have had in the past,"<br />
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<b>2. Stronger Core</b><br />
it's important not to equate a stronger core with a flatter stomach.<br />
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Aliesa George: "When people want 'flat abs,' they are usually looking for <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm">weight loss</a>, not abdominal strength and core support,". "More than touting the benefits of Pilates for flat abs, we should be touting the benefits of Pilates for a stronger, healthy back and body. If along the way, you do the other components of fitness and trim the body down, yes, you're going to have a flatter midsection."<br />
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As you develop body awareness, stand straighter, and gain flexibility, "Pilates will shift your shape," so. "But just attending a group mat class may or may not change your body." says Siri Dharma Galliano<br />
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Kevin Bowen, co-founder of the Pilates Method Alliance and director of special projects, says it is important that abdominals are flexible, not just hard.<br />
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"A flexible muscle is a strong muscle," says Bowen. "A hard muscle may feel good and give an interesting look, but if you don't have the flexibility and the balance and the functionality that you need to allow your body to function properly, sooner or later, it's going to show up someplace else."<br />
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<b>3. Body Control</b><br />
Siri Dharma Galliano, who has sculpted the bodies of Madonna, Cameron Diaz, Sting, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Uma Thurman, says Pilates works because it teaches you how to move.<br />
"Unless you are taught how to move and discover with your teacher what is blocking you (for example, keeping your shoulders up too high), you will never achieve body symmetry. When you start getting control of your body, it gives you a great degree of satisfaction."<br />
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"Pilates works the whole body in synergy," which is how we should be moving on a daily basis, says Little Rock, Ark., internist Hoyte Pyle, MD, who has been practicing Pilates for five years.<br />
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<h3>Apparatus or Mat?</h3><span style="font-weight: normal;">Pilates himself rarely worked with groups. Most of his work was done one on one, so each person's exercises were tailored to meet his or her needs. But he used both mat exercises and equipment with his clients. </span><br />
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Aliesa George: "Pilates was developed as a system. "People will get the best benefits if they utilize it as a system, doing exercises on the mat and the equipment."<br />
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For someone who has limitations, equipment is a great place to begin, says Siri Dharma Galliano.<br />
"The equipment was really designed to help people do the mat work. It supports them while they do the action, which is something they can't get in a mat class."<br />
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Bottom line? If you can afford it, teachers recommend doing both mat classes and work on the equipment.<br />
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<b>Final Note</b><br />
Some 50% of adults experience <a href="http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/default.htm">back pain</a> at some time in their lives. At any given time, 25% of adults have acute or chronic back pain. But not all pain is the same, cautions Jupiter, Fla., physical therapist Michael L. Reed, DPT. Without a diagnosis for your back pain from a physician or health care professional, Pilates could do more harm than good, he says.<br />
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"You can't go to a non-medical practitioner that teaches Pilates and think that will resolve your back pain,"<br />
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"That's not necessarily to say that Pilates won't help" says Reed. He uses Pilates in his rehabilitation studio. Movement training is a sensible way to <a href="http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/pain-management-living-managing">manage pain</a>, and non-weight-bearing exercises like Pilates can be done even by those struggling with pain, he says.<br />
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However, he warns, "it's advantageous to have a better idea what may be generating their <a href="http://symptoms.webmd.com/zz-classic-symptomchecker">symptoms</a> first."<br />
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As any well-trained Pilates teacher will attest, without a proper diagnosis for the pain, even the best instructor cannot design a safe and effective <a href="http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/default.htm">exercise program</a>.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image source: http://www.homegymcentral.com/joseph_pilates_t_shirt.html</span></i>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5359159246729871870.post-16101916839843873432012-01-25T02:05:00.013+08:002012-01-25T02:52:40.025+08:00Want a Toned Body?<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been asked this question many times - can I tone up my body by doing Pilates?</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aWrLQYCUfXg/Tx74Yr79z-I/AAAAAAAAALM/JYVGEKiPM2w/s1600/couple-abs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aWrLQYCUfXg/Tx74Yr79z-I/AAAAAAAAALM/JYVGEKiPM2w/s320/couple-abs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Often, my reply is 'yes, it may help you tone up. It depends on factors including your diet, how much effort, and regularly do you do the exercises'.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm thinking, the new "thin" is the toned (healthy and fit looking) body instead of the previously scrawny Kate Moss look. The definition of "toned" is different to each of us. We probably have an idea (an image of a model) how we want to look. However, how realistic is that? And is it possible to have a body that is so well-defined all the time?</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As how this author of this article has aptly revealed the insider's truth to those models we see on the magazines, posters, etc.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few poignant excerpts:</div><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">these models are scheduled for photoshoots immediately after competitions. This is to ensure the model is in extreme shape after months of dieting, intense training (often times with the use of steroids and growth hormone), tanning, posing practice, using diuretics, and other photo-enhancing products and tricks.</blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another misconception about many fitness models (including myself) is that we stay in this kind of shape all the time. That's not true. In fact, I wouldn't consider it healthy for anyone to stay in this kind of shape all the time. Stop believing the lies: It takes hard work, discipline, knowledge, genetics, and time -- end of story.<br />
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do not compare yourself with how someone else looks (never do that!). Let their physique motivate you, but focus on realistic goals for your body. Set your attention to one workout and one meal at a time to make today your best day ever, and you'll achieve your dream body. </blockquote><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Read more: <a href="http://askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding_1000/1022_fitness-modeling.html#.Tx7m6elHm4c.blogger">Fitness Modeling</a><br />
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Also, here's an post on a blog on "<a href="http://www.jagsfitnessblog.com/2009/11/10/the-myth-of-toning/">The Myth of Toning</a>"<br />
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So the lesson here is to set a goal and take small steps to work and progress towards the goal. We have to be realistic that the outcome depends on how much effort we put into changing our lifestyle namely, type and quantity of food we put into our bodies, how frequent do we exercise and whether we do both cardiovascular and resistance-training (Pilates is under this category) type. Lastly, sufficient rest for our bodies to recover!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image source: http://toningabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/couple-abs-1.jpg</span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div></div>Louisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15317020362191325021noreply@blogger.com0