If there’s one woman that seems unable to look bad whether she’s just stumbled out of the house first thing in the morning, is out on a long sweaty job or just running exhausted to pick her kids up from school then it’s Heidi Klum. Currently all over the news following her confirmation that she is dating her bodyguard, Martin Kristen, it’s obvious that Heidi hasn’t let her split from Seal get her down.
It’s also pretty obvious from the snaps of Heidi and her new man out and about running that Heidi hasn’t been wallowing and letting herself go. However what many people might not know is that it’s not just pounding those miles on the road (and having a new man) that have been keeping her looking so well and fresh. Heidi Klum is also something of a Pilates fanatic too!
A fan of the ability of the exercise regime to strength and condition your core, Heidi is such a true believer of Pilates abilities that she made sure she worked with a trainer throughout her pregnancies to keep her in shape, while at the same keeping her and her babies safe.
Winston Pilates can’t promise that Pilates will get you a hunky new bodyguard boyfriend, but if you want to get yourself looking as fit, toned and absolutely gorgeous as Heidi Klum why not give us a call or drop us an email so we can start working with you to reach those Heidi Klum fitness goals of yours!
Winston Pilates is based at 1327 Ocean Avenue, Suite D in Santa Monica, CA 90401. Offering both group and private classes, we’re fully committed to helping you achieve your fitness goals safely and effectively.
Feeling like you’re falling behind with your Pilates training because you’ve been so busy in the office recently? Well good news, the very funny Harold’s Planet has come up with the perfect workout to do while at work … and the best bit is you don’t even need a lot of room to do it.
On the slightly less positive side there is the off chance that you’re going to get a few funny looks, especially when you try to balance on your monitor!
Feel like it’s a bit too extreme for you? Well why not give us a call and book a session with Winston Pilates where we can get you fit without the panic you might break your keyboard or put your feet through your screen!!
Via Harold’s Planet.
Pilates is obviously a great way to keep fit, toned and flexible, but what many of you might not be aware of is just how versatile and customizable it is. One of the most obvious ways is of course customizing a workout to suit pregnant woman and new moms, but one way which is probably new to you (and was to us till five minutes when we discovered it on Pinterest…) is the Pilates wine workout.
Now we’ll admit it’s a tad unconventional, but we can definitely see it being a great way to stay motivated!!
Via Pinterest.
While many might think that Pilates is a female only exercise regime, the reality is that the toning and strengthening benefits of making it a regular addition to your fitness routine have acted to win it many male fans including some big names like David Beckham, Hugh Grant, Dillion Gee, Curt Schilling and Le Bron James.
Talking about the shift from female only classes to a much more balanced 50 /50 divide of men and women participating, Pilates instructor Sammy Dakers of Tone up and Ease Pain Pilates said:
“It’s unlikely that the males are coming to improve the tone of their bum muscles, but more so to reduce pain in the common problems areas of the lower back and shoulders.
“We have a gentlemen in his 70s, a former doorman and bodybuilder and a male runner from the Burn Road Harriers coming along every week.
“They tell us their aches and pains were greatly reduced after two to three weeks of starting.”
This focus on strength over toning has also been backed up by NFL Tennessee player Darius Reynald who recently turned to Pilates after his normal rehabilitation routine failed to get him back to peak fitness. Numerous male London 2012 Olympians, including David Boudia and Nick McCrory, also credited Pilates with helping them achieve the additional strength and toning that diving along could not provide.
Via Hartlepool Daily Mail and Le Bron James.
For most of us what we wear to our Pilates workouts is all about what’s most comfortable in (and if we’re honest, it’s also about what we’ll look best in…). One thing that it definitely doesn’t tend to be about is how much it’s going to improve our athletic performance.
Well that could be all about to change as designer Jennifer Darmour has created a new collection, the Move system, that is not just about looking good, but also improving your Pilates technique.Styled with four stretch and flex sensors to the front, back and sides, the conductive fibre fabric has been cleverly detects any misalignment in your technique (Darmour worked closely with a Pilates instructor to ensure as much accuracy as possible) and will then cause small vibrating motors to respond with a short buzz. Correct your posture and positioning and it’ll give you three congratulatory buzzes in return! And it doesn’t just end with the buzzes. Designed to connect up to your smartphone, your clothing can then give you feedback on your performance via a clever little app!
At the moment Darmour is focusing solely on Pilates, but does believe the system could be transferred to other sports such as baseball and golf where body placement is crucial… and before you start thinking that the Move system is going to have you looking like some kind of Terminator or Iron Man with it’s lare clunky sensors you’d be wrong. The fabric is the same as used in standard exercise clothes with the sensor near invisible having been designed into the seams.
Would you try Move system clothing as a way to improve your performance or do you think that it would all get a little confusing as you tried to listen to your instructor while also being buzzed to death by your clothing? We’d love to know!
Via New Scientist.
The last few weeks have been amazing with the 2012 Olympic Games being described as “…one of the best yet”. Pilates may not yet have managed to turn itself into a competitive sport that made a headline event (maybe Rio 2016?!), but you might be surprised to find out that it was at the center of the training regimes of some of the best performing athletes at the Games including:
1. Lolo Jones – 110m Hurdles – 4th
Stretching and striding over all those hurdles can take a toll on a body and so it’s no wonder that Lolo Jones was looking for an exercise regime that would help strengthen and stretch her body without being high impact and likely to affect her other training. With Pilates being all about concentration, flow and precision, it’s no wonder she choose to it as a key part of her exercise regime.
2. Sanya Richards Ross – 400m and 400m Relay – Gold
Not content with just the one Gold, Sanya Richards Ross achieved the double at the 2012 Olympics winning not only her individual event (the 4oom), but also was part of the winning 4 x 400m relay team. A regular down at the track, what people might not realise though is that she’s also often found in the Pilates studio honing her mind and body to get herself to peak performance.
3. Natalie Coughlin – 400m Individual Medley Relay – Bronze
Pilates has long breen popular with many world class swimmers and Natalie Coughlin is no different. Using it as part of her cross training regime, Coughlin has gone further than most athletes and even recorded some videos showing just how she achieves that perfect, athletic body of hers (well okay swimming might come into it a bit…)
4. Kerri Walsh – Womens Volleyball – Gold
The USA womens Volleyball team went into the Olympics expected to win and Walsh and May Treanor definitely didn’t disappoint… and neither did the effect of adding Pilates to their training which no doubt helped with all those long stretches and reaches for the ball.
5. Misty May Treanor – Womens Volleyball – Gold
Adding Pilates to her routine to get back that pre-pregnancy body, May Treanor found it so beneficial she kept it up and with a Gold medal now hanging round her neck it definitely looks like it paid off!
6. Nick McCrory – Synchronized 10m Platform Diving – Bronze
Gaining a Bronze in the Synchronized 10m Platform Diving, McCrory has attributed much of his success to his work away from the pool and in the Pilates studio and spoken about how Pilates ”…really teaches body awareness and coordination, which is essential to diving a sport that required an incredibly strong mind-body connection.”
7. David Boudia – Synchronized 10m Platform Diving – Bronze
A former gymnast, Boudia has definitely found the sport for him in diving. Winning a Bronze medal alongside his partner Nick McCrory in the 10m Synchronized 10m Platform Diving, Boudia attributes his success not just to the tome at the pool, but also Pilates and Yoga.
8. Ariana Kukors – 200m Individual Medley – 5th
Ariana definitely isn’t one to keep her love of Pilates under wraps and recently took to Twitter to tell the world stating “I love Pilates. Always leave with the biggest smile on my face”. With a fifth place in the 200m Individual Medley final it’s clear that all that stretching and toning has been doing her the world of good!
9. Dana Vollmer – 100m Butterfly – Gold & World Record
As we mentioned in an earlier post here on the Winston Pilates blog, Pilates lover Dana Vollmer managed to bounce back from her failure to even qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics with an incredible Gold winning performance in the 100m Butterfly that also saw her break the World Record!
10. Victoria Pendelton – Individual Pursuit (Silver) & Keirin (Gold)
Taking part in her last Olympics as a professional cyclist, Victoria Pendleton managed to win not one, but two medals – a Silver in the Individual Pursuit and a Gold in the Keirin event. While much of this had to do with her dedication on the track, she like all these other athletes had a secret weapon – Pilates. Talking to the UK fitness magazine, Zest, earlier this year, Pendleton heaped praise on the exercise regime for it’s stretching properties and low impact on the body.
We’re passionate about getting people interested in and loving Pilates at the Winston Pilates studio and we’re not the only ones. Across the globe there are thousands of Pilates instructors changing lives through their love and expertise of everything Pilates and we’re proud to present our second in our new Featured Pilates Instructor series, this time featuring Kathy from Body Dimensions, a UK based studio with a diverse range of clients including girl band Stooshe!
How long have you been a Pilates teacher?
5 years.
How did you get started in Pilates?
Ideally at least twice a week, but once a week is better than not doing it at all!
How often would you recommend someone does Pilates to get real results?
If you’re starting from nothing, even once a week will help. If you’re adding Pilates into a packed exercise program, again once or twice a week is fine. If Pilates is it for you, try to do three to five days a week for maximum benefit. A mix of springs and mat work are fine.
What got you interested in Pilates?
I had suffered with lower back pain after my first pregnancy.
What do you love most about being a pilates instructor?
I love the response from a client who has never done Pilates before, seeing their reaction to a whole new approach to training their body, it’s like a ‘lightbulb’ moment!
What is your favourite type of pilates exercise?
My favourite type of Pilates exercise is combining different planes of movement, for example The Saw.
What is your favourite piece of pilates equipment?
I love the reformer, but in matwork classes I enjoy using the small ball or wobble cushions, it enables the client to ‘feel’ the difference through their bodies.
What other exercise regimes would you recommend taking part in alongside pilates?
I would recommend movement based exercise that incorporates how we move in our daily lives, I teach hydrotherapy classes and incorporate walking, balance, side, forward and rotational exercises that help my clients when they are at home. I am a great believer of ‘enjoying’ exercise, finding a class or using the gym, walking the dog it’s important for a client to make exercise a part of their weekly lifestyle for long term health.
What do you think the biggest benefit of pilates is?
That’s a difficult question! Depending on why people attend Pilates, the answer is variable. For me it was taking control of my lower back pain. It taught me to find stability in my body before adding movement and I’ve never looked back, and I no longer suffer with back pain!
What would be your top five tips for getting the most out of your pilates workout?
- Approach every class/session as though it were your first
- Concentration, be selfish, focus all your attention on your body during the workout
- ‘Feel the move’, be aware of where you are working from, does it ‘feel’ right.
- Control, know the level and limitations of your body, try not to run before you can walk
- Enjoy! Immerse yourself into your workout, if you do that you will feel totally invigorated after your session
Kathy is the owner of Body Dimensions Muscle Therapies, she combines Sports and Remedial Massage with Pilates. She teaches classes in South East London and has a private client base which includes a high profile girl band called Stooshe. For further information you can contact her through her website www.bodydimensions.co.uk.
This weekend saw US swimmer Dana Vollmer not only win Gold in the women’s 100m butterfly, but also smash the world record with a time of 55.98 seconds. Go back four years and it was quite a different story. Vollmer no doubt would have loved to achieve similar, but the reality was she never got the chance because she failed to qualify for the Beijing Games after being deemed not competitive enough.
For most of us it would be enough to cause us to give up on a dream. Not Vollmer. The failure to get into the team acted not to depress Dana, but to motivate her to work harder and push herself further. For her that meant not stopping when she got out of the pool, but to keep on looking to better and improve herself, which she did by introducing hip hop dance, yoga and Pilates classes into her workout. Acting to give a strength that swimming alone couldn’t give her, it also seems the mind-body connection that is so important to Pilates had more than an impact too with Vollmer not only focusing and challenging her body, but her mind too setting a public goal that she would break the 56 second barrier… just like she did this weekend!
A great example of how focus and commitment can push you forward we congratulate Dana on her success and look forward to seeing her build and build on her medal haul over the next few days!
If you thought that getting the hang of doing Pilates exercises in the studio was hard enough then you’ve not seen anything yet as one New York instructor is taking things to the next level by launching classes on the water!
Born in Alaska, but now a New York Native, Shannon MacDowell has combined her love of Pilates and paddleboarding and will be launching a new Liquid Fusion class in August.
Describing it as a “meditative experience for people”, MacDowell describes it as a tool to help people really enjoy all that the Hudson has to offer… something that many people are likely to get very acquainted with as even Shannon admits it’s not easy to stay on your body with the “choppy Hudson waters” that see you having four tidal shifts and cruise ships sailing by!
We have to admit that it’s definitely something different, but don’t fear here at Winston Pilates you can be assured that you’ll be keeping your feet on solid ground!
You can learn more about Shannon MacDowell’s classes on the DNAinfo site.
If there’s one duo that have been dominating the volleyball world over the last decade then it’s been Kerri Walsh-Jennings and her teammate Misty May-Treanor, however as they head to the London 2012 Olympic Games surprisingly the pair are coming as underdogs, but with secret weapons like Pilates to help them out they’re not worried.
Talking to the WSJ, Walsh-Jennings attributed their fall in rankings to injury and motherhood with May-Treanor missing out on most of the 2009 session because of a ruptured Achilles tendon and Walsh-Jennings through two pregnancies – one in 2009 and another in 2010.
Enough to have most retiring, Walsh-Jennings and May-Treanor aren’t quite read to give up yet, though Walsh-Jennings has admitted pregnancy changed her body:
“My joints felt loose. My muscles felt stretched out. My sleep was off and my energy changed. Taking care of two young boys is a workout in itself. But I figured it was a good time to mold myself and become stronger than ever.”
And it wasn’t just on the physical side. Heading to Los Angeles-based Neurotopia, Walsh-Jennings began a brain training program pinpoints an individuals strengths and weaknesses then builds on them to have their mind as strong as their body. It’s not though just brain-training that has helped her, but also the incorporation of Pilates well known for it’s ability to condition both mind and body.
Taking hourlong Pilates sessions two to three days a week, Walsh-Jennings really thinks that it has not only improved her body, but also her performance – ““It’s really given me an extra 20% in my performance on the sand,” she says.
So when you see Walsh-Jennings and May-Treanor winning that beach volleybal Olympic Gold medal this Summer then just remember – 20% of that medal is all thanks to Pilates!
You can read more about Walsh Jennings training regime and Neutrotopia in Walsh-Jenning’s full interview on the Wall Street Journal website.