by Gail Giovanniello, owner Mind Your Body IS YOUR WORKOUT program giving you direction? Helping you set goals? Giving you definition? Whether you are working out with a trainer, Pilates instructor, taking Yoga or Gyrotonic classes, the biggest factor of all is where it is all leading. If you are recovering from an injury, running a marathon or just want to exercise more, every workout should have intention. Whatever your goals, ideally you want to RETRAIN old habits, UTILIZE the new techniques or ideas throughout your day, and RETAIN, not just in the one hour you spend with your guru, but hopefully throughout your life. RETRAIN: From Novice to Advanced, each level has room for growth. At the novice level, your muscles are learning new memory patterns, some of which will need retraining. The body works as a system so, for example, although you are working shoulders or legs, hopefully, you are being cued to position your entire body into correct alignment with focus on keeping your mid-section engaged. This helps retrain muscle memory faster and continues after you’ve left the studio. After a while, your body will do the work almost automatically, so practice makes perfect. Doing your workout more than twice a week is highly recommended. You’ll see much faster, deeper and stronger results when you commit to working out 3-4 times a week. And results go away just as fast, so find something you like and will do for the rest of your life! UTILIZE: Of course you want to look fabulous but there is a lot more to looking great than simply doing your crunches. Posture, good alignment, and good form are all key components to looking great but don’t let what you are learning stop in the gym or studio. You are probably standing tall and sitting up straight when bicep curling or pulling straps (Pilates) so why not bring these ideas to your desk or while you’re waiting for the train? Stand or sit up straight, paying attention to a long spine, relaxed shoulders and a lift in your center. Your muscles, bones and organs will work more efficiently and effectively with good alignment. You may want to consider Pilates or Gyrotonic if you are not focusing on these ideas with your current workout. Pilates and Gyrotonic will tone, lengthen and pull you in directions you never thought you could be in, and the results are phenomenal. You will love the way you look! RETAIN: Goals are established easier at the novice level, so be sure that you are being challenged by the class or the teacher, as you advance in your practice. This will ensure a lifetime of practice and encourage healthy, everyday movements when, say, climbing into a car or getting dressed. At some point, you’ll most likely get to a place where you are working out to maintain, but this should not happen for a long, long time. There is a time to add weight, take away a stabilizing factor (one handed or on one leg for support), reversing, kneeling, standing, higher platform. Sometimes just changing up the routine altogether will give your body a new focus or a good challenge. That’s what I love so much about Pilates and Gyrotonic. One can master something and feel good but there is always a challenge and something new to learn and focus on. Yes it can be frustrating, but it is also uplifting to know that you will never get bored. As a Pilates trainer, I’ve maintained a steady clientele for over ten years. These clients are, for the most part, advanced, performing movements they once thought impossible. Though some days are tougher than others for all, there is the option of easing up or going for it. It is rewarding for the client and myself to experience the enthusiasm to “go for it” and achieve their optimal goals. So where is it all leading? Hopefully to a lifetime of exercise that proves to be worthy and keeps you coming back for more. Good health to all! |
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