Topic: pilates

Pilates Out, Push-ups In: Survey Predicts 2013′s Top Fitness Trends

Fancy fitness classes are out and back-to-basics workouts are in, according to the the American College of Sports Medicine. In a worldwide survey conducted by the ACSM, health and fitness professionals predict that 2013 will bring less high-concept, complicated or gimmicky workouts and more of a focus on simple strength, resistance and core training exercises. Three workout trends that previously appeared strong — Pilates, spinning and stability ball training — dropped off the top 20 list entirely, for the third year in a row. More »

That Girl: Meet Barre Studio Owner, Cindy Sites (Can You Believe She’s 52?)

This week on That Girl, we are celebrating Cindy Sites, barre fitness studio owner, Pilates, yoga and ballet instructor, and all-around healthy and fit inspiration. She believes that agility and flexibility are the fountains of youth, and judging by the fact that she doesn’t look like she’s 52 (not even close!), we think she’s on to something. Read on and find out what else she does to keep her body ageless. More »

Top 6 Myths About Pilates, Busted

Pilates got popular a few years ago, but, save for a few die-hard pilates lovers, fitness buffs have since moved on to other trendy classes and gyms have slowly replaced mat classes with newer trends. But according to Cassey Ho, of Blogilates fame, we’re all missing out: The core strength exercises are still hugely beneficial, and she’s living proof More »

Why Expensive Workouts Are Better

I finally figured out a no-fail way to motivate myself to exercise: my bank account. Sure, I’ve read the articles in women’s magazines that suggest giving yourself a monetary incentive to hit the gym or the mat, but I never considered that for myself until recently. My option? Expensive workouts. More »

Woman’s Body “Swallowed” Breast Implant During Pilates; Don’t Blame The Core Workout

The story of a woman’s right breast implant popping between her ribs during her workout is scaring the shit out of women everywhere who’ve contemplated doing Pilates. But it’s not the “valseva maneuver” that did it: While it’s true that breast implants can complicate certain types of exercise, her story is extreme, and was likely caused by a totally separate heart surgery that required an incision between her ribs. More »

Brooke Siler Explains How To Do Pilates While You Walk

If fitting in a 45-minute pilates session won’t fit into your holiday shopping schedule, you can still give your core some work with these tips from Well+Good NYC on doing pilates while you walk: More »

Ruth Kobin: 100 Years Old And Healthy Thanks To Pilates and Weight Lifting

Ruth Kobin turned 100 years old in September, and she was up for the celebration: Not only did she have several dinners with family and friends, but she took off on a cruise to Bermuda, where she was enthralled to discover that she could still dance. But it’s no surprise, really: Despite her age, Ruth is nimble and fit, thanks to a regular exercise regimen of pilates, weight lifting and stretching. More »

Back to Fitness: A Short History Of Pilates

Like yoga, Pilates emphasizes a focus on breath, concentration and controlled movements, but despite the fact that Pilates and yoga are often conflated in the popular mind, that’s about where the similarities end. There’s no real spiritual connotation to Pilates, and instead of poses we find a series of movements designed to emphasize spine alignment, core strength and working different muscle groups in tandem. You won’t get an aerobic workout from Pilates, but you can burn calories. More »

Pippa Middleton’s Pilates Teacher To Publish Workout And Diet Book

Pippa Middleton‘s body has become iconic–for better or worse–and it’s no secret that she works hard to get it. The Duchess’ sister revealed months ago that she turned to pilates, in addition to her regular gym training, to get into shape for the royal wedding last spring, but now her instructor has signed a deal to get the plan that made her fit as a Princess out to the masses. Margot Campbell, whose Pilates on the Go website is filled with Pippa’s adulations, signed a deal with lifestyle publisher Hodder to publish a pilates, aerobics, and diet program for the masses. More »

What We're Reading:

Move Over Core, It’s Time To Work The Back

If you hate doing crunches, or just feel like your body has gotten out of whack with all the core work you’ve been doing lately, you’ll be glad to know that trainers are focusing on a new area of your body: your back. Well+Good NYC has the details on why the back is the new core: More »

Pound: Hollywood’s Newest Fitness Fad

Adding to a smorgasbord of gimmicky fitness fads, Crunch gym in West Hollywood now has people pounding and sweating out their calories and stress. The newest aerobics/pilates class, Pound, involves age-old moves like squats, jumps, leg lifts and core exercises. But it adds something you’ve never seen before in the gym: drumsticks. More »

Infographic: Pilates vs. Yoga

They often cost the same, they require pretty much the same attire, and they’re even taught in the same studios: So what is the difference between yoga and pilates, anyway? You probably already know the basics (one is very “core” focused; the other requires balance and occasionally, knowledge of Sanksrit), but this Pilates vs. Yoga infographic from MindBodyGreen makes it easy to weight out the pros and cons of each before you sign up for your next class. More »

7 Ways to Lighten Your Gym Load: Workout Gear That Won’t Destroy Your Back

Spring means time to hit the gym and get back in shape before summer, but heavy gym bags don’t make it very fun. In fact, we’ll be honest: Carrying all our stuff around the city sucks so much that sometimes, we just don’t do it, which means we aren’t really getting to the gym. Between the clothes, shoes, makeup, toiletries, and equipment we have to lug around, we can easily feel like nomads, which is a) not the look we’re going for and b) not a good way to treat our backs and shoulders. We want to get our exercise at the gym, not hauling around our workout gear. More »

Morning Links: 17 St. Patrick’s Day Hangover Remedies

Not So Happy Hour – The age at which you had your first drink may influence if and how you respond to stress with alcohol later on in life. (Vitamin G)

Drug Story – Before you start popping those prescription statins, ask your doc about these six cholesterol-lowering supplements. (Natural Health)

Green In the Face? – 17 hangover remedies for the morning after St. Patrick’s Day (or any other holiday) – though a few of these are about as healthy as getting drunk in the first place. (Shine) More »

Click for more posts