Answering Pilates Questions For The Family

I learned about Pilates for the first time when my upper body muscles started aching due to high-intensity workouts that I tried two years ago. A friend recommended it to me, saying that it changed her life. When someone says something like that about a fitness technique, I knew I had to give it a shot.

So, in the beginning, I enrolled in the same Pilates class that my friend went to. All these bed-like fixtures with moveable platforms and other contraptions, which I later found, were called Pilates reformers. They also had weights and magic circles to help strengthen students’ arm and shoulder muscles like me.

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The instructor had been incredibly courteous since my first day, too. I told Miss Pats my physical problem, and she said that it could be corrected by doing Pilates regularly. Of course, that’s amazing and all, but I happen to be working mom who doesn’t have two hours to spare all the time to do the classes. It’s why the HIIT exercises ended up hurting me in the first place—because I did it at home without an instructor’s supervision.

Luckily, Miss Pats had a positive outlook. She said, “Oh, you don’t need to come here often. You may do it once or twice a week, depending on your schedule, and follow-through by trying Pilates at home. It should be easy when you remember our lessons. You may even be able to share your newfound knowledge with your family.”

The generous instructor’s last sentence made me think further. Pilates with my husband and two young children? I am all for it. Hence, I asked Miss Pats a few questions regarding the matter, which she answered graciously.

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What Equipment Should I Get For At-Home Pilates?

I honestly mentioned to the instructor that a Pilates reformer could no longer fit in my house. After all, my husband and I have two separate offices and a mini gym. We already converted the family room into the children’s playroom, and I could not think of possible space for the equipment.

Miss Pats suggested that the bulky machine was great, but it was not a total necessity. She uttered, “I do Pilates at home, too, and I do not have a Pilates reformer there. All you need is a yoga mat, some resistance bands, and the determination to do the exercises.” Truth be told, getting those things allowed me to work out without going to the studio, and they were effortless to roll up and stash in the closet afterward.

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Source: flickr.com

Can My Kids Do Pilates?

I am a mother of four beautiful children—two girls and two boys. Because of my full-time job, there are only a few things that we can do to bond with each other. When I come home from work, I cook our dinner and help them with school assignments, but that’s mostly it. It makes me feel guilty, but we also need to save up for their college, which will undoubtedly be expensive.

When I asked the instructor if my children can genuinely try Pilates, she said yes. As it turned out, the same studio where she was teaching had classes for kids below the age of ten. They also had couples’ classes for parents and the little ones, which sounded fun. I brought all four of my children to one once, and my girls especially showed interest in the activity. Now, they have their own mats at home, and we do Pilates together.

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Can Boys Do Pilates?

My boys did not enjoy their first immersion into Pilates because they merely saw little girls in the class. The older one said, “Mom, I only want to do activities that other boys do. I am not a girl.”

Of course, I understood my son’s sentiment. But Miss Pats insisted that I take them to class the next day and said that her sons would be there, too. Everyone showed up, and yes, the instructor’s boys could genuinely follow along with the Pilates instructions. All of a sudden, my kids no longer felt like it was a girl thing anymore. They also got mats, as well as my husband.

Final Thoughts

Pilates has done wonders for my body. My core was no longer too weak, to the point that I could do crunches a hundred times without stopping. I started lifting barbells and hiking again, and my arms, legs, and shoulders did not give up under pressure.

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Source: needpix.com

Similarly, my husband and children enjoy doing Pilates these days. I love how the kids especially felt like they were getting stronger than ever with each session. They were taking the workout seriously, and the coaches in their respective sports said that they see a lot of improvement in my children’s strength and flexibility. It was all a parent could ask for, so I could see our family doing Pilates for as long as we could.

 

 

 

Working Your Core Through Pilates While On Quarantine

 

Source: secbi.com

 

This is probably one of the most challenging times in people’s lives – to be kept apart from family and friends for months for fear of further spreading the coronavirus. This is also the longest time that most people have stayed at home 24/7 because of the quarantine and social distancing measures that were implemented state and countrywide. Most of us have adapted to working at home, distance learning, and other kinds of essential activities that are required for us to survive and thrive.

What about keeping yourself physically and mentally healthy? I, for one, have been jumping from one exercise regimen to the other just to make sure that I am fit while staying at home. Yesterday, I started a program that I’ve always wanted to do but have never done before the pandemic hit, simply because I didn’t find the time and effort to do so. But this time, this global crisis has encouraged me to challenge myself and do something that not only helps me tone my core muscles but also increase my patience and determination. I started a mind and body workout known as Pilates.

Let me share some of the best moves that emphasize the midsection of your core muscles. You won’t need any equipment for these moves, which is why I love them. You can start them like I did, doing first the ones that are easy for you to do. Slowly, you can incorporate all the exercises for the rest of the week.

The Moves

  • Leg Circle. Lie on your back with both arms by your sides and your palms down. Flex your right knee and stead your left foot grounded on the floor. Then straighten your left leg up in a way that it is in a 90-degree angle to the floor. Move your left leg to form a big circle in the air while keeping your back flat on the floor. Do a reverse circle. Complete all repetitions on the left leg and then move to the right leg.

 

Source: pexels.com

 

  • One Hundred. Lie on your back. Raise both legs up with the feet facing the ceiling and then slowly move them down until they are halfway. When you feel stable, raise your head up as you extend your arms along your body, keeping your palms facing down. Pump your arms upward and downward as you inhale for five seconds and exhale for five seconds. Repeat ten times or more as you progress.

 

  • Criss-Cross. Lying face up, pull both knees up and inward to your chest. Stabilize your head by placing both hands behind it while keeping your elbows flexed. Move your head up; bring your right shoulder toward your left knee as you straighten your right leg. Do the same on your left shoulder, bringing it towards your right knee and extending your left leg. Do this alternately.

 

  • Scissor Kicks. Still lying face up, straighten your right leg upward, so that is it in a 90-degree angle to the floor. Pull your right leg to your face with both your hands while moving your head up as well. Now, try to raise your left leg to the ceiling. Do the same on the other leg.

 

  • The Teaser. While you lie with your face up, flex your knees beyond your hips and then raise your feet away from the mat. Straighten both legs while trying to stretch out your arms to reach your feet and raising your head and shoulders off of the mat.

 

  • Pendulum. While lying face up with both arms stretched out to your sides, flex your knees over your hips and raise your feet off of the mat. Then slowly move the knees towards the right while keeping your lower back grounded on the floor. Return to beginning position then do these again on the other side.

 

Source: pickpik.com

 

  • Planks with Leg Lift. Begin in a high plank position with both your hands under your shoulders. Lift the left leg off the floor towards the ceiling, as high as you can, then do the other side. Always contract your core, quads, and butt while doing this (and the rest of the other activities).

Some of these moves may be tough to do at first, but you have so much time in your hands with the social distancing guidelines still active, and probably will be for quite some time. So use your time wisely and work on that core!