My first Pilates session

RE: My first Pilates session

Oh, really glad you enjoyed it Gillyann. The horseriding might actually have made you a bit tight in certain places - you will get a more balanced body from the Pilates, and an awareness you can take on to other activities.
(Make sure your "screaming" muscles are not "screaming" at you to stop..............Your teacher cannot know what each individual body is experiencing. It's important to know the difference between muscles working hard, and inflamed tendons/tight fascia objecting loudly to being forced into exercise which aggravates their condition. Drink plenty of water - I'm sure you do anyway - to prevent muscle soreness) .
Sharonx

RE: My first Pilates session

Thank you Sharon, wise words!

My muscles seem to lock up a bit too in my back, on the mid back, to the side? Not enough to stop me though, but it was there.

Screaming may have been an overstatment:D I am not that unfit:D:D:D I guess what I meant to say was that I certainly felt the movements in places where I normally don't notice any feeling at all. I must be more careful how I express myself;) I actually felt a great deal lighter and moved better afterwards.

That's VERY interesting though Sharon, about the horse riding - I hadn't thought of that but considering it now, my back was used to balance me in a certain position on the horse in a way not normally used, and although this actually helped with suppleness to a huge degree, what I think you are saying is that it could create problems long term, and with normal posture?

There's so much to learn, fascinating, thanks for you valuable input.

Love Gxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

RE: My first Pilates session

Thanks for your kind words!

My muscles seem to lock up a bit too in my back, on the mid back, to the side?

Maybe postural - I couldn't tell without seeing you. And you probably felt it more on some exercises and not others? - perfectly normal if so

I am not that unfit

Famous last words Gillyann - I'm not that unfit when it comes to Pilates/swimming/ cycling (OK stretching it a bit on the cycling........I've just got a new bike, but I get puffed going uphill) - but unless we endlessly cross-train, we're generally fit for what our bodies are used to doing. I'm not that good at running (understatement of the year so far). One of my current clients is a young (hovering on being national) ice-hockey player, and her core-stability is poor and she finds Pilates hard. It's a different sort of fitness. I think learning languages is a good analogy - just because you're good at German doesn't mean you can skip the basics at French - what it does mean is that you will probably learn faster.

I guess what I meant to say was that I certainly felt the movements in places where I normally don't notice any feeling at all.

Yes Pilates does challenge "other bits" that you normally don't notice and that's great.

I actually felt a great deal lighter and moved better afterwards.

Excellent!

........... about the horse riding.................... my back was used to balance me in a certain position on the horse in a way not normally used, and although this actually helped with suppleness to a huge degree, what I think you are saying is that it could create problems long term, and with normal posture?

Hmm - don't want to overstate the case, but it depends on your riding technique. If you have good technique then you are probably using your core muscles efficiently - if not (and Gillyann, I'm a poor horse rider - I think I went on Spangles the pony at Brighton Beach 4 times, - I was between 3 and 5 at the time, and then more recently came back on a horse from a trip up a Tunisian mountain. I went up on a camel and got on better with the camel. The problem as I see it with horses is that they have a mind of their own. I expected nothing less from the camel. I'm OK on a bike.) all your mobilising muscles hang on like grim death and then you are in trouble. You need to use your pelvic floor and deep abdominals - I hesitate to say a great deal more, because I know that Pilates and Horse Riding is a specialist subject. If you are seriously into your riding I may be able to put you in touch with someone who knows a good deal more than I. I just find them a bit frightening. Horses are rather big aren't they? (You can tell I grew up in the suburbs).

There's so much to learn,

Humbling isn't it, when you find a new discipline? I'm always gawping at what people come out with on HP - so much to learn, so little time.......... The great thing about Pilates, when taught well, is that you learn about how your body functions: it makes you think
Great stuff,
Sx

RE: My first Pilates session

Super post Sharon, 😀 thanks for the information.

Yes it is humbling, and I believe that does the soul good;)

I am in fact a practised rider, but havn't ridden for 8 years until recently on the ranch in Arizona, so my muscles were screaming the first week until they 'remembered' the past. And however good you are as a rider, horses ARE big and very powerful and everytime you get on one you should really respect the fact that they can (inadvertantly as they are lovely creatures) kill you.[:-] You have to use many different muscles to just stay on, but, they are in a kind of spasm,, if I can explain that better, they are used to the maximum, thighs, back, etc., and on red alert, which is quite different to Pilates and can as you say, cause a lot of strain.

In reading my homework I found this

'It is the mind itself which builds the body' Joseph Pilates.

This is going to be my mantra from now on.

Love

Gillyxxx

RE: My first Pilates session

😀
Joseph Pilates was an amazing individual, as I'm sure you're finding out!
Sx

RE: My first Pilates session

My third session was more energetic in a sense, as it involved spinal stretches which I found difficult whilst keeping my abdominals firmly in and my body in a straight line., I found it hard to remember to do eveything at once!

I have bought a DVD 'Pilates for dummies' which is a basic set of exercises lasting 35 minutes which I try to do every day and includes these movements. The best thing is having a teacher coming around to put you right as you are never quite sure whilst watching a DVD from the floor and then trying the moves on your own.

We also had poles balanced on our backs whilst moving our legs and then our hands and I was lucky enough to keep mine on!!!

I certainly felt my body working this time, but I also feel lighter, and my movements are less rigid and I can
turn my body from side to side much more than before, and gaining more flexibility every day.

An hour seems to fly by.

Love

Gilly

RE: My first Pilates session

That sounds great Gilly. You sound an ideal pupil, as you are practicing a lot between sessions, and that really makes a difference. I've just spent the last two days doing the Advanced work, which was fantastic, as I had two teachers who I've not had before and they had methods that I'm going to incorporate into my teaching. There were exercises I never thought I'd be able to do, but I did them, with people half my age, so I felt really good.
All the techniques you are learning now are building blocks for the Advanced or Classical Mat.
Sharonxx

RE: My first Pilates session

Thank you so much Sharon. I will be happy if I become half way as knowledgable and brilliant at Pilates as you are:D

Your website is a tremendous help also, may I add.;)

Love Gillyxxx

RE: My first Pilates session

Gillyann, thank you very much - I did struggle a bit yesterday and my exercises were by no means perfectly executed compared to the 20 year old dancers I was in the class with - but I did them! Lots more practice needed as always, but I'll do it - I'll have to look out behind me to check you're not catching up too fast!
Sharon:D