Pilates Day 1 ...

Hey ya’ll, it’s been a long time since I’ve blogged but I’m back! And with HEALTHY purpose!

My absolutely fabulous girlfriend, Lili Schloss, is about of open Isofit Beijing (see www.pilates.cn ).  I’ve decided to do a 15day challenge:  Pilates, Gyrokenesis, yoga and all combinations of everything the studio has to offer (napped on the reception area sofa- comfy) every day while I’m here.

First, a little personal Pilates history: 

Once upon 15+ years ago I started Pilates in Discovery Bay, Hong Kong with Dawnna Wayburne (former UK prima ballerina, now world-class Pilates and Gyrotonics guru and owner of Isofit (www.Isofit.com.hk).  At the time I was a workout addict, training 1- 3 hours a day for triathlon but mostly to stop the press from calling me “FAT!”  My goal was to strengthen my abdominals (I LOVE 6pack abs btw HK press frowns upon muscular women too) and increase flexibility.  After 10sessions I got what I paid for and then some… out of the blue Corey said, “Hey Honey, you’re legs are walking straight!”  I’ve had skinny bow-legs and a gangly stride for as long as I can remember.  He was right! my bow legs had straightened out!!  I still can’t hold anything smaller than a softball between my legs unless I cross them but they were, BY FAR, straighter.  I’ve been a Pilates believer ever since.

Day 1:

Lili did an assessment/workout with me on the reformer and allegro.  Muscle memory is an awesome thing—15+ years later my body stills remembers the fine-tuned movements… but executing…

Best tip of the day:  “What do you do when someone goes to punch you in the stomach?” quoting Lili. You don’t suck in your stomach and open your ribcage because you’d get winded to hell (which is how most fitness instructors teach you to do crunches).  You close down your ribcage, bare down on your abs and engage your hips to create the strongest possible base to brace for the impact.  I got it! again execution is a different story.  That’s the learning curve to Pilates: incredibly fine motor movements to engage everything in perfect harmonious strength (thus the kinship to ballet).  It’s really hard to describe, muchless do, unless you have someone like Lili or Dawnna poking at you.  When you get it and train it though, the heavens open and you get beautiful flat abs…