Can you believe it’s been five years since starting the blog and newsletter! You can find a host of topics on the website related to Pilates, Yamuna and health and wellness. To celebrate, here are a couple of posts that highlight strength building.
The term “underwater dancing” probably brings to mind synchronized swimming and the olympics.
But imagine performing a dance completely underwater –
without coming up for air!
Julie Gautier is a pioneer in underwater dancing.
I think you’ll appreciate the artistry and physicality in this video.
You can get a glimpse of her breathing exercises at the beginning of the video.
It’s interesting to hear her background and creative process. The video, of course, finishes with an underwater dance (in a natural pool of water in the jungle)!
When it comes to staying hydrated, fluids are what come to mind rather than food.
But food can actually make up to 20% of the daily requirement of water.
So if you don’t like drinking water or you are looking for a way to beat the heat while engaging in outdoor activities, here are a few of the most hydrating foods:
Cucumber
Iceberg Lettuce, Romaine and Spinach
Celery
Radishes
Tomatoes
Zucchini & Summer squash
Asparagus
Bell Peppers
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Mushrooms
Strawberries
Watermelon
Apples
Peaches
For a previous article addressing in more detail how much water you should drink, you can check it out here.
The general recommendation is to “drink when you are thirsty”.
That said aging and certain medication can impact whether you feel thirsty. So of course check with your doctor to find out what’s right for you.
In the meantime, enjoy a nice summer salad and some fresh fruit for desert.
Having juicy food is a surprising and fun way to support you in staying hydrated during hot summer days!
“Forever Young” is the title of a new book by Mark Hyman, MD. While this author is a new find for me, you might already have heard of him. He has written many books including 14 New York Times bestsellers!
The direction science is going is fascinating. The combination of biology and technology and the things they expect to be able to do in 10 years is mind-blowing and sounds like something out of science fiction.
But you don’t have to wait for new inventions.
There are important things you can do now to invest in yourself and in your health.
As you might have guessed, exercise and nutrition play a vital role.
If you would like to learn the “#1 Hack To Stop Aging”, here is a video by Dr. Hyman discussing his new book. The story about the 95 year old who walks 5 miles a day is especially inspiring!
And here is a longer interview with Dr. Hyman where he talks about “metabolic flexibility” (my favorite new term) and he shares his smoothie recipe from the book!
This is a full month and here are a couple of events that are coming up:
February is American Heart Month and this Friday, February 3 is National Wear Red Day®! For more information on heart health, please check out the NIH. Most importantly, take care of yourself and the ones you love by practicing self-care for your heart.
In addition, February 22 is World Encephalitis Day. If you would like to get involved, here are some ways you can show your support.
Happy Valentine’s to you and yours! Wishing you much love and joy!
Now onto today’s featured article…
For the Love of Pilates
It’s been said that Joe was a genius. The equipment especially highlighted his brilliance. He was known to invent equipment for clients with specific needs.
Pilates’ creativity and spirit of invention lives on today. His innovative ideas sparked other thinkers and inventors who created their own pieces of equipment. Joe’s work carries on in new and exciting ways.
Whether to help a specific student with a need or to adapt to the environment when traditional equipment wasn’t available, here are three newer pieces of equipment that have been developed for the love of Pilates!
If you’ve ever rested your spine on the warmed columns of the SS, then you know the bliss. Created by Marie-Jose Blom, the SS is the main star in the full system which includes the arch tubbies, globe, cervical head disc, sacral wedges, and posture pillow.
Developed by longtime student of Pilates, Ron Fletcher came up with the towel. It was created out of necessity, working with what he had at his disposal.
When Mr. Fletcher would teach classes at his California studio, he noticed students were having trouble moving their arms evenly. One arm would be higher and the other arm would be lower etc.
So he grabbed a towel to give the students a visual aid to help them see their arms were uneven as they moved. That’s how the Fletcher Towel was born. I think Mr. Pilates would appreciate the ingenuity of making use of what was on hand.
Similar to Joe’s equipment that can look like a rack out of the middle ages, the CoreAlign® is a large, interesting, even intimidating looking piece of equipment! I suspect it would meet with Joe’s approval;) And this equipment delivers on its name – to get the core aligned!
Developed by physical therapist Jonathan Hoffman and produced by Balanced Body equipment manufacturer, the CoreAlign® is two moveable platforms (like the carriage on the reformer but smaller) with elastic resistance tubes that act like springs and a tall ladder to hold. As you might imagine there are a multitude of exercises that can be performed in different positions on the CoreAlign®.
So there you have it – just a few of the many inventions that have been created for the love of Pilates!
Now I’m curious – if you could invent a piece of equipment, what would that be?
Just respond in the comments if you have an idea you would like to share.
Ever dream of flying like Superman over beautiful snow-capped mountains in the Alps. Well, with the hottest fitness tech trends for 2023 now you can.
Though fitness tech using virtual reality has been out for a couple of years, it is no longer just the domain of techies and geeks but becoming mainstream.
Facebook Meta has manufactured their Meta Quest 2 which you can use for gaming, watching movies and… working out.
ICAROS Pro, a German company, has designed a machine for therapeutic settings. It is a piece of workout equipment where you are on your tummy with legs and arms resting on movable pieces. As you wear the Virtual goggles, you are moving and working out on the equipment. “Combining fitness with virtual reality.”
One particularly interesting bit of tech is for Basketball lovers. It’s called Dribbleup and it’s “gamified virtual training”. It’s geared more toward kids and is a subscription model. But what is really interesting about this is not only the gaming virtual training but the use artificial intelligence (AI) with it as well.
Similar to some of the AI Fitness technology discussed in last Years Fitness Trends Newsletter, Dribbleup monitors the quick hand motion of the participant and gives feedback so the player can improve their speed and also the use of their non-dominant hand.
Please note in the last couple of months since writing this article, technology moves so fast that Dribbleup has already expanded their offering to include Smart Soccer, Boxing, Strength Ball and more!
On the topic of fitness tech, there is a fitness tracker worth mentioning as it takes a slightly different approach. It’s called the Oura. Rather than a watch it is a ring. It monitors sleep, heart, activities and recovery. While the tech and experts behind the Oura are top-notch, it looks like a piece of jewelry rather than a fitness tracker. You can look sleek and stylish while staying healthy.
Though there are many fitness trends and tech pieces out there, this is a short list of some of the most interesting developments. Hope you find this whole new (virtual) world fascinating.
Wishing you good health and blessing in 2023 and beyond!
