Pro Athletes Serena Williams and David Beckham

Serena Williams added Pilates to her training regimen and won the 2010 Wimbledon Ladies Final. Coincidence? She credits Pilates with lengthening muscles and helping her drop from a size 12 to size 10. Tennis players are susceptible to imbalances in the body caused by using one side more than the other, particularly during the serving motion. Pilates can help to restore the balance within the body. 

David Beckham added Pilates to his training regimen in an effort to extend his soccer career to age 40. He says he's in the best shape of his life and was able to reduce his body fat from 13.7% to 8.5%. 

"You will develop muscular power with corresponding endurance, ability to perform arduous duties, to play strenuous games, to walk, run or travel for long distances without undue body fatigue or mental strain." 

-- Joseph Pilates in Return to Life Through Contrology

You can get the same benefits and apply to your life.  Don't wait, get started now.

Invest in Your Health: Pay for Pilates with Pre-Tax (HSA) $$

Many clients complain that Pilates is "too expensive." In talking with them, many are paying for 2-3 chiropractic sessions (or co-pays) per week due to pain, some are paying for expensive drug prescriptions, tests and doctor visits (or associated co-pays) to treat/identify the cause of chronic joint pain, others are paying for gym memberships they're not using (or not enjoying). Two to three sessions per week in a Pilates studio might alleviate the other expenses, or reduce to a point where your budget remains balanced. That's the Suze Orman approach to finding the money within your budget.

Another option is to use the pre-tax dollars you've set aside in your HSA or FSA (Health Savings Account) to pay for Pilates. In order to tap into these funds, you'll need an Exercise Prescription (RX). A licensed healthcare provider can write an Exercise Prescription to use Pilates to alleviate a particular condition.

Think about your physical well-being in the last year:

• Has your range of motion or flexibility lessened?
• Do you have chronic or intermittent pain in your: feet, knees, hips, back, neck, shoulder or hands?
• Have you had problems with balance?
• Do you have a chronic condition: arthritis, fibromyalgia, bursitis, bulging disc, osteoporosis, etc?
• Have you been diagnosed with obesity, heart disease or diabetes?
• Have you had a surgery or medical treatment that has left you with ongoing muscle pain or limits your range of motion?

Any of these conditions might qualify for an exercise prescription as all can be improved with regular Pilates exercise.

Doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, and osteopaths are able to write prescriptions for exercise, as long as they're licensed by the State. Ask before your appointment if your health provider is able to write an exercise prescription for someone with a specific condition. You’ll need an appointment so your licensed practitioner can assess your condition and offer his/her professional opinion as to whether it would improve with Pilates exercise.

An exercise prescription is similar to a pharmaceutical prescription. Usually, it lists the type of training, amount of training and time frame. The prescription should read along the lines of, “For treatment of xxxxx condition, Pilates exercise training #/week for # months.” Keep this prescription with your tax documents.

Invest in your health and wellness today. If you're committed to 3 sessions per week -- Take The Power House Challenge and get a FREE session.

MARCH MADNESS - Saturday, March 27

Many clients and prospects have said they had no idea what Pilates is, many had no idea there were unique apparatus; several said they thought a Mat class in a studio would be the same as a Mat class at their gym. All have said they were pleasantly surprised to find they were not lying on yoga mats on the floor, and the workout was much more challenging, more fun, and more comprehensive.

For those of you who are wondering what is Pilates all about? What is Pilates equipment? What is the difference between a Mat class in a studio and a Mat class in the gym? Now is your opportunity to try an Introductory Mat or Introductory Equipment class for HALF-PRICE.

Any Body's Pilates is celebrating March Madness Saturday, March 27 with 2 Introductory Mat and 2 Introductory Equipment classes, all at 50% off.

Class size is limited, so call ahead to reserve your space - 843.225.6523, or register online by clicking here.

Pilates Pet Peeve #3 -- "What Muscle Am I Working?"

Client: "What muscle am I working on this exercise?"
Client: "I only want to do exercises for my [insert body part - arms, glutes, thighs]."
Client: "I have a pain here [insert body part], what exercises work that?"

Central Pilates principle: it's ALL about the POWERHOUSE. Primary powerhouse is ribs to knees and all the way around (abs, obliques, back, glutes, thighs, glutes, hips). Secondary powerhouse is the shoulder girdle. Put the primary and secondary powerhouse together, add the mind-body connection (for control, not meditation or relaxation), and there is not much left. When clients ask which body part they're working on a particular exercise, powerhouse is always the best answer. Often times, the body part that is moving, or seems to be challenged most during the exercise, isn't the one that is most challenged. Clients rarely believe this until they experience it for themselves.

Any knowledgable fitness guru will tell you there is no such thing as spot reducing, all body parts need to be worked equally for body balance, all muscles need to be worked concentrically and eccentrically, and opposing muscle groups must be exercised. Joseph Pilates was an anatomy expert who designed a full-body workout, that works best when all the body parts work, and work together. It's true some Pilates exercises do more of one thing than another, but there are reasons why they're grouped a certain way. If allowed to pick and choose, most people will practice exercises they do well, not the ones they need.

So, when doing Pilates, instead of focusing on which muscle you're working, focus on getting all your muscles to work together for proper form. You'll get a much better, much deeper workout, and may be surprised to find muscles you didn't know were involved -- are sore.

Remember, it's all about the Powerhouse!

Pilates Pet Peeve #2 - "It's Like Yoga, right?"

"Pilates is just like Yoga, right?" "Pilates is for stretching, like Yoga."

If it was JUST LIKE Yoga, wouldn't it be another form of Yoga?

Yoga is a form of meditation, to quiet the mind.

Pilates is a method of exercise -- it's a workout. Clients flow from one exercise to another rarely doing more than 10 repetitions of any exercise, positions are not held for extended periods. Joseph Pilates believed movement heals, so clients get moving and keep moving during the workout. While Stretch is a component of Pilates, along with Strength, Stamina and Stabilization (centering and balancing the body), Pilates is all about the powerhouse. Most people think of their core as the rectus abdominus. Joseph Pilates defined the powerhouse as everything between the ribs and knees (abdominals, back, glutes, hips, and thighs) and all the way around, so don't forget the back, obliques, hamstrings, abductors, hip flexors, etc. Instead of quieting the mind, like Yoga, the Pilates mind-body connection is about gaining control of the body through a strong and stable powerhouse. Joseph Pilates' ideal was for clients to do his exercises on a Mat, unaided. He found equipment helpful in familiarizing clients with unusual positions and strengthening the body for Mat exercises. As a result, he designed a number of unique pieces of equipment.

Joseph Pilates developed a vigorous, complete body workout. He didn't play new age music, light incense, turn off the lights, or tell people to relax in his studio, so don't expect to find that in a classical studio. Clients will work, it is hard, it is possible to sweat (although not like Bikram Yoga), and clients will be a little sore, but without the pain of a gym workout.

Pilates and Yoga can be complimentary, but they are NOT the same.

Pilates Pet Peeve #1 -- Everything is "Pilates"

Today, I was reminded of a major Pilates Pet Peeve -- people (mostly gyms) who call something "Pilates" when it doesn't resemble Pilates. Many of the instructors have never been in a Pilates studio, don't know anything about Joseph Pilates, but claim to teach "Pilates" classes.

An acupuncturist contacted me, but she is not a fan of Pilates because she went to a Beginner Pilates class at her gym, and absolutely hated it. When I asked what she hadn't liked, she said lifting weights, while balancing on a stability ball, didn't seem safe. Obviously not classical Pilates, and definitely not what I would consider Beginner level anything group fitness-related. When I told her I doubted the instructor had any kind of Pilates-related instructor training or certification, she seemed doubtful. She confirmed with her gym -- none of the instructors who teach "Pilates" there have any teacher training/certification in Pilates.

So, these instructors are giving a number of people the wrong idea about what Pilates is, who can do Pilates, and the benefits. IDEA surveys indicate Pilates is on the rise in popularity, but will naming a class Pilates instead of what it is -- body sculpt, chisel, members' choice, strength training, cardio interval, circuit training, boot camp, abs & glutes -- benefit anyone?

SIDE NOTE: her personal trainer's instructions are equally suspect. Most gyms with similar business models hire and reward personal trainers for their sales ability, not their talent as a trainer. The personal trainer in me doesn't like that either.

Updated Web Site

Check out Any Body's Pilates updated web site at http://www.anybodyspilates.com.

The site features current studio promotions, class schedule, Pilates benefits, contact information, map and directions, as well as photos of the studio.