core strength Archives

Elena standing proudly at the finish line after completing her 10k Dubai Marathon journey | The Hundred Pilates Studio

Joseph Pilates created his exercises as a way to increase overall fitness for anyone. However, because graceful, flowing movements are part of the full Pilates exercises, and because they build strength without building bulky muscles, they were quickly adopted by dancers and gymnasts. Runners didn’t consider the benefits of Pilates until it was more widespread.

For example, Elena one of our expert teachers at the Hundred Pilates Studio in Dubai who has recently and proudly completed her 10K Dubai Marathon journey, reveals the benefits of cross-training Pilates with her running regime and how it has helped her reach the finish line:

“So I decided to run my first 10k after many years of completely ignoring and excluding running from my everyday routine. Online research and analyzing movement patterns of my clients who started doing Pilates to improve their running technique helped me to understand that my main goal is to prevent a possible injury and enjoy every mile of my 10k journey. Being a Pilates teacher and practitioner for years, I got spoiled by a variety of movements and amazing ranges that the contrology method can bring into your body during the practice. Hence getting into a quite repetitive routine like running was already a big challenge. I ran for a good cause starting my training with Pink 10k application (breast cancer awareness campaign ) that got me from a combination of 2 min jog with 2 min walk to my cherished 10k in 4 month.

I must admit it was HARD and so different from what my body got used to until the moment I relaxed and started enjoying the movements, the same way I enjoy it at the Pilates Studio. Thinking about the proper alignment, moving from the centre, breathing, engaging my core, feeling my limbs being extensions of my belly and my spine and being present in my body every single second with every single step I took.

I had to spend many hours in the studio working with Pilates foot corrector to strengthen my feet and ankles that helped me to distribute the impact and weight bearing more gradually in order to avoid knee/hip injury. I focused on a lot of core work and upper body to keep my posture perfectly supported while running. Not to mentioned how many stretches on different pieces of Pilates equipment I had to do in these 4 months pre-race. I still can’t understand how people jog and only spend only 5-10min doing very basic stretches. My advice is to warm up and STRETCH! And the more sophisticated and varied your stretches are THE BETTER and less chances of injury!” – Elena

While all runners should stretch before they run, some runners’ training programs don’t focus enough on stretching. Strength and endurance training alone won’t provide the progressive stretching that regular Pilates workouts will. Insufficiently stretched muscles can cause many problems for a runner, slowing them down at best, or leading to a serious injury at worst.

Just like stretching, Pilates helps runners focus on their breathing. This benefit is synergistic with the stretching because warming up the core helps the intercostal muscles that connect the ribs. This makes it easier to breathe smoothly using all available lung capacity.

Stretching - the key to injury prevention! — Stretching – the key to injury prevention!

And on a final encouraging advice and note from Elena….

“I always encourage my clients to stay active and cross-train (add new workout varieties) to their fitness routine as I truly believe that movement heels and keeps you young and fully alive. Dedicate yourself to the movement and you will start enjoying your life and appreciating your body so much more!”

Discover how Pilates can help you with your current fitness regime by visiting our website at : www.thehundred.ae

kate-hudson-workout-700x700

In the latest issue of Shape Middle East Magazine, the 34-year-old actress shows off her flawless figure, and shares her workout and diet secrets.

Wearing only a black sports bra and grey leggings, Hudson flaunts her abs, toned arms and legs. The radiatn mother of two sons Ryder, 9, and Bingham, 2, credits her fit and sculpted body to her 15-year devotion to Pilates.

Despite two children, the star is in better shape than she has ever been. However, she certainly does work hard to achieve it. Kate has been working with the same personal trainer and Pilates instructor for 15 years, Nicole Stuart.

Nicole said: ‘We do Pilates for an hour, three times a week. If she’s prepping for something it will be more.

‘We always combine cardio – like a mile run – before a Pilates class. On off days, she’ll meet me for yoga or a spin class.’

The pair have become best friends and Nicole praised Kate’s dedication to fitness.

‘She’s an incredible person and she really challenges me as a trainer because she’s such a great athlete. We both give each other a run for our money. She’s always been amazing when it comes to her workouts.’

In addition to working out, Hudson also tries to eat healthy — but she admits to trying extreme measures from time to time.

“I’ve eaten in all sorts of different ways over the years. I like to do juice cleanses twice a year for five to seven days, or food elimination cleanses where I just eat superclean,” she says. “That’s really the only time when I’m very strict. Other than that, I eat everything. I just love food. I love bread. I love pasta. “If anyone thinks the baby weight is going to fall off without doing anything—they are fooling themselves! I work out to feel great but also to look great. There’s no way a woman gets up to work out at 6:30 a.m. just for the mood boost. She wants to fit into her jeans and look fantastic too.”

Want to get sculpted, lean, toned and drop those baby pounds after giving birth? Strengthen with us at The Hundred Pilates Studio in Dubai by joining into our daily semi-private “small” Pilates group classes or private one-on-one Pilates sessions where you can train on the mat and Pilates equipment. Discover more by visiting our website at: www.thehundred.ae

This month we interview a dedicated client of ours – Faisal Lutfi – a 29 year old father of 2, a partner in 2 businesses, Sheburger and Allinque Personal Assistance and a Senior Manager of regional and international affairs in Dubai Customs, who is currently, cross-complementing his Cross Fit training regime with Pilates after being diagnosed with a few of spinal injuries. We are delighted to share his results with you.

But before that lets talk a bit about Crossfit and Pilates. Both have their origins in gymnastics. Pilates originated in the early twentieth century by Joseph Pilates, a former gymnast and boxer.The main goal of Pilates is to return our bodies to a functional level, strengthening the muscular system from the core to the periphery, focusing mostly on the small stabilizing and postural muscles.

Crossfit was founded in 1995 by Greg Glassman, a former high school gymnast. Crossfit focuses on the ten aspects of fitness: cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and accuracy.

Continue reading “pilates and cross fit – {real client case study}”