Stott Pilates

[Stacy]

Well I just finished doing Stott Pilates after previewing it and practicing the moves a few times and I have to be honest and say I got nothing out of it. I guess I'm used to sweating during a workout and feeling worked out when it's over and I didn't here. I know it can be used as an adjunct to other workouts but I don't think I'll bother. Just had to add my two cents

Stacy

 

[cinza]

oh dear!!

Pilates is not a sweaty kind of workout, its a whole different world of working out intensity
It sounds like you had no idea of what you were getting into to before getting a tape !!

Pilates works very deeply and quietly .......... it works very well ...but you have to know how to use muscles that you may not have been train in using.
It took me several private instructions to have any clue what i was supposed to be doing.. and i am still working do it right.

you can probably sell your tape easily on ebay or maybe check out a class if you want to find out more about pilates...


you might love it when you get the right angle of attack on it... I do two -3 hours a week of it and it really is a challenge..

The results are profound.......but as i said it works things differently and some instruction helps.

I will give you a tiny pilates challenge if you like... its the first thing you need to understand...and the trickiest and the thing you have to keep in mind for all other work.

perhaps you have done this...but if not..

lie down....breath......
exhale thouroughly....
do you notice when you exhale completely your navel does go towards the spine and your spine goes towards the floor?
If this happens also notice your ribs being tightend down towards the pelvis......

practice this a few times ..... and then..
keep that tightness of navel to spine and ribs down ... while you breath in.....
THis will force you to learn (and took me time to do this well) to expand the sides of you ribs...

If you accomplish this.....or already have.. YOu are working the abs that stabalize your torso.. that hold your guts in... that really hold your tummy in.....
this position is held under ALL pilates moves (all, i think)

YOur spine will be close to flat.....your navel to the spine and your ribs down.

very important strengh to achieve.

the next really basic pilates movement is the roll up...and roll down
the challenge is to go one vertebrae at a time and keeping your torso in a "C" shape curve with that navel to spine... ribs down etc......
Its slow controlled and always work pressing into that C shape.

this feeling of the C shape is really more of that exhaled muscle contraction...Even if you are breathing.......


I dont know if this is new or you already know it... i hope if you didnt know it you play with it and find the challenge and maybe try pilates a bit more ...

you can apply what i just wrote to all ab work... to stabalizing your torso for anything you do... even sitting up.
You could try that exhale while sitting in your car... hold the muscles while you continue to breath and you will be working your abs anywhere you are!!

and remember if you are lying down doing any moves ... use that exhale to anchor your torso and keep it stable .. keep those ribs connected to pelvis and keep breathing.

Pilates is often recommended as the very best ab work...... and that move is why... thats the real stuff that holds your body up.

hope i wasnt long winded, too repetetive... or unclear .. hope it helps how you approach pilates

a good and qualified teacher would be great.. and worth it if you really would like to know more.

c

 

[Debra]

I'm curious

Stacy, which Stott tape do you have? As Cynthia explained, the work is in the muscle control. It's not aerobic & since you're working small muscle groups, your heart rate won't become elevated (ergo no sweating). It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea - I can't get into yoga. But I would like to know which tape/moves you tried.

 

[litterbox]

I do the Stott Advanced Matwork once a week, and definitely feel "worked" when it's over.

 

[Stacy]

RE: I'm curious

I have the Advanced Mat Workout by Stott. I really feel like Ive got the breathing down right, but still can't seem to get into the workout....maybe I'm just too impatient, lol...I'm used to jumping around like a fool when I workout. I can't get into yoga either and I've tried several different kinds and even went to a class with a friend of mine. Oh well as they say different strokes for different folks!

Thanks,

Stacy

 

[Debra]

Try this

Hi Stacy, if you haven't already given up on Pilates, please give this a try (it's from a Pilates instructor).

Lie on your back, with abs drawn toward the spine. Place your hand at the base of your rib cage where the 2 sides come together & give a little cough. Hold the position where the act of coughing pulls your ribs in (your abs actually are pulling the rib cage together). You should actually be able to feel it with your hand. This is the position your abs should be in when you're exhaling during Pilates movements. I'm working on maintaining this contraction during exhales & inhales, but start with the exhale.

1) Try a straight-leg roll-up. Your abs should stay in the contracted position during the exhale. All movement is in your torso with your head & arms just going along for the ride.

2) Try the saw. Again all movement should be from the torso. Body weight should be equally distributed on both buttocks as you "saw" off your little toe with no leg movement. The trick is to keep weight equally distributed on both cheeks throughout the movement. The abs are contracted during the exhale.

If you're executing these basic movements with perfect form then maybe Pilates has nothing to offer you. Stott's advanced tape is supposed to be quite a challenge so it's surprising that you don't find it so. The equivilent would be a novice weight lifter going through MIS with the same weight as Cathe & finding it easy.

Again, I'm not trying to push you. I've gotten so much from Pilates that I'm puzzled by your experience.

Debra