Get over the notion that this type of exercise is only for ‘those’ kind of people! Yoga, Pilates, & Tai Chi have gained popularity over the past few years but still many do not consider this type of exercise for them. Are you one of them? What is holding you back?
Mind-body exercise encourages body movement with mental focus and controlled breathing. It’s been proven to improve strength, balance, flexibility, lung capacity, circulation and enhance overall health. You could achieve better posture and let go of some of the tension that you carry in your shoulders. Almost anyone can participate and very little equipment is necessary. Modifications can be made if you have trouble getting up and down to your knees.
Yoga has roots in India and has been practiced for over 2000 years. There are many different types of yoga practiced today. On Thursday evenings at 6 p.m., we offer Hatha yoga, a basic stretching and strengthening class that focuses on relaxation and breathing. Those in our class indicate they feel more fit, have more energy, are happier and less stressed.
Pilates is a much newer mind-body exercise but has some similarities to yoga. The focus is on core stabilization. It is low impact exercise and ideal for injury prevention and rehabilitation. Pilates has six principles: concentration, control, centering, breathing, flow and precision. These help train the body to move efficiently. The balance between strength and flexibility creates a healthy, vigorous and symmetrical workout for all muscle groups resulting in a leaner, more balanced, and stronger body. Susan leads a PiYo class on Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. PiYo is a wonderful fusion of Pilates, Yoga and Stretching that will help you burn calories and build lean body mass! The dynamic movement increases strength, balance, and agility, while being easy on the mind and joints.
The mind-body connection contributes more to weight gain and weight distribution than most of us realize. Stress is a common factor in people who are over-weight. Your body responds to ‘issues in the tissues’ – in other words, you hold emotion in your body. ‘In a nutshell’, your thoughts influence the shape, structure and functioning of your body and your body reinforces your mental or emotional state. When you become ‘weighed down’ by life, your body responds accordingly!
We are introducing a different mind-body class in September. Ann will begin teaching a 6 week class in Tai Chi on Wednesday evenings immediately following PiYo. Tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. Tai chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. In fact, because tai chi is low impact, it may be especially suitable for those that find traditional exercise classes difficult.
I encourage you to sign up for this new class. Bring your own mat or borrow one of ours until you find one you like.
Lighten up and Live well. Namaste~
Cat Keller has a wealth of experience in marketing, e-marketing, advertising and customer service and manages our Weight Loss Nutritional Store. She is always planning something fun and exciting. special events, discounts, giveaways – it’s never a dull moment. She is happy to help you with questions you may have regarding our products or services. Cat is a graduate of William & Mary, where she studied Government/Pre-Law and minored in Marketing.