Day 22 of my Pilates challenge was...yesterday... I turned off my computer before I did the pre-Pilates, beginner Mat routine and thus posting the morning after... I am very much enjoying doing some gentle Pilates before bed, so I'll try to keep that with me as we're winding down January already...
Even though I am doing my own thing, I am very grateful for these posts, CBDB ! There were a couple of days that the thought of "having to" post here nudged me enough to do some Pilates...
I've really enjoyed reading about your daily Pilates sessions. I totally agree that by posting on here it's gives you a push to do the work 😉 I often feel like my running is completed until I've written a post in B210k.
Day 22 .. AlignAnother enjoyable session with a new posture the Horizon Lunge. I didn't get it right with the first leg, couldn't quite work out what my back foot should do , much better second leg .I enjoyed the Lizard postures but was a rather wobbly Dancer 😂
As to your question CBDB I find it difficult to compare the January classes,this is my third. There have been a few days where I haven't particularly enjoyed doing it. But I think this has been more to do with me rather than the content. I know I really enjoyed last year's a lot. I might redo last year's in February.. perhaps?!
This is my first year and day 22 was hard the lunge and lizard was really beyond me but managed to do the rest... It was good to align like she says and her voice relaxes me so it is always good to come to the mat with her
I still have to do it but possibly not tonight. Had a working weekend 🤬🤬🤬 and then travel by train to and back from an event. It was a great event, but return was stressful as trains got cancelled, various additional train changes needed and finally home just now, but starving as I missed out on lunch. So dinner and bed, and THEN I will have to start catching up!
Sounds like an intriguing practice. Must do it tomorrow!
Day 23 of my Pilates challenge led me back to the Pilates studio for Open Gym. I did the beginner Reformer series (sort of... I forgot one exercise and added a couple others - really needed to stretch my thighs, so of course I did the Thigh Stretch...). Then did some Pilates inspired strength work, including some squats and also stuff with the Neck Stretcher (Pilates basically invented a tool to work every muscle of our body! Yes, there is a Toe Corrector and something for fingers...). It was fun! Now I am going to do a bit more before going to bed...
🤣 Pilates was lousy at marketing! He literally called one of his contraptions / inventions... the Guillotine! I have not actually used that one (yet...), though it does look like fun (and the thing hanging off it with the black strap is the neck stretcher...): youtu.be/83OeGHYRnO0
just done soar today but I found it hard. I seem to be able to do balance postures and anything involving reasonable flexibility in the hips but the stuff which needs upper body strength like plank and downward dog just leaves me collapsed on the mat. I also have very tight hamstrings so my forward fold is not very forward and far from folded. I’ve been enjoying this lots but today just didn’t work for me. Any thoughts? Should I try to repeat it or just let it go? It’s day 23. I’d really been hoping to get a bit better!
A couple of years ago I couldn't hold plank at all and really struggled with the moves in and out of the posture. It gets easier with practice. Somewhere on this forum is a "plank challenge" that helps work through the position over time. You'll get there 👍✅💪
You don't need to repeat it.m, as Adrienne says do what feels right, listen to your body.
I can't do the step from DDog to lunge as my knees don't like it.
Thank you for this. I'll have a look at the plank challenge. That sounds really useful. I'm not a fast runner but because I've been running for a while my lower body is ok. Hadn't really appreciated how weak I am in the upper body until I started this yoga challenge so I'm glad I've found out so I can start doing something about it. And I'm reassured that if you keep at it you do get better!
I did SOAR last night…it was a big fat no from me. She seemed quite speedy on this, and as usual I can’t keep up with the flows as I have to shuffle a pillow in for my knees. Then it gets in the way so I can’t move the one leg back after lunges for plank. *Then* my right elbow doesn’t like the transition to cobra…I’ve started going into child’s pose instead…I know I’m bending my back the wrong way, but heyho. I’m ok with DDogs, and planks…if not being held for a long time. I’m not up to side planks at all!
I’m very bendy for stuff like forward folds…but I can’t open my hips too well…I just can’t relax in the seated position, again I need to move in pillows/towels for support.
I know I’m replying late..but I gave myself the occasional day off. So chalk SOAR up to experience and move on. We all have favourite positions…and the ones that are really hard.
It's good to know that others have their challenges too. I honestly can't see that I could ever do some of these more flowing practices. I just don't seem to have the time to move from one position to another! My husband had a go with me at the very beginning of the 30 days but he is even more inflexible than I am and gave up in disgust. I must have a look at see if she does any yoga specifically for old, stiff people! But I'm still here, still going, partly as a result of encouragement from others on here so thank you!!
You do get used to the different positions in a flow…she does have her favourite transitions…so with time you will be able to anticipate the next move…especially as she usually goes through the moves for both sides.
If you’ve got time, I find it useful to have a quick run through of the video, pausing if I’m trying to see something new!
As long as you enjoy it, it does not matter if the flows are not quite as flowy. But you do get better at these things. My flow has improved considerable, but still plenty of room for improvement!
Completed soar the side stretch I was too scared to do as definitely would collapse so did it from the knee that was less stress... I did as much as I could getting to the floor from the dog is always difficult... I can't do that either.. The plank is harder than the dog but if she asked me to do it for longer I would take a rest break... Still can't balance on one leg for long and definitely can't hold the bent leg... That's impossible... Saying all of that this 58 year old is going to sit at the mat tomorrow...
Good to read your comment and to think we sound a bit similar! I think I'm too inclined to think that everyone else is just like adrienne! I love watching her and the beautiful shapes she makes in the postures but that's not what I look like! I will follow your inspiration and just turn up again tomorrow. Thank you 😊
Well I Soared 🧘♀️😊🧘♀️I really loved this one, a bit fast in places and the balances meant jumping off my mat as I find it easier to balance on the hard floor.
Day 24 of my Pilates challenge: Reformer class with magic circle! I didn't even know you could use the magic circle on the Reformer, though now it's obvious that one can. And we even did a brief stint on a Wunda Chair to get the tendon stretch exercise more into our bodies...
well today’s explore was much better for me than yesterday. I don’t think it was so much the physical challenge because today there were also a lot of the planks and downward dogs that I’m not really strong enough for. But I’d decided just to do what I could and stop when I needed to without berating myself. Thank you to those who responded for making me be a bit kinder to myself. I’m trying to take the approach that whatever I do, it’s all good! I’ve been doing that for ages with the running so I know it can be done!
I was fine with camel, but my knees weren’t too keen on all the kneeling in Explore…but on the positive side, I finally figured out that I could substitute upward dog or sphinx instead of cobra…
Day 25 amor was more a body scan for 5 minutes and I loved that then the peacock I think she said raised its head above the parapet thank god she said I could do it on my back... See you tomorrow 🤦♀️
Day 25 Amor - I also really liked this one! Relaxing and some nice stretches. I’m beginning to like pigeons. I also like the different stretch-twist-kind of things. Nice!
Day 26 of my Pilates challenge was a repeat of my Day 25... I did a calming pre-Pilates and beginners Mat sequence before going to bed. Unfortunately, I didn't sleep as well last night and I did remember to post this morning, so there's that... 🙃
DAY 26 CONNECT: did his after an intensive rowing session, so was surprisingly bendy. Again, love the new stuff like the rolling between warrior and side angle pose.
Day 27 of my Pilates challenge took me back to the mat with the 34 Mat exercises! I am starting to flow more again, though I still have to refer to my cheat sheet more than I like... I guess that just means, I gotta practice more 😉
Day 28 of my Pilates challenge comes right below Day 27 🤣 Ending and starting my days with Pilates will do that... I started the 28th day of January with the pre-Pilates + beginners Mat sequence I so enjoy. It reminds me so much of the story that Joe Pilates was inspired by cats 🐈⬛ when he developed his exercises: My body slowly wakes up, including my spine.
Really enjoyed yin today. I have such tight hamstrings that the seated poses were pretty stiff but somehow I didn’t mind that today. I loved the really slow pace and the sense of the body releasing a little as you stayed in the pose. Starting to wonder about ways to continue after the 30 days.
DAY 28 FREEDOM - almost at the end of this journey! I did skip a plank in the last round and went straight to down dog in order to keep up with her, otherwise ✅. Balance on one leg not perfect but much better than it used to be. (I couldn’t keep the eagle arms but could keep one leg of the ground and wrapped around)
She was definitely in a rush on this one so different from the Yin practice. I had to jump on asked off my mat to do the balances and a couple of lunges disappeared as I went straight to DD or plank. I've forgotten now it's all a bit of a blur 🤣😉😂
I found this one too fast for me in parts but was pleased with eagle arms and balance. I’m a little stronger now as we come to the end of the 30 days but still lots to learn!
Day 29 of my Pilates challenge consisted of the pre-Pilates series plus the whole Mat sequence (some call it one exercise with 34 variations...). I was happy to notice that it's starting to flow! I have to think less about what the next exercise is - my body just does it...
That’s great. It sounds like it’s all coming together. Well done!
In our yoga session YWA often talks about a vocabulary of poses and movements, and once you’ve practiced the words and phrases, constructing sentences (flow) is much easier!
Pleasure.... I enjoyed this session, I've got a live yoga class this afternoon so I am decided to get my YWA done early. There's a good mix of poses and she lets us have quite a bit of freedom to do as we feel like at various times. Watch out for the crafty side planks which weren't too bad but the squat position is definitely a challenge... 🧘♀️😊
well I’m still struggling with planks although improving slowly so the side planks look like an impossibility to me! But then the squats are ok. Fascinating how different our bodies are. I generally find it hard to keep up but I’m getting better at pacing myself and dipping in and out when I need to. Lots about this one that I liked but will keep on with the plank programme (thanks CBDB) whatever I do with the yoga. It would be wonderful not to end up in a heap!
CBDB Hmmm…just looked back at Strava. Apparently I didn’t do last years 30 days…
However, I did do 2021 which was ‘Breath’…which if I recall was quite focused, as there was a lot of sitting and practicing the different types of breathing…
Day 29 pleasure.... Did the best I could... Tried to keep up got my left and right mixed up... Hubs never asks me for directions... Can't wait 2c what tomorrow brings... A lot of mystery there can't wait... And thank you to everyone for writing their reviews... We are all brilliant
Day 30 of my Pilates challenge kept me home! I'd met a friend this afternoon for a walk along the Rhine, which was really nice except for the freaking cold wind! So, I didn't feel like going to the Pilates studio for Open Gym and instead tried to do it at home. With a little improvisation I was even able to do the Neck Stretcher exercises (yes, that Magic Circle really is magical... 🪄 ). And squats. And rip cage arms. It was fun especially when hearing the wind rattling outside...
Here's a video for that if you want to try it at home:
It's really wild and windy here in Yorkshire today but the sun is out. It's lovely to get out for a walk even at this time of year... makes you glad to get inside as well 😊
I can't believe it's day 30... 😢It's been lovely to drop in here on our virtual mat and chat about the latest session 🙂
Doing the daily practice I'm sure has helped my running and yesterday at my live yoga class I felt much stronger especially in the balances that she had us doing.
Today I peeked at Adrienne occasionally but mainly did my own thing, cat,cow, planks, warriors, chair, down dogs, twists, pigeon and I even made myself finish with trying the dreaded squat position before some gentle lying twists to end.
I'm determined to try to keep the daily practice going so hopefully see you one the virtual mat .🧘♀️😊💪
Day 31 of my Pilates challenge brought me back into the studio despite the steady drizzle. And I am so glad I went! Reformer class was on the agenda and I decided to use the one with the mismatched springs...
There are four springs on these Reformers that you use to move the carriage in and out (kind of like those bands we used in the Xmas thing - to provide resistance). Well this one has two really lose ones and two really hard ones, so it's really either too easy or too hard.
Once I realized that I could just switch things out, it worked really well. It was challenging and in a good way! Plus, we used the Wunda Chair a bit... Then I took the longer way home to also get my Active 10 😎
so interesting! Like a CrossFit gym, but much more aesthetically pleasing! Correct link is here in case they do not work (there was a parentheses in the URL so some browsers might get confused): pilatesanytime.com/blog/equ...
Yes, I, too, like the way these things look! And: The Wunda Chair, at least in its original design, could be turned around to be a chair! Yes, Joe lived in New York City... He also designed some sort of bed contraption that could turn into a Tower so you could do your Pilates (or Contrology as he'd call it) even before getting up... See photo...
Thanks for correcting the link, CBDB ! The one time I don't leave a space between the URL and the close paren... 😉 I fixed it in my post...
(Edit note: I removed the link to the bednasium info because... argh, because, well, I realized who is connected to the site... it's really sad that there's a legal war going on in the Pilates world, again, and I am taking sides... The photo I am uploading instead was taken by a wonderful photographer, IC Rappoport, so I don't have any qualms sharing that! Plus, it's Joe! Here are links to more information on the legal stuff: linktr.ee/pilatestransparen... )
👍🏽 (And I want to have one of those bed contraptions … and chairs!)
yes, I compared yoga with Pilates in a post ca 2 years ago, at the beginning of my S&F journey. They really are very complementary. And reading into the origin story of Pilates was fascinating:
Yea! If I ever have lots of money, I'll buy lots of Pilates equipment... alas right now, I can only budget for classes at the studio 'cause that stuff is pricey!
As I realized who that site belonged to I removed the link... See my edit note above... I replaced it with a cool pic of Joe on the bednamsium!
a day late but the 30 days done. So glad I did this however hard I found it. Now going to look at CDBD’s suggestion for February. I think if I can do another month I will begin to embed the habit. Thanks to everyone on here for your encouragement and support!
So well done!!! And yes, I have found that there are always days or weeks when it will be harder, but over the last three years I always return to a daily S&F practice, and YWA is a very enticing one.
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