Squatting

My previous post was about safe lifting technique. To do this, you have to be able to squat. We practice this in some classes and it’s a good exercise to do at home. Stand with your legs apart, either parallel or turned out, whichever is most comfortable for you. Then bend your knees as deeply … More Squatting

Safe Lifting Technique

This video demonstrates the safe lifting technique that we all used as children but somehow forgot as we grew older. Practice knee bends, waiter’s bow and both together be able to lift safely like this again.

10 Tips for a Better Back

In TalkBack, the magazine from BackCare (the UK’s national back pain association), an article by physiotherapist, David Rogers describes 10 tips for a better back. He says: “..the way that we help people recover from back pain is changing, thanks to a large body of research which has helped to rewrite the rules on persistent … More 10 Tips for a Better Back

Hopping

If you suffer from osteoporosis, you may want to try hopping for a couple of minutes per day. A study led by Loughborough University showed that bone density improved after just one year. “Two minutes of hopping a day can strengthen hip bones in older people and reduce the risk of fracture after a fall…” … More Hopping

5 Pilates Moves that you can do in your Living Room

In an article in netdoctor, Lynne Robinson explains how Pilates can help improve “your motor control, posture, breathing and core stability and says it “promotes that perfect balance of strength and flexibility”. She describes 5 exercises to help your core, strength, flexibility and back pain. Relaxation position Knee rolls The cat The dart Squat and … More 5 Pilates Moves that you can do in your Living Room

More than just core strength

The health benefits of Pilates are more than just core strength. Pilates looks deceptively easy. But the often-tiny movements improve balance and core strength, Bird’s research suggests. Pilates does this in part by reinforcing the bond between mind and muscles, helping people engage the right muscles in the core. This leads to better posture and … More More than just core strength