Movements Afoot's Blog

The First 20 Minutes Surprising Science Reveals How We Can Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer

Lesley Powell — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:27:18 +0000

Great podcast and article on Fresh Air.

The First 20 Minutes

Surprising Science Reveals How We Can Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer

If you’re sitting at a desk reading this article, take a minute and stand up. That’s the latest advice from New York TimesPhys Ed columnist Gretchen Reynolds. In her new book, The First 20 Minutes, Reynolds details some of the surprisingly simple ways you can combat the effects of a sedentary lifestyle.

Federal health guidelines recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise — such as walking or jogging — every single day. But new research shows that even regular exercisers may not be doing enough to counteract the health hazards of sitting down at a desk all day long.

Gretchen also wrote a book. On the link, Fresh Air provided an excerpt.

Mooning and Texting

Lesley Powell — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:05:08 +0000

49 W. 27th St. Mezzanine B, New York City 212-904-1399 www.movementsafoot.com

At Movements Afoot, we jokingly talked about mooning to discover the importance of the hip sockets. Using your hips as the hinge instead of the back will be a prevention of hurting your back.

Here is a funny email from a client!

A new phenomenon called

E-MOONING

We all know those cute little computer symbols called ‘emoticons,’
where:

means a smile and

is a frown.

Sometimes these are represented by

Well, how about some ‘ASSICONS?’
Here goes:

(_!_) a regular ass
(__!__) a fat ass
(!) a tight ass
(_*_) an ass hole
{_!_} a swishy ass
(_o_) an ass that’s been around
(_x_)kiss my ass
(_X_) leave my ass alone
(_zzz_) a tired ass
(_E=mc2_) a smart ass
(_$_) Money coming out of his ass
(_?_) Dumb Ass
{ _ 9 _ } asinine

Teaching in Tokyo

Lesley Powell — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:02:35 +0000

Soon I will be in Tokyo teaching workshops at Pilates Movement space.

IN HAYAMA
May 26 3 hr each

3D core:
Posterior Lateral Hip:

May 27 3 hr each

Franklin Method: the Knee
The Foot

IN SHINAGAWA
May 28

Lower Cross Syndrome 6 hr

May 29

Upper Cross Syndrome: 6 hr

May 30

Working with clients with back pain using Pilates: 3 hr

Balanced Body’s Orbit is coming to Movements Afoot’s classes

Lesley Powell — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:20:43 +0000

In the middle of May we will adding the Balanced Body’s Orbit to many of our equipment classes.

49 W. 27th St. Mezzanine B, New York City 212-904-1399 www.movementsafoot.com

The orbit will invite new mobility of body as well as challenged your body. If you ever did Up Stretch (downward dog to plank pose on the reformer, the Orbit will change your brain cells.

I have been having some hip problems and the Orbit has opened my hips. I feel amazing!!!

Lett’s Innovations for Pilates

Lesley Powell — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:50:48 +0000

Anthony Lett’s workshop Innovations for Pilates was incredible. There are workshops that are intellectually filled with incredible ideas and knowledge about the body. There are workshops that makes your body feel great. Anthony gave us both.

Anthony Lett’s book is one of the best books on the market for professional teachers. We have a few more copies at the studio of a cd of his book.. You can go online also on his website to order an ebook.

Stay tune. We want Anthony back next year!

Pregnancy Workshop using Pilates w. Joy Puleo NYC

Lesley Powell — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:17:36 +0000

Pregnancy Workshop using Pilates w. Joy Puleo

click above to register.

Sun Date: 6/3/2012 From: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

49 W. 27th St. Mezzanine B, New York City 212-904-1399 www.movementsafoot.com

with Joy Puleo $250 June 10, 2012 10 AM- 5 PM Early Bird Discount by 6/1 $230

Understanding the stages of pregnancy and its effect on maternal movement and exercise protocols. Applications will be made to Pilates and fitness.

Hours 1 and 2 – Maternal physiology first trimester. Review of the physiology of early pregnancy and changes in maternal environment. Review of early pregnancy exercises.

Hour 3 and 4 – Maternal physiology second trimester. Review of physiology of months 3 to 6. There are many changes, including circulatory and hormonal, that occur both with the mother as well as the developing fetus that start to have significant effects on exercise protocols and choices. Review of appropriate exercise choices during this time

Hour 5 and 6 – Maternal physiology third trimester. Review of physiology of months 6 to 9. Review of the heightened changes not only to the mother physically but how the additional stress to the maternal environment, circulation and hormones effects ligament structure and muscle activation which greatly effect exercise choices.

Pilates Leadership Introspective with Marie-Jose Blom in NJ and NYC

Lesley Powell — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:39:28 +0000

Pilates Leadership Introspective: An In-depth Experience, Beyond the Exercises.

49 W. 27th St. Mezzanine B, New York City 212-904-1399 www.movementsafoot.com

Taught and Mentored by Marie-José Blom

 Early bird Discount for 3 workshops $2160 by May 31, 2012.
Please call for this discount.

Each workshop $850 See early bird discount dates for each workshop 5% 807.50

 This course is a three module study of skill enhancing specialty education designed for the already practicing Pilates Professional or Movement Educator.
Elevate the content of your repertory knowledge into a body of excellence and expertise. The Pilates Leadership Introspective series turns your teaching into the art that transforms your clientele. This series will help you meet the demands of the current market with professional confidence. This higher education covers the depth and details of movement biomechanics intrinsic to the Pilates repertoire. They integrate the biomechanical blueprint of the exercises through an anatomical theme per module.

Objectives

The implementation of a directive and corrective hands-on approach with real time teaching. This instills renewed confidence with refreshed knowledge in Pilates teaching and movement practice.
Learn to integrate these skills with the Pilates movement technique while deepening the whole body experience with a corrective, restorative effect.
To integrate the protocols and biomechanics with the use of the Pilates equipment, including newly designed modifications and therapeutic approaches.

 Pilates Leadership Introspective, Part 1:  A Pilates repertoire study of technique, themed ‘From Foot to Core’.
Date: June 22-24 Time: 9:00 – 5:00 daily
Location: Pilates Core Center and Dragonfly Yoga  Studio: 856.985.0900  www.pilatescorecenter.com
*Please call if you would like to be part of carpool and motel room
Pilates Leadership Introspective, Part 2:  A Pilates repertoire study of technique, themed ‘Pelvic & Spine Works’.
Date: September 21-23 Time: 9:00 – 5:00 daily Location: Movements Afoot Pilates Studio
Early bird discount August 30, 2012 5% off 807.50 
Pilates Leadership Introspective, Part 3:  A Pilates repertoire study of technique, themed ‘Integrated Principals of Upper Core & Shoulder Girdle’.
Date: December 7-9 2012 Time: 9:00 – 5:00 daily Location: Movements Afoot Pilates Studio
Early bird discount November 1, 2012 5% off 807.50

Who Should Attend This Series?

 This Pilates Leadership Introspective Series is designed to take movement professionals to the next level through the latest concepts collected during my travels, collaborations and studies.

Pilates Professionals with 1-3 years teaching experience.
ATCs, OTRs & COTAs, PTs, PT Assistants, DCs
Strength & Conditioning Professionals, and other medical professionals with a Pilates background or Pilates Therapy practice.
All movement educators with a Pilates background or Pilates Therapy practice.

Target the gluts

Lesley Powell — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 11:56:18 +0000

This is a series that I learned from Dianne Woodruff PHD:

Hold leg in hip extension have client focus on tone of gluteus medius .
Let go of leg. Observe if client is using just glut or going to their habit ( i.e. hip flexors, quadratus etc.)
Have them do leg lifts with a recuperation between each lift. This prevents them going back to their habits.

New Muscles

Lesley Powell — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:29:15 +0000

Spanx Abdominus

Can you see how the Transverse Abdominus can be like your own internal Spanx?

Feeling these abs will never be like the feeling of crunches. You need to use breath and a new awareness how to engage this. This needs to be underlying with Pilates Exercises.

This is from a new app. Visible Body. It is an incredible educational tool.

What is Stability/Mobility?

Lesley Powell — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:30:48 +0000

Here is a wonderful Youtube video on stability/mobility. People get confused with rigidity w. stability and flexibility w. Mobility. Dynamic stability is the coordination of muscles around your joints to give maximum support through movement. You are constantly changing your stability as you are running for example. Mobility is the range of motion in your joints. It could be the ease of motion of the hip joint. Sometime people are stuck in certain joints and hypermobilize above or below to accomplish movement. Imbalance of stability/mobility can be a leading cause of injury.

YouTube video on Stability/Mobility