All posts tagged: pilates

The Real-Life Diet of Adam Devine, Who Wants to Look Like a 50-Year-Old Pilates Mom

The Real-Life Diet of Adam Devine, Who Wants to Look Like a 50-Year-Old Pilates Mom

Published by skeptic

Before, I’d be like, “I worked out all week. I can party all weekend and have 15 beers, nachos, pizza.” Then you’ve kind of blown your whole week. You can still do that now. But if you track it, you know you had a couple pieces of pizza; don’t have six pieces of pizza and five beers. You can have two pieces of pizza, two beers, and call it a day. This is something that I think a lot of young men need to hear. There’s a pervasive thought out there that as long as you’re working out, you can kind of eat whatever. You can, to an extent. There’s just different seasons of life. Sometimes you’re like, “You know what? I’m going to care less for the next few months. I’m on vacation. I’m in Italy. I have to live my life!” That’s how I felt when my wife was pregnant. I kept joking that my goal was to be bigger than she was, and I succeeded. Did I win the race? Yeah, I …

Improve your balance and strengthen your ankles with this beginner-friendly trick from a Pilates instructor

Improve your balance and strengthen your ankles with this beginner-friendly trick from a Pilates instructor

Published by skeptic

Having sore ankles and achy feet can really mess up your workout plans. Squats can become impossible, your 5K run is completely off the table and even a 10-minute walking workout can be too much. One of the best ways to protect yourself against potential ankle and foot injuries is by strengthening the muscles in this area—and this simple trick from Pilates instructor Zoe Lewis can help you do just that. All you need to do it is a towel and Lewis says the move will strengthen the toes, foot arches and ankles. How to do Zoe Lewis’ feet and ankle strengthening exercise To do this move, roll up a towel and stand on it with one foot, balancing for one minute or longer. Your ankle and foot muscles will jump into action and stabilize your body. Doing this consistently will improve your balance and muscle strength. If you find it too challenging, try doing it without a towel to start. “This exercise needs to be done daily—even a few times a day—for a minute …

Strengthen your entire body in just 15 minutes with this equipment-free Pilates workout

Strengthen your entire body in just 15 minutes with this equipment-free Pilates workout

Published by skeptic

Finding the motivation to exercise during the winter months can be a challenge. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to brave the cold for a run or spend hours commuting to the gym to get a good workout. Low-impact workouts like Pilates are an excellent way to build strength while improving your mobility, balance and coordination—all without leaving the house. Pilates instructor Madeleine Abeid has shared a quick and effective routine that proves just how powerful this style of movement can be. In just 15 minutes, without equipment, this workout promises to engage your entire body all from the comfort of a mat. How to do this 15-minute Pilates workout 15MIN Full Body Pilates || strengthen & tone (intermediate) // madeleineabeid – YouTube Watch On To follow along, perform each move for 30 seconds as demonstrated by Abeid. You may want to do the routine on an exercise mat to cushion your knees and back. What are the benefits of Pilates compared to weight training? If you’re new to Pilates, it’s a form …

A Pilates instructor says this 20-minute workout will strengthen your hips and boost flexibility

A Pilates instructor says this 20-minute workout will strengthen your hips and boost flexibility

Published by skeptic

If tight and achy hips sound familiar, then it’s worth using at-home Pilates workouts to boost your flexibility and strength. A workout like this one, whic focuses on building stability and flexibility in your hip muscles, helping you move more freely and avoid injury. It’s created by Jakarta-based Pilates instructor Mira Hassan, who runs one of Fit&Well‘s favorite Pilates YouTube workout channels, Flow with Mira. Hassan explains that training the muscles supporting the hip joints can relieve tightness and tension, while strengthening and stabilizing the pelvis. This is crucial for balance, posture and everyday movement. This 20-minute workout doesn’t require any equipment, but all the moves are floor-based so a cushioned Pilates mat, like this extra thick top-rated one from Amazon, will support your spine. How to do Mira Hassan’s 20-minute hip workout 20 min Pilates Hip Workout – Hip Strengthening Exercises for Beginners – YouTube Watch On Why do you need to stretch and strengthen your hips? “Our entire body is interconnected, so if you have tight or weak hips, it’s likely this will …

I tried this “killer arms” Pilates workout and my entire upper body felt more toned and strong

I tried this “killer arms” Pilates workout and my entire upper body felt more toned and strong

Published by skeptic

I usually gravitate towards heavy dumbbells and barbells for my upper-body workouts, but some recent shoulder pain has made me pause my heavy lifting. In search of something gentler on my joints, I came across Kristal Ruiz’s “killer arms” Pilates routine on Instagram. Don’t let the name intimidate you—this upper-body workout is relatively easy to follow and suitable for most fitness levels. You’ll even get some glute, core and hamstring work along the way. For this workout, you’ll need a set of light weights (I used 3-pound dumbbells), and a yoga mat for support. How to do the “killer arms” Pilates workout You’ll be in a tabletop bird-dog position for the entire workout, on the floor with one hand and the opposite knee anchored on the mat, while the other arm and leg will be performing the exercises. Ruiz suggests performing six to eight repetitions on each side for each move: Low row Triceps kickback Bend and extend Lower and lift Arm swing Pulse What I found (Image credit: Jennifer Rizzuto) The repetitions were too …

Strengthen your abs and hips with this 10-move Pilates workout that’s perfect for beginners

Strengthen your abs and hips with this 10-move Pilates workout that’s perfect for beginners

Published by skeptic

A strong core takes the pressure off your spine and hip joints, which can increase stability and balance. It can also help to reduce arthritic pain and prevent further joint damage. That’s one of the reasons why Pilates is such a great way to exercise. It has a focus on core training, with a collection of exercises that scale from beginner-friendly to requiring Olympian core strength, and a step-by-step series of progressions that will get you from point A to point B. It’s an excellent way to gradually build strength in your abs and hips, which are both part of your core. And you don’t need expensive equipment to do it either. In this 15-minute circuit by Mira Hassan, who runs the YouTube channel Flow with Mira (one of the best Pilates YouTube channels), you will do 10 floor-based moves all using your own bodyweight. Throughout the session, Hassan encourages you to focus on your breath as she describes how to do each exercise with good form, and which muscles you are working. “In this …

A Pilates instructor says this is the best exercise you’re not doing to build full-body strength

A Pilates instructor says this is the best exercise you’re not doing to build full-body strength

Published by skeptic

Pilates is one of the best types of exercise you can do to build strength using just your bodyweight. And not only does it tone your muscles, but it can help improve your posture with its focus on engaging the core. I recently chatted with Pilates instructor Maia Henry and asked her if she has a favorite, but lesser-known, Pilates exercise that can strengthen muscles people often neglect. “The triceps oil rigger is a great move to challenge your body,” says Henry. “It’s a triceps exercise, but it also engages the glutes and core.” How to do the triceps oil rigger This exercise requires no equipment, but a yoga mat, towel or blanket will cushion your knees. Here’s how to do it. Start in tabletop position with your hands under your shoulders, arms extended and knees on the floor under your hips. Lift one leg so it’s in line with your torso. Keeping your arms close to your body with your elbows pointing backward, bend your elbows to lower your chest to the floor. Your …

Build a stronger core and lower body with this Pilates dumbbell workout from a specialist trainer

Build a stronger core and lower body with this Pilates dumbbell workout from a specialist trainer

Published by skeptic

From yoga to HIIT to powerlifting, there are plenty of training styles out there, but which one should you choose? I believe a blend of your favorites is the best way to build a fun, effective and sustainable exercise routine—variety is the spice of life, after all. The Ladder app’s strength and Pilates coach, Maia Henry goes one step further by combining two training styles in her workout below. How to do Maia Henry’s 30-minute strength x Pilates workout This workout is split into three parts, each containing three exercises. These parts are a strength training circuit targeting the lower body, a leg-focused Pilates practice and finally an abs-oriented Pilates-style segment. Perform each one as a circuit for two rounds before moving on to the next. Part one: Lower-body strength circuit 1. Romanian deadlift Sets: 2 Reps: 12 Stand with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing you. Hold them in front of your hips with your arms extended towards the ground. Retract your shoulder blades and engage your core then, keeping your back flat, …

A Pilates instructor says this is the one exercise you should add into your routine to build core strength

A Pilates instructor says this is the one exercise you should add into your routine to build core strength

Published by skeptic

Incorporating some core-strengthening exercises into your workout routine is always a good idea. The core includes muscles like the abdominals, lower back, pelvis and obliques—more or less the entire middle part of your body. This means that good core strength can help with more than just the appearance of your abs. It can support your posture, spine and hip health and even reduce back pain. If you’re focusing on moves like sit-ups and crunches for your core workouts, Pilates instructor Jodi Montlake says it’s time to change that—especially if you want to combat the upper-body “tightness” that plagues a lot of people. “We see so many people with tight chests, back and shoulders because of their desk jobs,” she explains. This tightness is caused by being in a curled-over position all day, in which your shoulders and upper body are hunched over. Sit-ups reinforce and repeat this movement pattern, because of their forward-curling motion. “Our muscles get weak and relaxed when they’re in the same position all the time. So, we want to try and …

What is Reformer Pilates and why do so many celebrities swear by it? Benefits explained

What is Reformer Pilates and why do so many celebrities swear by it? Benefits explained

Published by skeptic

Loved by A-listers like Hailey and Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Margot Robbie, Reformer Pilates has been around for years but has finally become mainstream. No longer reserved for the rich and famous, Google searches for Reformer Pilates have grown almost five times since 2020 with search volume increasing by an incredible 652% as it becomes ever more popular. Reformer Pilates uses an apparatus made up of pulleys and springs to work the body, using the resistance of the springs to feel the burn. The benefits can be huge, according to Martyn Oakley, head of fitness at Everlast Gyms (part of Sports Direct). “Reformer Pilates often involves many of the same stretches as mat Pilates, but the beauty of the reformer is that it helps you to get more out of your workout and target particular areas of the body,” he explains. © Getty ImagesMargot Robbie swears by Reformer Pilates The hottest Pilates studio in Hollywood is arguably Forma Pilates, dubbed “Los Angeles and New York’s most exclusive exercise class” by Vogue – so exclusive, …