Fit to Print Volume 23 Issue 4 December 2014 | Page 24
Prescription Pilates
continued from page 9
effective to reduce my lower back pain,
sculpt my frame and reduce body fat.
Two years ago, I started private Pilates
sessions with Dina. During my work with
Dina, I have absolutely strengthened my
core including the weak muscles in my
lower back, and I have lost body fat! My
overall appearance is tighter. I feel a
sense of mental peace as my body and
mind have learned to connect. Who
couldn't use that!? I have no back pain
for the first time in my life!!!!! I carry
myself differently, and even the way I sit
has changed! By training my core to
carry some of the burden, my everyday
life has been pain free. My abs look
pretty good too!!! Dina has extensive
knowledge of the body's mechanics as
well as a calm, wonderful caring
personality. Under her guidance and
expertise, I slowly learned Pilates. Don't
expect to go to one class and become an
expert. It takes time and practice. If you
are patient and willing to open your
mind to learning the techniques, it could
change your life!!!
When Elizabeth first began doing private
sessions with me, it was apparent she
had a slight scoliosis as well. Her chronic
lower back pain was apparently being
caused by muscular imbalances caused
by her misalignment and mostly due to
her scoliosis. I am happy to concur with
Elizabeth's statement that she has no
lower back pain for the first time in her
life! Elizabeth's willingness and
dedication to adhering to her
“prescription” and realigning her body is
the reason she is pain free today! Her
private sessions, coupled with mat
Pilates classes and her “homework” all
helped her accomplish her goals. Way to
go Liz!!
For those of you not currently suffering
from and back pain or discomfort,
remember; Pilates is for ANYONE!!! Here
is Joannie's story:
Joannie S.
Many years ago
when visiting
family in Arizona,
my cousin Jan and
I went to a spa
for a massage and
a facial. While in
between sessions,
we were encouraged to
use any of the spa facilities. Since one
appointment was at 10 am and the next
24
not until 3 or so we decided to take a
Pilates class. I had only heard about
Pilates, but Jan said she wanted to go
so I was game. There were only three
or four people, and I was the only
newbie so it got intense pretty quickly.
I walked out of class thinking this
might be something my uncoordinated
body could tackle if taken at a very
beginner level. I'm not much for
crowded classes, so it was a while
later that I met an old friend, Janette
Dillon and she was raving about Pilates
Reformer classes with Dina at FI. Busy
at work, I let another few months go
by. Finally, I got into a small group
reformer class. The rest, as they say, is
history. I've been taking Pilates
steadily now for about four or five
years. However, I've seen the greatest
improvement in my form and ability to
engage my deep core in the past two
years. I didn't necessarily have a
specific goal in mind except to gain
muscle and core flexibility, and
hopefully lose some weight. I've never
been an athlete—think last kid in
school picked for a sports team—never
a been a gym rat and basically hate
exercising. Pilates was something that
I could combine with walking to help
improve bone density, and build lean
muscle mass. When I started Pilates I
had osteopenia and was told I needed
to take calcium supplements. I tried
the supplements for a few months and
then stopped because they bothered
my stomach. I kept at my Pilates and
when my bone density was next
checked all traces of bone loss were
reversed!
I have a chronic sleep disorder and a
very slow metabolism that combine to
cause me to feel tired much of the
time. A few years back I spent two
weeks at the National Institute of
Health in Bethesda, MD studying the
effects of my sleep disorder on my
metabolism. Years back FI had a
Metabolism Checker gizmo that
computed your caloric intake based on
the amounts of CO2 and O2 in your
breath. It said that on a scale of 25 to
-25, mine was -24.5. Very slow, and
that I should eat 700-800 cal/day. The
trainer giving me the results assumed
the machine was wrong. The company
recalibrated the device and got the
same results. Oh, not good! The NIH
study was much more exact. It
estimated I burned 500-750 calories
less a day than other pre-menopausal
women. They then extrapolated the
data and estimated that by the time I
was 52 I would be burning 750-950
calories less a day than other women
my age.
Very depressed, I spoke with many
dieticians at NIH. They dissected my
current caloric intake.
They had assumed it would be about
Holidays 2014 FIT to Print
2000/day, but realized quickly that I was
already eating far less, only about
1350/day. They came up with a plan to
help me lose the weight I had steadily
gained since turning forty. The first two
years on their plan allowed me to lose
only about 10 lbs. It was slow and
frustrating. When I saw a picture of
myself at my 50th Birthday Party I was
appalled. I knew I had to get a lot more
serious with my diet and exercise. I
joined Weight Watchers and recommitted
myself to my Pilates workouts. I began
paying closer attention to the cues and
to how my body reacts to each
movement. I eat about 1200 calories a
day but am very choosy about what
makes up those calories. I eat much
more fruit and vegetables, eat more
complex carbs and eat more meatless
meals more often than ever before.
Over the last two years, I have lost
almost 30 additional pounds and
definitely have reshaped my body. My
posture has improved tenfold, and I have
found some curves I thought were lost
for good! I still have a way to go, but I
know I can manage my weight now. I
seem to have reached a plateau. I may
try to break through it and try to lose
another few pounds, but I now know I
will probably never be 130 lbs again, but
who cares. I'm no longer a teenager
trying to fit in, I'm just trying to work
with what I've got, and I've been getting
into better shape slowly and steadily for
several years now. I plan to keep at it for
as long as it takes. Pilates reminds me to
stop and take stock of my habits, the
good, the bad, and the ugly.
Pilates also helps by reminding me that
small changes can make lasting
improvements, and always when things
get rough to just breathe.
Just breathe in through my nose and out
through my mouth,
In through the nose and out through the
mouth,
In and out,
In and out….
Words of wisdom, Joannie, words of
wisdom! Being a part of Joannie's
transformation over the years has been
an honor. Joannie's sleep disorder is
neurologically related. Pilates has great
benefit for those suffering from
neurological diseases as well. The
coordination and focus aspects are
extremely beneficial for those with any
type of neurological disorder. Joannie
has worked very hard to tap into and
master these benefits, and it shows, not
just in her Pilates practice but in her
every day AND her birthday pictures
from this year!! Go Joannie!!
Dina Voigt is a certified Pilates, yoga &
spin instructor, as well as a certified Personal Trainer.
She manages the Mind, Body & Spirit program at FI.
Questions? Contact her at: [email protected]