Philosophe Of Mind/Body Conditioning
Mind/body Conditioning is an approach of exercise pioneered by the late Joseph H. Pilates; he developed different exercises to rehabilitate prisoners of war, during WWII. This technique is used for deep body conditioning. It helps condition muscles from the inside out. During the years, this exercise has been used in various approaches by different professionals. But its main function is to built your center core(muscles that incorporates the abdominal and lower back) helps you develop balance, coordination, and flexibility. This technique is used for proper alignment of the body. "If you think about it, balance does come from your trunk; and, having proper alingnmen of body parts.
I was first introduced to this neuromuscular exercise by physiotherapy;I had an accident associated with the nervous system, that caused me to have poor balance, and coordination. I have injured part of my brain called the Cerebellum; it's the brain structure responsible for coordination and regulation of complex voluntary muscular movement. The cerebellum is situated between the brain stem and the back of the cerebrum.
During my physical therapy, I was amazed to find out that lots of the exercises that were used in my cognitive and rehabilitation training, had the same prinicipals of this unique exercise caled "Pilates". I had read about Pilates conditioning in literature, and found out that the principals of cognitive rehabilitaton and Pilate exercises had simularities.
A year after my accident, I started to exercise with weight machines at health clubs. The machines gave me more balance and the right body form. I would use the principals I learned in therapy, in the gmy when I exercised; I became stronger, and more flexible. At that time in my life, I started to do floor exercises in the privacy of my home.
Today, I have developed a greater technique in Pilates; I have discovered greater moves, and have greater flexibility,and coordination. In the summer of 2000, I had my first paying job in Athens, Greece, where I was born. In Athens I worked with dancers that wanted to develop flexibility and keep fit. Working with dancers gave me the experience to develop a greater tempo-more of a rythem and creatvity. In the past before my acciden't, I had a passion for dancing easpecially Ballet, I lost the ability to performe porfessionally, but I never lost the passion. After 15 years of hard work in mind/body conditioning, I developed the experience and the ability to teach others of this unique exercise.
PRINCIPALS OF BODY/MIND EXERCISE:
1. BREATHING
Proper breathing helps to controled my movements. I would engage in a full inhale through my nose, and a full exhale through the mouth while perfoming each exercise. I also did breathing exercises; I take 5 small inhales through the nose, and 5 small exhales through the mouth. This process cleaned my lungs, and gave me energy to do the exercises I was about to do.
2. ALINGMENT
I worked on the proper alingment of my head, for minimal neck pain. Therefore, I would lenghten my neck by pressing the back of my neck(tucking the chin in)to lengthen the vertebrae and press out through the crown of my head in a sitting, standing, laying, or position.
3. STABILIZE
I worked on stabilizing the part of my body not in use. For instance, in a "sit-up" I isolated the lower body while I moved the upper body to come up. I learned to engage the abdominal muscle, by pulling my navel to go back in my spine. This action reinforced the muscles running down along the spin to go in ward. I would inhale, anchore my navel to my spine, bring my chine to chest, chest over ribs, ribs over belly and exhale while I sat up and over my belly to reach towards my towes.
4. CONTROL AND CONCENTRATION
Each exercise in the Pilates series should be do with muscle control, and focus on each movement. Each movemet is don with percise and without injury.
5. FLOWING MOVEMENTS WITH RYTHEM
When I worked for the first time with dancers, I learned to flow from one to the next movement with grace and rythem.
6. PERCISE
From my 10 year experience in this exercise, I had lots of injuries. I learned to do each exercise in the pilates series with care and every movement I would do was don perfect. "Take your time, never lock your joints, or overexted muscles; the purpose is to elongate your body with out lucking your joints.
Durring my 15 years work in mind/ body conditioning)I have learned to be consistent in my workouts. My accident taught me lots of things the hard way. "One think that I learned is that connecting your mind to your body, doesn't only stimulate your body, but it also stimulates your mind!" " This method will stay with you; not only will you see the difference, you will also feel the difference."
Right Now, I am working on publishing a book on my experiences I had as a teenager, and how exercise helps me physically and emotionally. I will show you the different exercises I did to rehabilitate myself, and also show you the different exercises that I do with flex-bends, flex-ball, and fitness circle. I will also talk about my country Greece, and how me and my family adjusted in America.
My experiences taught me to believe in my self, and to have the determination and the will to fight for what I want. "God gave me life and I will live every second of it, the way I want. " The Philosophe of mind and body conditioning is the funton of youth!"
I hold a degree in Applied Science, and a certificate from the YMCA Health and Fitness. I will continue my education at Oakland Univarsity; I will be taking "Philosophe of the Mind" and "Conditioning for Dancers" to up date my skills. I will be working towards my General Bachelors degree, with a minor in "Dance Exercise".
Winter 2002, I will be working in this ultimate exercise at:
Birmingham Community House
380 South Bates Street
Birmingham, MI 48009
248-644-2476
classes start Mondays, 1/7, at 8:45 to 9:45am
Fridays, 1/11, at 6:00 to 7:00pm
"Come and Join me in this "Great Work Out", bring a floor mat and a flex-bend!"
"You can also purchase them from me."
"Look out for my book "Phisik-Philosophe Of The Mind/Body Conditioning!"
Sincerely,
Fay (AKA) Fontin
fitness
Send E-Mail to: www.physikfay@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2002 fontin s.. All Rights Reserved