Of course, we’re talking about Pilates (which a lot of people are talking about, if not doing). The method (or approach or system, whatever name you want to call it) is named after its founder, Joseph Pilates, who developed it long before you and I were born. A German national, Pilates was a sickly child, but he exercised his way to health. In 1912, he moved to England and gave his strength training more punch by becoming a boxer. When World War 1 broke out, he served as an intern on the Isle of Wight and passed the time teaching other internees how to hone their physical fitness. He developed his first exercise equipment, called the Universal Reformer, made from the springs of a hospital bed. It was used to help patients with spinal injury work out while they lay in bed. He found out that recovery was faster for patients who used his equipment. This sparked his life-long interest in remedial exercise.
After the war, Pilates moved to the US and opened a fitness center in New York. Dancers enrolled in his classes where the stress was on flowing movement and mental focus. He went on to add muscle to his program and looked to different sports and yoga to know more about the human body. After his death, his students further developed the Pilates system where the body-mind interaction is always a basic ingredient.
Those who are not into it (yet) may ask, "How does Pilates work?"
"Pilates exercising is known for its ability to redefine the shape of people’s bodies, sculpting them into a naturally optimum form," Walter McKone writes in the book Pilates (available at National Book Store). "The reason that it does this so well is because it is such an efficient form of physical exercise and works on different levels of the physical body, including the nervous system, the muscular system, the fascia (connective tissue binding together body structures) system and the skeletal system."
Complete with color pictures of exercises and the step-by-step instructions, the book can be used by anyone at any age (yes, it’s never too late for Pilates) because the exercises are gentle, hardly putting any strain on the body. (That’s good news for people who are allergic to exercise, isn’t it?) But the book warns that like all self-help books, your safety totally lies in your own hands.
So what can Pilates do?
A lot, says the book, like:
• Better flexibility – over time, your movement patterns become more fluid, you’re able to move with less effort and more grace.
• Improved strength – your muscles and joints become more stable.
• Increased muscle tone – important for a good structural support.
• Improved circulation – the coordination of slow movements and the breathing improves your circulation to different parts of the body.
• Deeper, more efficient breathing – better breathing improves oxygen supply and helps to remove carbon dioxide build-up from your muscles.
• Reduced stress – stretching with breathing enhances greater relaxation.
• Improved digestion – Pilates helps to tone and relax the stomach and intestines. Thus, overproduction of stomach acids is less likely and the risk of ulcers and other stomach problems is reduced.
• Clearer skin – as your circulation becomes more efficient, you improve the body’s ability to clear toxins from the skin.
• Trimmer waist, flatter stomach and more toned buttocks and thighs – a more efficient muscle burns body fat more quickly, especially around the waist and hips.
• Stimulates the immune system – a stronger, more relaxed body encourages a good immune system.
Assorted Pilates disciples attest to the fact that Pilates has made a big difference in their lives – some say they’ve actually added inches to their height.
That could make a happy Joseph Pilates somersault in his grave.
A break-in |
Dear Consumerline:
On the evening of Feb. 7 and perhaps up to early morning of Feb. 8, my office and residence were broken in by thieves. Nobody was at home among our family members or staff. My husband and I, together with our family staff, arrived at the office at 6:30 a.m. of Feb. 8 and discovered the break-in and theft. At once, we called the police.
We lost during the break-in, among many other precious things, jewelry amounting to P250,000, P3,200 in cash or more in foreign currency, passports of all family members, and about eight credit cards.
We lost old and new Philippine passports valid up to 2003 and containing various visas to different countries, including valid multiple entry US visas for Josephine Acosta Pasricha, 56; Sarina Pasricha, 23; and Sanjiv Pasricha, 17. Also stolen were old and new Indian passports valid for 10 years and containing various visas to different countries and a valid multiple entry US visa for Subhash Pasricha, an Indian citizen.
We lost Amexco gold and green credit cards, AIG credit card and Metrobank credit card. Computer records of AIG and Metrobank show that the thieves have used AIG credit card by withdrawing P10,000 and the Metrobank credit card by withdrawing P10,000 at noontime of Feb. 8 while I was ironically delivering a paper about the violence and oppression on the Afghani women in a philosophers’ national convention.
I also lost IDs in the travel business that could get 50 percent discounts in hotels and airlines. The thieves also took a radio/CD cassette player, two cameras, a Swiss knife and a personal diary with notes. – JOSEPHINE ACOSTA PASRICHA