Warm greetings from Prague!

What a beautiful city with its maze of small alleys, amazing old buildings and a terrific network of cycle paths.

From the wonders of the Czech Republic to the wonders of the body and movement..... Today I want to talk to you about the following:

• Pelvic Floor & its many Benefits.
• Pilates Props & Myofascial Release.
• The Value of a heartfelt Hug.

Enjoy (both hugging and reading)!

PELVIC FLOOR & ITS MANY BENEFITS

After more than 19 years of teaching and working with people I have no doubt that the pelvic floor is one of the most influential areas of the body, therefore one of the key elements of Contemporary Pilates. This supporting sling of muscle and connective tissue can positively affect and benefit the body in more ways than I can list here, but I will get started anyway.  

• Balanced posture.
• Ease of movement.
• Alignment and adaptability of the spine.
• Dynamic pelvic and spinal stability.
• Deep abdominal strength.
• Prevention and improvement of back pain and neck tension.
• Efficient breathing.
• Organ health.
• Healthy digestion.
• Urinary and bowel continence.
• Prostate health.
• Enjoyable sex life.
• Enhanced sensations.
• Restful sleep.
• Emotional uplift.
• Inner strength.
• Stamina.
• Sense of groundedness.

Believe it or not, but that's not all!! Anyway, it's a good start and you have plenty of options to choose from.  

Because knowledge is power and scientific studies show that achievement is greater when having a clear vision of what I want, I encourage you to select 3 pelvic floor benefits you want from your Pilates practice.

Step 1

Write down your choices, starting with your greatest priority.

Step 2

During the next couple of weeks keep the first point in the back of your mind when attending your Pilates lessons. Notice if you feel any changes in your body during (if appropriate - save restful sleep for later if that tops your list) and after class. How do you feel after a few weeks of focused practice?

Step 3

Once you feel you get a good bodily sense of change and achievement, focus on the other 2 points on your list.

Stay tuned over next few months of conscious practice; things will change!

If you want to read more about pelvic floor and functional training, click here for an extract from a pelvic floor article I wrote for the Wellbeing Magazine last year.

PILATES PROPS & MYOFASCIAL RELEASE  

Fascia is a magical tissue that connects your toes with your neck and the outside of your left knee with your right thumb; just to give you a few examples.

It assists a balanced posture, gives your gait spring and adds to the power generated by muscles. In addition fascia is our largest sensory organ; it influences how we perceive movement, our environment and our body. If your fascial system is in harmony you feel at home inside yourself.

Fascia should be elastic and fluid, however, due to stress (physical or emotional), lack of movement, ongoing strain and repetitive movement, imbalanced postural and body positions, dehydration, etc. fascia can build up, loose its elastic quality, wear out, become fuzzy or adhere. Movement and specific bodywork can bring the flow back, hence increase the body's potential for easy alignment, elastic strength, healthy tone and the ability to relax.

PILATES & PROPS 

Thursday 5.30pm

Martina will add more myofascial movement work to her Thursday Props class; enjoy!

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION 

Adrian Boyd

For more information regarding the benefits of fascia specific bodywork provided by Adrian at Sense of Space visit our website.

THE VALUE OF A HEARTFELT HUG  

Ok, there are a multitude of good reasons for giving a heartfelt hug to someone you love, like, haven't seen in years or just yesterday, farewell or welcome.... Nevertheless, this one is really fascinating; it's about the brain. Anything or anyone you touch with intention becomes part of you. How so? And yes, it's a bit scary.

All body parts are mapped in our brain and develop accordingly to use. For example, a skilled piano player's brain area where the fingers are mapped is proportionally larger than mine, who is mainly typing away on a computer keyboard.

So far so clear, now here is the fascinating part: things outside the body also become part of my brain maps (me) once I touch them with intention. Remember the last time you sat in your car driving into an undercover parking, ducking when passing the low entrance? The car became part of your brain maps (you), therefore the ceiling felt really close to your extended head, the roof of the car.

Next time you hug someone you really like, hold on a little bit longer. For that short period of time the two of you are physically/brainly/truly connected. Is that awesome or what!