Get a Pilates plan for this summer that will work for you.   Summer is a great time to be living in Northern Colorado with all this area has to offer it is important to be fit for an active season. The key to a full injury free summer is a smart training process with Pilates Mat that is incorporated with challenging Pilate's apparatus for core strength, the foundation of healthy movement. Let's look at how the Pilates Process will help make your summer performance the best ever whether walking, playing games or competing.

June 2007 STUDIO (stu·di·o) an establishment where an art is taught or studied, [Italian, from Latin studium, eagerness, application; see study.]   PILATES (Pi·la·tes) a holistic system of conditioning exercises, often performed on specialized apparatus, renowned for building core strength, improving posture, and strengthening the mind / body connection.

Benefits of Pilates Process Training Corrects posture and alignment Promotes relaxation and the release of tension Great way to cross train to keep sharp for activities Enhancement of all levels of fitness Strength, flexibility, coordination, speed agility and endurance Gives you mind body awareness and control Total Body Toning and core strengthening Walk /Running Things that are important factors for Walk/Running that Pilates will help you with would be. Synchronization of the breathing with the Pilates movement. Deep inhale and full exhale of air when doing many Pilates Exercises will show you how to breathe properly and build stamina. Core weakness can cause lower back pain and affect your breathing. Keeping a long and upright stance with movement will become easer and be more relaxed. Stretching exercises on the Tower Unit, Fit Chair, and Mat will increase the range of motion for lower back and hips and legs. Pilates keeps your flexibility, muscle balance and spine alignment to decrees chance of injury. Golf Pilates in golf comes into play in many ways. Helps with focus and concentration when doing Mat exercises which translates into a fluid powerful golf swing. Adds power by getting stabilizer muscles in the shoulder, hips and lower back and core stronger for better balance and flexibility Will give you Endurance and stamina to stay sharp the whole round. Swimming Pilates exercise is a total body conditioning process just like swimming. Reformer work can get you moving in a horizontal position with proper muscle balance and range of motion in the shoulder and lower back. Large muscle or "bulk" is not needed for swimming but a tone long muscle is. Reformer and Mat will help lift the hips and keep the spine long to move quicker in the water. Improve flexibility in the shoulder, lower back and ham strings for better stroke and less drag. Cycling One big factor that all cyclists need is proper balance. Fit Chair is best for balance with movement in legs and lower back. You must balance with movement or fall off just like riding your bike. Mat work will keep the legs, knee and hips in proper alignment and stabilized with fluid movement. Mat work exercises will reverse gravity and help blood return for speedy recovery of tired legs and arms. Pilates in every day life can help reduce aches and pains to achieve healing and health body and mind through quality movement. Please get the facts on Pilates and how it will change your life and conditioning for greater performance. Get smart about your training no matter how you play this summer get fit and think safe. The Windsor based Pilates studio, K&K Body Dynamics, is happy to guide visitors on tours of its studio, and also offers complementary demonstrations to those interested in experiencing Pilates first hand. Owned and operated by Kevin McCabe and Kimberlie Buchheister, K&K offers Pilates classes, both Reformer and Mat, for all experience levels. Please stop by for a class schedule or call to set up a tour or demonstration (970-674-0557). www.kkbodydynamics.com.   June 4, 2007 For: Northern Colorado Woman Newspaper Written by: Kevin McCabe K&K Body Dynamics