Let’s be clear- I love coffee .  So, I am not claiming a ‘give up the coffee’ blog.

But, this posture is a big indicator for Osteoporosis among other things.  I wanted to show her Karena Thek Lineback’s OsteoPilates book I had stashed in my bag.  Did she know that high levels of caffeine ( 3 or more cups of coffee a day ) promotes bone loss? Maybe she was getting a green tea or black tea instead, which have less of an impact and has surprisingly great benefits. I wanted to let her know she was crushing her insides! I wanted to let her know she was robbing herself of oxygen by limiting her breathing capacity. I wanted her to know the power of breathe.   And just at this moment, I feel so bad for not speaking up and taking a picture instead.  I do. But, I couldn’t even catch her glance to make eye contact and even if I did,  what do you say? “Hi, I noticed you have horrible posture and clearly you must want to change?” I thought about one simple thing I could have shared with her in that moment that could have let her know there was another way.

What would you have done?

Angella Hamilton is the creator of  The Pilates Lounge, a virtual Pilates hub for all things related to Pilates.  Just an fyi- I don’t get paid to write about OsteoPilates or Easy Breathe, I just think they both have valuable information.

The guy from Texas says his dad would ‘kick his a**’ if he found out he did Pilates. Show me that guy . . . PLEASE. Give me an hour with him. What would you tell these guys about Pilates?

Want to get started with Pilates? Visit The Pilates Lounge for more info.!

Angelina’s shoulders are so rounded and unstable it is downright scary.

I am quite sure growing up in the modeling industry has a big part to do with her current posture, but word is, she does Pilates. In fact, a few years ago, she was in the news when she was playing her kids Nintendo DS. The article from Fitsugar.com states she ‘virtually mastered’ the game. That’s a shame.

Of course, anybody who played Laura Croft could do the exercises. But did anyone tell her she needs to strengthen her trapezius, lats and rear delts? Or do they give her lip service because she is Angelina Jolie?

If Angelina came to see me, I would have her go through scapula protraction and retraction (as in this video on About.com ) I would talk with her about rib cage placement, I would have her do Open Chest Expansion and The Long Box Arm Series just to name a few. I would tell her to spend some time on a foam roller and take some cues from Lynda Lippins new mp3.
I would also tell her to stop playing the video game and get a real trainer. But, that’s just me. Want to know what else I would tell Angelina? Make sure you are a Pilates Lounge VIP and get all the scoop on all things Pilates. Can’t get to a Trainer? Fit Orbit has Pilates Instructors too!

No one likes a nag and I certainly don’t want to sound like a broken record ” Breathe! Shoulders stay away from your ears!” I needed some new terminology for my newbie clients so I asked my Pilates Peeps what THEY recommend to new clients. What is their one piece of advice for a person just starting their practice? Here’s what they said:

Don't just take MY word for it!

Some of favorite ladies in the industry!

I am inspired by Instructors who are passionate about what they do!

Special thanks to @PilatesMistress @PilatesFun @KarenHuner @pilateslady38 @yespilates @athleteaesthete @pilateyourbody @Pilates_About @karenalineback @LisaJohnson
Please vist them on Twitter for more great Pilates info.

How about you? What is your best advice for Pilates Newbies? Do you remember your first ‘Hundred’ or when you were able to do a Teaser? What’s the one question you are afraid to ask?

Don’t forget to be a Pilates VIP ( it’s free) and receive your copy of Office Pilates and enter to win our monthly giveaways.

This month I will be giving away the Pain Free Posture DVD from Stott Pilates.

1. Pilates is not a new fad exercise.
Just because YOU recently heard about Pilates within the last few years doesn’t mean it is a new form of exercise. In fact, it’s pretty old – as in almost 100 years. It’s named after a German guy- Joseph Pilates. He called his method of exercise ‘Contrology‘ and later, it became known simply as ‘Pilates’. Joe started out kind of a sickly kid- asthma, etc. and developed a series of exercises in which he attributes to his healing and longevity. Later, JP trained and rehabilitated soldiers, martial artist and boxers. I think from looking at old films,I might have been a little scared of him. After he met his wife Clara he must have lightened up a little. In the 1990′s celebrities and movie stars started making the exercise ‘secret’ more well known and lo and behold, now it’s a household name. The history of Pilates is actually pretty interesting. Plus, I think it’s hilarious he had people working out in what looks like Speedos and bathing suits.

2. What’s the rush?
Pilates takes time and patience. It’s a process. Would you expect to be good at golf the first time you tried? There are certain terms you will learn like ‘c’ curve and ‘neutral spine’. It’s literally a new language. Suddenly someone is asking you to move in a new way and it’s not so easy. Pilates is a life long exercise. There is no gold medal for finishing first. Advanced Pilates students still do The Hundred – they just do it with more elegance and precision.

3. Suck it up and spend the money on a private lesson.
It astounds me that people will spend a hundred bucks on a night of drinking and eating but complain about the cost of a personal training session. This is different from going in just for a ‘work out’. You need to find someone who can look at you and tell you what modifications you need to make when exercising. A well-trained Pilates instructor will watch you move and make suggestions based on your body and circumstances. If your goal is to get into group lessons, then tell your trainer that. Be honest and open about what you want out of the session. But also be realistic. If you have injuries and/or other health problems not even Joe himself could make you ready for group class in one session. I know people think instructors say this to ‘get more money’ but honestly , it’s for your safety. The problem with going to group class before your ready is when someone next to you does something you think ‘I can do that too’ – even though- even though your instructor has already told you not to do that exercise and guess what? You get hurt and complain that “Pilates hurt your back/neck/. . .whatever”. Cut out the lattes for a month and get some private lessons. Your body will thank you.

4. There is no amount of Pilates that can make up for bad eating habits.
Pilates helps to reduce weight in sneaky ways. For example, when you start to listen to your body and instruct it to move in certain ways, you generally start getting that voice in your head saying ‘ I really don’t need that bowl of Ben and Jerry’s after all’ or let’s put it this way- you know the money you just spent on private lessons? You just wasted it because you downed a big cheeseburger and fries when you could have had some grilled chicken instead.
And yes, there is the muscle building factor. Pilates builds muscle, which burns more fat- blah blah, but let me tell you – and I am sorry to bum you out – you need some cardio exercise. Walk, bike, dance, do whatever but you need something to light the fire.

5. Pilates is NOT just doing the exercise.
Pilates is the way you move through the exercise. It is the way you move from one exercise to the next. It is the control , the grace, the elegance, the precision of the exercise. Any caveman can perform certain movements. In the words of JP himself “”A few well-designed movements, properly performed in a balanced sequence, are worth hours of doing sloppy calisthenics or forced contortion.” A bicep curl is a bicep curl – but a Pilates bicep curl starts by engaging your core first, creating stability in your Being before anything else moves. That’s Pilates.

So, newbies, what are your questions about Pilates? Are you nervous? Inspired? Excited? Exercise should be fun- so don’t take yourself too seriously. That goes for Instructors too. . .

I want to hear your funny Pilates stories- check back to hear some of mine

Visit me at  The Pilates Lounge for all things related to Pilates.

Looking for more information on starting Pilates? Here are a couple of my favorites!

Osteo Pilates and More by Karena Lineback

http://pilates.about.com/

The Sanctuary at Camelback Moutnain

The Sanctuary is the place for young hipsters to see and be seen. It also has a rockin’ Pilates program with Reformer and mat classes. Now, they don’t advertise a ‘golf program’ per se , however, I know they have in  the past.  The Pilates for athletes could be geared toward your game if you wanted a personal program. It is very rare that a hotel has Reformer classes available on site, so this is a big deal to find one that has so many unique fitness choices available for all types of athletes.

The Boulders Resort

The Fitness classes here are incredibly unique and perfect for trying something new while on vacation.

The Westin at Kierland

I have to say that the Westin is more fitness oriented in their approach to golf, but you can’t deny the ForeMax golf Fitness program. If you are serious about improving golf, Kierland is a great place to do it. Mike and Sandy Labauve is the secret weapon behind many golfer’s improvement.  You might find a Pilates studio in the area here, but you would have to do a lot of digging.

And a little further down the road, in Tucson is the world renown Canyon Ranch.

The Golf Performance Center at Canyon Ranch is a life changing ( o.k. maybe game changing) experience.

Miraval Resort is also top notch, hosting a variety of mind body fitness classes. They even have Power Plates ( see my video on my love for the Power Plate on You Tube. )

One way I like to live my champagne taste on a beer budget is by finding slightly cheaper hotels and book treatments at the resorts nearby. Most resorts allow this with the exception of Miraval and Canyon Ranch.

To .

For another creative twist on traveling for less, consider a home exchange and think of all the extra Pilates you can do!
Do you know of a Pilates Studio in a resort community? Please let me know and visit The Pilates Lounge for more great places for a Pilates vacation.

Die hard golfers will do anything to improve their game.

I know, I know. Most of you are watching the snow fall and singing Silver Bells, but I live in Arizona, where golf season is just kicking up in time for the Phoenix Open. The FBR Open ( excuse me, it’s the Waste Management Open now) draws people in that would never have a second look at golf. They come to people watch, they come for the parties, they come for the entertainment. And that’s fine. You don’t have to be a golf fanatic to enjoy the Open and so it is with Golfer’s and Pilates. You don’t have to be a Pilates fanatic to reap the benefits of Pilates. You can come to Pilates class and not give a rats a** about doing the Teaser. You just know it will improve your golf game and that’s fine too.

Some marketing experts would like you to believe that there are ‘special’ exercises and stretches to do this. Yes and no. If that’s the case, you could go to the gym and continue working out and never impact your golf game.

So, it must be the stretching involved in Pilates, right? Not really. Improving flexibility will improve your range of motion, allowing you to have a more fluid swing, but that’s not the whole shabang. Let me tell you how Pilates impacts my game and you can decide how it can help you:

1. I try to use the Principles of Pilates and incorporate them into my game.

Breathing, control, concentration, fluidity, centering and precision of movement. Notice I use the word try because it’s pretty tough to think of all of this and your swing at the same time. I am usually darn lucky if I can use 2 of the principles at any given moment on the course, but hey, at least I am aware of this.

2. If I want power in my swing, I better focus on moving from my core. Every moment in Pilates starts from the core and so it is in golf. So really, ALL exercises are core exercises. Even if you are doing a bicep curl. And for all the muscle heads out there- have a Pilates instructor show you a Pilates bicep curl and it will change the way you look at exercise.

3. If I want to continue to play golf without injury , I need flexibility. And no, that doesn’t mean spending hours in yoga class. It means practicing the lengthening exercises in Pilates. Stretching and strengthening. They need each other to be successful.

It’s no secret Pilates will improve your golf game, but, have marketing experts exploited golf by coming up with ‘Pilates for Golf’ dvds, programs, and equipment?

My feeling is this: Many golfers would not have otherwise tried Pilates had they not seen some late night infomercial and for that, I am grateful. The downfall is that too many golfers come into a studio wanting to learn the ‘secret’ that will help their golf game. And to that I say “I hope you packed a lunch.”

I have video reviews on Pilates for Golf dvds and instruction equipment. You can find them here or on my You Tube Channel. Please post a comment and let me know what YOU think about Pilates and golf.

I happen to live in a place where golf and spas are king ( and queen of course!) So, it is no surprise that golfers want to know how to improve their game. . .with Pilates.

The Hole in One Pilates dvd has some good points, mostly for people who are just getting started .

Make sure to watch the vid and leave a comment. If you are interested in getting this dvd for free or others like it, make sure you are a Pilates Lounge VIP . I give them out to my readers on a regular basis!