Summer’s when we turn off the kitchen stove, drag out the grill, and think about ways to stay cool. For most of us that usually involves drinking a lot more water than we’d slurp down during the winter. As it turns out, staying topped off with H2O may have benefits that go far beyond basic thirst quenching.

New Study Shows Link Between Water Intake, Obesity

In a new study done at the University of Michigan’s Department of Family Medicine, researchers were able to show that not keeping up with your hydration increased the odds of obesity by 1.5 times, along with having a higher BMI score.

The study was based on data collected by a CDC health survey that also showed that swapping out sugar (and calorie) laden energy drinks for plain H2O really slowed down weight gain overall. Stands to reason, yes?

So the takeaway here is that although there are variables that still have to be explored between drinking plenty of water and staying slim, you’re always going to be better off by keeping your body topped off instead of letting it run dry.

Pilates Fitness Make Good Cents

Here’s one of the most common questions Pilates studio owners have to answer; “Why is it so expensive?” I think the question gets asked because a Pilates studio is so often (wrongly) compared to a typical gym or club, one that’s loaded to the rafters with machines of various types but that usually fails to deliver the desired results.

A dedicated, well qualified Pilates studio revolves around professional grade equipment like the Reformer that, with proper instruction, delivers specific results that just can’t be duplicated in a gym. It’s the most popular apparatus for all around fitness, and in a true Classical studio can be configured for an amazing number of strength, cardio, and range of motion movements.

The Reformer can work multiple muscle groups — core, back, arms, legs — simultaneously, all areas that in a gym would require any number of devices and techniques, and even then can’t approach the effectiveness of this one dedicated machine.

Katie Warmuth, who teaches at Pilates ProWorks in San Francisco, emphasizes the safety and efficiency of the Reformer in improving flexibility and posture in ways no gym workout can hope to match. Did I mention low impact?

Other benefits of Classical Pilates training at Your Pilates Lifestyle include small class sizes, personalized attention, and an emphasis on core strength. These are the major, but certainly not the only, factors that make your Pilates workout uniquely different from any dance beat club class.

Stretching, toning, and lengthening can be optimized by the cardio options that are also available. In the end, you can be sure of one thing: Pilates fitness training equals results. And if what you’re looking for is a return on your investment, an investment in Pilates makes sense.

Good News! Butter’s Back On The Table

When was the last time you can remember being told butter’s good for you? Me neither, but I haven’t let that interfere with my enjoyment of food in what Julia Child always referred to as everything in moderation.

Now there’s news from The Washington Post that including butter as part of your diet may actually help control Type 2 diabetes. In addition, there’s fresh evidence that butter’s supposed effect as a trigger for heart disease, based on an average daily serving of one tablespoon, may be unfounded.

Researchers focusing only on butter’s saturated fat ignored the advantages from its other beneficial ingredients. That butter may actually be good for us would also help explain why some cultures for whom butter is a major part of their daily diet don’t just keel over from consumption.

And Speaking of Bread

All this talk about how butter is actually good for you makes me think (naturally) about bread, or rather the guilt that sneaks up on me every time I visit Mazzaro’s (above) in St. Pete or Casa del Pane in St. Pete Beach. Their chewy, yeasty rolls and loaves are hearty enough to be meals in themselves.

We forget that bread is a big part of our daily recommended intake of grain! So again, if bread is supposed to be so bad for us, how have humans survived for so long while still eating one of history’s original prepared meals? Not surprisingly, new evidence is beginning to emerge that says bread isn’t the culprit, it’s how we eat — or rather how often we eat — baked dough that gets us in trouble.

There’s also the issue as to quality. Lets face it, most grocery store bagged bread is just terrible. No flavor, bland, mostly air, preservatives, and depending on your taste the added sugar is not an improvement.

By eating less bread on a daily basis, and by choosing the highest quality for our table, we’re actually helping our bodies. Enriched flours, added vitamins, protein — all that and more, depending on whether you’re more fond of whole grain or white flour — can be found in the beneficial ingredients that define good bread.

Don’t just settle for whatever’s on sale at the grocery. Bread is the staff of life for any number of good reasons, and we’re lucky to have plenty of excellent local bakers who are busy baking daily just what we need for a healthy, wholesome, and well rounded diet.

Saturday Morning Warmup

Start the weekend right. Sign up for the YPL 10 o'clock tower class and get motivated for the day ahead!

Saturday tower challenge! (limit 2)

Lets Stay In Touch

It’s inevitable that sooner or later a favorite student goes missing. Sometimes new pastures beckon, life throws a curve ball, or the family is growing. Or maybe it’s just time to take a little vacation and relax.

Whatever the reason, lets stay in touch. If you’ve got unused sessions and don’t want to see them expire, I can put them on hold until you’re ready. The important thing is to stay connected. Keep that positive Pilates energy focused and engaged for a strong physical and mental benefit.

Being Out Of Shape Nearly As Bad As Smoking

What I like about this latest report on the risk of an out of shape lifestyle is the use of our VO2 (maximum oxygen intake) as a marker for overall fitness level. Doctors usually ask us about whether or not we exercise, but by measuring VO2 (that little thingie they clip on to your finger) they’re able to gauge how truthful we are.

As the New York Times reports, a long term Swedish study that followed 1,000 54-year-old men since 1963, found that being out of shape is nearly as deadly as smoking. The study measured exercise against high blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking to come up with their findings.

Researchers found that exercise, by raising our VO2, improves the odds, and that the benefits extend to those with hypertension (high blood pressure) and high cholesterol as well. Smoking was once more shown to put our lives at significant risk, but the finding that lack of exercise came in second among the factors measured was a surprise.

Conclusion? Get up off that couch! Some is better than none, more is better than less, and it’s never too late to get started!

Fitbit And Mindbody Connect

If you track your personal fitness with the Fitbit activity tracker, the free Mindbody Connect app for Android and Mac will keep you in synch!

You’ll be able to measure heart rate, heart rate zones, minutes of activity, and calories burned during your workout and use that information to fine tune your fitness training schedule.

MindBody Connect also lets you connect through your Facebook social community. Stay on top of your fitness training — get your free app today for on-the-go convenience.

Innocent Mouse Causes Shoulder Blowout

Alison Bowen writes in The Chicago Tribune that our modern lifestyle brings with it new sources of body misalignment, and suggests learning to become ambidextrous with our mouse as a means of restoring our body’s natural balance.

She points out that chiropractors are seeing more and more patients with shoulder and neck issues that are generated by sitting at a desk all day long (again!) hunched over to one side while they (we) mouse through work. And social - Facebook, anyone?

Body parts at risk include the rotator cuff, for example. We can correct this lopsided threat to our posture by paying attention to the biometrics of correct mouse, keyboard, and computer screen adjustment.

Getting Some Work Done?

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the top five nonsurgical cosmetic procedures in 2015 were:

Botox: 4,267,038 procedures

Hyaluronicacid: 2,148,326 procedures

Hair removal: 1,136,834 procedures

Chemical peel: 603,305 procedures

Microdermabrasion: 557,690 procedures

Your MindBody E-mail Subscription Options

When you create your new client profile you can opt in to MindBody's e-mail notifications and newsletters. MindBody uses notifications to keep you updated on personal account items like when your classes or packages are expiring, the number of classes you have remaining, scheduled appointments, etc. It’s a good idea to check this box.

The newsletter option connects you to promotions and marketing materials from Mindbody. If that interests you, check it also.

Buy YPL Gift Cards Online Or In The Studio

A YPL Gift Card is a great way to introduce a friend to Pilates fitness. Treat someone special to a memorable fitness experience that’s sure to make a difference.

Shop for your YPL Gift Card online today. Just select the Online Store tab, then look for Gift Cards - or customize my YPL house version the next time you visit the studio.

YPL Is Your Online Pilates Connection

Convenient And Secure Online Scheduling

YPL has several convenient ways to manage your sessions. The main YPL online scheduler (left) is perfect for booking your appointments, classes, and for maintaining your account. It’s fast, convenient and available 24-7. Not sure how it works? Visit the help page for tips.

What happens if you miss the cutoff time for the workout slot you wanted? Just e-mail or call, and if there’s a spot you’d like open I’ll work you in. The same goes for those rare occasions when the system’s down, or if you need to late cancel.

Social Media On Facebook, Google+, and Twitter

Social media is how I stay in touch with my profession and my great YPL clients! For specials, events, and ways to get the most out of your Pilates training, visit my Do The 100 blog. I also tweet and post on Facebook and Google+, so please follow, like or circle my pages to find out what’s on my mind and to let me know what’s on yours.

Book your next YPL Private or Duet (sorry, no group class sign-up yet) on Facebook!

On the YPL Facebook page click the MindBody Book Online tab, then select a service — Private or Duet — a type (same choice,) a day and time. It’s quick and easy.

When you use the Facebook app to schedule it’s easy to share (we’d sure like it if you did) your YPL fitness session activity directly to your own page to let your Facebook friends know how much you enjoy YPL PIlates!

The Pilates Contrology System – Achieving Pilates Balance

Joseph Pilates developed his breakthrough Contrology fitness concepts nearly a century ago. To explain his revolutionary exercise workouts he diagramed the importance of a physical and mental practice that, when followed, results in superior conditioning. (You can read the original Pilates Method at benjamindegenhardt.com.)

At Your Pilates Lifestyle, the Classic Practice focuses on achieving the rhythmic harmony that naturally occurs when mental clarity and physical conditioning are in synch. The feeling you experience after powering through a challenging workout is one of accomplishment, control, and exhilaration.