Daylight Savings Means One Thing...

Celebrate! Spring, Daylight Savings, and St. Patrick’s Day

Has everyone gotten used to the traditional clocks forward switch back to Daylight Savings Time? I really enjoy the idea that it’s light later in the evening. The trade-off is that it’s dark (again) when the alarm goes off in the a.m. Seems like we just went through that!

Daylight Savings Time is a holdover from World War II that survives today because retailers think we’re more likely to shop when it’s light than when it’s dark. And these days it seems like the malls need all the help they can get.

Is Daylight Savings Even Necessary?

Researchers are learning more and more how seriously disruptive this artificial twice yearly change is to our basic bodily rhythms. For some, the interruption can even cause adverse mental and physical symptoms.

For the time being, DST remains more popular than not, so it looks like Spring Forward, Fall Back will stay in place. At least until someone discovers how to really “save” daylight.

Busy Month of March

No sooner do we get used to our “new” time than attention turns to St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve got a few favorite Irish-themed movies on DVD I enjoy watching to help celebrate the occasion. Those include “Matchmaker”, “Leap Year”, and “Waking Ned Devine.” Don’t forget the tissues.

And that takes us officially into Spring, even though the azaleas and amaryllis are already finished for another year. It’s a busy month, and a return to beach weather is just around the corner.

YPL Online

Convenient and Secure Session Management

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.

Follow YPL 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.

You can book your next YPL Private or Duet on YPL’s Facebook page.

On my YPL Facebook page click the MindBody Book Online tab, then select a service — Private or Duet — a type (same choice,) 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!

Misbehaving Quads Can Leave You Hurting

If you’re wondering why little things like simply getting out of bed in the morning is harder than it used to be, the answer might be something you hadn’t thought of. Do you feel a twinge in your back when you swivel around to hit the floor? It could just be tight quads and hamstrings.

For men – and some women – those two muscle groups are always (well, almost always) going to be a problem that unfortunately tends to worsen with age. Making matters worse they work in opposition, so neglecting one or the other sets up a perfect opportunity for injury.

This short article in GQ magazine explains the basics, but it can quickly go from bad to worse if your sciatic nerve flares up in addition to the overall deterioration in posture and flexibility that goes along with tight hams and quads.

Is there a solution? Stretch, stretching, and more stretching. Proper stretching not only improves your overall workout results, but it can also help prevent possible injury, and at times very serious damage, to your legs and lower back.

If this sounds like you, or even if it doesn’t, a good, slow stretch is always a great way to start the day.

Your MindBody Email Subscription Options

When you create your new client profile options include opting in to MindBody's email 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 make sure you check this box, although lately there have been a few glitches in delivery.

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

Taking Care of Your Achilles

Speaking of things in our legs that go twang, the Achilles tendon is one of the most problematic parts of our body. Just to recap, Achilles was a mythical Greek hero and when he was born, his mother held him by his heel as she dipped him in the river Styx to render him immortal. Unfortunately, his heel remained dry, and today we remember because of our still vulnerable Achilles heel.

There are a number of aggravating factors that can cause it to flare up, resulting in tendonitis that can range from bothersome to incapacitating. And if scar tissue should build up, it will become a constant source of pain.

This Runner’s World article focuses on runners, but in fact under the right circumstances just about anyone can suffer a bout of tendonitis. Tight calves are the usual culprit, but specific activities can also irritate the Achilles.

To prevent, or relieve, mild tendonitis, stretching is usually the most effective treatment. Calf raises are the simplest exercise to strengthen and lengthen the affected area, and they should be part of an overall conditioning program to start the day.

What we’re learning is that as we age, basic maintenance needs to be part of our daily ritual. And that ritual begins with stretching.

Saturday Morning Warm-up

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.

Setting The Record Straight

This dietician has some advice for anyone confused about how much of this and what kind of that we should be eating. Along the way she takes on some popular ideas about processed protein, sugar, cleansing, and other hot button issues and breaks them down in a way that, well, makes sense.

One thing’s for sure; a lot of food claims regarding health benefits are thinly disguised marketing pitches, and that’s nothing new. As long as there’s money to be made, there’s somebody figuring out how to sell us on the Next Great Fat Melting Guilt Free Dessert — the more you eat, the skinnier you become!

Over time different cultures have adapted to diets that, for others, would be a disaster. Mongolian herdsman depend in large measure on butter and yogurt derived from dairy for the main part of their daily nutrition. Crisp mixed greens and frisee with a light dressing of oil and vinegar would in all likelihood cause them severe distress were they to suddenly find fresh salad on the menu. Who’s right? Who’s wrong?

And when it comes to sugar, we’re hard wired to develop a sweet tooth thanks to our brain’s attachment to easy, cheap calories. The best advice is to reduce the quantity, regardless of the source. Calories are calories, so whether or not it’s freshly squeezed pure organic cane juice or a handful of M&Ms from the 7-Eleven, we want more of whatever’s available.

A little won’t hurt us. Know when to say when.

The Pilates Contrology System – Achieving Pilates Balance

Joseph Pilates developed his breakthrough fitness concepts nearly a century ago. To explain his revolutionary exercise plan which he called Contrology, he diagramed the relationship between physical and mental that results in superior conditioning.

At Your Pilates Lifestyle, my 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 Classical workout is one of accomplishment, control, and exhilaration.