\nFirstly, as I mentioned in my last Blog, my Hamstrings<\/a> are TIGHT. Jo reminds me of this, and it seems like the exercises are set to “…test James…” – or am I just paranoid? The sign of a good instructor – one who knows her classes well.<\/p>\n
The Challenge:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n I find that using the Bands<\/a> are very useful, such a great tool for stretching. I banter with Jo, but ultimately, I know this is a part of me that I need to work on. So again – more walking to do the school-run, sitting square in the chairs, and generally being more active. I have found that over the last few months, I have consciously thought about my posture more. And now I am training as a Massage Therapist, it is important I continue my focus on that.<\/p>\n I hear from others over the years, that the classes are\u00a0‘hard work’, and\u00a0I can completely agree with that. What I knew before I started my Pilates Journey, was that the speed of repetition was not the key. It was the way the repetition was done. When I say that, I mean, 20 fast reps could be less beneficial that 10 slow reps. Core Strength is built in keeping the muscles engaged, and working.<\/p>\n I love the relaxation that class gives me and have been surprised by how much work Pilates actually is. That feeling the morning after when my muscles tell me Jo has worked them hard – it’s quite rewarding.<\/p>\n Have a great week, and remember, stretch those Hamstrings. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n PS – We sell Bands in the Studio – just ask Priya for one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s been a while since my last Blog. I\u00a0am still regularly attending classes, and loving it. \ud83d\ude09 The only week …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[1112,1110,1113,289,409,291,175,153,118,82,223,1111,92,406],"class_list":["post-1889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-back-pain-2","category-classes","tag-bad-back","tag-benefits-of-pilates-for-men","tag-laptop","tag-male-pilates","tag-pilates-and-hamstrings","tag-pilates-and-men","tag-pilates-hampshire","tag-pilates-southampton","tag-pilates-with-priya","tag-posture","tag-priya-tew","tag-resistance-band","tag-sitting","tag-tight-hamstrings"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3FIsx-ut","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1723,"url":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?p=1723","url_meta":{"origin":1889,"position":0},"title":"The plague of tight hamstrings","author":"Priya Tew","date":"8 November, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Following on from our last post (where I discovered how tight my husbands hamstrings are) and a few enquiries this week.... I bring you the plague of most of the men who come to our classes and also quite a few women! So what is going on and why does\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Back pain"","block_context":{"text":"Back pain","link":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hamstring Stretch","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_2721-224x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1131,"url":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?p=1131","url_meta":{"origin":1889,"position":1},"title":"So I can’t touch my toes.","author":"Priya Tew","date":"15 December, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"One of my recent posts looked at hamstrings, how they may become tight, how to test and how to stretch them back out. Keeping on that theme lets think about where else you may have tight, short muscles that could affect your posture and body functioning. Here is today's test...\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Back pain"","block_context":{"text":"Back pain","link":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"touch toes","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/touch-toes-300x300.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1459,"url":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?p=1459","url_meta":{"origin":1889,"position":2},"title":"It\u2019s not all about strength. Tightness can be a Weakness.","author":"Priya Tew","date":"25 January, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0Pilates for me is constantly a challenge. I teach it, but I am also still learning it and I think I always will be. That is one of the reasons I love it so much. If something is too easy, it loses it appeal to me. I\u2019m certainly not uber\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Alignment"","block_context":{"text":"Alignment","link":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?cat=616"},"img":{"alt_text":"Carpel Tunnel Stretch","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/wrist_flexor_stretch_wall.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":768,"url":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?p=768","url_meta":{"origin":1889,"position":3},"title":"Pilates makes you taller!","author":"Priya Tew","date":"5 August, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I've had a couple of people mention to me lately that since starting Pilates they have grown from 1cm to 1.5 inches taller. Initially I laughed at this, but then I happened to re-height myself and guess what? I've grown too, one whole centimetre. It got me thinking. What's this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Classes"","block_context":{"text":"Classes","link":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?cat=5"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/unnamed.jpg?fit=220%2C220&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1424,"url":"https:\/\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/?p=1424","url_meta":{"origin":1889,"position":4},"title":"Pilates to Detox","author":"Priya Tew","date":"1 January, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0It's that time of year when people have over eaten, drunk too much and not been as active as they usually are. Plus there are still a pile of treats hanging around tempting you. 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\nI am going to set myself a challenge in the coming week – stretch each morning, to set me up for the day. Just a few minutes, but it will reduce my back pain, and loosen my muscles.
\nWill you join me in this challenge? Go on… you know it will make a difference. If you need a band then we have these available in the studio.<\/p>\n![\"Hamstring](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pilateswithpriya.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/IMG_2721-224x300.jpg?resize=224%2C300&ssl=1\")
<\/a>
\nI probably drive more than I should do…definitely sit<\/a> down more than I should (this is not a time for Priya to comment!), and sit on the wrong types of chairs, using my laptop<\/a> for writing emails, social media updates, and suchlike…<\/p>\n
\nToday I was preparing some of the veg beds, so got some Vitamin D, some fresh air, and some exercise. Was only about 30 minutes, but it was 30mins more than the day before, so that is a bonus in my books. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n