Rapid Rehab LA Pilates Based Physical Therapy Brentwood California

An interview with Lindy Royer, a professional physical therapist for the last twenty years, sheds a little light on Pilates for fitness versus Pilates for rehabilitation. She says,

“I think the big difference between Pilates for rehabilitation and Pilates for fitness is that the former focuses on getting an individual to a desired state of functional movement, whereas the latter focuses on general athletic or health goals.”

Pilates is a perfect match for those seeking rehabilitation because Pilates is very versatile. It can increase the strength and endurance of a professional football player, yet it can also bring an individual back to the world of functional living after knee surgery or a knee/hip replacement.

The Reformer, which is one of the most common pieces of equipment used in Pilates rehabilitation, can be adjusted to fit the specific needs of any rehab client. The Reformer is an active tool that physical therapists can use for clinical reasoning. They can apply a certain series of movements to a patient, and then adjust the “dose” accordingly upon recovery rate and injury improvement.

Not only does The Reformer improve and heal injuries, it acts as the ramp for those seeking whole body wellness in the long run. This is what makes The Reformer heads and shoulders above other rehabilitation equipment.

Because The Reformer has a potent power to increase overall fitness, this is happening simultaneously as the injury is gently and effectively being healed. The nature of the Reformer movements tone and incorporate all of the muscles of the body at the same time. The goal of all physical therapy is not only to heal the individual but also to reintroduce them to a life of activity much like, if not the same as their former lifestyle.

Since the focus of Pilates can be two-fold, fitness and rehabilitation, these will then become the body’s focal point and this balance of meeting becomes an inexorable force of restoration and vigor.

While moving the body parts simultaneously is a trademark movement in Pilates for fitness, it isn’t as commonly used in Pilates for rehabilitation in the beginning. In Pilates for rehabilitation the focus is on separate compartments of movement.

The body is then broken down into each area of movement that needs attention. As the body becomes more accustomed to that movement, then layers of motion are added to increase mobility within the injured joint and within the surrounding muscles.

Touching on the mind-body connection mentioned before, this is where the deep breathing patterns in Pilates act as the sewing string that binds the slow and controlled movement with the intention of focus. Pilates for rehabilitation and for fitness have many common denominators, but as the factors are separated out they can become two separate forms of Pilates training.

In time they usually can blend into one another creating an entire basis for health and injury, which becomes a cycle of rehabilitation and fitness improvement, a cycle that is not found in any other form of exercise

Pilates has a two-fold purpose. Its ability to meet a client right at the crux of their needs makes it a pliable, approachable, and effectual practice. However the pendulum of Pilates has a large range of swing, and its overarching benefits cover a huge plot of demographic terrain.

Celebrities and athletes can be found in one plain of the ever increasing Pilates interest, whereas a huge population of the injured, elderly, and even those who suffer from neuromuscular diseases such as Parkinson’s disease make up the other.

The methods of Pilates, whether it is applied to fitness or rehabilitation carry the same principles. Core stabilization, increased muscle performance, posture realignment, flexibility, and deep stretching and breathing.

These principles are not only unique to Pilates but are also found in other forms of physical rehabilitation and therapy. The question then begs to ask, what is the difference between Pilates for those seeking fitness and Pilates for those seeking rehabilitation?

Since they both integrate the same movements, and both implement the necessary control over those movements through the same series of exercises, how can it benefit such opposite audiences?

The answer can be found in an exploration of this verses that. Pilates for the fitness community uses the same equipment and standardized movements as those seeking rehabilitation, but the focus of the exercise is on increasing the length and strength of the muscles within the body to create that long, taut, lean body that Pilates is known to produce.

Increasing the worth of everyday movement is of extreme importance. Pilates for fitness encourages its students to become more aware of their everyday posture, gait, sitting and standing positions, and to use the findings as personal inventory to forge a barometer for improvement within the body.

The body desires to operate on the smooth rails of where our joints and bones are supposed to meet and collaborate. However, years of bad postural and health habits in concordance with improper purchases of movement can cause weight gain, depression, lethargy, and muscle imbalances.

This can make the relationship between bone and joint dysfunctional. When the body isn’t running the way it should it makes exercise difficult, and in some cases people abandon the idea that they can even take part. Pilates is gentle on the body and reintroduces common movement with light resistance.

It not only is a great exercise for beginners but it has such a wide range of challenge and difficulty, that it can take years to master some of the Pilates apparatus, and in most cases a lifetime.

Athletic improvement and general health progression is the main focus of Pilates for fitness. Reintroducing a state of ability and upward improvement changes the appearance of the body and marries the body to the mind making health and fitness not just a goal to achieve but a state of mind.

Focus is by and large the line in the sand that separates Pilates for fitness from Pilates for rehabilitation. This is the key we will use to unlock the entire reasoning behind Joseph Pilates staging of the Pilates mind-body connection.

The power of the mind to improve or heal the body comes from the same place of intention, whether that intention is just to look better or to heal serious injury.

Wednesday & Fridays 12:30pm

Starting September 17^th, 2008

WHAT IS SPRINGWORKS®?

SPRINGWORKS® is exercise utilizing the essence of the spring, namely swinging and bouncing, to perform movements at once challenging, fun and highly effective.

In SPRINGWORKS®, the body’s weight is supported by the springs, providing an unprecedented freedom of movement, where muscles and joints are simultaneously strengthened and stretched, from gently to vigorously, accommodating all levels of fitness.

The dangers usually associated with ‘bouncing’ do not occur, since the springs cushion the movements. (Consider the difference between jumping on concrete to bouncing on a trampoline, which incidentally was a major influence in the discovery of SPRINGWORKS®).

Where Pilates uses the springs for resistance, not unlike weight training machines, with SPRINGWORKS® the body works in tandem with the springs. The feel and effect of SPRINGWORKS® is entirely different from other exercising. The tension of pushing and pulling against resistance is replaced by a feeling of buoyancy and power. It puts spring into the body’s core.

It may not seem like the most natural of coupling, when you put the physical act of swimming and Pilates in the same sentence, but some Pilates enthusiasts have referred to Pilates as “underwater ballet”, so what’s the resemblance?

It would seem that the methods of movement must have some similar basis between them, with each offering their won set of distinct and parallel benefits. But how similar is Pilates to the actual movement of swimming, and how does it benefit a swimmer to be involved in Pilates and vice versa?

First of all, professional, competitive and athletic swimmers pride themselves on the core stimulation and calorie consumption that swimming offers. The core muscles used in swimming are not predominately the rectus abdominis muscles (the overlaying abdominal muscles, commonly referred to as the six-pack), but rather incorporate the transverse abdominals in its use of energy.

The transverse abdominis are the underlying muscles, which are harder to target through crunches and cardiovascular exercise alone. Swimming is one of the only aerobic exercises, included with some manner of running styles that does so.

Pilates does claim that its slow and controlled movement, like swimming, instigate the deep burn within the muscles found in the transverse abdominis muscles, but it also claims it’s “contrology” as being the method to rock hard abs, which targets the rectus abdominis. So which is it?

Pilates does utilize the underlining core muscles, but not in the way that swimming actively does, and it’s focus is not only to develop a taut mid-section but also to increase alignment within the body. However, there is a catch 22 with this Pilates fact. For the abdominals to be visible, Pilates alone cannot shed the layers of fat that tends to naturally accumulate on those that have a few extra pounds around the belly.

While Pilates will help you to strength train the hard to reach trunk muscles, only cardio will help you excess the outer layers so that you can see all of your hard work come to the surface.

Swimming is like Pilates in the sense that it is a non-weight bearing exercise and is easy on the joints, but it holds a calorie-burning component that Pilates does not. This one main distinction between Pilates and swimming found in the nature of the exercise is that swimming is an aerobic exercise, Pilates is not.

An hour swimming laps can burn up to 700 calories and hour, if you are swimming moderately paced. An hour of Pilates can burn anywhere from 250-350 calories depending on energy expenditure and body size.

Pilates and swimming are great options for the population of over 40, but also benefits the younger, and even competitive athlete. Everyone struggles with getting enough exercise in their life, but the bigger problem is the lack of balance in the exercises that the general population is participating in. This is where the combination of swimming and Pilates creates a “perfect storm”, for those seeking a certain gentle and rehabilitative approach to whole body wellness.

With so much emphasis on the physical benefits of Pilates it may seem a little abstract to understand and apply the practicality of how Pilates can improve everyday life. If you have done any research on the benefits or have any knowledge about the “Pilates Lifestyle”, I am sure that the “quality of life” has been mentioned and that Pilates has a unique way of improving the tenure of it.

Pilates, isn’t a Zen meditation technique although it has properties of concentration that dabbles in Yoga inspired practices. So the process, by which someone can tap into its practical advocacy, can’t be categorized as simply spiritual or physical.

Imagine looking down the scope of Pilates’ arsenal of health and wellness, to identify it’s practicality you must focus on where the crosshairs meet, this being between the most spiritual sense of who we are and the most physical sense of what we are.

Pilates is not a religion, but rather a belief system, with strong ties to overall peace, wellbeing, and physical fitness. However, not unlike a religion Pilates wasn’t designed by Joseph Pilates just to be an exercise regime to do in a studio and then go about your life.

It’s meant to be a part of your life. As mentioned before, the abstractness of an exercise program being a part of your belief system isn’t common, and isn’t easily understood without some sort of spiritual motivation. Under the umbrella of “sedentary salvation”, an explanation of Pilates ability to transform one’s life isn’t as “hallelujah” as it may seem.

Mary Bowen, one of the originating elders of Pilates, puts it this way, “As I practice, teach and observe (the Pilates Method), there is always a spiritual uplift and buoyancy that comes from the work. Moreover, spirit is everywhere, isn’t it? The body is a house of spirit. Joseph and Clara Pilates knew and lived that.”

The key concept in order to first understand the practical application of Pilates, outside of a Pilates studio, can be found in the everyday mishaps or inconveniences we are all encounter on a daily basis. Getting cut off in traffic, getting lost in a new side of town while you were already running late, or finding out that you got outbid in the last few minutes of your EBay auction. How we react in life says so much more about who we are, than the situations we often find ourselves privy to.

If we allow pockets of anxiety to build up, our muscles and bones will be the ones that bear the brunt of the physiological strain. Pilates helps redirect this reactionary effect through the course of breathing techniques.

Breathing is a huge component in reconnecting with our thoughts on a deeper level. The health benefits that Pilates brings to the entire physiological networking of our bodies enables us to use our breath as it was meant to be, a life giving source.

When we listen to our breathing, we are acknowledging that our breath is the entire outlet by which we exist. This type of respect and awareness to our breath will then help us regulate emotion and incorporate a deeper sense and understanding of self.

If the operative word in the question, “Will Pilates help me lose weight?” is help, then Pilates most definitely, without a doubt assist in weight loss. Some of the people, who are searching for new ways to shed pounds, look for the next miracle pill or other quick fix.

So just to be certain that Pilates isn’t a part of that diet and exercise misconception, let’s remember- there are no quick fixes. There are no miracle workouts, smoothies, pills, or creams. Good old-fashioned hard work pays off, and Pilates is an excellent workout that will yield dramatic benefits and results.

However, as with any new exercise it needs to be done with careful consideration and proper assistance. A Pilates instructor will guide you along in your workouts, help you plot goals, achieve new levels of physicality, and develop a pattern into which your body can safely and effectively respond. Because Pilates uses all of the muscles within the body statically and simultaneously, it is strengthening and lengthening the muscles with ease and gentility all at the same time.

The one “miracle” of sorts about Pilates is that its workout feels different to the body than traditional exercise. It may even feel like you are not doing enough in your Pilates session, if you are used to a certain type of strenuous workout. Because of the exercises unique ability to work the muscles in a functional capacity, you may or may not notice the work being done, even thought you are working. For those that don’t like to feel strained or have a lower tolerance for endurance activity and pain during their workouts, Pilates may be a great option for you.

Don’t get me wrong, Pilates is a hard workout! If you don’t necessarily “feel it” in the duration of the work, you will most definitely feel it the next day. The deep muscles that used in the integration of the various body positions, will shock the body, since those muscles usually lie dormant unless called upon by certain core strengthening positions. Those certain core strengthening positions, Pilates offers in spades.

In addition to Pilates not being a quick fix for weight loss, there is always the need for balance in any exercise program. When Pilates is coupled with cardiovascular exercise, this combination of calorie burning fuel and deep muscle strength training will result in a lean taut body, and will increase the rate at which your body metabolizes calories.

While Pilates isn’t a cardiovascular or a “muscle building” workout it does tone the muscles, making them stronger and increasing their ability to endure. The more muscle fibers there are in the body, the more calories the body will burn even at rest.

Pilates can help you lose weight and will tone your body in ways you never imagined possible. Because the effort your body puts forth in a single session is so concentrated, it may feel like you are not “doing” enough. The results will speak for themselves, and you will see that focused effort in smaller doses is better than sporadic efforts in larger bursts.

With attention to your diet and consistent participation in cardiovascular exercise 3-5 times a week, Pilates may be that key that will retrain your brain to think of exercise as a functional way to increase the quality and health of your life, instead of a separate entity to help you simply lose weight.

Welcome to the first RR Studio Pilates Newsletter!!! This will be available monthly now as our way of keeping you further connected to us, more involved and well-informed.

There are some changes taking place in the RR family we are excited to tell you about. First and foremost, as many of you are aware, after 7 wonderful years with us, Lauren, the managing director, has decided to move on- to a brighter more relaxing future! Katie will now be taking her place - welcoming any new ideas and concerns.

Beginning this month on a trial basis, we will be opening up the studio to “Open Gym” time, available Mondays and Wednesdays only, 2pm-4pm. Pay a $10 fee and you’re welcome to come in and workout for as long as you’d like. There’s no need to book in advance- all equipment is available to you on a first-come first-serve basis

Also, in an effort to thank you for your continued business, we are starting a new referral program. For every friend you refer to our studio, you’ll receive a free Pilates Class. No limits apply! (Please see the front desk for further details)

In addition to our referral program, we are starting a Private Session Raffle Program. Give us your business card and at the end of the month, at random, someone will be chosen to receive a free 45-Minute Private Pilates Session with the Instructor of the Month.

Over the coming weeks, you’ll notice more small changes- so let us know what you think.

“THE GREATEST WEALTH IS HEALTH”  ~Virgil

Pilates is known for its multitude of benefits for professional and recreational athlete, the aging community, and for the injured seeking rehabilitation. Ballerinas, celebrities and moms have praised it’s benefits, so it may come as no surprise that Pilates has gained popularity in another sub culture of athleticism: the equestrian lifestyle.

Creating a relationship with your horse, through movement and control is what all horse lovers and professionals aspire to achieve. Moving within the saddle while maintaining a stable base with proper form is one of the major concerns of accomplished equestrians.

Based upon habits in the daily bank of movement, improper form and spinal irregularities can develop over time. What happens outside of the arena, how you move the body during the day, directly affects the health of the rider and sometimes the performance of the horse itself.

When riding a horse, common body postures such as rounded shoulders, tight hamstrings, or a tight lower back can limit opportunities for the rider to excel or improve. Pilates improves posture, flexibility, core strength, and balance. Pilates also focuses on lengthening the spine. This elongation allows for a tall and regal look in the saddle and can protect the trunk of the body from spinal compression conditions, and improves overall spinal health.

Common benefits that may be of interest to the equestrian include: hip freedom and strengthen, supple lower back muscles, abdominal strengthening, lengthens the leg, and improves body length. In order to assist a rider in creating the ultimate riding experience, the body needs to be listened to and the mind in control. Jostling, and improper form can result in injury and muscular imbalances.

A nonpartisan hip placement is necessary for a rider to follow the movement of the horse with ease and yet still own subtle command. Jumping form can also be improved through the study of Pilates, as it can help a person to absorb the horse’s movement with whole-body control. As any equestrian knows your body can easily get jostled around in the seat if not held down by a necessary “deep seat” position. Pilates can help you deepen the seat and will ease you into recovery after a certain ride may leave you sore or tender.

Above all, developing a clear line of communication with your horse and earning its trust, as a capable rider and caretaker will improve the horses’ performance as well as the quality of the rides. So much time in training is spent on form, horse and rider positions, the use of aids, and proper movements.

Pilates opens up the flow of focus into the mind, spirit, and being of the rider. Performance will follow, once the thought life is in line with the body’s movements. Jumping further, holding a position longer, and sitting deeper into the saddle will not become tasks to remember, but rather just natural progression of one single thought.

For further information on how Pilates can be specifically tailored to meet the needs of the equestrian and the horse, Betsy Steiner has written a book called, “Equilates: A Gymnastic Riding System Using Mind, Body, and Spirit Progressive Training for Rider and Horse”. With principles taken and built upon from the Pilates handbook, it even details a Pilates based workout for the horse.

Perhaps one of the loftiest goals for the senior community has nothing to do with retirement, vacation homes, or accumulation of material things. When one comes full circle in life, there is an amazing clarity that is found about the luxury of good health.

A person’s priorities are then organized accordingly, making their health and fitness levels of supreme importance. For a senior, maintaining mobility, independence, and strong sense of self is what keeps them the happiest in their later years, and keeps them the most able to remain safely engaged in the normal routine of life.

Since daily exercise has just in recent years become a blip on the radar of the American mind, as a result of the American Health Association and innumerable case studies that have proven the positive effects of exercise on the quality of life.

However, there are a few older generations that have to piece together the entire conflicting world of health and exercise education all by themselves. Trying to discover what the safest and most appropriate exercises may be for their health to benefit can be overwhelming and confusing.

Even though this may be taking place later in life, it is important for all senior citizens to know that there is a type of exercise that can and will benefit them without injury, while increasing their health and longevity. This can be done without the high risk of injury or unnecessary weight bearing impact, because of the nature of Pilates rehabilitation and exercise techniques. These methods lie in stark contrast to the more traditional gym environments, which often offer high impact or strenuous therapy and weight lifting as an alternative to a sedentary lifestyle.

Pilates has its roots in physical rehabilitation. Because of its gentle and controlled movements, it can benefit those who may not have a lot of muscular strength and are wishing to reintroduce functional ability into their lives. Pilates increases flexibility, and since with age, joints get worn down and bones become more fragile, there is a limited amount of stress that the joints and bones can take during exercise.

Pilates focuses on increasing mobility and alignment within the spine a majority of all aches and pains, muscular imbalances, and chronic and acute pain stem from a misaligned spine or back discomfort which can stem from a pinched nerve within the spinal column.

Pilates focus on the moderate lengthening of the spine, and allows for movement around the joints to be done with ease. Spine mobility greatly releases stress and stiffness from the back, and will enable the rest of the body to move more freely as well.

Even after a few weeks an older client will be able to notice the great benefits of increased strength and improved posture. Stability and safe footing can also be increased through Pilates. It helps develop core strength, which becomes significantly better balance. The better balance, and aware of your center, that a person can have the less risk there will be for a senior to take a fall or slip and have to suffer from broken bones.

Pilates is a functional exercise. This means that not only does it improve your health, physical appearance, and overall wellness, but it a practical addition that improves the quality of movement in your everyday life. Scapular stability is one of those everyday factors that Pilates improves.

When the shoulder bones are properly aligned with the spinal column and neck and head, this becomes critical. To perform Pilates exercises efficiently and to improve postural habits, shoulder stability will decrease the risk of nerve injury and muscular imbalances throughout the entire upper trunk.

The shoulder bones are irregular shaped bones, almost like wings, located in the middle of the upper back. Otherwise known as the shoulder blades. Not only do the shoulders allow for movement in the upper body, but they also act as protection for the spine and neck. The most common way to conclude how aligned or misaligned your shoulder girdle is, is by first looking to your own posture in the neutral position.

Some of us sit slightly to the left or right, or lean on our elbows, this absent-minded body behavior creates an open position between the shoulder blades, known as adduction. When the shoulders are separated for long periods of time, the upper body can begin to settle into that open space and create a hunched over appearance. In addition, rounding our shoulders forward is a common neutral position that is usually associated with shoulder adduction and can make the condition worse.

Similarly, some people tend to abduct their shoulders, by pulling them tight together. This puts strain on the front of the shoulder as well as increases tightness in the upper back. Pilates discourages both of these shoulder positions. Its goal is to reintroduce the scapular stability to the body, by incorporating physical reminders of how the body should feel at rest, as well as in motion.

Pilates instructors will often say, “Pull the shoulders down. Relax the shoulders.” Having shoulders that lie flat against the back is the ideal placement for the shoulder blades. This type of simple instruction can help us identify what it is that our bodies tend to naturally do on their own, without keeping alignment in mind.

The body is predisposed to improper posture and alignment, since in most sitting and standing positions we tend to slump. This is all a direct result of inconsistent body positioning.

Just like exercise we must be aware of our body positions throughout he day, not just during our workouts. It’s the little changes we make in our body’s improper postures will enable us to see and feel the greatest benefits that Pilates has to offer, balance and stability being two of those.

By redirecting our common day postures we are able to utilize our energy more efficiently, improve bone structure health, and keep our nervous system protected by the framework of our bodies.

Just a few times in a Pilates studio with the correct scapular stability positions intact, and you will be able to recognize when you are allowing your shoulders to round, retract, or pinch when they shouldn’t be. Pilates is all about reintroduce each body part, whether it’s muscle, tissue or bone, back into the working world of your body. And giving each piece of your body the chance to work, act and function just like it is supposed to.