Yoga is a great form of exercise to increase muscle strength and a relaxing form of meditation. It also eases Rheumatoid Arthritis http://www.cincinnati.md/oh/cincinnati/topic-hw86269/Rheumatoid%20Arthritis/rheumatoid_arthritis . It might seem the practice of bending, stretching, and twisting in Pilates would hurt someone with joint pain, but research appearing in the Journal of Rheumatology (and my own experience with people suffering from this kind of arthritis at my Pilates Studio) has found that it’s very beneficial.
Yoga’s stretching helps increase strength and flexibility and the mind-body focus of yoga and Pilates helps you to be focused on form and function over muscle building. You’ll find yourself more peaceful and energetic.
For me, I find yoga and Pilates helps build increased muscle strength, increased flexibility, better posture, balance, reduce anxiety, and an awareness of the fact that by ‘muscling’ through this type of exercise, it doesn’t help do it better. As my teacher tells me, “It’s about the journey and the learning and not about ‘just getting there’”. An important life lesson for me every day
Wednesday 06/29/11- Workout Diary:
Stretch DVD- 30 minutes
strength training- shoulders/abs
crunch on stability ball
standing cross toe touch-50 touches
straight arm shoulder raise-8 lb dumbbells
seated shoulder over head extention- 12 lb dumbbells
pilaties bicycle- 25 reps
lying lower hip rises- 25 reps
bent arm shoulder raise- 8 lb
crossover chop- 8 lb kettleball
Wednesday 06/29/11-Food Diary:
Breakfast-
1 piece Ezekial toast, 1/2 small banana sliced on top (150 cal)
1 cup organic egg whites, 1 cup organic spinach, 1 oz non-fat feta (160 cal)
A.M. Snack-
1 cup pasterized egg whites, 1/2 portion whey protein mix ( 175 cal)
Lunch-
4oz orange roughy (90 cal)
salad- 1.5 cups organic spinach, 1/2 orange sweet pepper, 4 cherry tomatoes, 4 asparagus, no calorie walden farms dressing( 65 cal)
P.M. Snack-
1 whole wheat tortilla, 2 tbls organic almond butter, 1/2 sliced strawberry( 230 cal)
Dinner-
6 oz shrimp (110 cal)
8 asparagus, sauteed in sesame oil ( 1/2 tsp), garlic, sliced almonds (144 cal)
1 cup cous cous, with porchini mushrooms and sliced almonds (194 cal)
1 cup non fat cottage cheese ( 80 cal)
Dessert-
homemade, air popped, popcorn (90 cal)
1 cup 0 % Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup fresh sliced peaches (150 cal)
TOTAL CALORIES-1666