Pilates Terms: Navel to Spine, what it is and how to do it

The first thing you’ll learn in Pilates is how to set-up a healthful abdominal support around a lengthened spine, and you can trust that your body will try to cheat - so lets get specific:  “Navel to Spine” is an original cue used by Joseph Pilates. He understood that imagery is very helpful when working with the muscles of the body and this cue helps to revitalize our body’s “natural corset.” Amanda explains how to do this important exercise.

This Simple Pilates Exercise Alleviates Back Pain

This one simple Pilates move will help you alleviate back pain daily.  Only 2 to 5 repetitions will have your muscles relaxing.  Amanda Musker gives you the right moves.

How to Strengthen and Pull-Up Your Core to Help Your Joints

We’ve all heard of core muscles but where are they exactly? If you have injuries, aching knees and shoulders, knowing how to use your core body muscles can help enormously and you don’t have to do any sit-ups. With Amanda’s classical ballet and Pilates know-how she explains how to use your core correctly to lift the weight off your joints and create a slimmer mid-section.  And, these exercises are easy to add into your everyday movements.

Strengthen Your Shoulders and Maximize Your Reach

Amanda Musker, Pilates expert, gives you one simple exercise to help you strengthen your shoulders, ease shoulder tension and over time, allow you to reach further.  This exercise is so simple, you may not realize how effective it is for a couple of weeks.

Easing Arthritis Pain Through Yoga and Pilates

With a painful arthritic joint, our instinct is to sit still and rest up. Don't do it.  Research has shown that prolonged inactivity is not a good choice for your affected joint. Itʼs hard to believe any kind movement can help when you are in pain, but the right kind of movement can.  Amanda Musker gives your some simple guidelines to help you exercise through the pain.

Help for Sciatica Pain

When sciatica stays for more than a few days it can be very wearing mentally and physically. It seems to come from nowhere, and the aches, numbness or sharp pains can be felt anywhere along the nerve's pathway. If you're thinking "it's never going to go away" don't worry,yoga and Pilates expert Amanda Musker has some solutions.

• Stiff Neck and Shoulders
• Reducing Neck Tension - A Short Video
• Stride Forth and Shape Your Caboose
• Getting Started With Yoga and Pilates

Freedom for Your Arms and Shoulders

Because we constantly reach forward - holding the wheel of the car, holding children, or keeping the cell phone attached to our ear - our arms tighten up and lose strength through a lack of correct upper back support. If you want to keep your arms and shoulders healthy, hereʼs a simple practice that gives your arms the support they need.

• Stretching: How to Do So Safely
• Stretches for Lower Back, Groin and Hamstrings
• Stretches for Lower Back Tightness