By: Renee Gladilen, Pilates Instructor

You have set aside valuable time to practice, so why not get the most out of your matwork? Here are some useful tips to help you attain outstanding results!

i.) Concentrate. In order to work your body, you must be present with your mind. Concentration is the key element making this connection. The next time you exercise, pay close attention to your movements and note how your muscles respond to the attention. Realize that it is your mind that wills your body into action: when you focus on an area, notice how much more you can feel that area working. Embrace the power of your mind!

ii.) Do not tense your muscles. We have become conditioned to tense up, hold our breath and push to the point of strain in order to achieve our exercise goals. While movements require strength and concentration, there should always be a natural flow of rhythm that serves to relax the muscles without disengaging them from their task. Don’t forget to listen to our body! It’s something that we rarely do. It is vital to trust what feels right and what doesn’t – do not take the power of your natural intuition for granted. If something hurts, stop!!

iii.) Relaxation needs to begin in the mind & spread throughout the entire body. Disengage from all of the concerns clouding your mind. Focus on the Now. Eckhart Tolle’s words of wisdom illustrate this point well –“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.” 

iv.) Control. Mat work must be performed with utmost control in order to reap the most benefits from your practice and avoid injury. Joseph Pilates built his method on the idea of muscle control. No Pilates exercise is done just for the sake of getting through it. Each movement serves a function. Therefore, it is critical to perform each exercise step by step, paying close attention to how your body responds to every movement. When you feel the urge to rush through an exercise – restrain yourself – concentrate on the task at hand to promote better control.

v.) Breath is an effective tool to achieve this state. Try not to hold your breath if the exertion is too great. Breathing patterns should feel natural – inhaling at the beginning of movement and exhaling throughout its completion.

Keep in mind: performing a sequence of movements slowly, with awareness and control, is far more effective than mindlessly rushing through your practice.

Concentrate in the present moment. Maintain a natural sense of control without rigidity. Breath. Take it slowww. In time you will obtain the results you are looking for :)

References
http://www.verybestquotes.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2013/08/Thought-­‐For-­‐The-­‐Day-­‐Realize-­‐deeply-­‐that-­‐the-­‐present-­‐moment-­‐is-­‐all-­‐you-­‐have.-­‐Make-­‐the-­‐NOW-­‐the-­‐primary-­‐focus-­‐of-­‐your-­‐life.jpg
 

By: Albert Huang, DC

It's a new year and its time to kick the bad habits and replace them with some new fancy ones! Always strive to be better then you were yesterday. Find your groove and get in a healthy routine with these 5 game changing attitudes.

1) Wake up early - The most productive people are early risers. Getting out of bed in the early hours of the day provides you more time to get things done. Use the first 30-60 minutes of your day for self time. Stimulate your mind and body with a routine of grooming, breakfast, daily news, reading or writing, and self-reflection. Avoid using the computer and cell phone, you have the rest of your day for that. Wake up on the right foot and conquer your day by planning out your objectives and daily goals!

2) Regular Exercise - Staying active is a vital component to a healthy lifestyle and a happy mind. Try exercising daily to stimulate brain activity, blood circulation, muscle growth, and nervous system development. If you can't work out daily strive for 4-5 times a week. Staying physically active has many health benefits such as, improved mood, weight control, stress relief, increased energy, heightened libido, better sleep, and reduced risk of illness and disease.

3) Positive Thinking - The grass is always green! Thoughts are subjective which means they can be controlled by your mind. Negative thoughts lead to negative outcomes which induce a stress response in your body. Eliminate limiting thoughts and replace them with positive thinking. There are always three sides to a story, the negative interpretation, the positive interpretation, and the best interpretation. French philosopher Rene Descartes said it best, "I think therefore I am." Start filling your mind with wishful thinking and the universe will respond with positive vibes.

4) Separate Work and Play - There comes a time when the best thing to do is to take a vacation or some time off of work. Working 5, 6, 7 days a week over an extended period will eventually lead to a burn out. You can't drive a car 24/7, 365 days a year without it breaking down, so how can you expect your body to do the same? Your body needs down time to recover. If you only focus on work your whole life, you lose your true purpose of being. Find the right balance between work and leisure. Travelling or self-exploration can revitalize your mind, spark creativity, and boost work productivity in the long run!

5) Quiet Time - We are constantly bombarded with never ending stimulus! Limit your tech time; reduce the amount of time in front of your television, laptop, and cell phone. The radiation and bright lights from these tech devices place undue strain on your eyes and brain activity. Slow down for even 5-10 minutes a day in a quiet place where you can focus on your breathing and self-awareness. Find stress relief and inner peace with meditation, yoga, tai chi, or proactive napping. Unwind with a book before bed to calm the mind and nourish your soul.

Check out our new welcome video for our clinic! We are excited to be entering our third year of practice and continue to look forward to optimizing your health and wellness goals. We believe in the importance of living an active lifestyle that involves healthy eating, daily exercise, and regular body work. Find relaxation, improve your well-being,  and enhance your mind-body connection with our therapeutic treatments. 

Health Services offered at Platinum Health & Wellness include, Chiropractic Care, Registered Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Physiotherapy, Holistic Nutrition, and Custom Orthotics.