Pilates

Hi! Im glad you were able to find some help from Pilates. I have been doing it for years before being diagnosed with fibro., and have recently not done it in a while, but it has helped me a ton, and i need to get back to doing it. I would also recommend windsor pilates. In those videos, they show you ways to alternate the positions if you have less range of motion or are just beginning. Those are the videos i first started with when i was first learning how to do pilates and it helps in teaching people new to pilates.
-kim

Hi,
I hope you don't mind me posting over here. I'm usually on the CP thread but saw a couple of the posts here relating to exercise and although I'm too tired right now to post much, I'd sure like to start to get some inspiration.

I have a Pilates machine I bought about 10 years ago on ebay! I have LOVED it over the years and I'm a couch potato type. It is the only exercise that I've done on a pretty consistent basis until I took a bad fall in 2004. Even then, it was slowly getting back on the Pilates (although I can't even do all the exercises on the basic video anymore) that helped me stay feeling somewhat strong. I did a lot before my back fusion surgery to strenthen my core, and I know it helped because I could use my legs to lift. However since my surgery over a year ago I've only used it a couple of times. I think some of it is plain fear, as things have changed since my fusion and I'm not sure how I work anymore, if that makes sense. So it sits here. I got on it a couple of times last week very briefly, and I was ok, so I think now it's easing back in.

I've also been putting on a lot of weight over the past couple of years, and it's emotional eating coupled with lack of activity. I have to do something before it really gets out of hand. I have a treadmill here but haven't used it since my fall, since I tore the ACL in my left knee when I fell (among other things) and it's hard for me to walk even around the block without screwing something up.

Anyway, hope I can jump in with you - now I just have to remember to hop over, if you all don't mind. I don't have fibro, but between all the pain from the fall and arthritis (worse with cold weather) somedays I'm not far off. If you'd prefer I start a thread over on the CP forum, I would understand!

PaLady

Post Edited (PAlady) : 1/24/2009 11:51:08 PM (GMT-7)

I am going to give Pilates a try, great idea. Should I look for special dvd of just any basic? I joined a yoga class and just could not handle it, could not believe it but couldn't. Think if I go at my own pace it may just work.

Patsie

Oh, good, maybe I've found some people to help motivate me! I don't think I could do the Pilates without the home reformer machine. It helps keep my body in the right position, plus there's some cushioning under you and to me at least it makes it all much easier. And you can do whatever exercises help, and not do the others.

I don't know if this will help anyone else here, but I have arthritis pretty bad in my hands (worse in winter) so I would notice the morning after I used the hand pulls on the Pilates my hands were really bad. So I went to a sporting goods store and tried on a bunch of the gloves weight lifters use for protection and found a pair that wasn't too thick but was thicker than golf gloves and I put them on whenever I do my Pilates. Helps tremendously. My hands are no worse the next morning than they usually are!

BTW if you look for a used Pilates machiine you can sometimes find them easier than you think. I got mine on ebay - was from a woman who lives about a half hour away so I was able to go see it, try it out and then just have it loaded into my car. Another friend found hers at a garage sale for $50. You might try looking in the ads in your local paper for used ones.

PaLady

Patsie,
No you don't need a machine. You can learn the exercises without one. I just find it easier for me, and a little more comfortable.

I used to use Denise Austin's walking tapes years ago. I think she's great. But I've never seen her Pilates. There's so many forms out there now! I wish more physical therapists would learn it so they could help us integrate exactly what would work for each of us, and what moves might be harmful. I think a few PT's do know it, but none in my area.

It's the only exercise I've actually LOVED doing. Everything else has been something I felt I should or needed to do. It's a big difference!'

I love this thread and hope those of you with fibro don't mind me sticking my nose in.

PaLady

i find that doing pilates with a ball is much easier for me i have the windsor pilates too but havent done them in forever

i even got a mini stepper so that i can do more cardio exercises and i don't have the impact from jogging... which helps on the knees and ankles

I had some problems with neck pain after the reformer classes, too.  I finally figured out that I was pushing my head back into the pad (when laying on my back on the carriage) to stabilize my body, rather than using my abs like I should.  When I started using my abs more, the neck pain was reduced.  And suddenly, the class was much harder!  Funny how doing an exercise the right way is so much tougher!

I didn't pull out that dvd today like I'd planned.  I think I over did it yesterday.  Today was the worst day I've had since I was diagnosed and went on Lyrica.  In fact, I think I hurt worse today than I did over New Year's, and that was bad indeed.  Tomorrow will be better.  Live in hope!