My Blog

New Pilates Courses in Rawtenstall Rossendale April16th 2012

03/21/2012 14:37:00

Welcome to our next 7 week course in Pilates in Rossendale Lancashire starting 16th April , with classes on Monday and Thursday evenings and Tuesday/friday Mornings. Our focus this course, as well as the core and abs, is the Neck and Knees!!!

Bookings are taken on the website via PayPal or download a booking form and post to the address on the form.

Book early as places fill fast :)

We also have some drop in session over easter- so why not come and give Pilates in Rawtenstal Rossendale a go- we are recognized by many local Rossendale physiotherapists. We have clients that come for these Pilates classes in Rossendale from as far as Bacup , Ramsbottom, Burnley and even manchester and Bolton!

Support for your feet

01/27/2012 20:00:00

Looking for support for your feet while dancing . Have a look at the padded dance paws http://uk.dancepaws.com/orderUK.htm or the Vibram five finger trainers at http://www.vibramfivefingers.it/eng/footwear.aspx

How to move with ease. Whole Foot and MELT with Dance fitness in Rossendale

01/23/2012 14:50:00

I want to Share this You Tube clip of Danielle Eastman. Please have a look. This is about Whole Foot movement, one of 52 Nia moves we have in Nia. The Focus is on M.E.L.T. This is an example of how Nia is 'safe' for a wide variety of people as Nia teaches us how to move correctly so to look after our joints and posture. no twisting jarring, how to feel stability and mobility and where to gain power. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PBZRsenmW8I

New courses in Rossendale for Pilates and Nia 2012

01/05/2012 19:26:00

Well, after 3 weeks off , Im certainly ready to move! and this season, unuseually I havn't done much physically and boy does my body know. aches, stiffness, doesn't feel great

I managed a couple of hours snowboarding yesterday and my body delights in moving, but need to work those thigh muscles more!!!

So we restart next monday- Im raring to go and so are some of you , judging by the comments on the emails I have received!!! I promise we will go easy, lots of essential stretching, as we know, stretching is essential to our overall posture alignment but stretching is essential to strength- yes strength. Its like an elastic band. If unused and or tight it loses its elasticity , if a muscle can not fully extend and contract you are losing a lot of its power ! So lets soften up , loosen up so we can feel dynamic ease and strength.

We are almost full on PIlates! there are some places left on Nia!

A few people have asked recently about giving Nia a taste- You are very welcome to come and see and feel if its for you. Nia is unique , there is nothing else like it. What do I mean?

Nia is a heart and lungs workout- burning calories, working muscle and great fun- so what the difference - there are lots of fitness classes out there like that (even though Nia was the first in fusion fitness now nearly 30 years since it began) The difference is that Nia moves YOUR body the way it is DESIGNED to move. This means in Nia we don't jog or march on the spot at any point- we conciously use foot placement ie a heel lead just like we should walk or run in real life. We dont twist on the feet- therefore we look after your ankles, knees and hips. we align the spine and the 3 body weights ie. the pelvis chest and head, to create efficient and feeling of ease with your movement,

Nia doesnt bounce and jarr the joints, moves are fluid and smooth- smooth to nervous system too. Nia does release endorphins- the feel good hormone but rather than just this adrenalin high Nia harnesses 'chi energy' with from the knowledge of Tai Chi, a natural sustaining life force energy that is more balanced leaving you not only energized but also calm with longer lasting vitality. Look forward to seeing you in NIA

so come and burn off those xmas calories

Needing more energy and Vitality?

12/12/2011 11:58:00

Taking care of your health and well being is essential if you want to get the most out of life.

In todays society that is often fast paced and can have stress it is important to find a balance- Many forms of exercise are still about expenditure- energy out. standard dance or aerobics or fitness does build endurance and muscular fitness and creates an adrenalin high. There is only so much we have to expend how do you nourish and bring energy in? Sometimes sleep (and only if its quality sleep) water , food and sunshine are not enough.

WHY IS PILATES GOOD FOR YOU?

Pilates encourages a more natural breath that is efficient. There are many people who breath incorrectly- by doing so they exert more energy by getting the breath in than than end up receiving from that breath!!!!

With Pilates comes better posture and awareness- guess what that means? If your posture is correctly aligned we expend LESS energy keeping upright!! Yes its true.

Pilates strengthens deep supporting muscles, brings flexibility to muscles and increase the range of motion and mobility we have in our joints- again this produces effciency in movement therefore more energy. By strengthening our deep supporting muscles we reduce and eliminate pains and aches. Pain saps energy as I sure some of you will have experienced.

WHY IS NIA GOOD FOR YOU?

Nia is a wonderful compliment to PIlates. it works with many of the above principles of Pilates plus Nia very conciously works with energy and where we direct it within our bodies and out of. With elements of Tai Chi we circulate energy around the body. The flowing movements of Nia encourage ease and comfort. Nia is a dance that soothes and nourishes with the sensation that all movements can and are a dance... opening a door, sweeping the floor even slipping on the ice!!! as I found out and a few others too... this means in the act of slipping rather than tensing and therefore less ability to balance and if we do come down to the floor it is with relaxed muscles and reduced injury. (thankyou to some of you for feedback) This brings the element of a child... and how much energy do children have :))))

Looking forward to seeing you in 2012

Heatherx

Get more from your Nia workout

11/12/2011 10:39:00

I have had a request about learning more technique while moving with Nia to optimize your workout.

With this in mind I have outlined some ideas for a workshop,

This will be about how to use your alignment correctly so your muscles are being used effectively.

We will pick out some of the 52 moves and look individually at which muscles are being conditioned and how to do this to maximize your muscle tone.

Are you using planes and levels with good posture ? Are you really finding the maximum level within your range?

What is the difference , energetically, between strength and flexibility? Do you apply your awareness knowingly and direct the energy appropriately?

How to recruit more of the 'core' when moving to condition the muscles that support the spine and abdominals.

I would be delighted to put this together along with your input and questions so I can personalize this workshop for you.Please email or chat to me after class about any aspects of this.
The workshop is scheduled for Sat 25th Feb 2012
look forward to hearing your input...Im here to listen and develop what YOU want. :)