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Giving Props to Props

December 1, 2020 by gracefulfitness Leave a Comment

The title says it all, here are my favorite props to enhance home Pilates workouts. Whether you are looking for “stocking stuffers” for friends or family or for some ways to reinvigorate your own practice, here are some amazing props to assist, pun intended.

The loop is all about adding resistance to hip work, primarily hip flexors, glutes, and outer hips. It can also add stability and feedback for knee alignment in basic squats and hip lifts.

Pros: cheap, durable, portable/lightweight

Cons: I haven’t found many good ways to use it for the upper body so it’s less versatile than all the other props on the list.

I have the Power Systems Versa Loop “light. Less than $10

I love, love, love the big stability ball.

Let these workouts speak for themselves in regards to the versatility & added challenge of the big ball.

Pros: cheap, super versatile, fun!

Cons: big and ugly

I bought my ball so long ago that I don’t know exactly where it is from but this product is an old physical therapy and gym staple and very easy to find, often under the generic name Exercise Ball, and generally retailing for about $20. Note: this type of ball comes in different sizes so make sure to get the size appropriate for your height.

The small ball is quite possibly my number one favorite prop. It adds challenge to lower and upper body exercises as well as serves as an amazing self massage tool, especially addressing the torso.

Pros: unique tool for self-massage, cheap, small, relatively portable, versatile.

Cons: I cannot think of any! If I really had to come up with something, I’d say that it’s limited for arm and shoulder work.

Bonus note: my favorite thing to do with this ball is, as Kelly Starlett lovingly refers to it as, The Gut Smash. There are several ways to do this but the simplest is to lay on the ball (not overly inflated) with in under your belly, below your low ribs and above your front hip bones. It’s an incredible massage for your stomach muscles.

I use the Coregeous ball from Tune Up Fitness. This type of ball is usually $10-15

The resistance stick is new to me, I ordered it on a whim from Amazon because at $11.72 I figured it was worth a shot. It’s awesome. It adds resistance and feedback in similar ways to a Pilates Reformer.

Pros: low cost, versatile, portable, easy to store

Cons: the one that I bought is light on the resistance, I would love a little more resistance and the ability to adjust the the resistance would be awesome. Of course, the resistance also changes depending on your dimensions, which could be considered a con.

I teach Virtual Mat Pilates with Resistance Stick every Friday at 12pm eastern time, drop ins welcome (Zoom based, recording available if you cannot be there live). Schedule HERE

The one I have is Jiaojo but there are several similar products available.

The sweet old classic; the foam roller. Name a muscle group and I’ll name a foam roller exercise to address it. The foam roller increases mobility, challenges stability, down regulates the nervous system, increases strength, just to name a few. It’s that good.

Pros: it’s just awesome. 🙂

Cons: not the easiest to store and although it’s the classic for myofascial release (self massage), it’s not actually the best tool for most areas of the body.

I teach Virtual Mat Pilates with Foam Roller every Wednesday at 5:30pm eastern time, drop-in’s welcome (Zoom based, recording available if you cannot be there live). Schedule HERE

Foam rollers are easy to find, at big box or online, for under $25.

The links to products are provided for your convenience, none are affiliate links (I do not profit from them).

Do you have a favorite prop that isn’t included on this list? I’d love to hear about it. It is the year of home workouts (home everything!) and I love seeing all these wild new inventions pop up, I just ordered a “new” style of resistance band, keep your eyes out on the Gracefulfitness YouTube Channel for videos with it if I like it!

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Posted in: Pilates, Pilates, reviews, strength training, workouts Tagged: exercise ball, foam roller, home workouts, kelly starlett, mat pilates, mini stability ball, Pilates, pilates props, resistance stick, versa loop

Intuitive Movement & The 5 Minute Breakout

July 31, 2020 by gracefulfitness Leave a Comment

I’m a mover.


For as long as I can remember, I’ve been deeply connected with my body.
As a farm girl who grew up in the ‘80s (no internet!) and started dancing at 6 years old, moving my body consistently was a way of life from the beginning.

Along came my teens and 20’s and an internal narrative/external feedback of “the gym is where you get skinny” and alas I spent a decade or two doing hundreds of hours of “I Should” workouts; “I should be doing this hour of cardio” “I should be running 3 days a week”…


Along with crows feet and increased self assurance, my 30’s have been a time of learning intuitive eating and intuitive moving.


With both moving and eating, I’m releasing the attachment to “Should’s” and developing an internal check in; “what does my body & spirit need right now?”


Some questions I ask myself when evaluating how/if I am going to move:


•what’s your energy level/how well rested are you feeling?


•how have you moved so far today? this week?

•what’s your “why” today?

This last one is interesting, and perhaps most important on the list. If, after careful observation, my ‘primary “why” is because I “should”, often I choose to move in ways I don’t consider exercise. I take a mellow walk, I work in the garden, I clean the house, I stretch or roll a little. Or I make the choice not to move, without guilt, without regret.


However, I am a mover.

My inertia is to stay in motion. The choice to idle is rarely longlasting for me.

If you need a little gentle accelleration, I’ve got you!

I’m creating a library of 5 Minute Cardio Interval Breakouts (instead of Workouts, get it? You get a break from work!) for my YouTube Channel.

Each Breakout is 5 minutes designed to get your heart rate up a bit, move you in a variety of ways, and give options for how high or low intensity you want to move. I am not using any equipment for these and I am intentionally not doing any exercises on the hands or even down on the floor because I know that can be limiting to some people.

My intention is accessible, you don’t need a lot of space or time to do these Breakouts, just the answer from your body “yes, I want to move”.

(Or even, “meh, I’m not totally against moving, let’s give it a try and check in again”…an object in motion…)

Here’s the latest Breakout!

I would love your feedback on it; the level of challenge, the variety of movement, etc.

Happy moving!

P.S. I am still in the running for Hers Magazine’s Ms. Health & Fitness 2020 (!!!!) and would so appreciate your support by taking 15 seconds to vote for me each day through August.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

  • You will have to connect to a valid FaceBook page to vote.
  • Voting is free and you can vote ONCE A DAY.
  • Voting ends August 6th for round two.
  • If inclined, I would be so grateful for ‘shares’ of this post or my profile page for the contest.

There are several rounds to the voting process, so daily votes make a HUGE difference, thank you in advance!!!

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Posted in: interval training, workouts Tagged: 5 Minute Breakout, HIIT, home workout, interval training, intuitive eating, intuitive moving, youtube
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I am Faith Levine, a movement instructor, home gardener, mountain biker, hiker, pickle maker, closet poet, and best of friend to some of the most amazing women in the world.

I’d love to hear from you,
gracefulfitness@live.com

Header photo: Meredith Coe

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Hi, I'm Faith! New? Check out I Am for my story, I Cook for recipes, and I Move for some motivation to get moving! I'd love to hear from you, e-mail me gracefulfitness@live.com
Header photo: Meredith Coe

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