So I just sat there slumped at my desk discovering yet another way I make my neck and shoulders tense, sat at my desk at the computer, about to write this blog. I thought it was time to commit properly to a blog again, why I’ve been resisting it I don’t know, I’m busy, or some other excuse!! Yes I am busy, yet in a good way these days. I realised I was sat there with my hands on the desk, shoulders rounded forward and neck slightly hunched forwards. This is not good posture!! Just being honest that I’m still imperfectly improving on this body and mind thing of mindfulness Pilates, it seems a forever journey of self discovery if you let it. Why not keep learning about yourself and improving to both make yourself feel better, as well as I hope me writing this will inspire you to enquire about your habits both good and bad. (My friend and fellow author Janey Lee Grace has this expression of to keep imperfectly improving!! Thanks Janey, you’re a star!) Now I’m sitting with my legs crossed, I like sitting with my legs crossed!! With my right leg crossed over my left. But sat here long enough sitting like that and my back and nerves will start to complain at me!! Luckily I had enough sense to put a soft pink cushion behind my lumbar spine low back. But then I realised I was sat away from the back of the chair and it wasn’t actually providing the support I was hoping for, so I’ve uncrossed my legs and now my feet have sneaked onto the feet of the chair!!, right… finally I’m going to sit with good posture. I’ve moved my back to the back of the chair next to the soft cushion, my feet are now hip width apart with my feet planted on the floor, my shoulders are as relaxed as they can be whilst I type. That’s better. Although…. I don’t like to sit down for too long as my back prefers to be moving, or sitting on a soft surface, lying down!! Standing or lying on my side.
Have you got some bad posture habits you could rectify in a flash?
Then I realised this morning that I was doing my Pilates on a thin yoga mat, that really is not a first class thing to do at all if you’ve had a back problem like myself. Here are my excuses, my favourite posh thick pink mat is at the studio that I teach at, my other thick mat I managed to leave in the back of a taxi the other day, it to be honest had seen better days so quite a good way to de-clutter it. So as I write, I’m going to pause and buy a new mat. It’s a bright pink thick 15mm pilates mat, extra comfy and now my personal mindfulness pilates practice I do every morning can bring me JOY, as my low back will be very happy about it. I find that especially those of us who have suffered past prolapsed discs have more of a tendency to need a softer and thicker mat. Right…
I’m back, I’ve just ordered a really nice mat. It’s really important you have a decent mat too. Look after your body.
Something clients were all saying this week is that although they’d still practiced regularly, they had lapsed a bit me not teaching them for 3 weeks and weren’t always doing their daily 6 minutes pilates before breakfast practice that they were doing before. Good news we are back this week to normal weekly sessions.
I must admit that I too didn’t do as much Pilates in august and actually a 69 year old client had come back to classes fitter than me!! Is that a shame? No because I’ve at least been doing my daily morning pilates, meditation and my essential spiky ball pilates stretches too, sometimes more with back strengthenings many times a week. But even so less than usual. So you’re not alone on this.
Having lessons definitely keeps up morale, progress and that all important word practice which gives you the results and maintenance we all need. It’s like having a weekly MOT and service Pilates is! For mind and body, for that I will always be grateful for. For me it’s like breathing, eating, sleeping, brushing our teeth, a daily essential tool I can’t live without. I dread to think how I’d feel without it. Thank god!!
By Beverley Densham
Pilates teachers of 22 years
To help you transform your back and body
Ps pic from a lovely outing to some beautiful gardens this summer! I’d just enjoyed a cappuccino, chocolate, read and meditation was bliss!