A good move
Pilates People Cork
By Jaconel Janssen
In this new column, I am hoping to encourage you to add a little more movement to your day. Simple steps to a more active life. No big dramatic changes. Simple stuff. Things that work.
Before I was a movement teacher, I worked in an office. I didn’t think I was unfit. I went to the gym, participated in the odd exercise class, cycled, walked at the weekend. But after a long day at work, my body was aching.
I was only in my mid-thirties, but my body was protesting against the big part of the day I was not moving - never mind the hour of intense exercise I did in the evening. During the biggest part of the day, I was simply not moving enough.
I gave up the office-based job and trained as a pilates teacher. That was in 2005. Now in my fifties, I feel stronger and more flexible than I did in my thirties. The difference? I move more.
I have been teaching movement for over 16 years, and the longer I teach, the simpler it gets. Just move more.
A little bit of movement is better than no movement. A little bit extra every day amounts to a lot more at the end of the week - your body and mind will feel the difference.
Every week, I will introduce you to a simple, functional movement, or stretch, that can be done from the comfort of your own home - in your kitchen, bathroom, garden.
You don’t need to buy any equipment. Just look at what is already there and use it for the purpose of building strength, flexibility and balance.
Your body does not mind what you call it: exercise, housework, carrying the shopping, dancing to a favourite tune. So go up the stairs twice in a row. Put your tea bags in a higher cupboard and the cups lower down. Use your (empty) pots and pans for weight lifting. Leave some items in your shopping bags and do bicep curls. And keep on doing those perfect chair squats!
Jaconel Janssen is a pilates and Buff Bones teacher and founder of Pilates People Cork. She teaches movement classes in Cork, both in person and online, and a monthly outdoor class. For more on classes or one-to-one sessions, visit pilatespeoplecork.com or contact info@pilatespeoplecork.com or 085-1613505.