Turns out Pilates is for men too, who woulda thunk it! (Pilates have always had a bad rep in my mind since my friend bought this Wii game for his girlfriend a year back). Actually the exercises don't involve nearly as much painful stretching and awkward positions as I thought they would. In essence the whole routine seems to be a bunch of core exercises where you pay extra careful attention to your breathing and the precision of your movements.
At the session we didn't get that much of a history on the origins of the practice of Pilates - but that's what the internet is for isn't it.
So, Pilates, what are you really? Like the Foreman Grill, the Heimlich maneuver and the sandwich, Pilates is named after its inventor Mr Joseph Pilates. It was developed in the early 20th century and has gone on to become a worldwide phenomenon. The system is premised on certain principles:
-Concentration
-Control
-Centering
-Precision
-Breathing
I must say that I enjoyed the workout but didn't find it that challenging - although I don't think it is meant to be particularly taxing. For core workouts though I think I'll stick to something a little more challenging.
Cough Cough, Kick
So, the other day I was sick. I always remember hearing that if the sickness isn't fever related and hasn't moved into your chest that a bit of mild exercise is helpful. A few different websites prescribed the "neck check" to ascertain whether I was fit for action or not. Prevention.com says "If your symptoms are all above the neck, like a runny nose or a sore throat, then you're okay to exercise".
I trust the internet for my news so why not medical advice too?
Donning my thin skin (literally the best money I have EVER spent on an item of clothing) I headed off to football practice. Obviously I didn't push myself too hard at practice, and I couldn't perform very well regardless. Afterwards, though, I did feel slightly better.
A little exercise, even when sick, is never a bad idea.
