Instead of hijacking chatty's thread about biking accident, thought I would start a new topic in response to Dotsie's comment about her 2nd pilates class and wondering what my experience would be like. See very last message in post topic: http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=190371#Post190371


Well tonight's lst class of 12 students..is a combined yoga and pilates class. I wanted this and am glad I chose this route. The sequence of exercises has been interwoven with various movements and stances from both to get each type's benefits..which do overlap. ..though I think yoga movements integrate more simple meditation and techniques to slow down the brain/stress while executing certain movements.

If I hadn't been looking and trying certain simple yoga and pilates movements in past few years on my own, I would have been totally lost in this lst class.. and unable to do certain poses. I was trying to memorize certain movements to practice on my own since this class is only once/wk.

Well, Dotsie the abdominal/core muscles are there but they did want to collapse for certain movements. Cycling does not strengthen core muscles. But in order to cycling strong and for several consecutive hrs., it does help alot to have strong core so the back doesn't get sore, etc. I do need to do overall simple as well asymmetrical body stretching, etc., so that even the simplest movement on the bike for safety, ie. a shoulder check, to check for traffic behind me, can be done..with my head turned enough to the side, so that I can see something while my rolling bike stays straight ahead on the ride as I ride forward. Just an example of helpful, required body flexibility from 1 sport for another sport.

I do have some problems in balancing in certain yoga positions on 1 foot. It may be due to my slight scolosis where 1 shoulder is more dropped than the other, hence body back alighment is not straight. But hopefully these sessions will show me things to help myself for also balance, improved posture.

Now I am so glad I took a shower..after cycling home from class in the night time darkness...and also my fitness ride earlier this morning.

My head and body feels very cleansing..in every sense of the word with proper types of exercises today..at a pace that I like...and of my choosing. But I need to try to kick in my memory cells to remember all that I did tonight..to practice.