November 2020 News from Extreme Fitness & Tanning

Linda Stevens

Oct 29, 20204 min read

November is National Diabetes Month

More than 34 million Americans have diabetes (about 1 in 10), and approximately 90-95% of them have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes most often develops in people over age 45.

One of the ways to manage diabetes is to get moving with a fitness plan Fitness is another key to managing type 2 diabetes. The good news is, all you have to do is get moving. No matter how fit you are a little activity every day can help fight type 2 diabetes and put yourself in charge of your life. Work with your doctor to determine what level of physical activity you should engage in. Figure out how much time per day you can devote to exercise  Set fitness goals—having clear goals can help you stay motivated. Stop by Extreme Fitness and ask about our memberships we will help you with your fitness journey. Start slowly and allow for recovery time  Keep track of what you do and stay focused on your goals  Listen to your body.

NOVEMBER "GUNS" CHALLENGE

Hunting Season starts in November and so does our "Guns" Challenge

NEW ELLIPTICALS

Come check out the new ellipticals. They have may impressive features including HIIT Boosters

Ramp up any workout with the press of a button, activating one of these signature high-intensity interval training boosters.

X Mode
Arm Blaster
Glute Power
Smart Stride
Glute Kicker

Or simply start in Quick Start mode with a walk, jog, run or climb!

Keep that Golden Tan This Winter

Our tanning beds are all up and running with super HOT bulbs. New Tanning Lotions are in and ready. Ask about our Tan For Less Specials when you purchase a lotion.

XBF Tuesday and Thursday Evenings

The staying power and popularity of step classes speaks for itself. If you are looking for a fun social network to add to your routine try a step class. Join Destini Ard at 6:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and get into the groove and have fun with it.

FUN CARDIO - STEP IT UP

Gym Members $7.50

Non Members $10.00

The Yoga & Pilates Vault

"Pilates? That's Like Yoga, Right?"

by Linda Stevens Pilates & Yoga Instructor

As a teacher of both modalities; I'm often asked are Pilates and Yoga alike. Here are some comparison points about the two disciplines based on my personal experience with both. For the purposes of this discussion, I am comparing Yoga to Pilates on the Reformer (apparatus).

Origins

Yoga was developed over 5,000 years ago in India with the purpose of connecting individual consciousness to a universal consciousness creating spiritual enlightenment. Poses or “asanas” combined with breath control and meditation improve the physical, spiritual, mental and emotional health of the practitioner.

Joseph Pilates began development of his regimen (historically called “Corrective Exercise” and then “Contrology”) approximately 100 years ago. The underlying theme of Pilates is a systematic and disciplined approach to physical movement through focus and clarity of the mind. Joseph Pilates created apparatuses which could support the body in order to correct dysfunction and improve movement.

Equipment

Yoga utilizes mats and small props to aid or support the practitioner.

Pilates has an extensive array of machines, or “apparatuses,” designed to assist the individual in improving alignment, strength and coordination.

Movement

In my experience, yoga poses are typically held for extended time periods to release muscle tension. In some styles of yoga, a long series of poses is repeated sequentially, with the purpose of warming the body to allow for increased range of motion.

Pilates movements are often guided by the apparatus, which can be configured by the teacher to provide assistance or resistance for the client. The focus in a Pilates session is often on a relatively short piece of choreography emphasizing control and precision. A movement is focused on and repeated for a few repetitions before moving onto the next exercise.

Mind Body Connection

In many types of yoga, the session starts with the setting of an intention for the practice and ends with a guided meditation and relaxation or “savasana.” Goals are to clear the mind and surrender to the movement.

In Pilates, there is constant attention on posture, alignment and movement mechanics. The practitioner is encouraged to focus on each movement, staying present and intentional. The theme of controlling the body with the mind is ever-present.

Yoga teaches breathing in and out through the nose or a “warming breath.” This type of breathing is designed to relax the body and calm the mind. Focus in yoga is on “belly breathing.” The classes I take often use the breath as a mechanism to time each pose for example: "Hold this pose for another 4 breaths.”

Pilates teaches breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. This type of breath is considered “diaphragmatic” and is meant to energize and prepare the body for strong engagement. The practitioner is encouraged to “move with the tempo of the breath,” coordinating the two.

Intention

Yoga emphasizes the mind-body and spiritual connection, quieting the mind by focusing on mastery through introspection. Flexibility and strength are improved through repetition of the asanas.

Pilates follows a systematic approach, focusing on individual movements as they integrate with the whole. The intended outcome from Pilates is improved posture and creating a strong, balanced and stable base from which to move.