Are there any in particular that are good? Any one trainer or DVD?

Windsor and Stott are the most popular, you can take classes but it's not worth it, the DVDs are pretty straight forward.

Thanks Diana

read this:

http://thefitcast.com/?p=82

swans05 wrote:read this:

http://thefitcast.com/?p=82

LOL I love how everyone in that article is either a strength trainer or a sports trainer. Of course pilates won't make you stronger! And of course some people have ROM issues. But basically, as with any exercise, if your body don't wanna do it, don't force the movement!
Both yoga and pilates are remedial, they help improve posture and it just feels good.
Weight training is not the only way to exercise your body, It's a great way to achieve many things, but there is room for something different every once and while. I find most people who do either yoga or pilates do not consider it training, rather a way to stretch like a cat and put your mind in a relaxed and peaceful state.
Now one day I'd just love it if someone tied Swan to a reformer and left him there for a few hours.
xoxo
d.

would possibly bore the crap outta me

Hmmm, maybe, maybe you would ***horrors*** enjoy yourself. LOL
My personal motto is I'll try anything once.
Sometimes, you learn stuff. Sometimes, it's a load of crap but you still learn that at least.
d.

i'm all a boy efficiency and stretching for an hour isn't that in my book but it does has it's place i suppose but he ability to touch your toes and hold it doesn't really carry over to dynamic flexibility where most injuries come from (picking up stuff off the floor etc)

Wow, thanks for all the great info!
Plain and simple...I get bored. I feel like I need to be doing more. I know that pilates is NOT for strength training. And I am not at all crazy about static or ballistic streatching. No need for it anyway, the streatching that is...am limber enough. I have complete ROM in all joints...no need for any hyper-mobility. I really want something to get my legs moving more. I bike and jog/sprint....but I work out alone...and in all honesty I'm just not comfortable doing a couple miles outside by myself. I do go out in the day but its around 95 outside so morning and night are the best times to go. My neighboor hood is not well lit at all, so it is still very dark out in the am...and most of my clents are at night so that is another problem. Which takes us back to the pilates DVD...or anything, for that matter. Have never done pilates before so I figured I'd give it a try.
Maybe kickboxing....or tae bo...anything really. Any suggestions...just looking for something extra. I already do about an hour a day weights-3 days a wk and 20 GPP 3 days. And twice a week I either run or bike...
I just want to do more some days

so any suggestions!

Do you play any sports, maybe raquetball or something?
If you can get out and run around with the kid, play soccer, the swimming thing is always good.
I know what you mean, I get ants in the pants all the time.
Try something recreational, since you already have a good workout schedule, biking is aweome.
Just stay off those FL streets, I used to visit S.Florida twice a year and I know it can be dangerous sometimes.
DVDs can be fun, but the get boring, it's better if you can do something with company.
d.

Try something like this.

3 minutes jogging to Warm up.

5 minutes light Stretching.


Circuit one 45 secs per exercise

Jacks

Squat Thrusts

Spotty Dogs

Scissors

Ski Jumps

Star Jumps


1 minute rest


Circuit two, (same as C one but 1 minute per exercise)


1 minute rest


Circuit three, (same as C one again)


5 minutes light stretching


Good indoor circuit I feel, altemating between Veritcal and horizontal exercises, albeit Star Jumps are a half and half, as your keep your Legs vertical, but not your Back.

This circuit in the way I've described, takes spot on 30 mins, and you could do this with the TV on or some music.

Should give you something to do if you like for 1-2 times a week.

Just take it at your won pace, and see how you feel at the end, and if you're able increase the pace, so you might start intially at a rate of one rep every 3 seconds, and then maybe speed up to one every 2-2.5, if you felt confident enough in your Aerobic abilities.

If you're not sure what any of those exercises are, just ask.

wow..thanks

I usualy try to look this stuff up....seeing as how i find mis-leading info a lot...and that your will to explain...I'm not sure what most of them are...my thinking is

Squat Thrusts ---maybe start at squat position and vertical jump

Spotty Dogs --?????

Scissors ----????

Ski Jumps --?????? same as squat thrust would be my guess...but i no that cant be

Star Jumps -???

as i said from the begining...i am so new to the exercise thing and very unfamiliar with the new terms....so please....a blind eye to the ignorance.

And thank you for all your help!

Diana.......all wonderful suggestions...thank you. We love to play together during the weekend..but during the week, they are so wore out by the time they come in (with after school sports they are usually in by 6:30) they are ready to eat and relax. Plus we have homework. So I need something I can do alone. The weather should start getting nicer for biking during the day...and it is great. I do 10 miles ..not much...but it kicks by butt. i never drop below 12 mph..and the last 1/4 of every mile i sprint at 20mph.
I dont swim much at the pool...mainly the river.....and thats not often either.
And as far as the Florida streets...you must have come at a good time. Its usually dangerous ALL the time!

Okay, I'll try to explain.


Squat Thrusts.

1. Down on your Hands and Feet, Back straight like a Table, Knees tucked into your Chest.

2. do a small jump, and kick the Legs out behind you like a Frog.

3. Repeat the movement, until the feet are tucked in agian. That's one rep.


Spotty Dogs.

1. Do a small jump, and bring one Leg slightly forward, and the Arm on the same side.

2. The other Leg and Arm go backwards to, a bit like a Vertical scissor movement. That's one rep.

3. Repeat the action, until you're done.


Scissors

1. Same position as Squat thrusts. Do a small jump, and part the Legs, until your Legs like like an upside down V.

2. Reverse the movmenet until the Legs are close together again. That's one rep.


Ski Jumps

1. Legs together, arms bent like you're skiing.

2. do a small jump, and move the Legs togther slightly to the right, Upper body should stay in the same place. Legs return ot the floor, close together. That's a rep.

3. Repeat movement, unti you're Legs are slightly to the left of your original start point, same as before, the upper body should be in the same place all the time.

4. The movement is ment to simulate skiining, with a small jump in it.


Star Jumps

1. Legs straight, back same as Squat Thrusts, so you look a bit like a number 7, touching Toes.

2. do a small jump, bringing the Legs and Arms out to the side, so you look a bit like a Starfish.

3. Do a small jump and return to starting position. This is a rep.

This may sound silly but you would be surprised that after a few minutes you may be sweating quite well. When I get "ants in the pants" at night or when it is raining, etc. I go into the living room, move the coffee table and pick out a few things to focus on. A lampshade, the TV screen a vase, etc. Then without actually physically hitting the targets/spots I have picked out, I sight down my arms or legs and punch or kick in varying patterns. By focusing on where my hand or foot is going and trying to be precision with it the workout is much better and you improve hand-eye coordination. Plus you are not just jab, jab, jab, jab, jab straight in front of you 5,000 times. You are kicking and punching high, low, to the side, etc. Makes it more interesting and feels like less of a drill/task. You even get really fancy with it after a while and you can throw hooks, uppercuts, round houses, all kinds of fun stuff. I know it sounds cheesy, but if no one is there to see it, who cares?