Aretia's Tribe

Pilates Music
Is pilates done with music?

I’m seriously considering in joining a pilates class but would like to know a little more how a class is like, preferably from someone who practices/has already practiced it.

I go to pilates classes at my gym 2-3 times a week. All the classes I attend use music, it differs according to the instructor and type of pilates. For traditional pilates they use mostly calming relaxing, slow music, for pilates pulse they use a faster tempo, modern music.

All of my classes are an hour in length, some at the gym are 30 minutes, again depends on the gym and what they are offering.

The classes consist of a specific series of exercises/movements, usually starting out with some stretches and short warm-up, then moving into the 100s (pilates exercise for the abs), a lot of core work targeting abs and back, glutes and legs, then a stretch out and cool down.

Music to your Ears

The clocks have gone forward and the evenings are now lighter, spring is in the air and your thoughts maybe turn to starting a new exercise routine, along with shedding those winter pounds. Making the decision to embark on a new exercise programme is tough enough without all the hard work that actually goes into a work out programme, well there is a secret ingredient that can make the process a whole lot less painful, and that’s music!

Music activates the same feel good part of our brains that food does, hard to imagine but worth a try. Music can be used in physical activity to help energise or relax depending on the type of sport or fitness activity you are taking part in. This is a major factor to bear in mind when choosing what music to work out to.

If you are new to exercise, building up the amount of time you are active for can be tough, but instead of watching the clock and counting the minutes, keep track of the number of songs you have listened to instead. Before you know it you will have reached your recommend daily, 30 minutes of exercise. Music helps to break the monotony we can feel when running on a treadmill or riding a bike, it’s a welcome distraction and will help time fly by.

With personal music technology now so well advanced you can easily put together a ‘playlist’ of your favourite tracks, your choice of music can now span the eras bringing back fond memories and giving you that feel good factor that will help motivate and inspire you. A good tip is to put in a ‘power song’ every 3-4 tracks, this will help to combat any dips if you start to fade and help to push you on through that last mile or repetition.

If you don’t have the time to put together your own list of music to keep you inspired your local gym will offer plenty of Exercise to Music classes you can try. There is RPM where you cycle to the beat of the music, Body Pump where you use weights and movements that are choreographed to the beats of the music and if that’s too complicated yoga and Pilates also use more mellow music to help focus your mind. Big events, such as the Sony Erickson, Run to the Beat a well known half marathon, stages lives bands across the duration of the course to help keep the runners going the whole way round. Different genres of music are played at different points on the course ensuring there is something to motivate everyone.

Of course running and hitting the gym isn’t the only way to use music in a bid to lose weight and improve health. Joining a dance class is a great way to get fit, lose weight and listen to your favourite genre of music. Whether you like the sounds of a Spanish guitar and want to salsa, heavy beats and want to hip hop or classical and take up ballet music is a useful tool available to everyone, that can help motivate and inspire your journey to a fitter slimmer you.

About the Author

Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Do you get envious of those who can sing from the heart and who make it look so easy while it sounds so good? You can learn how to sing effortlessly if you follow a few simple tips and tricks to improve your voice as well as your pitch and tone. Of course if you have a tendency to breathe through your nose or struggle with breathing already you may need to address these problems first since singing comes not just from the lungs. It originates from the diaphragm and the back as well, and involves many muscles that are needed to originate that sound and really push it out of the body.

Improving your breathing therefore is the first step in learning to effortlessly sing and one that isn’t easily dismissed. Practice deep breathing every day. Your posture is also important when it comes to singing to make sure it’s as good as can be. It might sound strange, but you could consider yoga or stretching techniques, and even Pilates to improve your posture. These workout routines stretch your back and strengthen the muscles of your core so that your posture is naturally improved. Yoga especially can help to open up the muscles around the lungs and improves blood and oxygen circulation so your voice will naturally be stronger as well.

And another tip to remember when you want to learn how to sing effortlessly is to make sure your signing originates from the diaphragm and back muscles. If you just try to “push” your voice you’ll wind up singing louder, not better, and will hurt your vocal chords as well. Take deep breaths, stand up straight, and really pull the notes from deep inside rather than trying to force them out of you.

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