I've been doing Barre Fusion for a few years now. It's a fusion of ballet, intense core work, yoga, and orthopedic stretches. It's great, but eventually, maybe because I'm 60, something hurts and I have to lay off for a while. Then I do water exercise on my own in the pool. What works for you?
I've been weight training for years, and swear by it. In the gym 4 days a week. After weights, I do 12-15 minutes usually of interval cardio. It does the trick.
Thanks for your comment. Do you use a personal trainer for the weight training? I did slow-lift weight training on machines for a few years with a trainer. I didn't lose any weight, but it fixed my joint pain.
Hi Judy, Thanks for responding! Actually, I am a trainer. I usually work out alone, but once or, if lucky, twice a week, I work out with my boyfriend.
Cool. I have what I used to think was sciatica, but my massage therapist has pinpointed as piriformis syndrome, so I tend to get very sore when doing seat exercises in barre fusion or pilates. Someone suggested I do pilates on the machines, which I have never tried because it is so expensive, because they could not strain that muscle so much. I wonder if that is true. I also have been doing piloxing. But my favorite "exercise" is gardening.
Hi Judy! Well, you sent me to wikipedia to read up on piriformis syndrome! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piriformis_syndrome It's encouraging, especially the part under Pathophysiology, where it says: "When piriformis syndrome is caused by weak abductors combined with tight adductors, a highly effective and easy treatment includes stretching and strengthening these muscle groups. An exercise regimen targeting the gluteus medius and hip abductor muscle groups can alleviate symptoms of piriformis syndrome within days." Of course, that's IF your massage therapist was correct and you indeed have PS, and also IF the cause of it is weak abductors plus tight adductors. Did he/she give you some stretches or exercises?
She did tell me when I pull legs into chest and roll on my back in between exercise sets in class, not to hold for l0ng, just a few seconds. I also heard from one of my yoga teachers that stretching in yoga is often done for so long that the muscle starts to tighten instead of loosen. The pain first began after I was doing Yin Yoga, which is a type of yoga where you hold the pose for a long time. Also, I often sit cross-legged on my bed and work on laptop. It was ok for Sarah Jessica Parker to do that as Carrie Bradshaw in her 40s. Not ok if you are over 60. I am trying to curb that. I went to a Japanese shiatsu healer who diagnosed my pelvis was twisted (just as chiropractor had shown, but going to him didn't do any good). Japanese guy took out huge wooden mallet and saddle and began pounding on my pelvis to get it better aligned, a traditional treatment. OMG. I was sore for weeks. It only helped for the first half hour. There are two studio exercises that particularly hurt. One called the butterfly to get rid of muffin top. And a series designed to tighten and raise the seat. Both those really set off pain. Others, like the pigeon, and some twists, feel good.
This guy seems good. Maybe the stretch will help. I usually perform a version of it while on my back on the floor, but the seated option he presents here looks more doable for the most part. Plus, you get to lean your torso forward, which deepens the stretch. It makes my sometimes achy right hip feel better!
This is great and so helpful. You are a very welcome addition to the forum. Keep coming back. I'm going to Piloxing tonight. After shopping, wrapping, and packing I'm ready to throw some air punches.
How can yoga burn calories.As it is said that its good for tackling obesity? Good Dental Clinic in Sarjapur Road
I work up a sweat doing yoga poses so I suppose it burns calories by raising the metabolism. Holding a pose is work! I haven't exercised in a while and went to a yoga class for seniors last night, although I was the youngest there. It was just the right intensity for getting back into stretching.