CALLANETICS CHALLENGE APRIL 2008

[Richie]

Is that going to be the cover shot for your "Calletics for Men" dvd, Ben?

[planetbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Richie

Is that going to be the cover shot for your "Calletics for Men" dvd, Ben?

I wish!!

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

My partner snapped a picture of my behind while I was getting ready for bed.
Here it is!

Woohoo - lookin' good

Quoting Patsy from Ab Fab
"buns so tight they were bouncing off walls"

[Sandrahanna]

Hey Ben,

Try these for a Pelvic Rotation variant
1. Stand next to barre as though preparing for leg exercises, so up on toes (as high as you can).
2. Sit back and rotate to the right, over to left curl to front etc - now do this about 5 times
3. Go down an inch and repeat rotating to the right
4. Go down an inch and repeat - then immediately reverse the rotation going to the left
5 times
5. Then go up repeat to left 5 times, then up again and repeat

You can, if you want to work harder, add some pulses to the centre when you have curled.


have a great weekend - it's Sat morning here and looking a bit rainy. I love this time of year though - not too hot but still warm enough to enjoy outdoor stuff.

Sandrax

[pixiepeanut]

Hour #2 done!

Those stomach exercises are killers. By the time we get to set #3, I'm dying!

Question for Sandra:
I'm 41 and have "crunchy" knees. They crackle when I step downstairs and I can feel it under the kneecap when I straighten my leg out in a seated position. They don't hurt but when I do the pelvic rotations and the scoop, I feel like I'm exerting my knees too much. Any way to lighten the load a bit? I've heard that strong quadriceps help weak knees. Hopefully my quads will strengthen up soon.

thanks.

Cindy

[siamesegirl]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

My partner snapped a picture of my behind while I was getting ready for bed.
Here it is!

Cute ass Ben!

[newbody]

Originally Posted by FitNFree40

OK...I need to catch up on posts since last night, but I just wanted to post my inch loss from my first 10 hours.

I honestly thought it would be more since my clothes are fitting so differently and I can SEE a huge difference in the mirror!

I didn't take pics at the beginning and I really wish I had. I had my husband take pics last night, so I'll post before and after when I get to 20 or 25 hours.

I'm ready to join Callanadicts Anonymous! I love it!!

Results after 10 hours of 10/10 (also 1/2 hour of TJ thrown in here and there - maybe 2.5 hours total)

Before:
Chest 35
Waist 32
Hips 35
Rt Thigh 22
Lft Thigh 22
Weight 146

After:
Chest 34
Waist 30
Hips 34
Rt Thigh 21
Lft Thigh 20.5
Weight 142.5

Happy Thursday!!
Carrie

Hi everyone, I started my Callanetics SuperC after losing 33 lbs. It was in effort not to regain the weight but I have gained 5 lbs since. In 6 hours of SuperC, I feel my hip joints feeling better and my waist got bigger

My weight in Feb: 184
Chest: 44
Waist: 32
Hips: 44

Pre-Callan (last week): 151
Chest: 38
Waist: 28.5
Hips: 38.5

Today weight: 156
Chest: 38
Waist: 29.5 (got one inch here )
Hips: 38.5

I am doing superC daily and will start walking in addition. My goal is 36-27-36. Callanetics did miracles in my 20s. Now in my 40s after 5th hour felt light as a feather even though still some exercises are tough. I do not find significant difference between Regular C and Super C. I will keep you posted. My goal is to do exercise every day - or at least 5 times per week, so at least 20 more times this month. Hopefully I shave off one inch from all stats!

[Snuckles]

Okay, I've never done this before, let's see if this works. I'm sorry the second set of images are darker then the 1st set. Must've been a really sunny day for the 3 hr shots.

http://render1.snapfish.com/render2/.../of=50,524,443

[missmattie]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

Hey Kathy,

Check that you don't over engage your PF. When you engage you don't want feel anything in your low back, so keep low back relaxed. Stay stretched up out of pelvic floor and when you step out that you don't collapse in to pelvis putting pressure on your back.

Hard to say without watching you - have you ever had back problems?

Hi Sandra,
I don't have any back problems, other than my lower back getting stiff if I overdo (or wrongly do) exercises, but you might be right about over engaging my pelvic floor. I was trying so hard to tighten my behind I might have overdone it. Also I don't think I really understood how to correctly engage the pelvic floor, but that's becoming clearer after all the explanations on this thread. Thanks so much.
Kathy

[missmattie]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

My partner snapped a picture of my behind while I was getting ready for bed.
Here it is!

Hey Ben, you have a great looking "peach."

Kathy

[onaisland]

Originally Posted by pixiepeanut

Hour #2 done!

Those stomach exercises are killers. By the time we get to set #3, I'm dying!

Question for Sandra:
I'm 41 and have "crunchy" knees. They crackle when I step downstairs and I can feel it under the kneecap when I straighten my leg out in a seated position. They don't hurt but when I do the pelvic rotations and the scoop, I feel like I'm exerting my knees too much. Any way to lighten the load a bit? I've heard that strong quadriceps help weak knees. Hopefully my quads will strengthen up soon.

thanks.

Cindy

This was a topic on muscle matters; maybe this might interest you:

"Crinkley" Joints

[missmattie]

Originally Posted by Snuckles

Okay, I've never done this before, let's see if this works. I'm sorry the second set of images are darker then the 1st set. Must've been a really sunny day for the 3 hr shots.

http://render1.snapfish.com/render2/.../of=50,524,443

Wow Snuckles, you are really getting that "peach." I can see a difference, especially in your backside. Keep up the good work.
Kathy

[soulwings]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

My partner snapped a picture of my behind while I was getting ready for bed.
Here it is!

Definitely a peach. How many hours did it take before you got that (really)?

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by pixiepeanut

Hour #2 done!

Those stomach exercises are killers. By the time we get to set #3, I'm dying!

Question for Sandra:
I'm 41 and have "crunchy" knees. They crackle when I step downstairs and I can feel it under the kneecap when I straighten my leg out in a seated position. They don't hurt but when I do the pelvic rotations and the scoop, I feel like I'm exerting my knees too much. Any way to lighten the load a bit? I've heard that strong quadriceps help weak knees. Hopefully my quads will strengthen up soon.

thanks.

Cindy

Hi Cindy,

My studio can sometimes be quite musical with the 'crackling of knee' especially amongst the beginners.

As long as they're isn't any pain in your knee caps, continue to exercise. As your quads strenthen it will improve. Glucosamine is also really good as was mentioned.

When doing rotations or scoops keep your pelvic floor activated and stay stretched up through he spine to keep excess weight off he knees.

If doing the kneeling exercises just doesn't work - do them standing at he barre. If you look back a couple of pages there is written instructions on this.

Keep exercising though - you need to take heed of this so that it doesn't get worse.

Sandrax

[planetbenjamin]

Originally Posted by soulwings

Definitely a peach. How many hours did it take before you got that (really)?

I've been doing Callanetics on and off for years now. If I haven't done it for a while (we're talking a few months here) then it takes me about 8 sessions to get it back to being a precious peach! I'm doing a mixture of Super Callanetics and CallaneticsEvolution now so I'm expecting even better results!
I do want to do more cardio but my knees hurt a bit on the treadmill (I love runnning). I can't really get into CardioCallanetics. I think the movements are really more for women.

Sandra, I will try that pelvic rotation tonight and let you know what i think. Thanks

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

I've been doing Callanetics on and off for years now. If I haven't done it for a while (we're talking a few months here) then it takes me about 8 sessions to get it back to being a precious peach! I'm doing a mixture of Super Callanetics and CallaneticsEvolution now so I'm expecting even better results!
I do want to do more cardio but my knees hurt a bit on the treadmill (I love runnning). I can't really get into CardioCallanetics. I think the movements are really more for women.

Sandra, I will try that pelvic rotation tonight and let you know what i think. Thanks

For some super buttock training try this:

When you're working with Evolution and doing the hip and behind exercises - the second ones after the traditional. You'll be resting on a forearm and have legs bent in front of you at a right angle. Well when I teach these I get my advanced students to pulse into the PF for even superior results.

What will happen will be the small outward rotation of the thigh. Keep pulsing deeper and deeper so that you feel the muscles through the back of the leg stretching and the buttocks working at the base of the behind only.

Then when you stretch the top leg out do the same thing. Make sure you definitely keep our counterpulls in place. Keeping the torso stretched out enables more muscle fibres to be engaged in the back of the leg.

These two exercises are called little and big scissors and they are my all time favs for shaping the deeper layers of buttocks and back of legs.

They are great for smoothing out the skin also to help eliminate orange peel skin - which is something you just don't even give a thought to hey?

In my opinion, pulsing into the PF is the cream of all pulses. I just love it, it does fantastic things for shaping he butt.

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by newbody

Hi everyone, I started my Callanetics SuperC after losing 33 lbs. It was in effort not to regain the weight but I have gained 5 lbs since. In 6 hours of SuperC, I feel my hip joints feeling better and my waist got bigger

My weight in Feb: 184
Chest: 44
Waist: 32
Hips: 44

Pre-Callan (last week): 151
Chest: 38
Waist: 28.5
Hips: 38.5

Today weight: 156
Chest: 38
Waist: 29.5 (got one inch here )
Hips: 38.5

I am doing superC daily and will start walking in addition. My goal is 36-27-36. Callanetics did miracles in my 20s. Now in my 40s after 5th hour felt light as a feather even though still some exercises are tough. I do not find significant difference between Regular C and Super C. I will keep you posted. My goal is to do exercise every day - or at least 5 times per week, so at least 20 more times this month. Hopefully I shave off one inch from all stats!

With Callantics exercises you lift up from the calves and down from the chest and then it meets in the middle. This means that there are times when you feel that you are getting bigger at the top of legs and midriff.

Don't stress about this - think of it as a good thing, you're sculpting your body after all and it's changing shape. Just keep exercising and it will, sometimes, really quickly, pull in to give you your slimmer all over body shape.

Also, Callan says in her book to throw away the scales - great advise as muscle weighs more than fat so the scale habit can put you off. Keep at it, the results are worth it.

Sandrax

[pixiepeanut]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

Hi Cindy,

My studio can sometimes be quite musical with the 'crackling of knee' especially amongst the beginners.

As long as they're isn't any pain in your knee caps, continue to exercise. As your quads strenthen it will improve. Glucosamine is also really good as was mentioned.

When doing rotations or scoops keep your pelvic floor activated and stay stretched up through he spine to keep excess weight off he knees.

If doing the kneeling exercises just doesn't work - do them standing at he barre. If you look back a couple of pages there is written instructions on this.

Keep exercising though - you need to take heed of this so that it doesn't get worse.

Sandrax

Thanks Sandra! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one! I'll try the modifications you suggested.

On a side note, this morning after waking up, I can definitely feel a difference in my upper thighs and hips. Something is definitely "different". Also, being such a sloucher, especially at the computer, I can feel that I'm starting to sit up a little straighter. All this after just 2 hours! I'm sold!

thanks again!
Cindy

[planetbenjamin]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

For some super buttock training try this:

When you're working with Evolution and doing the hip and behind exercises - the second ones after the traditional. You'll be resting on a forearm and have legs bent in front of you at a right angle. Well when I teach these I get my advanced students to pulse into the PF for even superior results.

What will happen will be the small outward rotation of the thigh. Keep pulsing deeper and deeper so that you feel the muscles through the back of the leg stretching and the buttocks working at the base of the behind only.

Then when you stretch the top leg out do the same thing. Make sure you definitely keep our counterpulls in place. Keeping the torso stretched out enables more muscle fibres to be engaged in the back of the leg.

These two exercises are called little and big scissors and they are my all time favs for shaping the deeper layers of buttocks and back of legs.

They are great for smoothing out the skin also to help eliminate orange peel skin - which is something you just don't even give a thought to hey?

In my opinion, pulsing into the PF is the cream of all pulses. I just love it, it does fantastic things for shaping he butt.

Thanks Sandra. I'm gonna try those later and let you know how I get on.

Are there actual names for all the CallaneticsEvolution exercises?? We know the names of all the ones from the traditional programmes but not from Evolution. Maybe if you get time you could list them??

[mariad]

Just finished my second hour for April,I wanted to have completed 3 by now but friends popped around on Thursday with some tomatoe plants and a few bottles of cava,so,that went out the window,having said that, by Tuesday it will be 3 for the week,so,not too far behind,talking of which,I want a peachy like Planet benjamin
Great tips everyone and well done to us all for the dedication.
Ive played around with the tapes for year's but now feel totally different,maybe it's an age thingy

Have a great weekend to you all

Hug's n Stuff

Maria

[callaneticsteacher]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

Hey Agnes,

Isn't being a Callanetics Teacher the best job in the world? I just love it, and over the 7 years I've been teaching I find I'm constantly learning and becoming even more passionate about it.

I'm not surprised that the modifications I mentioned were familiar to you as this is how we trained. You may, like I was, have been surprised how different alot of things were once you started training. I'd been practising Callanetics for 14 years before certifying so when I went to US to train I was pretty confident. After the 1st hour I was humbled and realised "I knew nothin' "

I did exactly as you are doing with gradually bringing in new exercises. I certified traditional and then went back a few months later for spiralling. But because I hadn't really practised the exercises a great deal myself at that time and hadn't 'fallen in love' with them.

However, I started to see such quick changes in my body shape from the new exercises that I was able to sell them to my classes. Now I teach a mix of Evolution with a little traditional thrown in.

AFter reading through this forum and how everyone seemed to favour 10/10 I thought I should give it a go. I taught the sitting hip and behind at the barre for the first time for years last night and this morning. My students found it challenging. The key is to constantly change the exercises. I wait until my students start to really make an exercise look easy - then I change it. They moan but ultimately love the result they get from the variant.

Apologises for blabbing on - I love being and talking with other teachers you can learn heaps. That was one of the things I loved about the filming process.

Keep in touch
Sandrax

Hi Sandra,

Yes, teaching Callanetics has changed my life. I love it! I was certified for both Traditional and Evolution in October, however I started to teach the traditional workout and have been gradually building in the Evolution exercises. I found my muscles challanged when I started to do more and more exercises from Callanetics Evolution, it's a great feeling!

I love teaching the cardio workout as well. My first class in the new fitness center went well, people said that it was something different. I was very pleased. At some point the CD jumped as the girls was stepping on the floor and I had no idea whether it jumped 10 minutes forward or 5 minutes backword or just jumped and continued where it was ... At the end I had to improvise and caught up fine. I used to dance for 10 years and had many coreographies performed on stage, so it brought back memories about having to make a quick decision and improvise. Will have the second class this Sunday, can't wait!

Keep in touch, Agnes

[missmattie]

Today we're going off (it's 6:30 a.m. right now here in California) so I just did the 15 minute maintenance plan from the book so I was hitting the key areas as Callan says. What I did do was really concentrate on engaging the pelvic floor and made some startling (for me ) observations.

•I realized I haven't been engaging all the pelvic floor muscles, but had only been tightening my butt cheeks. It was hard to keep them engaged the whole time, but I remember Sandra saying it will get better with practice. I've also taken her advice and have been practicing engaging them throughout the day so I get used to what that feels like.

•On the pelvic wave I'm up on my heels and noticed at first that when I engaged the PF my heels also tightened together and I had to make a point of relaxing them, while still staying up on them.

•By biggest revelation came with the straight leg hip and behind exercise. I always thought I had been doing it right because I had been rolling the hip forward and concentrating on keep it rolled, but when I added the PF engagement I finally understood what Callan meant when she said at first your leg will "feel like lead."

I feel good right now, but am interested to see how my muscles feel later on or tomorrow.

Well, off to get ready for our day. Have a great weekend everyone.

Kathy