CALLANETICS CHALLENGE JUNE 2008

[lowcarblulu]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

Don't always expect to feel soreness in the abs after a workout. Or, infact anywhere in the body. What you want to expect though is to feel pulled in after a workout. You should feel as though it's effortless to hold your tummy, as though you have a girdle on.

If you're not experiencing this 'pull in' feeling after a workout you may need to check your position and form/technique.

When doing abs allow your abs to melt in towards your spine. Don't tighten or contract your abdominals though, there's no need for this.

Round in as much as you can, this becomes easier as your upper back muscles stretch. Let your ribcage melt in.

Relax every other muscle and allow your abs to take over. Try to get a sensaton of expansion - the rest of your body can feel floaty when you experience this.

Also, another key to really getting the abs to work deeper and tone and flatten quicker and it's my 'Focus of the Week' in my studio at the moment.

Try to slow your pulses down - avoid a rapid pulse.

Keeping your pulses slow enables you to relax the rest of the body more and boy oh boy will you feel this working super deep You may need to take more breathers but it's worth the results.

Slowing down everything when you workout intensifies every exercise. Breath deeply and allow your body to relax and let go.

Happy triple, sllllooooow motion pulsing

Sandra x



R

Just finished another hour of Evolution. Sandra, I really slowed down my ab pulses this time as you suggested above, and boy was I cursing you

Really felt it deep. And I am feeling the pulling in afterwards!

Thanks so much!

Lulu

[4gotn1]

I posted at the end of the may thread and I don't think anyone has been back! LOL!

I did Callanetics back when the book came out...I don't know more than 18 years ago. I didn't really see results but I may not have been doing the moves correctly either.

It was NOT easy!

I don't honestly think I could do it but wanted to ask from those who are doing it.... do you think someone 341lbs could do any of the dvd's?

Thanks so much!

[Mary_M]

Hi,

I had to take a break for a week, I was experiencing pain in my left buttock . Like I had pulled a muscle except it was a dull pain. Not sure what caused it, I may have used a barre (ie kitchen chair) that was too high for the leg stretch. Anywho I had my 38th bday during my break and now I'm ready to get back to business! 1 hr SC completed today. Evo next time!

[LowCarbRachel]

4 hours done!

[onaisland]

1 hr 10/10 done

[Lucky Stardust]

I´ve been out in the countryside without internet for a few days, and it will take a while to keep up with this thread... so much to read! Can´t belive how fast this thread is moving

[Lucky Stardust]

Twyla!
Hope you have a fantastic vacation, you lovely gorgeus woman!

[Lucky Stardust]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

I want to say to you all how much I love working with you on this thread and being a part of your Callanetics Challenge. I have learnt so much from you all and I'm bringing this in to my Studio.

Also, I have to say thank you for inspiring me to make time to work out myself. I'm putting aside time to complete a one hour of Callanetics at least 3 times a week and I fantastic. Teaching and demonstrating keeps me in pretty good shape but I forgot the difference to my body when I complete a workout.

Sharing my Callanetics success:

Monday I bought a new pair of jeans that were pretty tight - in fact a bit too tight even for me but I loved them so much (I'm a jean freak, live in them ). Today, Thursday, my husband took me to lunch and brought the jeans around to the Studio for me to change in to and they were loose I could feel the denim sliding around my legs as I walked and I had to tighten the belt. My butt wasn't filliing them and felt baggy. This was after 3 hrs of Callanetics. Yeh!!!! Well, I think yeh I wonder if I can take them back and get a smaller size?

By the way, this was from just Callanetics toning exercises no cardio and no weight loss. I have to admit to being lazy when it comes to exercise that's why I love Callanetics - maximum results in minimum time

Anyway, thanks again all.

Sandra xo

Sandra, we are so incredibly lucky to have you!
You are such a gem, inspirational, incredibly generous with your time and effort, beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.
Thank you so much for all your support to us, I learn so much from reading the aswers you give to everybody.
Know you are greatly appriciated!!

[ConnieB]

Originally Posted by 4gotn1

I posted at the end of the may thread and I don't think anyone has been back! LOL!

I did Callanetics back when the book came out...I don't know more than 18 years ago. I didn't really see results but I may not have been doing the moves correctly either.

It was NOT easy!

I don't honestly think I could do it but wanted to ask from those who are doing it.... do you think someone 341lbs could do any of the dvd's?

Thanks so much!

4gotn1

I really think any one at any level can do this workout. I am probably 50 lbls overweight and have been able to do the moves. Some I have to modify somewhat but over time could tell they were still working. For example, one where you grab hold of you ankle and try to put your head between your arm and your calf, there was no way!!! So I would just bend over as far as I could comfortably and stretch the muscles. Just before I broke my foot, I was actually able to reach my ankle with both hands. So, yes, I would recommend this workout to anyone at any level although I would also recommend some cardio for the fat burning and quicker weight loss, but of course Callan has the "Cardio Callanetics" for that.

Just work at your own pace and concentrate on the form and not how many you are doing. That was/is the hardest thing for me to remember. I keep trying to keep up with the counter. Form, form, and form.

Connie B.

[shrinkingaway8]

10/10 completed

[LowCarbRachel]

4gotn1,

My muscles are so tight (from not exercising all winter/spring) and I am having to modify almost all the exercises for myself. Callan is really great about saying "do what you can do" and "work at your own pace." I tried to push myself a little too hard in my first workout, but now I am getting things figured out. I am feeling myself getting a little more flexible and a little stronger during each workout...and it is a great stress relieving workout, I find.

Hope you will join us!
Rachel

[lovenuts]

1 hour Super C

[lildragonfly]

Thycke, I have to say I got better results when I was only doing little other workouts. When I did Callan and small 15 intervals of HIIT I showed faster results. And I did do upper body weights. Seems sometimes other exercises can negate what Callan does for you. So I am back to do Callan 3 -4 x a week and HIIT pn elliptical or turbo jam cardio 2 -3 x a week. I do upper body weights on my callan days.

[Wasabell]

Sandra, thanks for the hints on the ab workout. I've just completed my second hour of 10/10, and dont feel any soreness either. I do have a question though. On the hip/butt excercises, (one leg outstretched, hips rolled forward, pelvis tilted) I cant use a barre or even a coffee table. I have to pretty much lay on my side in order to keep my hip rolled forward. Im pretty much at goal, so Im just using this for toning, maintenance, and maybe lose a couple more pounds. Is this OK?

[MARIAN6532]

Originally Posted by Wasabell

Sandra, thanks for the hints on the ab workout. I've just completed my second hour of 10/10, and dont feel any soreness either. I do have a question though. On the hip/butt excercises, (one leg outstretched, hips rolled forward, pelvis tilted) I cant use a barre or even a coffee table. I have to pretty much lay on my side in order to keep my hip rolled forward. Im pretty much at goal, so Im just using this for toning, maintenance, and maybe lose a couple more pounds. Is this OK?

o you think doing other workouts ie (carmen electra fit to strip...jari love )
for lower body....negates the results i am trying to achieve with callanetics??
i am afraid to give up all my videos and just focus on cardio and callanetics....anyone else do that and have better results

marian

[iamcrazy]

ok, i tried callanetics for the first time today & it broke me, That was pretty freakin hard!!

I have a question for all of you, when i do the stomach exercises my neck kills me, i tried so many different ways to position & did exactly what she did on th video but no luck.

Have any of you found the same thing & been able to adapt??

Thanks!!

[ThyckeCutie]

Originally Posted by lildragonfly

Thycke, I have to say I got better results when I was only doing little other workouts. When I did Callan and small 15 intervals of HIIT I showed faster results. And I did do upper body weights. Seems sometimes other exercises can negate what Callan does for you. So I am back to do Callan 3 -4 x a week and HIIT pn elliptical or turbo jam cardio 2 -3 x a week. I do upper body weights on my callan days.

By little workouts, do you mean shorter in length or not so intense? I have cut down my cardio to 3x a week in 20 minute sessions starting about 2 weeks ago. Before I was doing cardio 4-5x a week 45min each plus Callan. Was that a bit too much

For example this is what I am doing now:
Monday - 20min arm workout(has cardio intervals) & 20 min Ab Jam
Tuesday - Super C
Wednesday - 20min Turbo Jam
Thursday - Super C.
Friday - 20min arm workout(has cardio intervals) & 20 min Ab Jam
Sat - Super C.

Im trying to break my workouts into just doing them m-f but I am also trying to get enough cardio in too. Super C is well over an hour so sometimes its hard to do Callan and cardio on the same day. I just want to make sure I get in enough cardio but really want to focus on Callanetics...

[ThyckeCutie]

Originally Posted by abouttime

ok, i tried callanetics for the first time today & it broke me, That was pretty freakin hard!!

I have a question for all of you, when i do the stomach exercises my neck kills me, i tried so many different ways to position & did exactly what she did on th video but no luck.

Have any of you found the same thing & been able to adapt??

Thanks!!

Just take breathers. This happened to me but after a couple hours my neck was strong enough to make it through all the stomach exercises. These exercises strengthen your neck as well!! Sometimes I forget how strong Callanatics has made me in many different ways.

[iamcrazy]

Today i could only do 25 of the 100, im glad to hear it will get better

[sunrise lady]

Another hour of Evolution done!

[jerseygirlsunshine]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

YOu have several options here. Try first keeping your knees slightly apart and make your curls gentle and small gradually stretching the muscle the tight muscle (inside of right knee I would suspect).

Or, you can do the stretch by standing and bending your leg to the back and holding on to the foot - stretch up and curl your pelvis. Stay stretched up off the standing leg and make sure you don't pull your foot in to your buttocks.

Or, you can sit with one leg bent in front of you and the other bent to the side and level with your hip. Roll the hip forward so the foot comes up off the floor and clasp your hand around the foot. Then add a curl and gradually rotate to the side away from the bent leg.

I'm typing this quickly because I'm about to go teach a class so let me know if this isn't clear and I'll rewrite it.

Sandra x

Thank you for the information. I did 10/10 this morning, and I was able to do the thigh stretch with the knees slightly apart with softer curls. The knee did not feel stressed this way... but the stretch did not feel as deep, either. Perhaps as my muscles get stronger, I can try to go back to the prescribed method. I will also try the other two stretches next time. I believe I recognize the third variation from Evolution (I have the 2 new dvds as well... I look forward to adding them to the mix).

Many thanks!

[missmattie]

Originally Posted by abouttime

ok, i tried callanetics for the first time today & it broke me, That was pretty freakin hard!!

I have a question for all of you, when i do the stomach exercises my neck kills me, i tried so many different ways to position & did exactly what she did on th video but no luck.

Have any of you found the same thing & been able to adapt??

Thanks!!

This is very common and Callan even addresses this in her book. When we start Callanetics we are releasing a lot of tension that we didn't even know we had because the focus is on relaxing, while working the muscles deeply. Callan says the neck soreness should go away after the fourth hour, but in the meantime you can hold your hands behind your neck and/or put a pillow behind your back to help support you while rounding up. Hope this helps.
Kathy

[missmattie]

1 hour of Evolution done today.

[iamcrazy]

Originally Posted by missmattie

This is very common and Callan even addresses this in her book. When we start Callanetics we are releasing a lot of tension that we didn't even know we had because the focus is on relaxing, while working the muscles deeply. Callan says the neck soreness should go away after the fourth hour, but in the meantime you can hold your hands behind your neck and/or put a pillow behind your back to help support you while rounding up. Hope this helps.
Kathy

Thank you for all the info guys!!

I'm going to try the pillow, hopefully that will help

[lildragonfly]

Originally Posted by ThyckeCutie

By little workouts, do you mean shorter in length or not so intense? I have cut down my cardio to 3x a week in 20 minute sessions starting about 2 weeks ago. Before I was doing cardio 4-5x a week 45min each plus Callan. Was that a bit too much

For example this is what I am doing now:
Monday - 20min arm workout(has cardio intervals) & 20 min Ab Jam
Tuesday - Super C
Wednesday - 20min Turbo Jam
Thursday - Super C.
Friday - 20min arm workout(has cardio intervals) & 20 min Ab Jam
Sat - Super C.

Im trying to break my workouts into just doing them m-f but I am also trying to get enough cardio in too. Super C is well over an hour so sometimes its hard to do Callan and cardio on the same day. I just want to make sure I get in enough cardio but really want to focus on Callanetics...

I think what you are doing now is good. I was overdoing workouts a while and my results seemed negated cause i was bulking up more than lengthening my muscles. Now that Im back to the callan and cardio only I can already see the pulling in again.