CALLANETICS CHALLENGE JULY 2008

[lowcarblulu]

Originally Posted by Tinkerloo

Hi Everyone -
Just found this thread but have noticed lots of folks with Callanetics on their signature so I went ahead and ordered the very basic dvd which should arrive shortly. I'd appreciate any tips - I've been extremely sedentary the past few years and have never actually been very active since college (I'm 41!!!) - I feel sore after working in the garden for a couple of hours! So I'm hoping that this will be something that can assist me in slowly building some strength back as I'm losing the extra 30 pounds that have come on the past few years and before getting pregnant in the fall!

Looking forward to your thoughts - thanks!
Tink

You'll love it here... we're all at different levels, so don't be shy! You definitely picked the right exercise plan!

Lulu

[CallanFan]

hi, sandra --

since i've discovered that the floor stretches in 10/10 with the legs in a wide V are irritating my problem hip, i've been substituting whatever evolution stretch i happen to think of. what would be the best evolution substitution here, coming right after the hips & behind work? i've done the seated cross-legged walk your hands to one side stretch, the wide plie one hand on the floor while reaching up stretch, the seated feet together pulling in and turning your neck stretch, and the on your back cross one leg over knee stretch. which one fits best here, or should i just mix them all up?

i'm finding that i'm getting my best results alternating 10/10 with evolution -- but i do love those evolution stretches.

p.s.: how're those demonstration clips coming??

[kelley17]

Just completed my 4 hour of 10 of 10/10 for July. Felt pretty good and think I see a little indent in my lower thigh

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by thomas_london

Hey there - a newbie from London.

I am joining in. I exercise professionally and have been a fan of callanetics since the 80s. Currently do the original callanetics and super callanetics - I also take Lotte Berk classes.

My goal is now to do either of my callanetic dvd's every other day, and will start this afternoon

Yeh another Callanetics guy

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by planetbenjamin

That's a really interesting picture you posted. I added a few observations that might help a bit. As we are learning the exercises it's good to spot where other people are going wrong so we can spot the mistakes we are doing ourselves.

I'm sure Sandra and Noreen will see this pic and have a million corrections too!

Wow, loved what you've done here Ben This definitely isn't a good representation of the exercises. What is with the shoes - ouch! I can hear Callan wailing from here.
So much slumping, legs too high.


Sandra x

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by Comma

I have a question about the stomach excercises.

I understood from Sandra () that the stomach draws down to the spine. When I let the stomach sink like that (which really takes all my concentration, between rounding and pf), I can curl up much less than how I used to do it.

So am I doing it right? The stomach is 'actively' sunk towards the spine, which brings the shoulders a bit down?

Geesh, change one tiny thing and the entire excercise feels completley different...

When you say you can't curl up as much I'm assuming here that you are really talking about rounding up in to position and not curling your pelvis. If you do mean curling your pelvis then you wouldn't want to be doing this anyway.

Anyway, yes you do let your stomach sink down. We are really talking about the deeper abdominal muscles that we want to melt down. This is why we say "draw the navel down in towards your spine". So, allow your deep abs to melt down along with letting your ribcage melt in towards your towards your shoulder blades does seem to lower the upper back a little.

Think that you want to have your ribcage down thru your lower back and tailbone relaxed and melting in to the floor. The more stretched your upper back the more you'll be able to round in to work the abs even deeper.

Hope that helps.
Sandra x

[sunrise lady]

The south african callanetics works the arms a bit. But I've not seen the original Callan videos so I can't compare, I only have SA and Evolution (I'm mainly working from Evolution, but want to sometimes alternate with SA).

[sunrise lady]

Thomas, just in case you mistook my earlier post, just wanted to make sure it's clear that it's Twyla (Watch Me Shrink), not me, who is hitting 300 hours! I'm still under (or around?) 15!

[siamesegirl]

Originally Posted by thomas_london

I do enjoy Callanetics and the sensation it gives me during the exercises...working deep into the muscle combined with an almost effortless grace. I am pretty much in the same boat as watch-Me-Shrink when it comes to combining things, as I'm striving for a more athletic and strong look (think Madonna in a male body) and therefore involved in a whole spectrum of trainings styles and intensities to get the maximum out of everything.

...Might give the Evolution dvd a try, but right now I'm soooo busy with my other stuff...I'll get there eventually

Thomas,
You MUST try Callanetics Evolution when you get the chance, its not for wimps!! I'm in the process of becoming a Certifed Callanetics Teacher,last week i took a few days off from Callanetics. Yesterday i did Callanetics Evolution and it kicked my ass! OH MY GOD i was so sore today! I thought my behind was going to fall off!! I'm sooo sore!!!!!!!!

[sunrise lady]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

Are you talking about the stretch right after the wide format leg plies? If so, you leg does want to be straight but without locking knees. If you can't hold the position with straight legs follow the beginners position or you can rest your hand on a firm pillow or book or something that allows you to straighten your leg.

Let me know if this works.

Sandra x

Hi Sandra,

Getting back to my question some 6-7 pages ago: No, it's not that one, it's the one where you put left hand above right knee and right hand palm up on lower back and then you turn to the right from the back/neck. Legs on the dvd seem to be straight, I'm definitely feeling the stretch there, but if I want to have my back at around 90 degrees angle to legs my knees are bent. I try and straighten them as much as I can and that really kicks in the stretch and the whole thing feels really nice, (I guess I prefer the feeling of that to having my back more upright with the straighter legs).

So legs should be straight (but not locked)? or is it ok what I'm doing?

thanks

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by CallanFan

hi, sandra --

since i've discovered that the floor stretches in 10/10 with the legs in a wide V are irritating my problem hip, i've been substituting whatever evolution stretch i happen to think of. what would be the best evolution substitution here, coming right after the hips & behind work? i've done the seated cross-legged walk your hands to one side stretch, the wide plie one hand on the floor while reaching up stretch, the seated feet together pulling in and turning your neck stretch, and the on your back cross one leg over knee stretch. which one fits best here, or should i just mix them all up?

i'm finding that i'm getting my best results alternating 10/10 with evolution -- but i do love those evolution stretches.

p.s.: how're those demonstration clips coming??

The stretch that precedes hip and behind on Evolution is a great substitute as it provides a stretch for the inner thighs hamstrings, hamstrings as well as a wonderful hip stretch right up through arms.

It's the one where one let is bent in front and the other stretched out to the side. You stretch up raising your arms and rotate to the bent leg then stretch over the straight leg.

Keep both sitbones rooted down in to the floor and don't llow your hips to raise up as you stretch over. Always remembering that you are stretching out of the pelvis/.pelvic floor to gain the best stretch.

The filming went well - all done and hopefully will get it loaded soon on my website.

Sandra x

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by sunrise lady

Hi Sandra,

Getting back to my question some 6-7 pages ago: No, it's not that one, it's the one where you put left hand above right knee and right hand palm up on lower back and then you turn to the right from the back/neck. Legs on the dvd seem to be straight, I'm definitely feeling the stretch there, but if I want to have my back at around 90 degrees angle to legs my knees are bent. I try and straighten them as much as I can and that really kicks in the stretch and the whole thing feels really nice, (I guess I prefer the feeling of that to having my back more upright with the straighter legs).

So legs should be straight (but not locked)? or is it ok what I'm doing?

thanks

If your hamstrings are tight and you've hinged at the hips correctly keeping your spine straight then your knees will bend. It means you are in the correct position for you at this time.

Once you are in position breathe deeply and engage deeper while lengthening out thru the counterpulls to provide more room for stretch and length. Consciously lengthen down thru your heels and stretch your sitbones or you can think buttocks up to ceiling to try to straightening your legs as your muscles stretch. But don't lose your hinge or round your spine.

Don't force this the legs will straighten when they are ready and you never lock your knees.

So, allow your body to guide you in to your best position and being on that 90 degree angle with legs bent sounds perfect to me.

The lady that demonstrated the beginners position is normally very flexible so her legs do show straight but in reality they would probably be bent.

Hope that helps
Sandra x

[dimond]

Another hour of 10/10...3/12 in July.

-Di

[Sandrahanna]

I'm going to be away for a while so I'll leave you in the more than capable hands of Noreen and Ben and not forgetting the inspirational Twyla

I'll let you know when my footage is up and running on my website and will try to pop in sometime to say G'day

Keep up the amazing work everyone. I've really, really loved working with you all you've become an extension of my studio and I'll miss you while I'm away.

Love and hugs
Sandraxxoo

[sunrise lady]

Have a great time away!

And thanks for that last bit of advice, that helps very nicely!

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

If your hamstrings are tight and you've hinged at the hips correctly keeping your spine straight then your knees will bend. It means you are in the correct position for you at this time.

Once you are in position breathe deeply and engage deeper while lengthening out thru the counterpulls to provide more room for stretch and length. Consciously lengthen down thru your heels and stretch your sitbones or you can think buttocks up to ceiling to try to straightening your legs as your muscles stretch. But don't lose your hinge or round your spine.

Don't force this the legs will straighten when they are ready and you never lock your knees.

So, allow your body to guide you in to your best position and being on that 90 degree angle with legs bent sounds perfect to me.

The lady that demonstrated the beginners position is normally very flexible so her legs do show straight but in reality they would probably be bent.

Hope that helps
Sandra x

[CallanFan]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

The stretch that precedes hip and behind on Evolution is a great substitute as it provides a stretch for the inner thighs hamstrings, hamstrings as well as a wonderful hip stretch right up through arms.

It's the one where one let is bent in front and the other stretched out to the side. You stretch up raising your arms and rotate to the bent leg then stretch over the straight leg.

Keep both sitbones rooted down in to the floor and don't llow your hips to raise up as you stretch over. Always remembering that you are stretching out of the pelvis/.pelvic floor to gain the best stretch.

The filming went well - all done and hopefully will get it loaded soon on my website.

Sandra x

thank you, sandra. i'd forgotten about that one.

it would be so much easier if these things had names -- it's kind of comical how we have to refer to them...

enjoy your time off, we'll miss you

[shrinkingaway8]

10/10 completed: Total Callanetcis: 19

[sreichfeld]

4th hour completed for July!!!

[thomas_london]

2nd hour done.

[Sakinah]

i did my third hour this morning, going for 10
Callanetics is teaching me that my head neck and shoulders and a complete mess, i find it really hard to melt like butter lol, but the stretches feel great!

its also a challenge to relax my knees and toes, guess im just a ball of tension!

[ninajane]

Aiming for 9 hours this month, I've done 1 already and will do another this afternoon.

Next month it'll be 10 I'll aim for, I started late!

[Ladybugg]

Just did my 4th hour for July this morning. My legs are burning! I guess that's a good thing.

Does anyone know how many calories are burned in one hour of 10 in 10?

[ninajane]

Just done my second hour. I'm absolutely worn out!

Pics of before (yesterday) are on my profile, I'll take some more after the 5th hour to compare!

[kirax2]

1st hour of 10 in 10 completed this morning.

[Dreamchaser]

I am thinking of trying callanetics but haven't started yet.

I would really love to hear from those of you lucky ladies who never experienced the "dreaded body changes" that some of the women have talked about going through. You know what I mean, the part where your body looks worse before it looks better.

I have to say that for someone thinking about starting, it's kind of scary to hear about the body changing thing. I am going to Florida on August 30th for 3 weeks and the thought of being forced into a bathing suit is traumatic enough for me never mind the thought that my body could actually look worse than it does now!

So, as much as I am tempted to try callanetics because you guys are so wonderfully inspirational I might just wait until September (after vacation). I can just stick with my cardio and weights for now. If I have to go through scary looking body changes, don't get me wrong - I can deal with it but for goodness sakes, not while I have to be in a bathing suit!

So please share your personal experiences your physical body changes. The bad ones and especially the good ones. I'd REALLY love to hear from all of you Who knows, maybe I can even be convinced to start sooner rather than later!