CALLANETICS CHALLENGE JULY 2008

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by ThyckeCutie

I have a problem with saddle bag areas too. I will just keep taking pointers and try my best to eliminate them. I know when I do the hip/behind exercises my legs shake almost half way thru the exercise. Like they are having a seizure lol So I hope this is what you are talking about Sandra

Yep, that's what I'm talking about It's your muscles becoming fatigued. I find that this happens to students more when they're muscles become stronger. It's important to keep the rest of the body completely relaxed and not allow yourself to collapse while training. Ok to collapse after you've come out of the position though

Another thing for stubborn saddlebags is maybe to up the massaging in that area. Some vigorous regular massaging does help in some cases.

Sandra x

[Sakinah]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

Hi,

You can modify the leg exercises so that you don't feel the pain in your knees.

There are some pics somewhere of an alternative position. I might just repost them so that you can see. For knee issues it is advisable to keep your heels lower or not lift them at all.

I'll post the pics and this will make more sense to you. We need to try some different positions so that you can work your thighs.
Sandra x

Thanks Sandra I will try that, I have had water on my knee since I started working out after baby #2, I guess i was in a rush to lose weight and pushed it on the bike not keeping in mind the joints are still relaxed , it was after the 6 week wait but still the injury happened. something women need to be careful of i suppose i need to address it anyway since its not going away (baby is 21 months now)
but i will look around for pictures thanks

[emilys]

Originally Posted by Sandrahanna

Yep, that's what I'm talking about It's your muscles becoming fatigued. I find that this happens to students more when they're muscles become stronger. It's important to keep the rest of the body completely relaxed and not allow yourself to collapse while training. Ok to collapse after you've come out of the position though

Another thing for stubborn saddlebags is maybe to up the massaging in that area. Some vigorous regular massaging does help in some cases.

Sandra x

With all the talk about relaxing the muscles...are you supposed to actually try to tighten/flex the muscle you're supposed to be working?

[wildcat1842]

Hi! I was wondering where I could find the thread: "Before/After Callanetics Pics"

I know nothing about Callanetics. I think I tried it in the 80's though. I only had a book back then. Where's the best place to buy DVD's? Thanks!

[kelley17]

Originally Posted by wildcat1842

Hi! I was wondering where I could find the thread: "Before/After Callanetics Pics"

I know nothing about Callanetics. I think I tried it in the 80's though. I only had a book back then. Where's the best place to buy DVD's? Thanks!

Hello fellow CFLC teammate. Check page 23 of this thread I believe post 679 from Twyla it has the links of the before and after shots. I love Callanetics! It is addictive.

[Sakinah]

Originally Posted by wildcat1842

Where's the best place to buy DVD's? Thanks!

I have been getting mine off ebay, I absolutely refuse to pay retail for anything and didnt find that amazon had such great deals

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by Maria627

but, 1 quick question. When you refer to the straight leg hip/ behind exercise you stress the importance of elongating out of the hip through the hel. In SC she has us pull our leg in. Should I be stretching out instead?

Yes, Callan does say this and I can see how you can be confused but for this exercise you slide the leg in towards you as you lean over slightly with your torso. Callan doesn't mean to slide the leg back in to your hip socket. It is still important to stay stretched out of the pelvic floor/pelvis through the spine and through the heel.


So, you'd take the leg out to the side with your knee and top of foot facing forward.

Then engage the PF and stretch the spine up.

Slide the leg in towards you and allow your torso to travel over to the side.

Curl your pubic bone up from the base of the behind (a very small movement and is there to ensure that you don't arch your back).

Keep your hip totally relaxed down and lift your foot up off the floor and then start to pulse either up and down or outward circular motion or a back and forth movement.

Remember all pulses are teeeny tiny and barely visible especially the circular movements and back and forth. In case you don't have Evolution the Circular motion is clockwise on the right leg and anti clockwise on the left.

For the back and forth rotation you can think of pulsing your knee out and up towards the ceiling. Don't worry if this feels tricky to start just think of the movement and try to feel it happening through the leg eventually the body catches up and you'll be able to create the pulse easier. I would recommend mastering the up and down and circle pulses first though.

Sandra x

[Sandrahanna]

Originally Posted by emilys

With all the talk about relaxing the muscles...are you supposed to actually try to tighten/flex the muscle you're supposed to be working?

No, you don't contract, tighten or flex any of the muscle groups you are training.

In Callanetics it's the position that isolates the muscle group (that's why form and technique is so important) and it's the pulsing action that tones the muscles and changes the shape of the muscles.

Every part of the body is relaxed when you pulse - including the muscle group you are training. I hope this makes sense to you. It's a hard concept for people who have come from other exercise methods.

When you do your Callanetic workout try to keep an 'effortless' mindset. Avoid trying too hard.

Sandra x

[wildcat1842]

Thank you Kelley ans Sakinah!

[Maria627]

I have been doing it wrong for decades! Tonight another hour of SC accomplished w/ my new take on the straight leg. Maybe this change will produce a bigger one in my thighes!!

[Maria627]

Originally Posted by ThyckeCutie

How long are the iballet workouts? Do you need equipment?

I have one of the Bar Methods also and I tried some of the exercises one day and they do seem quite challanging. I might add this to my routine

Thyckcutie, iballet1 is a good place to start. The plie' section is the mother of all iballets I have tried. No equipment but sometimes a small ball is used to squeeze between your legs for added resistance. I just got 32 & it has a Super Call feel to it!Oh, w/ good music!

[dimond]

Completed 10/12 of 10/10 for July. W2D1-100PUC done.

Twyla - Thanks for your generous comments. I am taking the whine back out to the kitchen and having a piece of cheese to celebrate my loss! And yes, I do cycle my count. I learned a long time ago that continuity makes my metabolism complacent.

Cheers,
-Di

[kelley17]

Another hour of 10/10 completed and also completed W2D1 of PUC!

[Comma]

half an hour.....then dd needed her mommy. Oh well, I got my problem area in, anyway.

[dimond]

TC,

I also did Lotte Berk a few years ago and was very happy with the results. I quit using them because once I got the routines down there was too much down time and not enough workout. In a 30 minute session, only about 18 minutes was actually exercise. I would love to mix it up with Callanetics because I think the muscle confusion would be nice, but I am waiting for them to release a more difficult video. The current programs (even the bonus workouts) are too easy now that I have been doing Callan.

I do think the upper body is good (esp. Muscle Eats Fat), and the stretching is fantastic.

-Di

[luckylychee]

Originally Posted by Comma

half an hour.....then dd needed her mommy. Oh well, I got my problem area in, anyway.

I know how you feel. DD (18 months now) always feels it's her right to straddle my belly when I'm doing my sit ups. It's so frustrating!

Did another hour of 10/10 today. I have two questions.

When I do the 10 p[ies, my knees are often hurting. Does that eventually get better? It's embarassing to be only 28 and have knee pains. That's why I've always hated lunges and squats.

Also, have you guys noticed a great improvement on your legs from callan? I was thinking that as I did the inner thigh squeeze tonight. I have a whopping 25 inch thigh each, and I know they're filled with fat because they actually droop over. It's disgusting. Does the inner thigh squeeze really work?

Also with the arms behind your back move, does it really shrink your underarms? I have droopy fat there too!

[CallanFan]

Originally Posted by luckylychee

Also with the arms behind your back move, does it really shrink your underarms? I have droopy fat there too!

the arms behind your back move is really powerful. the under part of my arms used to flap in the wind when i was waving at someone. now that is all tightened up, no flapping at all. i know, because i wave at myself in the mirror all the time, just to be sure!

[lowcarblulu]

Another hour of Evolution complete!

Welcome back Sandra! We missed you!

[sunrise lady]

Yeah, welcome back to callanetics addiction land, Sandra!


Hey there Callan Fan - great you got rid of the jigglies! Are you referring to the 10/10 arm stretches, or evolution or something else? I have the evo dvd and the 10/10 book, those 10/10 arm stretches look cool

[luckylychee]

Originally Posted by CallanFan

the arms behind your back move is really powerful. the under part of my arms used to flap in the wind when i was waving at someone. now that is all tightened up, no flapping at all. i know, because i wave at myself in the mirror all the time, just to be sure!

If i'm really really good...perhaps one day, my giant obese sized arms might be similar to yours?

I have abnormally sized arms I believe. I hope next summer I can actually wear a summer dress without a jacket to hide the fat.

[nola baxter]

Hi Sandra

Thank you for replying.

It is possible I am trying too hard in this area. I really have been pushing it as much as possible.

I do feel the tremor and quivering that you talk about when I work the muscle.

I know the appropriate muscles are stronger than when I started- but it has not resulted in any pulling in. There may be some lifting up ( I find it hard to tell exactly)- but they still stick out just as much as ever.

I have also been working on activating the pelvic floor and lengthening out of it , while walking.

I am a solo mum- and do not have the technology for taking pics; i will ask a friend and see if she will take one for me.

I am doing my best to lengthen and stretch out both ways.. i do not yet feel as if the hip is dislocating though!

I have had saddlebags since about 13 (puberty). I have always exercised a great deal, and wonder if they are kind of hardened into place!
None of my exercise (weight-training/aerobics/running/walking/t-tapp/biking,rebounding), has ever seemed to improve my saddlebags.

When my bodyfat gets under 10%- saddlebags become minimal.. but this is not feasible for everyday life.

I am currently a normal weight , with a good diet.

Due to weight-training I have a well developed ( solid ) upper body. My upper and lower body are fairly balanced , with the exception of the saddlebags.

Since starting Callanetics I have not been weight-training my lower body- as I do not wish to interfere with the callanetics work.

I sometimes wonder if plastic surgery is the only option. One of my older sisters recently had lipo for her saddlebags..

Thankyou for such detailed instructions. I will continue working on it.

Nola

[betty112filip]

Hello Sandrahanna, I dont post often, in fact just few times in some previous threads, but I read all messages here very carefully.

Can I have one question?

You said

********
No, you don't contract, tighten or flex any of the muscle groups you are training.

In Callanetics it's the position that isolates the muscle group (that's why form and technique is so important) and it's the pulsing action that tones the muscles and changes the shape of the muscles.

Every part of the body is relaxed when you pulse - including the muscle group you are training. I hope this makes sense to you. It's a hard concept for people who have come from other exercise methods.

When you do your Callanetic workout try to keep an 'effortless' mindset. Avoid trying too hard.
************

but you also said :

************
Keep stretching the leg as you pulse and keep growing out of the crown of the head. SO, your PF is super strong and you are stretching out in both directions through the crown and heel. Your leg may start to vibrate as you do this. You want to create as much tautness in the muscle as possible.

*****************

that we need to create as much tautness in the muscle as possbile.

I am so confused now. If tautness or relaxed? It seems I still dont understand

Thank you
Betty

[sreichfeld]

another hour completed

[lildragonfly]

Sandra, A question posed a while back while you were gone was the PF and if it is engaged for 10 in 10 ab work as well as EVO ab work. It gets confusing sometimes when we talk and we are not sure which program it is that the person is doing. So my question is in 10 in 10 abs do we engage the PF or relax?

[siamesegirl]

Originally Posted by lildragonfly

Sandra, A question posed a while back while you were gone was the PF and if it is engaged for 10 in 10 ab work as well as EVO ab work. It gets confusing sometimes when we talk and we are not sure which program it is that the person is doing. So my question is in 10 in 10 abs do we engage the PF or relax?

Marsha,

You can do both in 10/10 when you are readt to intensify then you can add in the PF work, 5%,10% you will find that your PF will get quite strong but be sure not to over engage the PF.

I'll post some info in "Callanetics Tips" about the PF later this week.