March Callanetics Challenge

[Romy@callan]

Originally Posted by CosmicGirl

2 of renewed 10/10 completed

Has anyone else noticed that the second leg on the barre exercise takes longer than the first? Is this just me?

Hi CosmicGirl !

What do you mean ? Standing leg exercise or the stretch ?
I noticed a difference in the stretching ability of my legs, my left leg stretches more and easier than my right one. When I do the standing exercises I didn't notice a difference.

Enjoy

[Romy@callan]

Originally Posted by Everal

Sandrahanna,
Is there beginner's level on Evolution? Would you suggest that dvd for a person just starting? Otherwise, what is the difference between Evolution and the others? I have Quick Stomach and Quick Hips.

Thanks.

Hi Everal !

I hope you don't mind me answering your question, surely Sandra will do as well if I missed out something.

Evolution DVD is fine for beginners, just follow Judy (lady with short white hair, mostly in background). She is doing the modifications for beginners. On this DVD you also have a section about the counterpulls, which are essential for the exercises. You will find Callanetics Evolution is a more up-dated and modern version of Callanetics, but that doesn't mean the older videos are no good. If you only own 2 of the quick programs Evolution would be a good choice for you.

Hope that helps, let us know if you have any more questions.
Enjoy pulsing

[Romy@callan]

Originally Posted by rana

Hi Sandra Hannah and everybody else

Cant believe I havent checked in for 10 months!

I have my baby now. Sooo ready to start callenetics again! Unfortunately I didnt exercise at all during pregnancy sinc my morning sicknes was absulatelty terrible for so long than had some complications. All is good now have a healty beautiful daughter

Sandra, I have a question.
I had C cection about 5 weeks ago. I feel ready to have a slow start to both 10/10 and Evo. My Doc told me that I could walk and swimm whenever I feel ready but should avoid any tummy exercises for 3 months.
whats your perspective on this? Did you have any students starting earlier? My doctor loves to be over cautious and I undertand that. Even if I start I would go very slow and listen to my body but I was curious if you had students satrting earlier than three months.

thanks!
Rana

Hi Rana, good to have you back here !!!
Congratulations to your new baby girl, I have seen the pictures of her and she is so cute

Hope you don't mind me answering your question, still hope Sandra will share her experiences with us on that.

I personally don't allow any of my students to do stomach exercises until 12 wks after a C-section birth, so I agree with your doctor. What I do do is encourage the lady to do something thats called ''Zip and hollow''. This is actually a Pilates thing but very helpful after birth, as it trains the tummy muscles in a very gentle yet effective way. You can ''Zip and hollow'' in any position thats comfortable for you.
And here is what you do: breath in wide and full and lengthen up through your spine - relax your shoulders. As you start to breath out draw up your pelvic floor muscles. Breath out more and pull your navel towards your spine, that will help to squeeze the air out of your lungs - and it will work your stomach muscles gently. As you squeeze the last bit of air out of your lungs draw your ribcage in and up. Now your lungs are empty and your tummy muscles are engaged. You pull the muscles in as you would do when zipping up a tight pair of jeans.
Now take little shallow breaths in trying to keep your tummy muscles engaged, evertime you breath out you will try to squeeze even more air out of your lungs by zipping and hollowing even more.
You will discover that you can't take a deep breath in without having to let go of your tummy muscles, so don't breath deeply while being zipped and hollowed. Try to hold this ''Zip and hollow'' position for 10 breaths and then relax. You can do this anywhere and at any time, just keep practising.
In case you have back pain from the pregnancy or from carrying the little one you will find this ''exercise'' will give you relief.

When having a postnatal lady in class I have her do pelvic floor exercise such as Kegel exercise while the others do the stomach pulses.

Hope that helps, let me know if not

Enjoy Callanetics again

[Jigglebuster]

Originally Posted by CosmicGirl

2 of renewed 10/10 completed

Has anyone else noticed that the second leg on the barre exercise takes longer than the first? Is this just me?

I hate to say it, but I think it's just you, that is if you're referring to the pulsing rate on the screen. However, if you're talking about your tendency to pulse slower because of the different position, then it's not just you. It used to take me longer to find my position and then feel comfortable pulsing (I have really tight hips, hamstrings and calves), but as I continued, finding my position and pulsing both became more comfortable.

Does this even come close to answering your question???

[Jigglebuster]

1 hour of 10/10 today = 5/16!

[jennypage]

Originally Posted by Mulberry32

jennypage-1/2" off arms, legs and waist in 5 sessions is fantastic! I felt the difference right away. After a couple weeks I noticed that my butt looked a little rounder, my hips looked a little slimmer and my boobs looked a little perkier. At first I thought it was my imagination since I had never gotten such quick results from any other exercise. I didn't measure but went by how my clothes fit. I was much more relaxed. In fact I got so sleepy the first couple times I did 10/10 that I had to take a nap. Some of the changes have been subtle, some obvious. I think sometimes we focus so hard on the body parts we like the least (for me that is my butt and thighs) that we don't notice the other changes that may show first. I am down 2 sizes (without any weight loss) and people think I weigh about 20 lbs less than I do. Other than walking and one 30 minute session of pilates I haven't done any other form of exercise since starting callanetics last April and my body looks and feels better than it has in years. I always hated my flat, saggy butt and now when I walk by the mirror I admire that rounded, lifted peach! You will see the changes you want if you stick with it.

Thank you for your advice and encouragement. =) I guess I was getting scared I wasn't doing the exercises properly!
I had the weekend off, so this is my official 6th session today. Compared to the days off, I find on the days I do callanetics I feel soooo much more relaxed and energetic!
It's only been a week today, but I don't think I've ever stuck with an exercise plan for so long, and I feel so motivated to keep going!

[Minxz]

I did the Cardio today so 3/12!

[bflogurl]

4/14 hours done!

[Obliana]

Hour # 3 this morning. Combo 10/10 and evo.

[poopsie2223]

Hi! Can I join in here? I have done only 1 hour so far this month but I need to get back on track with doing at least 2 hours a week of Callanetics. For me that is a minimum of 3 days a week doing AM/PM as I can't fit the longer sessions in easily. Anyway, my goal for this month is a minimum of 10 hours so I guess I am 1/10.

[rana]

Originally Posted by Romy@callan

Hi Rana, good to have you back here !!!
Congratulations to your new baby girl, I have seen the pictures of her and she is so cute

Hope you don't mind me answering your question, still hope Sandra will share her experiences with us on that.

I personally don't allow any of my students to do stomach exercises until 12 wks after a C-section birth, so I agree with your doctor. What I do do is encourage the lady to do something thats called ''Zip and hollow''. This is actually a Pilates thing but very helpful after birth, as it trains the tummy muscles in a very gentle yet effective way. You can ''Zip and hollow'' in any position thats comfortable for you.
And here is what you do: breath in wide and full and lengthen up through your spine - relax your shoulders. As you start to breath out draw up your pelvic floor muscles. Breath out more and pull your navel towards your spine, that will help to squeeze the air out of your lungs - and it will work your stomach muscles gently. As you squeeze the last bit of air out of your lungs draw your ribcage in and up. Now your lungs are empty and your tummy muscles are engaged. You pull the muscles in as you would do when zipping up a tight pair of jeans.
Now take little shallow breaths in trying to keep your tummy muscles engaged, evertime you breath out you will try to squeeze even more air out of your lungs by zipping and hollowing even more.
You will discover that you can't take a deep breath in without having to let go of your tummy muscles, so don't breath deeply while being zipped and hollowed. Try to hold this ''Zip and hollow'' position for 10 breaths and then relax. You can do this anywhere and at any time, just keep practising.
In case you have back pain from the pregnancy or from carrying the little one you will find this ''exercise'' will give you relief.

When having a postnatal lady in class I have her do pelvic floor exercise such as Kegel exercise while the others do the stomach pulses.

Hope that helps, let me know if not

Enjoy Callanetics again

Romy!!
Thank you so much for zip and hallow I started doing in it. I feel my muscles engaged a lot. I actually read in a book that you have to think-keep your navel to your spine a lot after birth before you start exercising to let your seperated muscles to heal. But i just forget doing it and it gets tiring after a while, to do zip and hallow practice makes much more sense.

So I will do zip and hallow until 12th week and in the mean time I will start swimming this week. I am assuming it is safe to do all the other exercises other than tummyin 10/10 and Evo would you agree?

thanks so much again!

you have to visit Adana sometime so that we can do callanetics together!

Rana

[Jigglebuster]

I am seeing definition on my legs I haven't seen since my weightlifting days. It's just the beginning, but my legs are now lifted high off my knees and this is exciting me!!!

So now I don't want to stop. I've already upped my Callanetics to 4 or 5 times a week from 3, and Wednesdays (today) are my day of, but I am having a hard time holding myself back because I'm so excited. I'll probably go for a walk, and maybe a skate, but I know that won't satisfy my Callanetics cravings. Do you have this dilemma? And if so, what do you do about it?

[JayaD]

I did one hour Super Callanetics yesterday evening. So far 5/12 done.

[JayaD]

Hi guys,
I read in some other thread if you have stretch marks from your pregnancy and want to get rid of the belly pooch callanetics will not work on that. Is this true? I have stretch marks in my stomach and i definitely want to get rid of the belly pooch. Can somebody talk about this?
Thanks
Jaya

[Mulberry32]

10/10 yesterday for 7/20
1 mile walk= 6/20

Cardio C toning today for 8/20
2 mile walk = 8/20

Jigglebuster-sometimes I will do the warmups and stretches on my days off or the 15 maintenance program from the book.

[bclause]

Your stretch marks will never go away completely, but they will lighten up over time. The less fat on your belly the better. I had 2 c-sections and that pouch is going away. The lower part (under your belly button) is lifting up and inwards. I've only done 10 hours so far, but I see a big difference so I'm very hopeful that it will minimize even more with time and callanetics.

I do an hour walk on my days off, but I'm about to completely change my schedule next week. I want to add lifting on M-W-F and do the callanetics on T-Th-Sat-Sun so I can really get a good stretch on the off lifting days. I'm still going to keep up my walking for this month, but next month I'm going to scale back on them.

[Jigglebuster]

Originally Posted by Mulberry32

Jigglebuster-sometimes I will do the warmups and stretches on my days off or the 15 maintenance program from the book.

Thank you Mullberry!
That would definitely help me get my fix!
For now I'll have to stick with stretching, which is my weak point anyway, and maybe later I'll get the book and check out the maintenance plan.

[Mulberry32]

Jigglebuster-I meant to say 15 minute maintenance program from the book.

[Minxz]

I did the Toning section of the Cardio DVD after doing my Couch to 5 K program.

I am really loving the updated exercises!! The kneeling stomach one is a REAL challenge. My muscles just aren't strong enough to hold my body in that position for the entire time. I look forward to my core strengthening enough to hold it.

I have been having some trouble with my knees in the kneeling pelvic curl one. They keep shifting and popping quite painfully. Are there any mods for this one?

Finally caught up on my goal 4/12. If I can keep this schedule up I may even go over goal for once!

[AprilW]

Hour 4 done plus a mile on the treadmill.

[CosmicGirl]

No 3 done

[CosmicGirl]

Originally Posted by Jigglebuster

I hate to say it, but I think it's just you, that is if you're referring to the pulsing rate on the screen. However, if you're talking about your tendency to pulse slower because of the different position, then it's not just you. It used to take me longer to find my position and then feel comfortable pulsing (I have really tight hips, hamstrings and calves), but as I continued, finding my position and pulsing both became more comfortable.

Does this even come close to answering your question???

It probably is just me the cos I always feel that the second set of heel on barre exercises are longer than the first... Maybe I just hope to get them over with?!

Originally Posted by Romy@callan

Hi CosmicGirl !

What do you mean ? Standing leg exercise or the stretch ?
I noticed a difference in the stretching ability of my legs, my left leg stretches more and easier than my right one. When I do the standing exercises I didn't notice a difference.

Enjoy

I meant heel on barre but it probably is just in my head!

[CosmicGirl]

Originally Posted by Jigglebuster

Thank you Mullberry!
That would definitely help me get my fix!
For now I'll have to stick with stretching, which is my weak point anyway, and maybe later I'll get the book and check out the maintenance plan.

I read somewhere that Callan says that even on off days you should still do the warm-ups

[Obliana]

hour 4 plus 1.5 miles on thr treadmill.

[Tonedbody]

4/15 complete!

[peachykeen]

Completed 5 of 16 today. Had to make up for yesterday, terrible migraine!
I'm still a little sore, especially in my thighs. I feel much stronger and more limber already.

[peachykeen]

Aww, thanks simplemummy. It's my attempt at the mind-body connection. Working so far by keeping me motivated!

[Everal]

Originally Posted by Romy@callan

Hi Everal !

I hope you don't mind me answering your question, surely Sandra will do as well if I missed out something.

Evolution DVD is fine for beginners, just follow Judy (lady with short white hair, mostly in background). She is doing the modifications for beginners. On this DVD you also have a section about the counterpulls, which are essential for the exercises. You will find Callanetics Evolution is a more up-dated and modern version of Callanetics, but that doesn't mean the older videos are no good. If you only own 2 of the quick programs Evolution would be a good choice for you.

Hope that helps, let us know if you have any more questions.
Enjoy pulsing

Thank you so much for your answer. That helps me to understand better.

[Princessdmw33]

Completed 3rd hour tonight.

[bclause]

I completed 6th hour of 10/10 today.