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If you are a regular here at Omni, you know that we like to use all of the equipment to really "squeeze the juice" out of workouts. In this article by "VeryWell.com," about the importance of the Pilates system three important factors are highlighted.
1. The Pilates workouts will consist a of a combination of apparatus and orientations to gravity. This is why we move from reformer, to stability chairs, to ladder barrel, to trapeze and maybe back to the reformer. Orientations of gravity is how our body is positioned, lying down, sitting, sidelying, upside-down, kneeling, standing, you name it! Having the body move through all of these ranges betters your balance and control under stress. 2. Since the workout does encompass so many movements in different planes Pilates is the perfect cross training workout for any sport. Cross training is the action or practice of engaging in two or more sports or types of exercise in order to improve fitness or performance in one's main sport. And who wouldn't want to do the best they can in the sport or activity they enjoy most?! 3. What is holding you back from adding this to your routine? Here in Lubbock we are your go-to studio for serving your health and fitness goal needs. It doesn't matter if you are recovering from an ankle surgery or looking to get more control on the pitching mound, we have a trained instructor for that! Let us know what your needs are in the comments below. This is our community and if there is a need we will serve it to the best of our ability. Stay strong, Pilates strong! According to medical research, coconut oil benefits the body in the following ways: 1. Proven Alzheimer’s Disease Natural Treatment The digestion of MCFA’s by the liver creates ketones which are a readily accessible energy by the brain. Ketones supply energy to the brain without the need of insulin to process glucose into energy. Recent research has shown that the brain actually creates it’s own insulin to process glucose and power brain cells. As the brain of an Alzheimer’s patient has lost the ability to create it’s own insulin, the ketones from coconut oil could create an alternate source of energy to help repair brain function. 2. Prevents Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure Coconut oil is high in natural saturated fats. Saturated fats not only increase the healthy cholesterol (known as HDL) in your body, but also help to convert the LDL “bad” cholesterol into good cholesterols. By Increasing the HDL’s in the body, it helps promote heart health, and lower the risk of heart disease. 3. Cures UTI and Kidney Infection & Protects the Liver Coconut oil has been known to clear up and heal urinary (UTI) and kidney infections. The MCFA’s in the oil work as a natural antibiotic by disrupting the lipid coating on bacteria and killing them. Also there is a study showing that coconut oil directly protected the liver from damage. Coconut water also helps hydrate and support the healing process. Doctors have even injected the coconut water to clear up kidney stones. Coconut is a super powerful food! 4. Reduces Inflammation and Arthritis In a study in India, the high levels of antioxidants present in virgin coconut oil reduced inflammation and healing arthritis more effectively than leading medications. (4) In another recent study, coconut oil that was harvested with only medium heat was found to suppress inflammatory cells. It worked as both an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. 5. Cancer Prevention and Treatment Coconut oil has two qualities that help it fight cancer. One, because of the ketones produced in it’s digestion. Tumor cells are not able to access the energy in ketones and are glucose dependent. It is believed that a ketogenic diet could be a possible component of helping cancer patients recover. Two, as the MCFA’s digest the lipid walls of bacteria, they also can kill the helicobacter pylori bacteria that has been known as increasing the risk of stomach cancer. Even in studies where cancer is chemically induced, the introduction of coconut oil prevents cancer from developing! 6. Immune System Boost (antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral) Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is known to reduce candida, fight bacteria, and create a hostile environment for viruses. Many diseases today are causes by the overgrowth of bad bacteria, funguses, viruses and parasites in the body. You can replace grains and sugar in your diet with coconut oil as your natural fuel source when you’re sick. Sugar feeds the growth of bad bacteria. Instead take 1 TBSP of coconut oil 3x daily when sick and consume plenty of vegetables and bone broth as well. 7. Improves Memory and Brain Function In a 2004 study published in the journal of Neurobiology of Aging, they found that the MCFA’s found in coconut oil improved the memory problems in their older subjects. Across all the patients there was a marked improvement in their recall ability after taking this fatty acid. As the MCFA’s are absorbed easily in the body and can be accessed in the brain without the use of insulin, they are able to fuel brain cells more efficiently. 8. Improves Energy and Endurance Coconut oil is easy to digest, but also produces a longer sustained energy and increases your metabolism. When taking a quality non-processed coconut oil, you can get the most benefit as it’s MCFA’s are sent directly to the liver to be converted into energy! Today, many triathletes will use coconut oil as their source of fuels during training and races for long distance events. You can make a homemade energy fuel by mixing coconut oil, raw honey and chia seeds together. Simply put together 1 TBSP of each and consume 30 minutes prior to exercise. 9. Improves Digestion, Reduces Stomach Ulcers & Ulcerative Colitis Coconut also improves digestion as it helps the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, calcium, and magnesium. If coconut oil is taken at the same time as omega-3 fatty acids, it can make them twice as effective, as they are readily available to be digested and used by the body. Coconut oil can help improve bacteria and gut health by destroying bad bacteria and candida. Candida imbalance especially can decrease stomach acid which causes inflammation and poor digestion. 10. Reduces Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease & Pancreatitis The MCFA’s of coconut oil do not need the pancreatic enzymes to be broken down, so taking coconut oil eases the strain on the pancreas. Additionally, this super fat is so easy to digest that it has been known to improve the symptoms of gallbladder disease as well. Replace other long-chain fats with coconut oil to improve gallbladder and total body health. 11. Improves Skin Issues (burns, eczema, dandruff, dermatitis, and psoriasis) Coconut oil is wonderful as a face cleanser, moisturizer and sun screen, but also it can treat many skin disorders. The fatty acids (Caprylic and Lauric) in coconut oil reduce inflammation internally and externally and moisturize making them a great solution for all types of skin conditions. It protects the skin and has many antioxidants that make it ideal for healing the skin. In addition the antimicrobial properties balance out the candida or fungal sources that can cause many skin conditions. 12. Prevents Gum Disease and Tooth Decay Oil pulling with coconut oil has been used for centuries as a way to cleanse the mouth of bacteria and help heal periodontal disease. Coconut oil is one of the most effective oils for oil pulling due to it’s high concentration of antibacterial MCFA’s. By swishing the oil in your mouth the oil denatures the bacteria and sticks to it. Removing oral bacteria greatly reduces your risk of periodontal disease. If you want to heal your gums and repair your teeth, I recommend coconut oil pulling 3x a week for 20 minutes a day. 13. Prevents Osteoporosis Oxidative stress and free radicals are the two biggest culprits of osteoporosis. Since coconut oil has such high levels of antioxidants which help fight free radicals, it is a leading natural treatment for osteoporosis. Another of the amazing coconut oil benefits is that it increases calcium absorption in the gut. Research with osteoporosis has found that coconut oil not only increases bone volume and structure in subjects, but also decreased bone loss due to osteoporosis. 14. Improves Type II Diabetes When cells refuse to respond to insulin and no longer take in glucose for energy, then they are considered insulin resistant. The pancreas then pumps out more insulin to compensate and creates an overproduction cycle. Insulin resistance is the precursor to Type II diabetes. The MCFA’s in coconut oil helps balance the insulin reactions in the cells and promote healthy digestive process. They take off the strain on the pancreas and give the body a consistent energy source that is not dependent on glucose reactions which can prevent insulin resistance and Type II diabetes. 15. Coconut Oil for Weight loss Because of the energy creating abilities of coconut oil, it is no wonder that it is beneficial in losing weight. It helps to burn fat, decrease appetite and it studies it was especially helpful in losing belly fat! Coconut’s ability to help you shed fat has been well established. A 1985 study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health proved that a single injection of capric acid resulted in “initially rapid, then gradual decrease in food consumption and a parallel loss of body weight” in male rats. It might seem counterintuitive to assume that eating coconut oil (a fat) will contribute to fat loss, but it is actually quite logical. The key to understanding this phenomenon lays in the multidimensional ability of the MCFAs to control a variety of physiological processes. For example, in the 1985 study mentioned above, it was discovered that capric acid shows significant improvements in thyroid function, helps lower resting heart rate, and assists your body in burning fat for energy. More recently, the Obesity Research Journal published a study from Boston University Medical School that gives us a clue why MCFAs have fat burning ability. (7) Testing the effects that MFCAs have on fat breakdown, adipose (fatty) cells in rats were pretreated with caprylic acid. They observed that fat breakdown occurred at such a significant level that it literally mimicked the characteristics of fasting. Fasting, in this sense, is not to be regarded as negative, but positive in that the body uses its energy reserves most effectively and speeds up the breakdown of needless fat reserves. In the words of the researchers who conducted this study, “Such changes could contribute, in part, to weight loss in animals and humans associated with dietary medium-chain fatty acids.” 16. Building Muscle and Losing Body Fat MCFAs aren’t just good for burning fat; they are also great for building muscle. The MCFAs found in coconut are also used in popular muscle building products like Muscle Milk™. The vast majority of heavily produced supplements however, use processed forms of MCFAs. By eating actual coconuts, however, you get the “real deal.” I recommend adding 3 tbsp of coconut oil to a muscle building shake daily. 17. Coconut Oil Benefits for Hair Care If you have dandruff or dry hair coconut oil has the perfect fatty acids to help improve these conditions. You can make homemade coconut lavender shampoo to improve your hair and use straight coconut oil as an all natural hair conditioner. To get rid of dandruff and to thicken hair massage 1 tbsp coconut oil mixed with 10 drops of rosemary essential oil into your scalp for 3 minutes. Then shower 30 minutes later. 18. Candida and Yeast Infections A study published in the journal of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy found the capric acid and lauric acid in coconut oil were an effective natural treatment for candida albicans and yeast infections. To effectively kill candida and treat yeast infections remove processed sugar and refined grains from your diet and consume plenty of healthy fats. Take 1 tbsp of coconut oil 3x daily as a supplement. 19. Coconut Oil for Anti-aging According to research published in the medical journal Food and Function, coconut oil improves antioxidant levels and can slow aging. Coconut oil works by reducing stress on the liver and by lowering oxidative stress. Also, they found that coconut oil may support detoxification because of how it works with the liver. To naturally slow aging take 1 tbsp of coconut oil with anti-oxidant rich berries for breakfast. You can also apply it directly to skin for additional benefits and smoothing. 20. Coconut Oil for Hormone Balance Using coconut oil benefits your hormones as well! Coconut oil may help naturally balance hormones because it’s a great source of saturated fat including lauric acid. Studies have found that coconut oil may be an excellent fat to consume during menopause and also may have positives effects on estrogen levels. In order to naturally balance hormones reduce sugar and grain consumption and load up on healthy fats from coconut, avocado, flax seeds and ghee.
 What is Pilates?
Pilates is a mind-body exercise system designed to strengthen the weak and challenge the strong. It helps prevent injury and improve strength while maintaining long, even muscle tone. Can anyone do Pilates? No form of exercise is appropriate for absolutely EVERYONE, but Pilates exercise is appropriate for most people. As with any training program, you should always consult with a medical professional before beginning. Programs can be easily modified by the instructor to cater to any physical limitations or needs. What are the benefits of Pilates?
How does Pilates differ from weight training?
Should Pilates replace my regular workout? Pilates is a conditioning program that focuses on strength and stability. Ideally it should be combined with some type of cardiovascular exercise, like walking, running, aerobics, etc.. It can and should be done as a part of a complete fitness routine.  Fascia is one of the least understood tissues of the body. However, recently researchers have published information on just how important fascia is. It is the elastic connective tissue that runs throughout our whole body, like a second, deeper layer of skin. It connects the sole of your foot all the way up to the back of your head and everything in between! It not only effects the range of motion in joints but also helps in preventing injuries and the healing process afterwards. The facial system is similar to the musculoskeletal system in that it changes overtime with repeated stress and injury. Inactivity can cause water to build up around the fascia and for it to become disorganized. This disorganization causes the fibers to become chaotic, lose its elasticity and eventually function can decrease or be completely lost. This not only causes problems for that specific area where the fascia is having issues but throughout the rest of the body since it is all connected. Pilates, being that it is a full body workout, has been shown to be a great way to prevent these fascia problems from developing. The spring resistance used in Pilates relates closely to elastic properties of fascia and the types of movements and stretches done provide what fascia really needs to be healthy! The healthier your fascia the better you feel!
We are getting so excited to introduce the latest piece of equipment at Omni... our Cadillac is almost here! The word Cadillac makes us think of fancy! Back in Joseph Pilates’ day, the Cadillac simply meant comfort, innovation and luxury. That is why Pilates named this masterpiece of equipment he invented the Cadillac, as it has all the bells and whistles you could possibly want and it is big and comfortable. Yes, comfortable, and of course – FUN! There are so many aspects to this apparatus: leg springs, arm springs, fuzzy loops to hang from, a push-through bar to stretch on and even a trapeze. So what does having a Cadillac mean for you? In a nut-shell – A LOAD OF FUN! But on a more professional level, a huge variety of exercises, new challenges, more strength, control, flexibility and mobility. This Pilates apparatus will add a lot more exercises to your repertoire and challenge the body in different planes of motion. For fabulous back exercises, challenging ab exercises and so much more – this piece of Pilates equipment provides the perfect place to practice multi-planar strength and flexibility movements. Keep an eye out in the studio, because we will be playing soon! www.artofpilates.com  |
We would love to have you visit soon!
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