I’m tearing my hair out and my husband is muttering under his breath as I speak!

The Problem

My Web hosting company for some strange reason known only to themselves decided to upgrade PHP to the latest version 5.3.3. Sounds fairly harmless right?

Wrong. My membership site software which is fairly complex (a purchased product) has decided it doesn’t like this new version and is throwing a wobbler at the moment. Odd error messages are appearing every where and subscribers are getting scared

That was yesterday and if you’ve experienced the problem I apologise.

As of today after many phone calls to my Web host an upgrade to the membership site software (another $60 – I never knew giving stuff away was going to cost me so much lol) most of the problems for existing members have been solved

Any new subcribers will get a weird error message that can be ignored when they enter their name and Email address but it still works.

Over the next few days Bob will be working to fix any remaining problems and with a bit of luck that will be that.

In conclusion thank you for your patience normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

Carol & Bob Bartram
(Pilates Instructors)

I Love Pilates and Hate Computers! is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

Ever since I saw an advert that claimed pole dancing was the latest fitness trend and that it would release my inner goddess I wanted to train as a pole dancing instructor.  Now you may be wondering what’s strange about that?  Well it wasn’t Carol that wanted to do it it was  me Bob!

I got Carol to ring the training company asking for the course details se and asked her to book me  a place on the next one. All was well until when asked who was attending she gave my name. Silence on the other end of the phone you then did you say Roberta? No Robert I reply. Ahh Robert would that be a man then? Yup says I my husband would like to add Pole Dancing to his skill set along with Exercise To Music and Pilates Matwork.

I’m sorry Madam the course is only for ladies. I explain that the Website says nothing about it being ladies only. It’s implied madam we don’t allow men on the course.

Now this course was being run a good bit away from us so in the end we thought we’d leave it for a later day. My guess is they can’t refuse me a place because that would be sexual discrimination wouldn’t it?

Maybe it was the thought of a pair of hairy legs upside down on a pole that frightened them or maybe they were worried I’d turn up in a leopard skin leotard trust me now that is scary

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates, Pole Dancing And Me! is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

Most people when they take up a new exercise regime are usually looking for a particular outcome.  Working out, cardio exercise and strength training are usually taken up by people who want to lose weight.  In a lot of cases once they have reached their weight-loss goal they stop or  reduce the amount of exercise they do.

Pilates on the other hand I believe is different.  In my opinion Pilates is a lifetime’s journey after all to continue to get the benefits that Pilates will give you it needs to be done regularly and forever.

I get many people starting Pilates because of an existing complaint or injury usually involving an element of pain.  For example a lower back problem that they’ve had for many years sometimes decades that just won’t go away.  They hear that Pilates is an excellent way to help strengthen and reduce their pain.

So they start with enthusiasm hoping that Pilates will help hand in a lot of cases Pilates will work its magic.  As their core and pelvic stability improve the pain they suffer produces and in some cases disappears completely.

Now you’d think these people would stay in class to ensure they maintain the benefits they have received wouldn’t you?  A few do but most after about nine months to a year stop coming.

Can you guess what happens?  They lose most of the benefits they received and after a period of time the pain comes back.  I know because after six months or so these people come back.

Doing Pilates is a bit like brushing your teeth it’s not something we necessarily want to do but if we want to stop our teeth from rotting we really don’t have a choice

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates Moves – The Long Run is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

I think of all the “Ates” Yogalates was probably one of the first.  As the name suggests it is a combination of Yoga and Pilates.  I find this one barely strange because if one researches Pilates and how Joseph Pilates created his exercise system it’s obvious that he borrowed exercises from many different disciplines including Yoga.

Many of my Pilates clients who have done Yoga before often say they can recognize many yoga poses in what we do.  Now from what I know about Yoga most poses are held for much longer than we hold Pilates moves.  In fact when people ask me the difference between Yoga and Pilates I find the easiest way to get people to understand is to say that yoga is static and Pilates is movement based.

The emphasis is also different I believe Yoga focuses more on strength and flexibility whereas Pilates focuses on the core strength, postural muscles and stability.

In a perfect world I think people would benefit fantastically from doing both disciplines.  Being biased if I could only do one I would pick Pilates because I believe that as an all round exercise system that prepares you to do your normal daily activities better Pilates wins.

I spent a lot of time in class explaining to people that the main benefit of Pilates is to give them better awareness of their posture outside of class.  After all most people do only one class a week and although that’s good it’s what they use out of class that enables them to progress quickly.

Yogalates – What Is It? is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

Why is it that Pilates Instruction always gets the blame? It’s very odd but I get this a lot. It goes something like this.

At the beginning of all my Pilates classes I ask everyone if they have any injuries I need to know about. I then listen and decide whether they can do the class or I ask them to see a physician and get cleared before they can join in.

Often though the conversation goes something like this. Bob my shoulder hurts when I move it like this.

Ohh says I did you do anything to it? Nooo it’s just started hurting this week. Funny thing is before I started to do Pilates it was OK. I sigh and ask them if they’re sure they haven’t done anything different. They reply no they haven’t.

I ask them what other exercise they’re doing at the moment. They reply I do this class and Body Combat twice a week could this movement have anything to do with it. (she demonstrates a very poor right hook)

I inform her that yes in all probability that’s the class in which she injured her shoulder and that it was highly unlikely she did it in her Pilates Workout.

What interests me though is why she would blame a therapeutic Pilates class as the culprit and not the crash, bang and wallop Body Combat class?

If you have an explanation I’d be pleased to hear it

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates Instruction Always Gets The Blame! is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

I’m always trying to persuade more guys to come and give Pilates a try, pleading with them that it will do wonders for their posture and flatten their stomach, making them taller, straighter and – well, more manly

It’s like talking to the wall.
In the male mind, Pilates does not class as “real” exercise and is the province of ladies of a certain age “pretending” to exercise.

Tell that to some of the world’s top athletes, including the New Zealand All-Blacks, all of whom do Pilates on a regular basis to boost performance and reduce the likelihood of injury. Pilates also focuses the mind, which is a useful tool for motivation before competition.

I know there are mostly girls in class, but come on, guys – be brave and give Pilates a try; the girls’ll be dead impressed, and you’ll be amazed at the difference Pilates can make to your life.

Carol J Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates For Men – Do Real Men Do Pilates? is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

As part of the Pilates For Beginners team I thought I’d take the time and introduce myself. I’m Bob the ugly bald half as you’ll see from the video

I got into Pilates late in life at aged 47 and if I could go back in time that’s one of the few things I’d change. I wish I’d started earlier, much earlier. The earlier you start the earlier you’ll get the benefits and for the younger amongst you even if you have no problems at the moment trust me without Pilates you probably soon will!

In our sit behind a desk world developing bad posture and muscle imbalances is almost certain. When young we can shrug these off but as we get older (in our 40′s)  they come back and sometimes cause us pain.

Take a look at the video below and discover how I managed to reverse some fairly bad posture and how by continuing to practice Pilates I keep them at bay.

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates For Beginners – Pilates Instructor Bob’s Tale is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

As you know I’m on a quest to discover all the Pilates “Ates” variations. I’ve found more than I believed possible and I’m going to list them here. If you find one I’ve not listed leave a comment and add it.

Mamalates

Pilates for mothers who have just had a baby and want to regain their pre pregnancy weight and shape. A great idea.

Poolates

Pilates in the water. Designed for people who can’t easily do regular matwork. This Pilates alternative is recommended for injury rehabilitation patients and people who are very overweight.

Equilates

For those interested in improving their riding Equilates might be just the thing. Touted as Pilates on horseback this Pilates variation is specifically designed to give you a better seat and enhance communication with your horse.

The “Ates” Dictionary is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

In my quest to bag all the “Ates” I’ve uncovered another one. Mamalates. This “Ates” is all about getting mothers into shape after having a baby. Pilates and crèche combined

The idea is to get post-partum mothers get back into shape as quickly as possible after having their baby. I have to say it’s a great idea and one that I recommend to all my Pilates mothers to be.

The quicker (after you’ve been cleared to exercise by your health professional) you get back to Pilates Class the better. The problem I’ve found is that most of my Pilates clients have good intentions and say they’ll return as quickly as possible after the birth few ever do.

New baby and new responsibility conspire to leave them short of time. They usually come back to class eventually but often leave it a year or two.

That’s a pity because I know from experience if they were to have come straight back to class they would regain their pre pregnancy weight and shape very quickly. Leave it a year or to and it takes much much longer.

Bottom line if your pregnant and do Pilates get back to it as soon as you can. After all you’re worth it aren’t you?

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Mamalates – I’m Intrigued! is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

In my quest to deliver even better quality Pilates videos I have been working on Chroma-Key technology. This involves filming Carol with a solid colour in the background. With some technical magic it’s then possible to remove the background and place her inside another video clip.

That’s how in our Beginners Pilates Workouts videos I’m able to incorporate her in the Power Point presentation.

Well that’s the theory. See what happens when you don’t place the screen properly and I leak into the video by mistake.

So for your viewing pleasure here’s the gruesome outtake

Outtake – Is Your Posture Giving You Pain? is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

I’d like to talk to you about Pilates; what it’s done for me and how it could benefit you too if you take it up and practise the exercises regularly.

Put simply, Pilates has banished my pain; the muscle pain I have held in my neck and back for years. The pain that was the result of years of poor posture and not taking proper care of my back.

“Posture” is one of those things your mother always nagged about when you were young – “Sit up straight!”; Stand up properly – come on, head up and shoulders back!” I never took any notice, but (I hate to say it), she was Dead Right! If I had taken notice then, I wouldn’t have half the back problems I have now, and probably neither would you!

None of us want to have pain; those that do have it want a way to ease it, and anyone that doesn’t have pain (yet) would be wise to take steps to prevent it.

This is where Pilates comes in; an exercise system that is based on the results of a lifetime’s work by Mr Joseph Pilates, who was born a century ago and became a self-taught genius in the then-unknown field of physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

You are never too young or too old to learn Pilates. Learnt young, the exercises will head many aches and pains off at the pass before they even manage to develop. But equally good, Pilates taken up when you are older will correct many of the problems that a lifetime of bad posture has caused.

Up to approximately the age of 40, our bodies are forgiving and tolerant of us – any muscular injuries heal quickly, and sitting at a desk all day, or standing leaning on one leg for hours at a time while we iron or lifting kids around just causes minor grumbles from our backs which ease when we rest.

But as we get older, our bodies cope less well, and that’s when old injuries and a lifetime of poor posture start conspiring to give us aches and pains we never had or noticed when we were younger. And the older we get, the worse the problem gets, as our spines stiffen and our muscles weaken. You see elderly people shuffling along slowly with a big hump on their back and their head pushed forward.

They’ll tell you they have constant back pain, which hurts worse if they even try to straighten up, as their spine has “set fast” in the wrong shape. So they move around less and less, their posture gets worse and worse, and we all know where it ends.

But it doesn’t have to be like that.

No matter how old you are, your spine can be made more flexible and your muscles can get stronger. And no matter how young you are, it’s never too early to learn how to exercise your spine and muscles to keep them strong and slow down the ageing process. Getting old is inevitable. Feeling old isn’t ?.

Anyone can learn Pilates Exercises– it’s safe, effective, and the benefits will last a lifetime.

Carol Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates For Beginners – Is Your Posture Giving You Pain? is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

It never ceases to amuse me the number of ways clients ask me about Pilates. From “Do you do Pilots classes” to “I’ve heard about Palates do you teach it”.

I get quite a number of visitors to this site who type in “Palates” so I’m not complaining I just hope they weren’t looking for information on a cleft palate.

Still at least I’ve found another “Ates” to add to my growing list which includes Yogalates, Equilates and poolates.

It shows how popular Pilates has become over the last decade and if the number of people asking for places in my already full classes is any indication the trend is continuing helped no doubt by the endless Pilates Infomercials for Mari Winsors Pilates DVD’s and the like.

Problem is have you ever tried to learn Pilates from a DVD? I have and it’s not as easy as the creators would have you believe. It’s one of the reasons I’ve created the Beginners Pilates Progam to help complete beginners learn how to do Pilates in a safe and effective manner.

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Palates – A New “Ates”? is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

I’m going publish a page with all the “Ates” listed soon. My guess is it will be a big one

One of the latest I’ve found is Equilates – can you guess what it is? Yup it’s the horsey equivalent of Pilates. According to people running this type of class to get the very best from your horse and therefore your riding,  good posture and correct seating are essential. After all if your movements are sloppy how are to going to communicate correctly what you want your horse to do?

I’d have to agree that it makes sense. Better posture, core control, shoulder and pelvic stability to name but a few will obviously be important for a horse rider (and everyone else for that matter).

Whether a class specifically designed for the horse rider would be much better than a standard Pilates Matwork class could be debated though.

So if you can’t find an Equilates class near you (I would imagine they’re fairly difficult to locate) don’t worry. Talk to a Pilates Instructor about your goals and take a standard class. If it doesn’t improve your riding as well as your posture I’ll eat my shoes!

Robert Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

PS Carol agrees with me and she’s been riding all her life.

Equilates – An “Ates” Too Far? is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

We’ve moved the MyPilatesForBeginners Web site to a new home. The old one was getting slow and very unreliable. You should notice that pages now load quicker and your experience much improved.

The videos on the subscription site have been moved to Amazon S3 so they should load much quicker and play back more smoothly.

The new home can be easily scalable so if you notice response times are slow please let us know and we’ll make the necessary adjustments.

It’s lucky that as well as being a Pilates Instructor Bob also spent 20 years in Information Technology because I can’t make head nor tail of html, bits,bytes,php and all the other technical stuff!

Who would have thought that the  Pilates For Beginners project would turn out so complicated and time consuming to create. It’s been a bit like those Babushka dolls you think you’re at the last one only to discover there’s another one inside!

We estimate finishing and making the product available in the middle of this month (March 2010). Those on the early notification list will be receiving an Email giving them details of how to claim their 50% discount.

Carol Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

My Pilates Has Moved is a post from: Pilates For Beginners

I’m sure Bob is becoming more and more like Victor Meldrew every day. The only thing needed now is for him to say “I don’t believe it” and he’s there. Pilates Instructors are supposed to be relaxed and chilled out – don’t you believe it. He would of course blame me but I’m innocent I swear!

Watch the video and see for yourself!

Carol Bartram
(Pilates Instructor)

Pilates For Beginners Meets Victor Meldrew! is a post from: Pilates For Beginners