Each month at Move Move we set ourselves a Move of the Month Challenge. Throughout the month we focus on mastering that move. Sometimes our Move of the Month is just one move, other times it maybe a series of moves. But our aim is to progress in some way.
Nothing says January like resolving to head back to Pilates. But whether you merely paused your fitness regimen for the holidays or you’re committing to regular exercise for the first time in months, it can be tough to get back on track. Before you know it, February has crept up on you and you have still not got back into that exercising habit.
It’s all about simply getting your foot out the door and reminding your body how good exercising feels so here are a few tips to help you get back into a regular exercise routine.
- Start with something easy.
- Making it fun, makes it easier.
- Buy some new workout clothes – the excitement to show off your new gear will definitely get you back to the Pilates Studio.
- Get an exercise buddy, or two.
The more consistent you are with your exercise routine, the easier it is to form healthy habits. Once it’s a habit, exercising will be part of your daily life.
A first progressive step should be to integrate a couple of days of flexibility workouts in order to increase blood flow and circulation while assisting in range of motion and joint mobility. A perfect exercise for this is our Move of the Month – Scapular Isolations.
Remember it is all about the shoulder blades and not the elbows!
Lying on your back, arms reaching to the ceiling with palms facing each other. Start with your shoulder blades neutral, gently widen between the shoulder blades (your arms will move towards the ceiling). Bring them back to neutral. Gently bring shoulder blades towards each other. Bring them back to neutral.
Once you have mastered this, try the same movement in other positions.
