Interesting study in Pilates Style Mag on Crunches

[rjroubi]

In Pilates Style Magazine this month (Sept/Oct 2005 issue pg 15) they state a new study confirms that Pilates works abs better than crunches. "The Teaser, Roll-up and Criss-Cross require a whopping 25% higher activation of the abdominal muscles than the standard crunch." They also found the Hundred and Double Leg Stretch to be more challenging to the obliques compared to the crunch. Hmmm....no wonder Cathe includes so many of these exercises on her DVDs.:+

Robin;-)

 

[Logos]

Hi Robin,

Thanks for the info, were they recomending any pilates workouts on DVD? I have the Mary Winsor advance pilates for abs and legs and upper body, what would you recomend?

Onix

 

[Maximus]

I'm not too surprised by this--b/c pilates works the transverse abdominals, crunches really don't.

I used to do two weighted ab workouts a week, which included crunches. I've switched to one weighted ab workout a week & one pilates workout a week, & I have definitely noticed more cut. Interestingly enough I've increased my weights in the weighted workouts by about 10 lbs even though I'm doing them half as much.

 

[nastsm0m]

can you recomend a pilates workout dvd for abs?

TIA

Terri

 

[Maximus]

I'm addicted to the MTV pilates workouts. Kristen McGee is great & they're lots of fun.

Moira Stott & Rael are also good. Moira has a couple of core pilates workouts, one of which incorporates a stability ball. Rael has a series of 3--7, 17 & 27--that's also very good. I think you can get the 3 pack at deepdiscountdvds.com for like $13.

 

[nastsm0m]

Thanks Laura!

Terri

 

[rjroubi]

Hi Onix,
They did not recommend specific DVDs......they were really just discussing the exercises themselves. I like so many of the DVDs the others have mentioned.....Rael, MTV Pilates Mix, Mary Winsor, Romana's Pilates and Moira Stott. My favorites are Moira Stott's Intermediate Mat, Stability ball series and Pilates Reformer Series (that requires the machine), but many find her too dry......but her technique is outstanding. Mary Winsor and MTV Pilates mix are faster paced and great for those who get bored easily, but IMHO are better used once you get good technique under your belt. As they say in Pilates "if the exercise seems too easy you're not doing it right."

Hope I helped
Robin