Category Archives: Health & Fitness

If you’re looking for ways to improve the way you accomplish your Pilates exercises or you simply want to add a notch to your already-formidable fitness programme, believe me when I say you’ll be better off with a Pilates reformer machine than any other special apparatus you can find.

These machines have become indispensable among Pilates practitioners and aficionados alike such that every other gym I’ve been to already has a reformer machine or two on the floor. It just goes to show how such fitness equipment are helping people improve their physical strength, posture, and flexibility while enhancing their mental awareness.

Pilates is a unique system that is poorly understood by many individuals, especially those who think of it as nothing more than an active form of Yoga. But aside from the mental awareness that these exercises provide, Pilates can do so much more. And these can be enhanced with the use of a Pilates reformer machine.

At first I was doubtful as to how such a machine could help me improve my own Pilates routine. But you only need to try one at your favourite gym and I can guarantee you’ll feel the immediate impact of using such an equipment that you’ll be buying Pilates reformer machine in Australia right after your session.

The Pilates reformer can come in a variety of forms, although it usually has a moving platform or carriage on a bed-like frame. The carriage is typically connected to a couple of strings or high-tension cords that provide resistance while you try to slide the carriage along the frame.

There are a variety of contraptions, too, such as a foot bar that can be used to move the carriage, like an anchor of some sort. There can also be straps with handles that function more like resistance bands. There are contraptions that can provide varying levels of resistance that will help strengthen and tone up targeted muscles.

One great thing about reformer machines is the versatility they provide while you go through the gamut of Pilates poses.  Majority of the Pilates exercises you can perform on a reformer machine have something to do with either pulling or pushing the carriage or even trying to hold the carriage steady while it is being pulled by the cables.

One can easily perform exercises lying down, standing, sitting, perched on the accompanying shoulder blocks, pushing against the foot bar, pulling on the straps, or even lying on one’s tummy or side. The exercise variations are simply limitless so you’ll get the most out of your Pilates fitness regimen.

These exercises can lead to increased muscle strength, better coordination, improved balance, and enhanced flexibility while also giving you substantial improvements in your daily life. For starters, I can honestly say that I’ve seen tremendous improvement in my posture ever since I’ve started on these machines.

For many of my friends, they also report more efficient and graceful movements. But if there is one thing that all of us can agree on, it’s that Pilates reformer machines have become instrumental in relieving back pain that we all suffer from.

This is achieved by strengthening the core muscles which involves the muscles of the lower back. Since flexibility is one of the goals of Pilates, having it on the reformer machine also allowed us to optimise the range of motion of our joints, freeing us from the usual pain that accompany limited physical mobility.

You can always rely on your Pilates mat, of course. But if you really want to make the most of what the Pilates system has to offer, there’s no better way to do it than with a Pilates reformer machine.

No matter what everyone says, living a stressful life is not necessary. Your friends may say that this is normal, that they are all having the same struggles with the demands of life. However, continually being in a tense state can take its toll on your body particularly health and is also not good for your state of mind.

This is not the kind of life I choose to live. Much like my friends, I thought stress was just a part of life. However, when I started to feel tense all the time and worried about every tiny thing, I wondered if that was still normal. I would toss and turn in bed every night, unable to fall asleep and wake up just as exhausted. I was also grumpy and every little thing would get me upset. I wanted to get away from it all because even a few days off were just not enough to recover.

I finally decided that I needed to do something more proactive about achieving the quality of life I wanted. The day-to-day struggles are normal, but I couldn’t anymore leave them behind. I decided to try out yoga to fight stress. I was convinced that this practice will help me tune out and relax better. I quickly searched around for a place that offers yoga classes and enrolled myself immediately.

To prepare myself for my first class, I did a bit of research to know what to expect. I knew so far that we would be doing poses, breathing and relaxation exercises that would help me reduce my stress levels, lower my heart rate and blood pressure. The fact that anyone could do it was also very encouraging. I was not a very athletic person, but as there are poses perfect for beginners like me, I did not feel pressured to do more than I am physically able to. 

There are many different styles of yoga, and for people who look to manage stress, Hatha yoga is the perfect choice. It is quite common and is a bit slow-paced and easier, perfect for beginners like me. Not only will you feel less tense, but you will find a more positive approach to life and be able to handle situations better.

In order to enjoy the benefits of yoga, it requires the combination of the following:

1. Postures 

Also called asanas, these poses release tension and negativity from your body. There are specific postures that are great for this purpose, the Bow Pose, Fish Pose, and One-legged Forward Bend being among them. It is, however, important to lie down in Yoga Nidra position to relax your mind and body for a few minutes and allow toxins to be flushed out of your system.

2. Breathing Techniques 

Also called pranayamas, there are also various practices that you can try like Alternate Nostril Breathing (where you exhale longer than inhale) that are perfect for relieving yourself of tension. Moreover, focusing on each breath frees your mind of unnecessary thoughts that make you worry.

3. Meditation

In order to relax your mind, try to meditate. Not only does it make you feel calmer and at peace, you can understand and later on control how your mind works and reacts in certain situations. You can later on “train” your brain not to get anxious and stressed so quickly.

4. Yoga Philosophy

Applying the principles of yoga can help achieve a happier, balanced and healthier life. For example, the Santosha principle will teach you to become more content. The Aprigraha principle, on the other hand, will help you overcome the desire to have it all. This can, in turn, lessen the stress of working hard to earn enough and even comparing yourself to others.

It is the whole combination of these four factors that makes yoga popular to people who are sick and tired of being in a rat race. Life is short, after all, to always be pressured and worse, unhappy. I am glad to have finally taken control and made the decision to do something about it. Yoga was the way for me to do a complete change in my life, from being a victim of stress to being happier and healthier. 

Severe or chronic muscle pain leads us to take in heaps of painkillers which may hurt our kidneys and cause other side effects in the long run. Not many people know that there is now a safer natural method to relieve pain, and that is Dry Needling (also known as Myofascial Trigger Point Dry Needling). 

Dry needling is different from acupuncture, although the two share similar principles. The latter is an ancient Chinese practice and effective for treating maladies like hormonal imbalance, fertility, and immune system problems. The former is a Western adaptation that targets the muscles. 

As soon as I discovered the benefits of dry needling, I searched for a reliable physio in Werribee. Playing sports is a big thing here in Australia. To add, Australian women live active lifestyles. It’s not uncommon to hear stories of torn or overstretched muscles because of work or leisure activities. While pain medicines work, I rather want a natural method. Seeking the help of a good physiotherapist was the best decision I made so far. Dry needling, along with other therapy treatments, works out perfectly fine with me. If you want to learn more about this treatment, read on.

You may be scared with the thought of having needles inserted into various parts of your body. That’s fine since I was afraid at first, too. Perhaps, you are thinking of the kind of needles we commonly use in sewing fabrics. The needles used in the dry needling method, though, are filiform or thread-like. It’s also possible that your physiotherapist uses hollow-core hypodermic needles when treating muscle pain Physiotherapists identify the trigger points that cause pain to a group of muscles. Specifically, trigger points are a few tight bands of skeletal muscles found within a bigger muscle group. These are sensitive, tender, and cannot be manually touched by the therapists (hence the use of needles). A slight touch to trigger points can already cause or alleviate muscle pain to other areas. It is called a “trigger” point because of its cascading effect. 

Physiotherapists are professionals and highly trained. You have nothing to worry about mishaps unless you landed a hoaxer or unlicensed therapist. But under normal circumstances, physiotherapists studied the human anatomy as intensively as possible. Otherwise, they would not be certified and licensed. 

Firstly, your therapist will conduct an interview and assessment during the consultation. The disclosure of facts and insights is important in identifying the problem area. Following the assessment is the drafting of the treatment plan. Physiotherapists always tailor the program to the specific needs of the patient since different people have different thresholds, concerns, and preferences. Then, the actual procedure, the pricking of “dry needles” in the specific trigger points follows. 

As part of the safety protocol, therapists normally wear the appropriate personal protective equipment like gloves. The needles, of course, are sterilized and properly disposed of. 

Dry needling actually stimulates the underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular, and connective tissues. 

You may ask, what are the benefits of dry needling?

Physiotherapists can actually trigger release or inactivation of trigger points in order to help alleviate the pain or improve mobility. Research has shown that dry needling is effective in managing pain, reducing muscle tension, and stabilizing motor dysfunctions. The treatment also expedites a patient’s recovery to active rehabilitation. If you have sons and daughters suffering muscle pain due to sports injury, you may let them try dry needling.

Specifically, dry needling is effective in treating myofascial pain syndrome, which includes pain that results from muscular irritation. Your upper back muscles are prone to the myofascial pain that stemmed from sensitive trigger points. Suffice it to say, controlling these trigger points is the aim of your physiotherapist. The weakness of muscles and repetitive motions are some of the root causes of these kinds of pain.

If you still have further queries and concerns, it’s always best to talk to a professional physiotherapist. You may ask a few friends who had prior experience in the treatment to give you recommendations. Just remember that dry needling is only part and parcel of a bigger treatment plan. You may avail other treatments or routines as well. I preferred to have the massages and yoga as additional routines. The decision is yours to make, though. I am just glad that I did not have to drink several medicines for pain management. At my clinic also, I was taught how to live a healthier lifestyle to aid in pain management. Sometimes, muscle pains are brought about by improper execution or poor posture, or by too much consumption of trans fats, processed foods, eggs, and alcohol. 

Seek the nearest physio clinic near you. In Werribee, there are several of them. Find one that suits your style, and enjoy a pain-free life.

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