Monthly Archives: August 2014

Health and fitness

Pilates in Chelmsford, Essex

Chris Hunt Pilates in Chelmsford

www.chrishuntpilates.com

Pilates in Chelmsford, Essex. How to run a successful group session

I started Pilates over 20 years ago because I had a problem with my back. My story is not uncommon, as in my experience the majority of people who start Pilates do so as a result of a problem, an injury or advice from a doctor or physiotherapist. Pilates changed my life, so it is my mission to raise awareness of Pilates and to make sure that everyone has access to professional and reliable Pilates classes.

I will use the example of classes that I run in a hall in Margaretting which is in Chelmsford, Essex as this sums up what I want to talk about in the article perfectly.

Before I begin, some of you reading this might not be clear exactly what Pilates is. There is a lot of misinformation out there so I will try to succinctly explain.

Pilates is a full body conditioning program appropriate for the young and old, developed in the 1920’s by Joseph Pilates. His revolutionary program focuses on training the mind and body to work together more effectively and efficiently. Pilates dramatically transforms the way the body looks, feels, and performs by incorporating modern exercise science and rehabilitation principles, eliminating contraindicated movements while emphasising neutral alignment, core stability and peripheral mobility. It builds strength without excess bulk, creating a sleek, toned body and a flat abdomen. It teaches body awareness, good posture and easy, graceful movement whilst improving flexibility, agility and economy of motion.

Pilates exercises train several muscle groups at once in smooth, continuous movements. By developing proper technique, our clients can re-train their body to move in safer, more efficient patterns of motion – invaluable for injury recovery, good posture and optimal health. No other exercise system is so gentle to the body while giving it a challenging workout. Pilates builds a foundation of strength and flexibility that creates a better balanced body.

It is for these reasons that so many people practise Pilates. From Olympic competitors and professional sportsmen and women, to people recovering from serious injury, operations or following childbirth. Pilates can really help everyone, but only if it is done properly and regularly.

So back to Pilates in Chelmsford. The reason that I use Margaretting as my example is because it shows what is possible. The classes there have been running successfully for over 10 years. It is essential to give people regular and professional classes that they know they can rely on. Of course circumstances mean that sometimes a class cannot run (but it takes a lot of snow to stop us!) and sometimes it is necessary and healthy to introduce a new teacher, but consistency is vital so people know that their class will be running every week. What is important is that the classes are regular and frequent. The timetable for Chelmsford is:

Mondays: 9.30 am to 10.30 am and 19.00 to 20.00
Thursdays: 9.30 am to 10.30 am and 19.30 to 20.30

This has been the same for many years so people know when the classes take place.  Communication is important and with this in mind we now have a Facebook Group dedicated to Pilates in Chelmsford. Click here (Pilates in Chelmsford) to view and join the page. You will find up-to-date information and interesting articles about Pilates and health. There is a lovely sense of community in these groups that is wonderful for regulars but also very welcoming for new people.

The quality of the teacher is also paramount and when I talk about quality I mean professionalism, qualifications but also personality and teaching ability. We all know people who are highly qualified but cannot seem to get that knowledge across in an interesting way.

The classes are appropriate for all levels because the teachers are of a high quality. It is possible to have absolute beginners in the same class as very experienced people because most of the exercises have different levels of difficulty so everyone has a choice.

The venue itself is also very important. For our Pilates in Chelmsford we use Margaretting Village Hall in Wantz Road. It is a perfect venue. It is clean (it’s cleaned everyday), it has good ventilation in the summer, and excellent heating in the winter, it is easily accessible (only 10 minutes from central Chelmsford and 2 minutes from the A12, also 10 minutes from Brentwood and Billericay and only 3 minutes from Ingatestone) and importantly there is ample free parking. This all makes for a stress free experience.

For these classes I provide all the mats (and they are proper, full length Pilates mats, not yoga mats or cheap imitations) and also all other equipment such as balls and bands. This means that people can just turn up, enjoy the session and go home.

Cost is also very important. The session must be affordable and good value for people. So I still only charge £6 for an hours class (this price has not increased for 3 years), and people can buy a block that makes the sessions even cheaper.

Every ingredient is important if the end result is going to be the best it can.

If you have any questions about Pilates in general or about Pilates sessions in Chelmsford then please contact me on 07947 650809 or email chris@pilateslifesolutions.co.uk. You can also read more about Pilates by clicking on www.chrishuntpilates.com. You will find a link there to the Pilates Life Solutions website.

 

 

 

Health and fitness

Lose weight, not performance


Barcelona bienestar: Exercise in barcelona

www.barcelonabienestar.com

Lose weight, not performance

Working as a fitness exercise trainer in Barcelona, I am often asked the same type of questions. In my blog I will try to answer some of these questions. Today I talk about losing weight without losing performance.

Many athletes and fitness participants wish to lose weight, either for health or performance reasons.

However, rapid weight loss can have serious health consequences leading to a reduction in performance.

Since 95% of dieters fail to maintain their weight loss within a five-year period, lifestyle management is the key to long-term weight management. Two methods that should not be entertained are crash dieting and dehydration.

It has been proven that rapid weight loss results in diminished aerobic capacity. Fat is more fattening calorie for calorie than carbohydrate. This is supported by a number of well-controlled studies. It is the over- consumption of fat, rather than carbohydrate or protein, that results in body fat gain. To lose body fat, you simply have to expand more energy (calories) than you consume.

Research has shown that a combination of diet and activity is more likely to result in long-term success than diet or exercise alone. There are no miracle solutions or short cuts. The objectives of a healthy diet and exercise programme are to:

Expand more energy than you consume

Maintain (or increase) lean tissue

Gradually reduce body fat percentage

Avoid a significant reduction in resting metabolic rate (this is the number of calories your body burns if you did nothing all day).

Obtain energy requirements from a high percentage of carbohydrate (60%) and a low percentage of fat (15-20%)

Achieve an optimal intake of vitamins and minerals

The key to successful fat loss is to cut your calories mostly from fat and to reduce carbohydrates by only a modest amount. If you reduce carbohydrate intake below the daily average requirement, glycogen stores become depleted which results in lean tissue loss, so is not a good idea.

Keys points for permanent fat loss are:

Set realistic goals, and write them down.

Monitor body composition changes by measuring chest, waist, hips, arms and legs, and obtain skin-fold thickness measurements by using callipers.

Aim to lose no more than 0.5 kg each week.

Keep a food diary. Most people eat far more than they realise or admit to.

Trim the saturated fat by using less butter, deep-fried foods, fatty meats, pastry, cakes, biscuits and chocolate.

 

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©, bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength. He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. For more information about Pilates with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays all the profits made from this BLOG to his charity partners. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.

Health and fitness

Personal Training versus Group Training: Social Loafing or group highs?

Group Fitness Chris Hunt Pilates

www.chrishuntwellness.com

Today you will learn what horses have to do with Group X. My blog today is really just an excuse to use a picture from the Eric Prydz video Call On Me which certainly got a few more men to go to the gym.

But I digress. Back to the horses. In 1913 an experiment was carried out by a French engineer called Maximilian Ringelmann on the performance of horses (please bear with me, this is going somewhere relevant to fitness I promise). He discovered that the power of two animals pulling a coach did not equal twice the power of a single horse. This surprised him so he extended his study to humans pulling a rope, and found that on average if two people were pulling together, each invested only 93% of their individual strength, when three pulled it was 85%, and when eight people pulled it was just 49%.

This is what science calls the Social Loafing Effect. Basically, when individual performance is not directly visible, it blends into the group effort. Whilst quite rational (why invest all your energy when only half will do?) it is a form of unconscious cheating. It doesn’t only apply to physical exertion but also mental exertion in meetings. If we are not directly accountable for our actions, we slack off.

Now you can see where Ringelmann’s horses are taking us. In a group exercise environment, the scientific evidence is that a large percentage (perhaps the majority) of people will not work as hard as they would if they were being trained on a one-to-one basis. At the extreme, I have seen people in the group sessions I watch at conventions taking the opportunity to stop and rest when the teacher is not watching them, only to launch back into the activity as soon as they are seen. But even the people who appear to be working might not be applying maximum effort.

So then why is group exercise so prevalent and so championed by certain commercial brands? There’s no doubt that people behave differently in groups than when alone, otherwise there would be no groups. The sense of belonging that all of us humans require no doubt makes some people exercise with others when they would not exercise alone. Also of course the cost of personal training is a major and understandable issue for many (the argument here is that a lot of money spent effectively is better than spending smaller amounts of money ineffectively).

There are the obvious benefits of PT including individual attention, goal-setting/controlled progression and programs tailored for body type/injury etc. So my question is today is what is your opinion about PT versus Group training? Is it as simple as personal accountability? What is your experience of the progress of clients in different training environments?

Oh, and one last point I’d like to make. I heard the claims from certain group exercise companies that they can “prove” that people who use their methods get better results. To these claims I say the two words “false causality”. Let me explain. Take the claim “Fact: Women who use ABC brand of shampoo every day have stronger hair”. This may have been scientifically proven, but such a statement means very little. It certainly does not prove that ABC shampoo makes your hair stronger. In fact it could be the other way around. Maybe women with strong hair tend to use ABC perhaps because it says on the bottle “especially for people with strong hair”. So when you read that ABC fitness system is proven to make people fitter, you now know to think again. Correlation is not causality. If we look closer then sometimes what is presented as the cause turns out to be the effect and vice versa.

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©, bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength.  He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. For more information about Pilates with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays all the profits made from this BLOG to his charity partners. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.

 

Health and fitness

Pilates EVO at MIOFF 2014

MIOFF Presenter Chris Hunt Pilates EVO

 www.pilatesevo.com

I will be presenting Pilates EVO in Moscow, Russia at MIOFF in October 2014. I hope to see lots of my friends there and I am sure that I will meet lots of new friends as well.

Click on the image above to read about MIOFF and Pilates EVO (there is an English language option).

During my visit in October I will be holding a 3 day Pilates Foundation Education, a 3 day Pilates EVO Advanced Education, and a 2 day Introduction to Pilates course. There will also be some Pilates EVO masterclasses.

For more information about attending the courses, please contact me as soon as possible as places are very limited. If you are a club in Moscow and you want to talk about bringing Pilates EVO to your club, then please contact me.

See you in Moscow!

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©, bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength.  He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. For more information about Pilates with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays 50% of any money made from this BLOG to his charity partners. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.

 

Current Affairs, Health and fitness, Travel

Пилатес EVO. Эволюция пилатеса

www.vk.com/pilatesevo

Добро пожаловать в мой блог! Я побывал России уже несколько раз и встретил много замечательных людей. Это мой первый пост на русском языке, но непоследний. Вы можете попрактиковать свой английский и прочесть некоторые из  моих старых статей. Мой блог — о здоровье и фитнесе.

Сегодня я хочу написать о пилатес EVO ©. Я родился с дефектом позвоночника и это стало следствием плохой осанки, а также усугубило проблему. Система упражнений Пилатес стала тем, что действительно изменило мою жизнь. Я стал страстным преверженцем убеждения, что Пилатес может помочь многим людям улучшить качество их жизни.

Я работал в лондонском Сити на должности менеджера, в тоже время практиковал и изучал пилатес, однако, всегда в моей голове звучал тихий голос, который говорил мне, что я должен преподавать Пилатес. Тихий голос становился всё громче и громче, пока однажды он не стал оглушающим. Я решил оставить позади свою прежнюю жизнь и посвятить жизнь и карьеру преподаванию Пилатеса.

Я путешествовал по миру преподавая и обучаясь (мы никогда не прекращаеме учиться, и любой, кто скажет иначе, очень глубоко ошибается). Наровне с приверженностью к пилатесу я испытывал большой интерес к кундалини йоге, а также к другим методам функциональных тренировок. Параллельно с этим я развил в себе глубокую любовь  к медитации, которая привела меня к буддистским храмам Таиланда. Там же я открыл для себя знания о меридианах, подробно изучил меридианы и стал квалифицированным специалистом по тайскому массажу. Но меня интересовало не только тело. Я всегда интересовался психологией, изучал буддийскую психологию и другие современные концепции, такие как нейролингвистическое программирование (НЛП).

Когда я путешествовал преподавая пилатес, в моем подсознании зародилось семя идеи, чтобы используя все свои знания, создать другой тип пилатеса. Я выходец классической школы Пилапета, и мне больно видеть, некоторые из новых систем, которые претендуют на название Пилатес, но явно не являются ничем подобным. Так что у меня было время подумать о том, как моя новая система может остаться верной основным принципам системы упражнений пилатес , а также обьединить в себе мои знания и опыт.

Для меня было важно создать систему, которая шла бы от моего сердца, систему, в которой всё имело бы смысл и значение. На мой взгляд, существует слишком много систем и учителей, которые преподают не от сердца, а от их банковского счёта. Отсюда взяла своё начало моя система, и было очевидно, что я должен назвать это – Пилатес EVO ©, так как EVO является английской аббревиатурой слова ЭВОлюция.

В системе Пилатес EVO используются приёмы НЛП( Нейро-лингвистического программирования) и медитации для максимального психологического и физического эффекта. Такой подход, делает клиентов эмоционально, ментально и духовно сильнее, расширяет сознание и соединяет ум и тело. Пилатес EVO улучшает моторику движений, ловкость, равновесие, скорость, координацию, время реакции и силу. Пилатес EVO опирается на древние учения о меридианах и Кундалини йоги

Система Пилатес EVO это комбинации плавных движений называемые «ритуал». Ритуалы созданны на основе священных чисел 3, 7 и 21. Каждая комбинация включает в себя 7 движений, взятых из пилатеса, Кундалини йоги, функционального тренинга и включают работу  и стретчинг по меридианам. Для пилатес ЭВО DJShameless в Лондоне специально составил саундтреки, чтобы клиенты могли действительно соединиться с ощущением движения своего тела и понять глубину и пользу занятий. Большинство движений имеют различные уровни сложности с возможностью повышения мышечной нагрузки, диапазона движений, скорости и сопротивления. Система Пилатес ЭВО имеет широкое применение и может отвечать любому спектру целей. По этой системе могут заниматься элитные спортсмены, клиенты фитнес центров и люди, проходящие реабилитацию после травм.

Пилатес EVO увеличивает мышечную силу, выносливость и гибкость. Помогает предотвратить травмы и повысить эффективность физических нагрузок в жизни и спорте.

Прелесть системы Пилатес EVO состоит в том что она может работать на разных уровнях нагрузки. Самый низкий уровень подходит для начинающих, а нагрузка на более высоких уровнях сложности соответствует самым опытным и продвинутым спортсменам, даже с очень сложной системой тренировок.

Для меня всегда очень важно убедиться, что новые преподаватели пилатес EVO ©, которых я обучаю, понимали всю теорию, духовность и значение системы. Практикуя только физическую часть  системы Пилатес EVO ©, но тем самым студенты упускают глубокий духовный потенциал системы. Я не хотел, чтобы обучение Пилатес EVO © проходило бы как еще один уик-энд изучения хореографии и создания роботов. Каждый преподаватель пилатес EVO должен чувствовать систему сердцем, если же этого нет, я не даю им права преподавать  Пилатес EVO ©. Очень важно понимать, суть и глубину системы, как в физическом, так и в духовном плане, в противном случае невозможно  правильно нести данную систему в массы.

Пилатес EVO предлагает обширные технические и углубленные программы подготовки тренеров, которые включают Начальный и Продвинутый уровни квалификации. А также специальные модули, которые позволят стать экспертом во многих областях фитнеса.

Я признаю преподавателей пилатес всех школ пилатеса для участия в моей учебной программе, но каждый, кто приходит учиться должн иметь официально признанную квалификацию по пилатесу. Часть образовательной программы нацеленна на то, чтобы дать учителям навыки и знания, позволяющие им стать лучшими преподавателями, не только в Пилатес EVO ©, но и в любом другом направлении.Знания, которые получают мои студенты, также могут быть использованны в повседневной жизни: в отношениях с друзьями, партнерами и семьей.

Я не вижу пилатес EVO © как собственность или то, над чем я должен иметь абсолютный контроль. Диктатура редко длится долго. Я хотел, чтобы система была гибкой, так как еще одним аспектом пилатес EVO является то, что на продвинутом уровне, учителя имеют право создавать свои собственные комбинации упражнений, лучшие из которых я иногда использую на последующих курсах. Для меня это создает постоянно развивающуюся систему, которую каждый квалифицированный преподаватель может расширить руководствуясь своими знаниями и воображением. Пилатес EVO © это сообщество в котором  все члены  обмениваются идеями и энергией.

Пилатес EVO является эволюцией Пилатеса. Это больше, чем система упражнений – это образ жизни! Пилатес EVO – способ максимально усилить ваш потенциал ментально, эмоционально и физически.

Я сново вернусь в Москву в октябре, для участия в междунородной фитнесс конвенции MIOFF, а также провести образовательные курсы Пилатес EVO.

Расписание на Октябрь:

Вторник 8 октября: Пилатес EVO © в MIOFF Пожалуйста, скажите мне, если вы будете там, чтобы мы могли договориться о встрече до или после моего мастер-класса.

Четверг 9 / Пятница 10: Пилатес EVO © подготовительный. Введение в пилатес. Этот курс предназначен для тех, кто хочет получить основное понимание что такое пилатес. Такеже этот курс является прекрасным подготовительным модулем, прежде чем посетить Базовый EVO курс. Мы будем говорить об основных принципах пилатеса и основных упражнениях.

Суббота 11-ого / 12 Воскресенье / Понедельник 13: Пилатес EVO © Базовый курс Это первый модуль в вашем пути к пилатес EVO ©, в котором вы узнаете о меридианах, о функциональном тренинге, медитации, НЛП и изучите ваши первые Пилатес EVO © комбинации. Чтобы посетить этот курс, вы должны иметь пилатес квалификацию или принять участие в вводном курсе Пилатес EVO © Подготовительный.

Вторник, 14 / Среда, 15 / четверг 16: Пилатес EVO © Продвинутый курс Это вторая часть вашей подготовки EVO. Вы должны уже иметь сертификат о прохождении Пилатес EVO © Базовый курс. На этом курсе вы узнаете больше о меридианах, а также, как создавать свои собственные Пилатес EVO © комбинации.

Колличество мест на каждом из курсов ограниченно. Не упусти свой шанс узнать больше и стать преподавателем унакальной системы Пилатес EVO !

Помимо этого мы проведём несколько  вечерних мастер-классов, подробную информацию о которых я опубликую на странице PilatesEVO© на facebook (www.facebook.com/pilatesevo)   и VK (http://vk.com/id266597927). Если вы являетесь владельцем или менеджером спортивного клуба мы можем провести  PilatesEVO© мастер-класс в вашем клубе.  Официальный представитель  PilatesEVO© в России Мария Бахвалова тел. 926 469 3333.

Жизнь постоянно движется вперед, постоянно меняется и всегда развивается. Когда мы осознаём тот факт, что мы не можем остановиться или контролировать перемены тогда мы должны принять изменения, тогда мы способны двигаться вперед. С этой философии началось создание PilatesEVO.

Мы никогда не должны забывать о своём прошлом, потому что прошлое закладывает фундамент, от которого зависит наше будущее. Но прошлое не повод для того, чтобы оставаться на месте и не строить планы на новое, другое будущее.

 

 

 

Uncategorized

Chris Hunt: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Barcelona Style

 

Ice Bucket Challenge

<a href=”http://www.chrishuntwellness.com” target=”_blank”>www.chrishuntwellness.com</a>

So this is the craze that is sweeping the world and has gone viral.

I was challenged so naturally I had to go ahead and tip a bucket of ice water on my head. To be honest, by the time the filming started the ice had melted but the water was still pretty damn cold on a hot August day in Barcelona!

I nominated my friends Robert Steinbacher, Jessica Exposito and Maria Bakhvalova so guys you have 24 hours…

Just so we don’t forget what this is all about, it a way to raise money and awareness for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is also referred to as motor neurone disorder (MND), Charcot disorder, and, in the United States, Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a neurodegenerative disease with various causes. It is characterised by muscle spasticity, rapidly progressive weakness due to muscle atrophy, and difficulty in speaking, swallowing and breathing. ALS is the most common of the five motor neuron diseases. One of the famous victims of this disorder is Stephen Hawking.

As well as donating to the charity, I am also having a special Pilates session on the beach in Barcelona this Saturday 30<sup>th</sup> August where the cost is 20€ but all the money will be donated by me to the charity.

I hope to see you all on the beach in Barcelona for some charity Pilates! And keep the ice-bucket challenges going: Robert, Jessica and Maria, I am waiting!

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of <a href=”http://www.pilatesevo.com/”>Pilates EVO©, </a>bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength.  He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. For more information about Pilates with Chris in Barcelona, please click on <a href=”http://www.barcelonabienestar.com/”>Barcelona Bienestar</a>. To learn more about Chris, please read <a href=”http://www.chrishuntblog.com/about/” target=”_blank”>Just who is Chris Hunt anyway?</a> You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays 50% of any money made from this BLOG to his charity partners, the other 50% covers the costs. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.

Health and fitness, Travel

Pilates and fitness sessions in Barcelona

Healthy Beach Barcelona Chris Hunt Pilates

www.healthybeachbarcelona.com

There is a wonderful culture in Barcelona for exercising outside, and I love it. I had only really seen regular exercise classes outside on the TV, as in the UK it is difficult to do more than the odd class in the fresh air.

But here the weather allows outdoor exercising most of the year, and the locals make the most of this and the great venues here in the City. Both group exercise sessions and personal training sessions are very popular. Why join a gym?

I have Pilates and fitness classes on the beach and in the parks under the name Healthy Beach Barcelona. There is lots of room for Pilates and sheltered places from the hot sun. For fitness exercise in Barcelona, there is lots of urban architecture that is perfect to hang a TRX from or use for many different exercises.

For me, laying on a Pilates mat and looking up to the sky above is much nicer than looking at a ceiling! And to run and exercise in fresh air is just nicer than an air conditioned studio any day.

I am now running Pilates and fitness exercise group sessions and personal training sessions on the beach and in the park in Barcelona everyday of the week. You can find out more by clicking on www.healthybeachbarcelona.com.

You can train with me the traditional way inside in your home if you prefer. Everything is possible!

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©, bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength.  He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. For more information about Pilates with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays 50% of any money made from this BLOG to his charity partners. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.

Current Affairs, Health and fitness

Chocolate: Cravings, myths and some facts

Chocolate Chris Hunt Pilates

www.chrishuntwellness.com

Do you spend your year ploughing through pile after pile of chocolate?  Valentine’s Day chocolate (having previously just finished the Christmas chocolate bonanza), then Easter, and birthdays and dark nights and mother’s/father’s day etc etc. The chocoholic’s calendar is usually very busy.

It will come as no surprise at all that chocolate is the most frequently craved food, with 40% of women and 15% of men claiming chocolate yearnings (Yanovski 2003). My dear Mum used to say that chocolate cravings were caused by the body asking for the “goodness” found only in that magical wrapper. But are chocolate cravings based in science or psychology, or both?

It is complicated. Chocolate comprises a complex medley of over 400 distinct components that gives it that unique taste, texture and aroma. It has properties that enhance our urge for sensory gratification, so simply seeing or smelling it can trigger cravings. Even writing about it is making me want to reach for that Malteasers Easter Egg hidden away as a present for my Niece.

Like drug addictions, food cravings alter potent neurotransmitters that regulate our mood. Cocoa butter changes from solid to liquid at mouth temperature (the melt-in-your-mouth quality), which causes the brain to release a flood of endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers, producing temporary feelings of warmth and euphoria. The analgesic effect of chocolate may be a source of sensory addiction for some.

The sugar in chocolate stimulates serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and provides a sense of calm and well-being. Chocolate may help chase the blues by raising serotonin levels, though the science behind this is disputed.

Chocolate contains psychoactive agents that can change mood. Theobromine, a chemical similar to caffeine, is absorbed quickly, mildly stimulating the nervous system to increase the heart rate and can give a mild energy surge. Chocolate is rich in phenylethylamine (PEA) another stimulant. PEA levels are enhanced in people in love, so eating chocolate may temporarily mimic the love vibe, without the need to pay it compliments or take it out to dinner.

And if that was not enough, recent research suggests that people who eat chocolate regularly tend to be thinner. The findings come from a study of nearly 1,000 US people that looked at diet, calorie intake and body mass index (BMI) – a measure of obesity. It found those who ate chocolate a few times a week were, on average, slimmer than those who ate it occasionally. Even though chocolate is loaded with calories, it contains ingredients that may favour weight loss rather than fat synthesis, scientists believe.

Despite boosting calorie intake, regular chocolate consumption was related to lower BMI in the study. The link remained even when other factors, like how much exercise individuals did, were taken into account. And it appears it is how often you eat chocolate that is important, rather than how much of it you eat. The study found no link with quantity consumed.

According to the researchers, there is only one chance in a hundred that their findings could be explained by chance alone. But the findings only suggest a link – not proof that one factor causes the other. Lead author Dr Beatrice Golomb, from the University of California at San Diego, said: “Our findings appear to add to a body of information suggesting that the composition of calories, not just the number of them, matters for determining their ultimate impact on weight.”

This is not the first time scientists have suggested that chocolate in moderation may be healthy for us. Other studies have claimed chocolate may be good for the heart. Consumption of certain types of chocolate has been linked to some favourable changes in blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and cholesterol level. And chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, does contain antioxidants which can help to mop up harmful free radicals – unstable chemicals that can damage our cells

Dr Golomb and her team believe that antioxidant compounds, called catechins, can improve lean muscle mass and reduce weight – at least studies in rodents would suggest this might be so. Mice fed for 15 days with epicatechin (present in dark chocolate) had improved exercise performance and observable changes to their muscle composition. They say clinical trials are now needed in humans to see if this is the case. There will no doubt be a long queue of willing human guinea pigs willing to risk their health by eating chocolate in the name of science.

But there are still lots of unanswered questions. So while there’s no harm in allowing yourself chocolate now and again, eating too much might be harmful because it often contains a lot of sugar and fat. So if you are looking to change your diet, you are likely to benefit most from eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.

OK, now where did I hide that Easter Egg….

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©, bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength.  He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. For more information about Pilates with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays 50% of any money made from this BLOG to his charity partners. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.

Health and fitness, My life, Pilates

Pilates EVO: From the heart

2 Comments

The Pilates EVO logo is based on the Arcane Wheel
The Pilates EVO logo is based on the Arcane Wheel

www.pilatesevo.com

When we create something ourselves, it can be a difficult step to share our creation with the world. What will people think? Will they like it? Will they criticize or praise? Will it be a success? I have always followed the words of Aristotle, who famously said, “there is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing and be nothing”.

When I was young, I suffered from a lot of back pain. I was born with a spine defect and that led to poor posture which made my problem worse. Hours spent playing sports and practising the piano further added to my problems. I tried many things to help, but Pilates was the thing that really changed my life. It enabled me to live a full life, to run marathons, to snowboard, surf, play golf and never think twice about my back before trying something new. From that day forward, I had a passionate belief that Pilates could help many people improve their quality of life.

In the early days, whilst still practising and studying Pilates I was worked in the City of London as an Insurance Manager. I continue to this day working as a Senior Business Consultant so my life has an excellent balance.

I travelled the world teaching Piates and learning (we never stop learning, and anyone who says any different is very sadly mistaken). As well as Pilates, I was interested in kundalini and other methods of functional training. I also developed a deep love of meditation which took me to the Buddhist Temples of Thailand. Whilst there, I also discovered and studied meridians, becoming qualified in Thai Massage. It was not just the body that interested me. I had always been interested in psychology, in what I saw as “total fitness”. I studied Buddhist psychology and other modern concepts such as Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).

As I travelled teaching Pilates, within my subconscious there was a seed that was growing, an idea that I could use all my knowledge to create a different type of Pilates that reflected the ancient and modern. I am classically trained, and it pains me to see some of the new systems that claim to be “Pilates” when they are clearly nothing of the sort. So I took my time to think about how my new system could stay true to the principles of Pilates, to my principles, but how I could add to the experience my own knowledge, character and ideas.

It was important for to me to create a system from my heart, a system where everything has meaning and purpose. In my opinion there are too many systems and teachers who teach not from their heart, but from their bank balance. To quote Einstein, “Nothing truly valuable arises from ambition or from a mere sense of duty.”

From this melting pot evolved my system, and whilst meditating it became obvious to me that I should call it Pilates EVO©, as EVO is an English abbreviation of evolution.

I believe that BLOGS should be as short (and hopefully sweet) as possible, so what in as few words as possible is my system about?

During my travels I was disappointed to see that many people treated people Pilates as purely a physical system. So one of my main aims was that Pilates EVO© expands the mind and body element of Pilates by incorporating Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Mindfulness Meditation techniques and mantras to maximise the psychological and physical benefits, making clients emotionally, mentally and spiritually fitter whilst still improving motor fitness such as agility, balance, speed, co-ordination, reaction time and power.

Pilates EVO© is still predominantly Pilates, but it also draws on the thousands of years of teachings from Kundalini yoga and meridian stretches to further increase muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, and help prevent injury and improve performance for life and sport.

Pilates EVO© has a constant flow of movement with combinations of moves called Rites created using the sacred numbers 3, 7 and 21 linked by transitional movements. The sequences have different levels progressing muscular fitness using repetitions, range of motion, rate and resistance. This creates a system that will remain challenging to a wide range of training goals from elite athletes, people seeking everyday fitness, to clients rehabilitating following accident or injury. Whilst at its lowest levels Pilates EVO© is appropriate for beginners to Pilates, the beauty of the system means that at higher levels it can provide even the most experienced and advanced athletes with a very challenging work-out.

Music has always been a massive part of my life. I am a classically trained pianist and I play guitar, sing and write songs. I wanted every detail of EVO to maximise the total experience, so it has its own unique uplifting soundtracks mixed in London designed to enable clients to really connect with how their body is moving and working, giving a deep and rewarding experience.

It was very important to me to ensure that the teachers I trained to deliver Pilates EVO© understood all of the theory, spirituality and science behind the system. Pilates EVO© can be practised as a purely physical system , but by doing so the student is missing out on the deeper potential of the system.  I did not want the training to be just another weekend studying choreography and creating robots. Every EVO© teacher has to feel the system in their heart, if not I will not pass them. They must understand where the system comes from, otherwise they could not possibly be able to teach it properly. Pilates EVO© offers an extensive technical, in-depth anatomical teacher training program that includes Foundation and Advanced level qualifications, and seven specialist modules (including EVO Tactility© that teaches appropriate contact and cueing, EVO Forever Young© for the over 60’s and EVO Pregnancy©) enabling teachers to become experts in many areas.

I accept Pilates teachers from all schools of Pilates into my training program, but everyone who comes to the education must have a formal recognisable Pilates qualification. Part of the educations are aimed at giving teachers the skills and knowledge to enable them to become better teachers; not just better Pilates EVO© teachers, but in anything they teach. The knowledge they gain can also be used in everyday life in relationships with friends, partners and family.

I do not see Pilates EVO© as something I own or something I must have absolute control over. Dictatorships rarely last long. I wanted the system to be flexible so another aspect of Pilates EVO© is that at Advanced Level, teachers are empowered to create their own combinations of moves, so of which I use at future educations. To me this creates an ever evolving system that every qualified teacher can enhance with their own direction and imagination. Pilates EVO© is a community with all members contributing with ideas and energy.

Of course Pilates EVO© will not be for everyone. I expect and even welcome the negative comments because every positive value has its price in negative terms. I see negativity as an opportunity for me to explain more. I am happy that the positive comments have far outweighed the negative, and that the vast majority of people can see what it is I am trying to achieve and that I am passionate about it. So even if they do not fully agree with my methods, they respect my reasons for trying.

I feel blessed that Pilates EVO© is being taught throughout Europe and Russia and I now have Pilates EVO© teachers in over 12 countries. Its amazing growth has only been limited by the fact that I insist on training each and every potential EVO teacher personally, but that will never change.

Life is always moving forward, always changing, always evolving. When we awaken to the fact that we cannot stop or control change, that we should embrace change, then we are able to move forward as well. From this philosophy I created Pilates EVO©.

We should never forget our past. It built the foundation that our present so depends. But the past is not an excuse to stay still and not plan for a different future.

If you would like more details about the system, about how to become a Pilates EVO© teacher, about hosting an education or masterclass, or you just want to chat, then please contact me via Facebook or email the team on evolve@pilatesevo.com.

Chris is an international Pilates and functional training presenter and educator based in London and Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©.  He also created Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. He organises fitness holidays and sports holidays in Barcelona, as well as retreats. For more information about training with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays all profits made from this BLOG to his charity partners. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.

 

 

Current Affairs, Travel

Barcelona Graffiti: Robin Williams

Barcelona Graffiti Chris Hunt Pilates

www.chrishuntwellness.com

Another amazing example of Barcelona Street Art. There are some very talented people around this city. So please by all the comments on my article from Monday about mental illness. There are some very  compassionate  people in this world.

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©, bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength.  He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. For more information about Pilates with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays 50% of any money made from this BLOG to his charity partners. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.