AM Pilates & Yoga

Happy New Year to everybody! Get your skis and snowboards ready, winter might be just around the corner :-)

Hi all,
Pilates classes are starting in Tacumshane on 15 September again. Mat classes are €10 per class (pay as you go) or €50 for six. Reformer classes are €75 for five. More info on www.ampilatesyoga.ie

Jerusalem Artichoke Mash

For the artichoke fans among you here comes my favourite mash recipe. Simple and so delicious.
For 2 generous portions you'll need:

500 g peeled Jerusalem artichokes
2 tablespoons ground almonds
Swig of white wine (optional)
2 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons olive oil
pinch of salt
cinnamon, nutmeg and oregano to taste

Peel and cut the artichokes into 1 inch pieces. Simmer in a shallow covered pan with the olive oil, wine and garlic until soft (10–15 min). Mash the artichokes, add almonds, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and oregano to taste. Try and experiment with other spices you like. Cumin or allspice also work well. But nothing brings out the nutty artichoke flavour like the cinnamon. Enjoy!

Thanks to all who came along for the Pilates & Gardening workshop last Saturday. With the nice spring weather you'll have plenty of opportunity to put all the Pilates tips and tricks into practice. A few picture below to refresh the memory. Happy gardening!

Put a smile on my face... enjoy!

To day is your day - yesterday has slipped away and tomorrow is unknown - today is your day, an opportunity to smile, make some else smile, an opportunity to be happy and to make some else happy. Today is your best ever day - enjoy it

Here comes the last Pilates benefit we are looking at in this mini series - but there are many more!
Low Impact, high benefit

Pilates is a low impact exercise method that gently strengthens and stretches muscles without putting undo strain on the body. Instead of bulky muscles, over time you will build muscle tone and strength. Regular sessions will bring huge benefits in terms of leaner and more streamlined body shape, better posture and appearance. The gentle exercises which are suitable for all fitness levels and age groups, will also help to increase and maintain flexibility in the body, contributing to joint health and a healthier overall body.

In a nutshell: Pilates is good for you, and it is good fun too! So why not join a class today? See http://www.ampilatesyoga.ie/classes/ for the current schedule. Or if you don't have the time to join regular classes see http://www.ampilatesyoga.ie/weekend-workhops/ for a first taste of what Pilates is all about.

Pilates Weekend Workshops I Special Pilates Breaks AM PIlates & Yoga offers a range of Pilates weekend workshops for those who cannot commit to regular classes and for the hospitality sector.

Want to join a Pilates class in Wexford? Visit www.ampilatesyoga.ie/classes for details and see the

Class Schedule for March 2014

Pilates & Gardening Workshop scheduled for 8 March is POSTPONED TO SAT 12 APRIL

Apologies everyone who is booked on the Pilates for gardeners workshop tomorrow. Due to the weather we'll have to reschedule to Sat 12 April. The garden is in such a state at the moment that you'd have to bring surfboards instead of spades otherwise! Thanks for your patience and I hope to see you all on the 12th.

Top 5 Pilates Benefits 4/5

There are still more reasons why regular Pilates exercises are beneficial. This week we are looking at benefit #4:

Injury Prevention and Recovery

Pilates is a low impact exercise method often recommended by medical professionals for recovery from back and joint injuries. In addition to aiding recovery through targeted gentle exercises, and maybe far more important, Pilates can also help prevent injuries in the first place. We are all agreed that prevention is far better than cure! Don’t wait until something happens. By strengthening the body, improving the posture, correcting alignment and retraining the body to recruit the correct muscles you can keep it in top shop. Your body will repay the time and effort you invest with increased resilience and resistance.

Check out my class schedule on http://www.ampilatesyoga.ie/classes/

More great Pilates benefits coming soon!

Pilates in Wexford | Reformer Classes | Weekend Workshops AM Pilates & Yoga offers tailor-made morning and evening classes in a small group environment as well as Pilates weekend workshops.

Top 5 Pilates Benefits 3/5

Here we are, straight into reason #3 why regular Pilates sessions are good for your health:

Better Body Awareness and Co-ordination

Regular Pilates exercise will not only strengthen your core but over time will help to naturally realign your spine. This means that your posture will improve and you will gradually become aware of it. With the awareness of old, habitual posture patterns you will be able to naturally adopt the newly learned, healthier and more efficient ones.

Poor posture is often associated with pains and aches, in particular back pain, as it puts strain on the particular muscle groups being recruited to maintain the poor posture. Becoming aware of the problem areas is the first step. You can then use your body awareness to move towards correcting your posture through targeted exercises that will help alleviate those aches.

But the journey does not end there! Since you are now recruiting the right muscles to sustain a healthy posture, previously overused muscles become less stressed, while underused muscles get toned. As a result muscles will feel more balanced and your co-ordination will also improve.

Check out my class schedule on http://www.ampilatesyoga.ie/classes/

More great Pilates benefits coming soon!

Workshop coming up on Wed 16th April at 7pm!
- Introduction to the Reformer -

If you would like to try the Pilates Reformer and see what it can do for you, I am running a workshop again on Wednesday night, 16th April from 7pm onwards. It is two hours, cost is EUR20. We will be looking at the Pilates concept and technique and some technical aspects of the Reformer. Then it’s onto the machines for a beginners workout. And to wrap up we will adept some exercises for the mat to see how equipment and mat compare. The workshop is a great starting point if you are interested in the Reformer but cannot commit to regular classes at the moment, or if you just want to get a first taste before you make up your mind.

Booking essential as places are limited. You can contact me on 087 917 1214 or on www.ampilatesyoga.ie

For more information on the Reformer see my blog http://www.ampilatesyoga.ie/meet-the-pilates-reformer/

Top 5 Pilates Benefits - 2/5

Here comes reason #2 why regular Pilates exercises are good for your health:

Less Tension, Lower Stress Levels

Pilates includes functional exercises that will help you understand how your body works. These exercises will teach you efficient movement, over time breaking old, less efficient movement patterns. We are all creatures of habit. Once a movement pattern is established we tend to stick to it even if the result is stiff overused muscles on the one hand, and weak underused muscles on the other. With regular Pilates sessions you will learn how to recruit the most efficient muscles for a particular movement, how to release tension in the body and how to reduce your overall stress levels.

Check out http://www.ampilatesyoga.ie/classes/ for my Pilates class schedule.
Stay tuned for more great Pilates benefits!