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LONG WAY AROUND

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They say (whoever “they” are) that TAKING THE LONG WAY AROUND builds character.  I would agree with that statement wholeheartedly.  The long way around is about endurance, stamina, patience, persistence, tolerance, and ultimately about strength…the whoooooole works.  It’s about standing on your own two feet, just as you are, until the very end, all in one piece.

The other option is to take the easy way out and CUT CORNERS.  Ahhhhhhhhh, now we’ve all done that before and probably experienced an unpleasant consequence or two.  When you cut corners you only cheat yourself.  Your perspective becomes small, and you limit your potential, and that’s a real shame.  I mean, WHAT IF?  (Sigh…)

In Pilates, we often use the phrase, LONG WAY AROUND. Especially in my classes!  Going the long way around means you recruit the smaller muscles (because you’re gonna need ‘em).  By using the smaller muscles you put less strain on the larger ones to alleviate chronic pain. VOILA! Lo and behold, it actually works!  It really is that simple.

When you roll up into your 100′s position, you’re supposed to LENGTHEN your spine first. Wah, wah…  Wait a second…back up.  The FIRST thing you do is inhale to draw your abdominal muscles in and up the front of the spine, which lengthens your spine, promoting the decompression.  Then you roll your spine up, creating the upper body curl.  You go the LONG WAY AROUND to get into your upper body curl, 100′s position.

If you simply curl up without preparing for or thinking about the first two skills, you’re simply doing what’s called ” a crunch.”  Now, I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound very healthy.  Crunch??? Abdominal crunches shorten the spine, tug on your low back (which pulls your pelvis out of alignment), and stresses the low lumbar spine.  Then BOOM! You’re out of your favorite activity for a while…maybe forever.

Crunches were first taught to me when I was in grade school.  I remember asking the question, “What is this exercise for?“  I asked because crunches hurt my body.  I vividly remember thinking they were just plain stupid and a waste of time.  The gym teacher said that crunches build strength in our core.  Yeah, right.  If truth be told, they do not tap into the abdominal muscles whatsoever.  In fact, the abdominal muscles are canceled out and the low back muscles take over.  I don’t need to go any further in detail because you know what happens next!

So, next time, try the LONG WAY AROUND.  Don’t simply choose the path of least resistance.  It’s not always the best way.  You’ll get more out of what you’re doing and appreciate the EASY things in life without coming to depend upon them.

Bye for now!