Latest news with #Pilates
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Olympians Katie Taylor and Daina Moorehouse immortalised in Wicklow mural
The artwork, painted by local artist Adam J Connors, while a fitting homage to two of Bray's sporting legends, is also a real testament to the collective community spirit that prevails in the neighbourhood. With the slogan placed between the two boxers, 'When Dreams Become Reality', it will have a lasting impact, fitting once again, given it wasn't the easiest of battles for this particular dream to become a reality either. There were a lot of driving forces behind it, from the inspiration of Paul Treacy, manager of the community centre, to the dogged perseverance of local councillor Dermot O'Brien, as well as Ashling Smith (Pilates with Ash), who spearheaded the fundraising drive. Even the crew at Chadwicks in Bray deserves a mention for sponsoring the use of the scissor lift which helped hoist Adam to great heights to complete the work. Of course, none of it would have been possible without the wishes of the two subjects, who gave it a wholesome blessing and a seal of approval. "It's complete,' Daina posted on the Facebook page. 'Absolutely delighted what an honour to be beside the legend herself, big thank you to Connect Ballywaltrim South Bray.' The genesis for the idea of the mural goes back to last year, when the community held a homecoming event for Daina after the Paris Olympics. Ashling expressed an interest in her business community sponsoring the project, and, as Paul explained, 'we roped Adam in and we got on to Councillor Daisy and stakeholders and it's taken almost a year to get over the line'. "But we finally got there,' he said. 'So the idea is that two Olympians came from the same community, and it was just a way of kind of putting it out there and celebrating their achievements, because they do inspire young people in the area. And it's a nice way to celebrate that.' Once permission was granted by the council in June, it was decided that a competition should be opened to involve the young people in the community in devising a suitable slogan. The winner, a member of the youth project, was Darcy Crinnion, who came up with the befitting words: 'When Dreams Become Reality'. Paul said everyone has been 'thrilled' with the result. It was a 'no-brainer' for Ashling, when she offered to take over the fundraising side of the project. "I started out my business in Ballywatrim Community Centre,' she said. 'They've always been really great to me. So I approached Pau and said I'd be interested. And I went back to my Pilates community and told them what was happening and would they be in. And it was a resounding 'yes' from everybody,' she said. "They wanted to support it. So over the long winter, through planning applications etc, we waited and waited and waited. And when we got the go-ahead, the money just came pouring in for us. But at no stage was it a given. Similar projects in other areas, I believe, have been refused. But Daisy O'Brien was a real driving force behind getting this through. So it was an absolute privilege to be able to support this for our two Olympic athletes.' It was also a privilege for the man on the scissor lift, Adam J Connors, who said: 'Such an honour to paint a mural of these two Bray legends in their own neighbourhood. Got to spend a couple of weeks in the area, met the nicest people and one thing is for sure, every single person there has so much love for them.'
The Citizen
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Beat the winter blues with these must have mobile fitness apps
There's a wide range of Android apps that help you to stick to your goals in the winter months. Keep track of your fitness and health this winter. Picture: iStock. As winter passes the halfway mark, staying active during the colder months can be challenging if you don't love running in the dark after work or getting up early in the freezing cold to go to the gym. There's a wide range of Android apps that help you to stick to your goals in the winter months. Here are some apps you can use for indoor exercise, anytime and anywhere. 5 Minute Yoga TCL says the 5-Minute Yoga is ideal for those who want to do quick daily yoga workouts. Each session is created from a selection of simple but effective yoga poses, making it suitable for beginners. Every pose features clear images and detailed instructions, ensuring all poses are performed correctly. Asana Rebel Asana Rebel is a yoga and fitness app designed for individuals seeking to achieve a fit body, shed weight, and adopt a healthy lifestyle. This app can help you lose weight, burn calories, strengthen your core, and increase flexibility. It's also great for balancing the body while focusing the mind, letting you leave the stress of the day behind. The Body Coach Transform your fitness with The Body Coach app by Joe Wicks, an all-in-one workout and fitness app featuring quick home workout sessions, HIIT workouts, Pilates, and yoga for beginners. The app also features a personalised meal planner and daily progress tools to keep you motivated. Centr Train like the MCU's Thor with an app backed by actor Chris Hemsworth. Centr's Fitness app provides personalised training based on your personal goals, preferences, and skill level. Whether you prefer home or gym workouts, Centr offers training options for every skill level. Fiit Whether you want to lose weight, get strong, improve flexibility or simply de-stress, Fiit lets you take high-quality workouts with leading personal trainers on your phone or tablet. FitOn Achieve personalised health and fitness goals with unlimited access to the best home workouts and exercise videos, from cardio to strength training to HIIT, yoga, Pilates, Barre, and much more. This app will get you sweating in a class that you love. Home Workout Home Workouts offers daily workout routines tailored to your primary muscle groups. In just a few minutes a day, you can build muscles and keep fit at home without having to go to the gym. No equipment or coach needed because all exercises can be performed with just your body weight. The app offers workouts for your abs, chest, legs, arms, and butt, as well as full-body workouts. Nike Training Club Unlock 300+ workouts with Nike Training Club. Work out with expert tools and set a new, personal best with the support of NTC's fitness diary, workout tracker, scheduling and more. Beyond training, This app covers mindfulness, nutrition, rest and connection for a holistic approach to mental wellness and physical health. Pilates Practising Pilates has many benefits for health and weight loss. Similar to yoga, these Pilates exercises for Android can not only help weight loss, enhance muscle strength, and improve balance and flexibility, but can also enhance energy, promote relaxation, and even improve sleep quality. Sweat Sweat, a personal training app featuring co-founder and elite head trainer Kayla Itsines is made for women. The app offers a broad suite of challenging, yet achievable programs with workouts you can do anywhere, anytime to progressively build your fitness. New programmes give you more ways to push yourself and get you closer to reaching your goals. ALSO READ: Smartphones: Powerful tools that enhance work and academic performance
Tom's Guide
17 hours ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
You just need 6 minutes to strengthen your core with this Pilates abs workout — no equipment required
It's never easy to find the time and motivation to train, but almost all of us can spare six minutes to do a workout that doesn't require any equipment. When it comes to motivation, that's a bit trickier, but at least with this short session from Pilates instructor Lilly Sabri, you know that you'll be finished in next to no time, and you'll be pleased to have done it. If you do want to roll out one of the best yoga mats, it will make the session more comfortable as you'll be doing the entire workout lying down. Don't be fooled into thinking it will be an easy ride just because it's only six minutes long, either. Sabri suggests this as an intermediate workout, and you can be sure your abs will feel the effects of it afterwards. There are six exercises in the workout, and they are broken up by short breaks while Sabri explains what move is coming up next. Sabri does the workout with you, setting a pace for the exercises and providing tips to help you push through and get the most from it, so make sure you can see your screen throughout. With a short workout like this, it's important to maximize each move, so make sure your form is correct and you're moving at the right pace to engage your core muscles. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The workout features a mix of leg raises and sit-ups, along with the Hundreds exercise, which is a classic Pilates core-burner. The session works the upper and lower abs, your obliques through twisting moves, and the deep core muscles. There are no planks or bridges in the session, with all moves performed from the same lying position to make it easier and faster to transition between exercises. If you can make it a regular addition to your weekly routine, perhaps doing the workout three or four times a week — that's still just 18-24 minutes of work a week — is a great way to get into the rhythm of training regularly, and you'll notice your core strength improving. You can also use this short core routine as a finisher for a longer workout, to ensure your abs get some special attention after a full-body circuit, for example. Once you have completed the workout comfortably, it will be worth looking at longer sessions to keep progressing. Or you could even double up on this workout for a testing 12-minute session. If you enjoyed this Pilates-style workout and are looking for something longer, try this 20-minute core workout, which also improves your balance. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Forget crunches — a Pilates instructor shares 9 exercises to target your deep core
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. When we talk about deep core muscles, we don't mean a six-pack of rippling muscles. Your deep core refers to a group of muscles sitting deep in the torso that work to stabilize your body. They include the transverse abdominis, diaphragm, and pelvic floor, and they protect your spine as you move. A lot of the exercises you might typically see in ab workouts include sit-ups and crunches, which mainly target the outer abdominal muscles. In this five-minute workout, Pilates instructor and physiotherapist, Lilly Sabri, takes you through nine different exercises that really target your deep core. As a reminder, if you're new to Pilates or you're returning to exercise from an injury or pregnancy, it's always a good idea to check in with a professional before taking on a new exercise regimen. What are the exercises? The exercises included in the workout are as follows. You'll do each exercise for 30 seconds. You won't be taking any breaks, but feel free to press pause should you need. This workout is designed to be used as a warm-up or cool-down to blast your core. Pilates hundreds Pilates toe taps Single-leg stretch Full-body extension Double-leg extensions Flutter kicks Full roll up V-sit with torso twist V-sit with twist and leg lift For all of the exercises mentioned above, it's important to ensure that you're moving with good form, with your lower back pressed into the exercise mat. If you're struggling to do this, focus on engaging your core, thinking about squeezing your belly button into your spine. What are the benefits? Like all good Pilates workouts, these exercises work on the muscles in your midsection, especially those all-important deep core muscles and pelvic floor. While one workout alone won't dramatically change your body, over time, strengthening your core muscles will help protect your spine from injury, and build balance and stability in the body, reducing your risk of falls. If you're postpartum, working on your pelvic floor muscles is especially important, and abdominal exercises like this are a good place to start (once you've got the sign off from your doctor). Childbirth weakens the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, which support organs like the bladder, bowels, and uterus. Weak pelvic floor muscles can lead to issues like incontinence. Far from being an aesthetic goal, a strong core can also help you sit, walk, and run with better posture. Your core is the link between your upper and lower body, so whether you're a runner or a cyclist, a strong core will help improve your athletic performance and endurance. Finally, Pilates helps build functional strength in your body. Functional fitness refers to your ability to do everyday activities, like getting out of bed, lifting objects, or just sitting with good posture at your desk. Your deep core is responsible for a lot of day-to-day movements, so practicing how to engage it is about building a strong foundation for a healthier, pain-free life. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide Forget weights — I tried this Pilates roll-up exercise that strengthens your core and boosts your posture The 8 best core workouts to build stronger abs and boost your balance without weights Forget planks — this dumbbell workout tones and strengthens core muscle in just 15 minutes
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The 5 ‘pillars of ageing' doctors use to determine if you will live a long and healthy life – so how do you fare?
MANY of us want to live a long and healthy life - but how often do we think about the things we're doing now to help us get there? A five-part quiz created by experts may reveal how well you're ageing. Advertisement 3 Are you doing things right now to help you live longer? Credit: Getty Developed as part of the The Open University and Age UK, the quiz asks a series of questions that may prompt you to take action. Many factors influence healthy ageing, some of which aren't in our control, while others are within our reach. Genetic factors cannot be controlled, but many affecting our physical, mental and social well-being can. Jitka Vseteckova, Senior Lecturer Health and Social Care at The Open University, and Lis Boulton, Visiting Research Fellow at the university, identified five key areas - known as the Advertisement Read more on living longer And it's these five pillars that form part of the quiz. 1. Are you eating well? Eating healthily means consuming a balanced diet with a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, while limiting processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy fats. One diet associated with various health benefits is the It emphasises plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, while also including healthy fats like olive oil and moderate amounts of fish, dairy, and poultry. Advertisement Most read in Health Exclusive Red meat and processed foods are limited. Writing for What healthy looks like "Malnutrition is a serious concern in older age, especially when it comes to maintaining strong muscles and bones." 2. Are you staying hydrated? Drinking enough water is vital for maintaining bodily functions, promoting overall health, and preventing various health issues. Advertisement Not drinking enough can cause dehydration and affect cognitive function, mood and energy . Vseteckova and Boulton advise: "Cutting down on sugary drinks can help you to maintain a healthy weight and staying within recommended alcohol limits can also help lower your risk of conditions like dementia. Hydration really matters." But they add for people with life-limiting illnesses or conditions like advanced dementia, appetite and oral intake may be severely reduced. And sugary drinks may be one of the few sources of calories they can tolerate, so hydration should take priority over strict nutritional guidelines. Advertisement 3. Are you being physically active? 3 Just walking more can boost health and prevent diseases like osteoporosis Credit: Getty Being physically active is crucial for both physical and mental well-being, offering numerous benefits such as reduced risk of chronic diseases, improved mood, and increased energy levels. Just walking more can boost health, say Vseteckova and Boulton, and when paired with good nutrition, can help prevent degenerative disease osteoporosis. Swimming, cycling, dancing, and activities like yoga and Pilates are also recommended for older adults. Advertisement And studies have shown it's never too late to start exercising. One But that number was similar to the results for people who'd been inactive in their youth and only began exercising regularly in their 40s, 50s and 60s. 4. Are you connecting socially? Social connection is a fundamental human need, crucial for both mental and physical well-being. Advertisement Strong social bonds provide emotional support, reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, and contribute to a sense of belonging and self-worth. Furthermore, social interaction has been linked to improved cognitive function, a stronger immune system, and even a longer life. Vseteckova and Boulton explain: "Loneliness increases the risk of depression and "Building strong social ties earlier in life can help protect well-being over the long term." Advertisement 5. Are you challenging your brain? 3 Doing crosswords has been shown to potentially delay dementia Credit: Getty Challenging your brain is crucial for maintaining cognitive function, enhancing mental abilities, and potentially delaying cognitive decline. This could involve learning, reading, playing an instrument, or trying something new. Advertisement " There's no magic fix, but even small actions can have lasting benefits ," quip Vseteckova and Boulton. The Take Five to Age Well quiz is part of a free, expert-led, month-long challenge which supports participants' current habits and needs. Vseteckova and Boulton say: "We developed the Take Five to Age Well quiz to help people reflect on how they're doing across these five areas – and where there might be room to grow. "The follow-up resources are based on real-life experiences of ageing from diverse communities and offer small, achievable steps you can start today." Advertisement Tips for living longer Live happier and healthier for longer with the NHS's top 10 tips: Watch what you eat and drink Eating a healthy, balanced diet is crucial for good health, energy and preventing illness. Look after your teeth Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily to prevent gum disease. Gum disease can be linked to diabetes, stroke, heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Stay active Regular exercise can help lower your risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even cancer. Make the most of your GP It's a good idea to get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels tested by your doctor. High readings can increase your risk of stroke and heart disease. Get a vitamin boost Lots of people have vitamin D deficiency but don't know it. The condition has been linked to cognitive impairment, bone problems, and cardiovascular disease. Make sure to get outdoors during the spring and summer months, and during autumn and winter you might want to consider taking a vitamin D supplement. Take care of your feet Look after your feet by applying moisturiser, cutting your toenails straight across, and making sure you wear footwear that fits properly and supports your feet. Contact your GP if your feet become painful. Sort out your sleep Getting enough sleep is important for staying healthy. Avoid insomnia by cutting down on daytime naps, establishing a bedtime routine and going to bed at the same time each night. Take the tests As we age our hearing and eyesight can be affected, so it's important to get them checked regularly. Stay in touch Spending time with other people can prevent you from feeling lonely or anxious. Give up smoking Smoking is linked to a range of different health problems, including heart disease and lung cancer. If you stop, regardless of your age, your circulation, lung capacity, and energy levels will improve.
