Forest Park hike this Saturday May 15th

Join Anne and her Fluid Fit Club crew for a five mile hike at 2 pm this Saturday May 15th.

We will start at NW 28th and Upshur and head up the Lower Macleay Trail to Pittock Mansion.  Your reward for this moderately steep hike is the million dollar views of the city from the grounds of Pittock Mansion.   Allow about two hours round trip.  Call Anne to R.S.V.P. All levels welcome.

Thanks Blainey for this cute picture and for your hustle on the hike!

Fluid Fit Club starts this week!

Join Anne for a month-long fitness adventure!  Hikes, boot camps, Pilates and Yoga.  This Saturday we hit Tabor.  Meet at the back stairs (near 60th and Belmont) at 2 pm for ninety minutes of stairs, running/ walking, and yoga.  Call Anne to R.S.V.P. 503-705-4762.

See you Saturday!

New Pilates Mat Class at Sellwood Yoga starts tomorrow!

Join Anne for a sixty minute lunch time workout Wednesdays at noon at Sellwood Yoga 7970 B S.E. 13th Ave. We will be starting with Joe’s basic twenty-five or so core strengthening exercises.  Summer is just around the corner and it’s never to early to start working on your washboard abs!

Sign up online at Sellwood Yoga’s website or drop in.  Whether you are new to Pilates or have some experience with moves like the Hundreds, Teaser and Seal, Anne will provide exercise modifications so that you leave feeling successful and maybe a little sore (in a good way).

For more information contact Anne McCranie at 503-705-4762.

Do guys need to do "core strengthening" exercises?

According to this Wall Street Journal article, by Kevin Helliker yes they do.  Core strength is the new buzzword in exercise circles.  Everyone from elite athletes to weekend warriors are finding their inner strength (pun intended).

To quote Helliker:

After years of conquering the treadmill and bench press, I am now striking poses and performing movements that I had always considered “girly,” and the difficulty of it is humbling.

While he doesn’t specifically use the word Pilates, the three exercises illustrated in the article, glute bridge, pillar bridge and plank, look very similar to Pilates moves I do with my clients.

According to the author: “After three months of two core-training sessions a week, my body-fat percentage is down five points. My cruising speed on the treadmill has risen a full mile per hour, even though my weekly mileage plummeted to make time for the core exercises.”

Want to improve your running time?  Try adding some core strengthening exercises to your program.

Here are three simple and effective core strengtheners.  Shoot for one minute of each of these:

Plank hold:  Make a straight line from your shoulder to your knee.  Pull your belly button in and relax your neck.

Crunches: Rest your hands behind your head and slowly curl head and shoulders off the ground.  This is about half as much effort as a traditional sit up.  Think of flattening your abdominals and breathing.

Pilates Bridge:  Press into your heels to lift your hips towards the ceiling without gripping with your glutes.  Imagine your spine getting longer and your neck relaxing.

Try these moves two to three times a week for the next month and see if you notice a difference in your strength workouts.

Walk For Water is happening this Sunday at the World Trade Center Plaza, downtown Portland

Help Portland Roasting Coffee support World Water Day Sunday March 21st.  This family friendly event includes live music and a fundraising walk around the Willamette.  This event benefits nonprofits working to provide access to clean drinking water to regions in need.

The party continues Monday night with a concert at the Aladdin Theater.  Performers include Obo Addy, 3 Leg Torso and Loveness Wesa.  Look for Fluid’s massage gift certificate in the silent auction before the show.

For more information about either of these events go to WorldWaterDayPDX.com.

Hope to see you there!