Joseph recommended a few precise movements emphasizing control and form to aid injured soldiers in regaining their health through strengthening, stretching, and stabilizing key muscles. The Pilates Principles were created to condition the entire body: proper alignment, centering, concentration, control, precision, breathing, and flowing movement.

Recently Ben from Racers’ Toolbox decided to see what all the fuss was about and started a pilates course at Focus Pilates to improve his poor flexibility and to ease the pain in his lower back he has been feeling since taking a full time desk job.

On his first visit to Focus, Ben was put through a series of tests by the instructor. The goal of these tests? To establish strengths and weaknesses from which the instructor can tailor a programme. The instructor identified that he is very tight through his lower and upper back and through his hamstrings. Ben will now undergo 4 more one on one pilates sessions with his instructor Danny and will then move to group classes. Total programme – 5 weeks.

The photo to the right is of Ben’s current flexibility. His goal? To place both hands flat on the ground by 1 January 2011. Check back in a few weeks to see how he is progressing in the next installment of the pilates blog.

For those interested in trying pilates, the guys at Focus Pilates are the best. They have 2 studios – one situated in the heart of the CBD at 20 Malacca Street and a fabulous new studio in Tiong Building in Orchard Road. You can visit their website at www.focuspilates.com.sg to find out more about their approach and services.

Known as Hair For Hope, an event which invites members of the public to shave their heads to show their support for children with cancer, the event aims to:

1. Create awareness of childhood cancer in Singapore.
2. Show to children with cancer and their families that they are not alone in their fight against cancer.
3. Boost the self-esteem of children undergoing chemotherapy by sending the message that that there is nothing wrong in losing their hair or being bald.
4. Raise funds to help children with cancer and their families
5. Build a community of support for children with cancer and their families.

To donate to this wonderful cause and support Ben and Jon please visit:

Ben – www.hairforhope.org.sg/hfh/shavee/show/649

Jon – www.hairforhope.org.sg/hfh/shavee/show/628

This past weekend Ben Pulham from Racers’ Toolbox was down at ACM Green to kickstart the 2010 Shape Breakfast Runs which will be happening each Sunday for the next three weeks. These sessions are educational, fun and helpful for those women looking to run well at this years Shape Run.

These training runs are free and each run is limited to 250 participants. Pre-registration is required.

3km Training Run 1
Date:    Sunday, 6 June 2010
Time:    7.30am – 9.30am
Meeting Point:    Asian Civilisation Museum
ACM Green II, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
Distance:    3km

http://register.hivelocity.com.sg/NSRBR3KM_index.php

3km Training Run 2
Date:    Sunday, 13 June 2010
Time:    7.30am – 9.30am
Meeting Point:    Asian Civilisation Museum
ACM Green II, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
Distance:    3km

http://register.hivelocity.com.sg/NSRBR3KM2_index.php

5km Training Run 3
Date:    Sunday, 20 June 2010
Time:    7.30am – 9.45am
Meeting Point:    Playground @ Big Splash
902 East Coast Parkway, Singapore 449874
Distance:    5km

http://register.hivelocity.com.sg/NSRBR5KM_index.php

7km Training Run 4

Date:     Sunday, 27 June 2010
Time:     7.30am – 10.00am

Meeting Point:    Playground @ Big Splash
902 East Coast Parkway, Singapore 449874

Distance:    7km

http://register.hivelocity.com.sg/NSRBR7KM_index.php

Check out the photos below from the first training run of 2010.

Why take the Racers’ Toolbox Body Composition Test? Watch the film here:

Lactate threshold is the point in exercise when lactate acid begins to accumulate in the muscles. It is a physiological marker that is closely related with aerobic endurance performance – the higher the lactate threshold, the better the aerobic endurance performance.

For those athletes out there looking to improve your performance in endurance events, this test allows us to see how you are currently using your energy and helps us to create an effective plan that can delay you from “hitting the wall”.

During the last 2 years I was racing, I spent a lot of time working with a mental conditioner in New Zealand who spent many sessions drilling into me the importance of being present. This morning I was online reading one of my favourite triathlon websites when I stumbled onto a good article on this topic. Click here to read it!

As athletes we spend so much time and effort training the body but fail to recoginise the importance of a strong mental game and therefore neglect its development. I can tell you from experience that the few hours of practice I put in each week working with my mental conditioner and practising what I was taught improved my performance tenfold. Not only did it improve my racing but it has given me valuable skills that I use on a daily basis running my business and with the people I interact with.

With the racing season just kicking into gear here in Asia, perhaps now is a good time for you to start working on your mental game?

Check out the video below for a great example of being present. I am lucky to have trained and raced with Bevan Docherty and I can assure he is very mentally TOUGH!