News & Views | Winter 2008

This Thanksgiving, we decided to buck tradition and escape the fog and drizzle of Monterey (as well as the turkey) in favor of a more exotic climate and cuisine. Our destination – Hawaii, and the beautiful Kona Coast. Our resort was adjacent to Kahalu’u Beach Park, home of the best snorkeling and swimming in Kailua-Kona. The shallow waters are fed by a fresh water spring, and are usually very calm. Snorkeling is fantastic, with hundreds of species of fish, as well as coral and green sea turtles as close as a short walk out on the lava rock. The north end of the beach is where the waves break and is best for body boarding and surfing, which brings me to one of my greatest goals – to learn how to surf.
I did some research and decided to go with Ocean Eco Tours. I arrived at their surf shop and received a quick introduction and tutorial about how to get up on the board. They gave me a pair of booties, and told me where to meet them to find the waves – just offshore of the historic Saint Peter’s Church, aka the Little Blue Church. There I learned how to carry my board, get into the water and paddle out to where three to five foot waves were breaking. Once we arrived at the right spot, I pointed my board towards the shore and waited for my cue: “Paddle, paddle, paddle, now jump!” The next thing I knew I was crouching on the surfboard, straightening my legs, then standing and flying for the most exhilarating five to ten seconds of my life. I repeated this several more times before I realized how hard it was – not the standing on the board as much as the paddling and lifting myself back on the board. I could appreciate my ability to stay up and the value of balance (core strength) but underestimated the significance of upper body strength that is essential for such a sport. By the time I paddled back to shore and met my family on the beach, I was exhausted and somewhat humbled. What I had expected to be fairly easy had turned out to be a labor of love – it’s really fun but not as easy as it looks.
Tips:

• When choosing a surf school, do some research. Ask your friends, read reviews and determine the qualifications of the instructors. Make sure they have a lot of experience, are respected in the community and be sure they are certified lifeguards.
• Be prepared to be sore after your first surfing experience. There’s a lot of spine extension and shoulder load involved with the paddling, getting on the board, etc.
• Plan ahead to have someone photograph you. I regret not setting that up in advance, therefore having proof of my accomplishment!

And my advice to you: Remember to cross train. Fitness does begin at the core…, but it doesn’t end there.

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Fall 2007

September is a beautiful time of year on the California Central Coast, but especially in Big Sur.  The colors are amazing - mountains are turning a golden bronze, the historic ranches are laden with fruits of crimson and auburn.  And even in a drought year, the Big Sur River is a delightful place to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

Big Sur is a lush expanse of land between Monterey and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise from the Pacific Ocean. Home to the Big Sur International Marathon for the past twenty three years, Big Sur’s history goes back much further.  Although the permanent population is relatively low, Big Sur’s majestic seascapes and redwood forests have made it a destination for poets, painters, photographers and philosophers seeking spiritual nourishment. It is this quest for inspiration that has given Big Sur its famous bohemian reputation.

 On the first day of Autumn I taught a Mat class on the Big Sur River to an enthusiastic group of people who had gathered for a retreat.  With no music other than the rustling leaves and the river bubbling over stones, we slipped into the flow of Pilates movements without distractions, but with a newfound sense of understanding the significance of combining physical activity in a natural setting.  In his 1945 book Return to Life through Contrology, Joseph Pilates wrote “Admittedly, it is rather difficult to attain ideal physical fitness under the handicap of daily breathing the soot-saturated air of our crowded and noisy cities.  On the other hand, we can more quickly realize this ambition if we are privileged to breathe the fresh pure air of the country and forest…By all means, never fail to get all the sunshine and fresh air that you can.” 
By the end of the class, we all felt relaxed, energized and fully “oxygenated”, inspired to return to our daily routines with a newfound sense of balance and strength.

Tips: When exercising outdoors in a natural setting such as the woods or a river bank or beach, carefully inspect the ground you will be laying on and check for sharp objects and bugs.  If you want to be assured of privacy or quiet, make sure you’re not in a well traveled or popular spot, as you may have to pick up and move.  Make sure everyone has a mat or pad to protect from stones, etc. (we used therma-rest pads), and position everyone so that they can see the instructor but without the sun in their eyes.  If you’re accustomed to hearing music when you exercise, relax and enjoy the sounds of silence – you may tune into the music of nature, which I guarantee will be the sweetest music of all.

And my advice to you:  visit Big Sur and get inspired.

News and Views will continue in December with a review of my upcoming surfing experience on the Big Island of Hawaii!     

I recently had the pleasure of teaching a Contrology class for my friend Maryanne Garvin in Silverton, Colorado.  Silverton Movement Center is a fully equipped, beautiful Pilates studio that has been created out of a former bottling facility; an adaptive use of an historic structure that serves not only Silverton but surrounding southwestern Colorado. Although the class was an absolute joy to teach, I did notice a change in my body’s response to physical exertion.  From past travels to high altitudes, I immediately realized that I had what could be called a mild case of altitude sickness.

Silverton is located in the beautiful San Juan Mountains at an elevation of 9,300 feet above sea level.  It is a hotbed of high altitude adventures, including mountain biking, climbing and hiking; not to mention skiing.  Coming from Monterey, California, which is at sea level, my body had to adapt to the altitude and thinner air.  And though the altitude didn’t hold any of my family back from getting out and having fun, (we were a party of travelers aged 7 to 82) we did notice some changes in how we felt.

A person’s body needs time to adjust to higher elevations, about one week in fact, especially if they intend to do some strenuous exercise.  When there is less oxygen in the air, the heart has to work harder by beating faster.  This can cause shortness of breath and fatigue. It’s always a good idea to give oneself a few days to adjust to the altitude before attempting arduous workouts, and know the distress symptoms: Shortness of breath, rapid breathing, increased heart rate and unusual fatigue.

Other non-exercise related symptoms of altitude sickness include headache, agitation, nausea, vomiting and insomnia. If symptoms persist, return to a lower altitude and seek medical treatment.

The more fit you are when you arrive at your high altitude destination, the less likely you are to feel the air-thinning effects. Rest, drink plenty of fluids, make your ascent gradual to give your body time to adjust. And my advice to you: go to Colorado, it’s worth the climb.

News and Views will continue in September with my upcoming Pilates experience on the Big Sur Coast!

 Remember, fitness begins at the core.