Tag Archives: posture

HEADFLOATER™

This is such an exciting time!
 
TheMethod Pilates 
has some amazing new products that we all should take advantage of.

 

HeadFloater™

This is a brilliant, simple looking headband with bungees that you pull to create compression around the head.  It’s hard to explain until you’ve tried it, but it feels so good and does so much good for the neck, shoulders, and spine when it’s used.

Short term use:  It relieves neck pain and shoulder tension!  After using it, my head feels lighter.

Long term use:  It will correct “Head Forward Syndrome”

Pre-Workout use: I use the HeadFloater in the morning and before bed, but this week I found a new need for it… right before I workout!  Occasionally I will do kettlebell swings in the morning for a quick, muscle confusing, full body workout.  I usually do 100 swings and then eat breakfast.  Well, on this particular morning I thought it would be good to use my HeadFloater after my swings.  So I did.  When I stood up after using it, I thought, “NOW I feel like I’m ready to do swings.”  My posture felt right and my back felt more engaged (very important for kettlebell swings), so I did a few more swings… 100 more because I felt strong and balanced – more so than the first set.

 

I already knew that HeadFloater sets your head correctly above your body after the use, but this experienced opened my eyes to its value along side exercise.  No matter what type of exercise you do, good posture is important to keep the body safe and to work the muscles you are intending on working!

Oh, I should tell you:  This takes less than 5 minutes to use and fits in your purse or desk drawer.  Could not be easier to get an adjustment whenever you need!

So there. PURCHASE HeadFloater TODAY!- $35  Take it to the gym and use it before your next class or session or pull it out after a long, stressful conference call or hours bent over at the computer… or after an uncomfortable flight or a bad night sleep.  

HeadFloater in Pilates Style Magazine – Full Article HERE

TYE4®
The other SUPER EXCITING THING hitting fitness now is the TYE4.  The more I use it, the more I LOVE it… and so does everyone else!
More about it HERE.
 
My kids have been begging to use it and I kept saying (especially to my 8 yr old) “It just won’t fit you.”  Well he really wanted to try, so I thought I’d show him I was right….  OOOPS, I was wrong and it did adjust to his size!  I had to grab my camera becasue my kids were having so much fun playing with it and being creative.  Watch this 40 sec. video and remember, I gave them NO instruction! (Of course they have watched me use it)

PURCHASE TYE4 wearable resistance system HERE.  Workout at home and add momentum to your workouts for faster results!
FULL TYE4 VIDEO WORKOUTs ARE AVALIBLE IN THE 840WEST ONLINE COACHING GROUP!

Join our Online Coaching Group ($10/month) and get more full workout videos, coaching, encouragement and a fun social online space to connect with others in this game to be more healthy and fit! Click HERE for more info!!

finalposter
 
 

TYE4® PILATES VIDEO – DEMO

In this video I am doing a Pilates sequence using the TYE4® in a 
LEG BUNGEE FRONT CROSS (LBFC) position.
 
Basically, you will put the right foot strap on the LEFT foot 
and the LEFT foot strap on the RIGHT foot.  
The bungees will cross in the front near your core. 
 
I do not use the arm bungees in this sequence, so I have tied them around my waist to get them out of the way.

Using TYE4 while doing Pilates is like doing Reformer Pilates.  The bungees are the springs. That’s pretty fantastic.  If you have a TYE4, I hope you will try this!  For more TYE4 info, check out TheMethodPilates.com
 
Buy TYE4 $75
email ashley@ashleybensonfitness.com

We will be using TYE4 on 
HEALTH & FITNESS VACATIONS  
Consider being a part of this unique, life changing opportunity.
 
Get a group of 8-10 people… book your week retreat… and get your trip for FREE!
 
ALL INCLUSIVE
WORKOUTS ON THE BEACH
WORKOUTS ON THE ROOFTOP
COACHING IN THE KITCHEN
CHEMICAL-FREE HOME WORKSHOPS
FABULOUS POOL & HOT TUB
SPA MOMENTS and more
 

Hyperwear SANDBELL® REVIEW

I have recently stumbled upon a new product to add to my workouts:
 
 
It is made by HYPERWEAR and I LOVE IT!
 
  These sand-filled bags come in all different weights and can be used similar to a kettlebell, dumbbell, or medicine ball.  I have to say, however, that the SandBell opens up a new world of exercises that the other equipment just can’t provide.  

 What I love about the SANDBELL
“GRIP IT. TOSS IT. SWING IT. SLAM IT”
Great for travel.
Buy them filled or empty.
Fun partner workouts.
Great kid workouts.
Stores away easily.
Strengthens stabilizer muscles.
Challenges the CORE in every exercise.
Thank you Lucy for working hard with me
and letting me put put you in pictures 🙂
Be sure to stop by HYPERWEAR and CHECK THEM OUT!  
Also cruze on over and check out the article and video I wrote for their bog on ‘Finding Health as a Family’
They asked me to create a few games to play with kids using Sandbells!  It was really fun!

WEIGHT TRAINING FOR WOMEN: FACTS

WEIGHT TRAINING
THE ULTIMATE FLAB MELTER
 …FOR WOMEN

According to Women’s Health:
  • 2 sessions per week can REDUCE overall body fat by 3% in 10 weeks without reducing your calorie intake… that’s as much as 3 total inches off your waist & hips!
  • The new muscle BOOSTS your metabolism!
  • It’s the way to SCULPT and SHAPE the body
  • It burns more calories over all than cardio alone:  The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research discovered that  women who did an hour-long strength workout BURNED an average of 100 MORE calories in the 24 hours AFTER THE WORKOUT than they did when they had not lifted weights.
  • With 3 sessions per week, you could loose15,600 calories a year AT REST = about 4.5 lbs of fat!
  • Replace 10 lbs of fat with 10 lbs of lean muscle and you’ll BURN an additional 25-50 calories a day without even trying!
  • Research has also found that lifting weights is BETTER than cardio at burning off the intra-abdominal fat… the kind that is close to and surrounds our organs.  This is the fat that is associated with diseases from diabetes to cancer.

 

Read more at Women’s Health
 
Try these total body workouts and exercises 

 

BUILD MUSCLE AND GET MORE OUT OF YOUR WORKOUT BY USING THE NEW TYE4®.  WEAR YOUR RESISTANCE AND CORRECT BIOMECHANICS FOR A SAFE, EFFECTIVE WORKOUT!  More info HERE.