(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 16, 2011 )  Houston, TX – Jodie Pilates announces a new public service to help promote good health. In order to address the common concern of choosing the right products and groceries to complement losing weight and a healthy lifestyle, Jodie Pilates has announced a grocery store shopping tour that will visit several grocery stores in the Houston Metro Area. A Jodie Pilates representative will spend time leading the tour and teaching the tricks of the trade to up to 8 people at each tour stop.

Jodie Fontenot, Pilates Instructor, Personal Trainer, Fitness Nutritionist and owner of Jodie Pilates has the goal of helping the community “stay fit, lose weight, and feel great.” She teaches Pilates and offers personal training at a studio in northwest Houston.

The first stop is at HEB Vintage Park in Houston TX. For information, please visit the Jodie Pilates Facebook page at http://facebook.com/jodiepilates.

Welcome to my website, where I share my passion for Pilates, Fitness, Health, Food, etc.

What is Pilates? Pilates is a form of exercise, or method of body conditioning developed by Joseph Hubertus Pilates, which emphasizes the balanced development of the body through core strength flexibility, and body awareness thus making our movements flow and more graceful. Mr Pilates originally called his method Contrology, using your mind to control your muscles. As trainers we often tell our clients to put their mind in their muscle, be present, be aware.

Jodie A. Fontenot has been training and advising clients since 2004. As a Personal Trainer, Pilates Instructor, and Fitness Nutritionist; Jodie offers customized training programs which include:

* Pilates
* Plyometrics
* Weight Training
* Boot camp training
* Nutritional counseling
* Cardiovascular exercise
* Running specific training ( endurance/speed etc)
* Improving Flexibility and Balance

I train out of a private training studio in Northwest Houston, TX (Willowbrook, Champions, Spring, Cypress, CyFair are in 77070 zip code) equipped with a reformer, Cadillac, a full array of workout machines, free weights, ellipticals, and treadmills. I am passionate about fitness and health and will take a holistic approach in working with you.

Call today at 713-398-2370 or email to setup your appointment or click here to register on the popup form.

Side Kick

Lay on your side, with your hip, shoulder and elbow in line. Wrap the band around the ball of your foot and hold both ends near your chest, adding tension to the band. Lift the top leg and lower with control to the start. Repeat 12 times on each side.

Side Kick Front

Lie on your side with your hip, shoulder and elbow in line. Wrap the band around the ball of your foot and hold both ends of the band near your chest. Extend the right leg forward, keeping the spine stable, then squeeze your glutes and extend the leg behind your body. Repeat 12 times on each side.

Back Extension

Lie facedown, legs together and straight, extending both arms in front over your head. Double over the band and extend both arms in front, tugging on the band to add tension. Inhale, to prepare, squeeze the glutes and maintaining abdominal engagement, exhale and lift your upper and lower body off the floor and at the same pulling time slightly pulling the band “apart”. Pause briefly and lower to the start. Repeat 10 times.

This is the final installment of the series. Let me know what you think.

Double Leg Stretch

Begin with feet together and legs extended into the air. Inhale and lower your legs to the floor, keeping the abdominals engaged and the spine pressed again the mat. Exhale and lift your legs to the start. Repeat 12 times.

Frog

Lie on your back with, knees bent, heels together with the band across the balls of your feet. Scoop your abs and curl your upper body off the mat.

Inhale, and extend your legs, keeping the heels together at all times. Exhale and bend your knees return to the start. Repeat 10 times.

More to follow on Monday.

Leg Circles

Lie on your back and place the band over the ball of right foot holding one end of the band in the each hand. Extend the right leg into the air, pull the band towards you slightly to add a little tension. Circle your leg quickly, in a clockwise direction with control. Keep your hips, spine and shoulders pressed into the mat. Repeat 8 times in each direction then switch legs.

Saw

Sit tall, abdominals engaged with the band placed across your upper back.

Pull on band to add a little tension, inhale to prepare, exhale and twist and roll your spine forward and extend your hand over and across your foot. Inhale and return to the start. Repeat 8 times on each side, alternating.

More exercises tomorrow.

These are only a few Pilates exercises that can be performed using a Resistance band.

Pilates Hundred

Lie on your on your back with your knees bent, doubling over the band holding each end placing your arms long by your sides.

Inhale to prepare, exhale and curl your upper spine off the floor. Keeping your gaze on your thighs, inhale here. Exhale, and extend your legs and arms out in front of you, tugging slightly on the band.   Inhale for 5 breaths and out for 5 breaths, while pumping the arms up and down this is a small movement.  Keep this pumping movement until you reach a hundred. 

 Once finished, bring your knees in to your chest, and then lower your head and your arms.

Roll Up (Modified)

Lie on your back with your feet slightly bent, one end of the band in each hand with the middle of the band stretched across the balls of your feet.  Inhale as you peel spine off the mat one vertebra at a time holding your abs in as you slowly reach your upper body forward.  Keeping your abs engaged, exhale and slowly roll back down. Repeat 8 times.

This will be a series of a few Pilates exercises using a resistance band. Stay tuned!