Fitness

The crisp, clean air, the beauty of a mountain covered in snow, and the exhilarating speed, balance and control that comes into play when hurtling through that beauty, makes ski holidays incredibly popular. If you want to avoid that creakiness you wake up to on day two, then it’s a good idea to strengthen those ski muscles that don’t get a look-in for the rest of the year. Coming up soon is Flex instructor Megan Farrugia’s ski workshop, which will go way beyond adding wall sits to your workouts. She explains why Pilates is so valuable for skiers…

Katherine Smidt and her family moved to Hong Kong 23 months ago and Katherine took her first Pilates class with Anna at One Island South about a year later. It was love at first class. A long-term swimmer, she is addicted to fitness, and particularly appreciates the help Pilates gives her with her swimming, as well as her core, glutes, posture and even endorphins. She is currently following instructor training so she can share the practice’s benefits when she returns to her husband’s native Germany.

Originally from Melbourne, Pim Sereika has lived in Hong Kong for nearly three years and is a physiotherapist with a special interest in women’s health and clinical Pilates. Here, however, she tells us about why she loves Xtend Barre, highlighting how effective it is, but also from her professional standpoint, how safe it is too.

Flex instructor Elvin Beh has taught Pilates and Gyrotonic for some time, but earlier this year he fell in love with Xtend Barre. Originally from Malaysia, he moved to Hong Kong 22 years ago. He had taken up ballet as a hobby at age five, and it became his career despite an early ambition to be a business administrator or economist. A professional dancer with the Hong Kong Ballet Company for seven years, in 2004 he certified in Pilates BASI method and in 2006 the Gyrotonic Expansion® System. Now a teacher of XB too, he brings his multiple talents to Flex’s team.

Everyone has their own favorite way of spending the turn from an old year to a new one, whether it is about hibernating with family or painting the town red with friends. Here, some of the instructors from our Flex family share their plans and also give some valuable advice on how to start the new year in fine fitness style.

Anna Agawa is one of Flex’s two aerial instructors. She recently took some time out of her FlexKids and Teens aerial class to find out exactly what it was that the kids loved about playing around in silks. Apart from how much fun they have, it’s the swinging and the flipping they love. And most of them find it helps with their flexibility, strength and other sports, plus adds to their confidence too.

Most people associate Pilates with the core, and they’re not wrong. However, Joseph Pilates’ Contrology movements all initiate from what he called the Pilates Powerhouse, and the powerhouse is so much more than the core. Comprising the abdominals, the buttocks and the inner thighs, when these multiple layers of muscles are powered up, along with the pelvic floor, they create a column of strength for the spine.

Katie Duff was a professional dancer and aerial performer at Disney parks in Japan and Hong Kong. To the observer, she was at her physical peak.
But something wasn’t right with her body. She was bulky in some areas and not feeling particularly fit.
“I was doing the same thing every day (as a performer) but not doing enough cardiovascular (work),” says the Flex instructor, who adds that parts of her body were weaker than others due to the repetitive nature of her routines.