2020 has been challenging. As we look to the promise of a new year, it is good to take a step back and take stock of the new normal that has impacted our lives. One of the best ways to start is from within. When was the last time you had any “ME” time? Having “ME”…
In front of the glare of a computer screen, you are sweating your way through an intense virtual workout, and every muscle in your body is complaining. Have you inadvertently thrown your back out? Or is this what your body is supposed to feel like after all those leg lifts and planks? How do you…
An insight of Mayni’s Pilates Journey: My Pilates journey started in two phases. First was when I was in my early-20s during which my main concern was to be physically toned enough to wear a bikini for a beach trip. It was a time when Pilates as an exercise just started becoming more mainstream in…
“Can you tell me why a spiral design seems omnipresent in our natural world and the universe?” writes in a curious reader to the popular science magazine Discover. Across the board, it seems the swirls, curls, whorls and whirls of natural patterns arise from varying physical principles, and the bottom line answer is, “we don’t really know.”…
There is often a debate on whether running is an ideal form of exercise to get fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some people love it, some hate it! Like it or loath it, there was a recent review of research which showed some VERY interesting results which may well make you reach for those…
Every year thousands of people flock to the pristine winter slopes in Niseko, seeking out that famous powder. If you are one of the lucky ones who is planning on doing the same this season, a gentle reminder that along with the abundance of snow, the beautiful views and the delicious ramen comes the risk…
In our modern day lives, travel has become an essential part of not only our pleasure but our work as well. We all know how challenging keeping to a fitness routine can be when we are on the road. Thankfully, it is absolutely possible to keep up a Pilates routine while travelling from your airplane…
What’s an Oov? The unique curves of the Oov is designed to support the natural curvature of our spine to provide stability and/or mobility depending on where it is needed. It is made of a dense foam that’s engineered to compress under the user’s weight to a certain point, after which it will push back…
Winter is fast approaching and just last week, there’s sight of the first snow on the peak of Mt Yotei which is visible from Focus’s Pilates and Physio clinic in Niseko Japan! As you consider your upcoming winter holiday, be it Japan or other location, it is worth putting some thought into how you are…
Many of us are creatures of habit when it comes to exercising. We tend to attend the same classes or log the same workout and it’s perfectly normal especially if it’s a class that you simply love or a workout that your body is comfortable with. Though, it’s good to maintain a regular exercise routine…