Start 2010 with Lynda Lippin’s Downloads

By Kerrie Ann Frey

I am a big fan of downloads. The freedom of working out with my schedule (which can be 4:30 am on some days) and being able to stop and restart on my own accord is just nice. As a Pilates instructor, I actively search out MP3 downloads to hear what other instructors use as cues or even new ways to approach a traditional series. This is important as not every client responds to the same instruction or even exercise similarly.

Pilates teacher Lynda Lippin has a series of downloadable Pilates workouts that are affordable and do not require major apparatus, making them great for home use. Pilates for Lower Back Pain, Pilates for Neck Pain, and Pilates Magic Circle and Foam Roller Workout are available for under ten dollars each. Accompanying the MP3 downloads are two free e-books that should be read as they directly associate with the movements you’ll be doing in the workouts.

The MP3 downloads for neck and back pain are safe and manage to hit all the goodies of articulation, neutral spine, core strength and stability gently. Lippin knows her stuff as she guides the listener through a workout designed to strengthen and release the portions of the body that people with those issues require. Her twenty plus years of experience shines in the soft, well-paced cuing she uses as she encourages the listener to make a mind/body connection. She gives notations as to what the listener may be feeling at a particular moment. Lippin even anticipates questions a Pilates newbie may have as she draws attention to certain ways of working from the pelvic floor on up, even describing how to work a Kegel. The workouts can, as Lippin endorses, be used daily.

The Pilates Magic Circle and Foam Roller Workout is a solid whole body challenge. Throughout the session, the powerhouse is addressed no matter what body part is concentrated on, as should be in a Pilates workout. The upper body portion can make your lats and serratus sing as Lippin works the biceps, triceps, scapulas and everything in between. The lower half also gets its fair share of attention with side-lying leg work that balance out the leg and gluteus muscles evenly.

The foam roller work at the end of the workout is a “hurt so good” blend of massage, stretching and additional core strength that brings the workout to a nice finish. It would make a great quickie stand-alone end of day session as well. I’ve used it as a warm up for Reformer and Wunda Chair sessions too.

I’d also recommend Lynda Lippin’s free e-books. Currently she features two e-books that focus on easing neck and shoulder tightness and eliminating lower back pain. They make a great compliment to the downloads and should be shared by instructors and clients alike. After a short explanation as to why a person may experience pain, Lippin gives thorough, fundamental exercises that have superb visual cues; for example, how high a leg should lift and why that is so in one of the exercises. Read more for yourself or download the workouts at www.lyndalippinpilates.com.

PROS
- Even if you don’t have neck or back pain, those downloads are still perfect for an early morning wake up or a workout on the days you want to enjoy rather than work your session.
- The counts and repetitions of exercises are consistent throughout the download, making it easy for you to anticipate when the reps are coming to an end.
- Oddly enough, not every town you travel to will offer Pilates classes. These are great for those who are out of town frequently.
- There are opportunities to work in standing as well as on the mat, which some downloads overlook.

CONS
- At times Lippin moves through the exercises quickly. It would be beneficial for a beginning Pilates practitioner to listen to the workouts prior to giving them a go.
- You’ll need to invest in a few inexpensive props if you don’t already have a Magic Circle and Foam Roller.

About the author: Kerrie Ann Frey’s passion for fitness began with credentials including A.C.E. PT and LWMC and grew to include her true love – Pilates. She is certified by Kathy Corey Pilates and trains clients at Core Reform Pilates located in Franco’s Athletic Club in the New Orleans area. Additionally, she shows her mother that her Master’s in English really was useful when she writes Pilates-based articles for print and online publications nationally. Contact Kerrie Ann Frey at kerrie@fitmomusa.com, get press links and follow Kerrie’s Blog at www.fitmomusablog.com. She can be followed on twitter at twitter.com/kerrieannfrey.

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