photo from allezhop.net

When I was a kid I would often hang from a tree branch in our front lawn imagining myself a gymnast or a circus performer. I would use the metal bar on the double-deck bed and do as many flips as I could until my arms would go numb or, when out on the playground, spend as much time as I can at the monkey bars. Such childhood memories were brought back when I saw a trainer demonstrate the use of the Pilates Cadillac machine, one the many equipment Joseph Pilates invented.

Named after the famous automobile in America, the Cadillac was devised by Pilates to rehabilitate his bedridden patients when he was a hospital orderly during World War 1. Also, known as “The Rack”, this piece of equipment looks like an orthopedic bed; a  four-poster bed frame with various bars, straps, springs and levers that may be adjusted variably to help facilitate more movement and flow into your Pilates exercises. It also has a push-through bar, which can be sprung from above or below, a roll-down bar, a trapeze or cross bar, arm and leg springs, thigh and ankle cuffs and hanging loops that you grab to raise your body up the table.

If you’re the adventurous  kind and fancy yourself a trapeze artist, you will be surprised at how you are able to make your body move in ways you never thought possible while suspended in mid-air. Through its repertoire of exercises, the Cadillac stretches the body, strengthens the back and spine, making it more flexible, while further developing the core abdominal muscles. Its a bit more complicated than the Reformer, another Pilates equipment mentioned in my previous post, so you definitely need a trained instructor to guide you on how to use it safely and effectively so you get the most out of your workout.

Most hospitals are equipped with the Cadillac but few regular fitness gyms have this type of equipment. Allez Hop Wellness and Balance Center tailor-fits their Cadillac Pilates program based on their clients’ needs, be it as a form of regular exercise or rehabilitative therapy. Either way, imagine how much fun your work out would be sans the hospital setting.

I myself have begun to think about getting myself re-acquainted with Pilates, which is offered at the gym I regularly go to, if only to get out of the exercise rut I’ve been in the past few weeks. It pays to really inject something new and different into your exercise regimen so you don’t slack off, and eventually lose interest in going to the gym altogether. And one thing about going around and finding places such as Allez Hop is that you are able to discover new ways to exercise.

photo from allezhop.net

I have only tried Pilates thrice since I became a Fitness First member if only to find out why some people get hooked on it. Body Balance/yoga classes being offered at the gym remain one of my favorites, along with Retro, Latin and Body Jam. Only last year has Pilates Ball beeen included in the menu of classes owing to its growing popularity among gym enthusiasts.

There are many kinds of Pilates, differentiated only by the type of equipment they use. At home you can do basic Pilates using an exercise mat, very much like yoga. Pilates Ball uses an inflated ball that allows the movement of limbs to increase core strength by strengthening the abdominal muscles along with increasing flexibility in the limbs. There exists, however, another kind of Pilates that uses a machine called the Reformer,giving one an increased range of motion and support, or helping one ease into some of the more complex Pilates movements. I got acquainted with it when I went to Allez Hop Balance and Wellness Center, a boutique gym located in Makati.

Its close proximity to Makati Medical Center  makes the center an alternative to those who may want to undergo rehab therapy. The center, however small, is surprisingly better equipped than most regular gyms I’ve been to. The Reformer alone costs around USD2,300 and the center has two machines which requires quite a bit of floor space when in use.

At first, the Reformer might look like a rowing machine I regularly use at the gym. It looks simple enough, yet upon close inspection and while observing a client at the center using it, I found it to be well-designed as to allow the user a full range of motions, from the basic movement to the most difficult and challenging. It actually assists the user into doing the exercise the proper way, with supervision from a trained instructor.  Like most  of the other Pilates equipment, the Reformer helps to improve core strength and, in turn one’s balance and posture.

Resistance is key in doing Pilates exercises with the Allegro Reformer and its sliding platform and color-coded springs allow the user to change the level of resistance when doing Pilates exercises.  Surprisingly, most of its users are one in saying that the less resistance there is, the more difficult it becomes because it is your own body that does the work. With more tension in the coiled springs, you have more assistance performing a particular exercise. Using less tension on the springs means using more tension in your own muscles. 

These strengthening exercises make it best for those who want a strong and well-defined body without being bulky.  Apart from the aesthetic benefits however, enthusiasts are one in saying that most rewarding thing about Pilates is increased srength that allows one to perform day-to-day tasks such as lifting or going up a flight of stairs with ease.   Some clients regularly come to the center for pain management after having gone through an injury or accident. The Allegro helps them in that respect, allowing them to move and function without pain or discomfort.

In a world where our body is under constant stress it pays to keep the mind and body in top form. Don’t you agree?

But even laptops have their limitations when it comes to convenience. When you’re constantly on the go, lugging a small netbook around can still be a hassle.

The good news is, there’s a gedget that combines the intuitive ease and versatility of writing on paper with the convenience of digital data transfer – the IntelliPen.

It’s wireless device that instantly creates digital records of anything that you write or draw on any paper. It comes as a set of pen, which acts as a transmitter while working as a regular ballpoint, and a receiver clip.

When you clip the receiver onto the top of the paper, the pen tansmits coordinates to it in real-time, thus creating a “digital page” of everything you’ve written and drawn, and storing it in a built-in flashdrive. When you’re done, you just connect the receiver to your computer via USB, for quick transfer of your digitized notes. From there, you can save them as bitmap image files, or convert the handwriting into digital text using the software MyScript Notes, which is included in the set.

The IGB built-in flashdrive in the receiver can hold up to a thousand A4 sheets’ worth of notes. It can also function as a regular flash device and store other files, and even play audio files. Another advantage is that unlike other digital writing devices that require costly specially-made sheets to use with the product, you can use the IntelliPen on any kind of paper, or on any flat surface that you can clip the receiver on, for that matter, up to A4 in size.

No doubt, the IntelliPen is one of the most useful gadgets to come out in a while — one that ought to make things easier for you on the daily grind. Keep an eye out for it in all leading gadget stores and bookstores.

It's story time at Allez Hop Stretch 'n Grow

Kids sat silently as they listened intently to the story being played on the tarpaulin stage about a fierce dragon who lived in a cave who is very sick because of eating too much junk food. Now come the real heroes of the story, the four characters who represent the 4 basic food groups, who, in time, convinced the dragon to eat healthy.

I can’t recall the many times my mom used to tell me to eat my greens when I was a kid. Only when I became an adult did I finally realize the benefits of eating healthy and maintaining proper weight.  At Allez Hop, they believe in starting ‘em young.

The activity is part of Stretch ‘N Grow program of Allez Hop Wellness and Balance Center, a boutique studio dedicated to building and maintaining over-all wellbeing thru a wide variety of physical fitness programs such as pilates, spinning and P.T. classes in individual, couples (for married couples who want to work out together) and group sessions. Classes are tailored to individual fitness needs. They also offer rehab therapy and pre- and post-natal pilates classses by physiotherapists board-certified by  American Fitness Practitioner Association (AFPA).
With Stretch ‘n Grow, kids as young as 4 years old get started on health and fitness consciousness thru fun activities such as storytellig session, show and tell and movement activities. After the initial group meet at the center, the trainers then come to the school on a twice-monthly basis.

Kids are never allowed inside fitness gyms, especially around eqipment as they may cause injury. But at Allez Hop, they have one such activity where trainers introduce gym equipment and use in a fun way. Mr. Treadmill and Mr. Bike makes your heart strong, while Mr. Dumbell builds big, strong muscles. At this point, terms such as biceps and triceps are introduced and how muscles and bones work together.

Mr. Cadillac and Mr. Reformer elongates the muscles and makes you flexible so you may reach your toes. After each introduction kids are given a strong reminder never to come near them as they are “for your parents’ use” only.

Allez Hop, (means “let’s go” in French) opened in August 2008 and is the first of its kind in the country, located at the heart of Makati, a stone’s throw away from Makati Medical Center. Francesca Ballmer, its owner and general manager, is a Pilates practitioner specalizing in wellness and nutrition.

Nutritionists say eating  three main meals plus two nutritious snacks in the mid morning and mid afternoon is ideal to stay active throughout the day. Carefully planned snacking can be beneficial to one’s health, keeping your metabolism at an optimum and helping you stay focused on physical and mental activities throughout the day. Snacks provide energy, fiber and nutrients the body needs at that particular time of the day, and curbs the feeling of hunger right before a major meal, thus preventing you from eating too much. As a result, snacking may help train you to eat smaller portions and reduce caloric intake, especially if you need to watch your weight. 

 There are a lot of myths about snacking. One is that you can gain weight if you take rice meals as snacks. Contrary to what most people say, rice is a great snack food because it is loaded with carbohydrates needed for energy. It is  also an acid buster for those suffering from hyperacidity due to missed meals. A half cup is ideal while one cup should be eaten during main meals. The trick is to snack in moderation, choose the best snacks that are loaded in vitamins and minerals and are low calorie, and exercising particularly in the morning when you burn calories the most.

Neutrogena Sheer has sunblocks especially formulated for the face, and another for the body. The one for the body offers 100 SPF, and I was pleasantly surprised since I thought what I have been using Armada Sport 70, is high enough at 70 SPF. Though as to wearability, Neutrogena Sheer’s formulation is thicker. I still prefer Armada because it glides on my skin.

Anti-aging properties and organic ingredients are also on my list when I look for sunblocks. And to prevent UV damage and stave off photo-aging look no further than Dermalogica  and L’Occitane brands. Dermalogica has formulated a fragrance-free sunblock with its patented ChromaWhite system to prevent hyperpigmentation and shield the skin against damaging UV rays. Dermalogica Oil Free Matte Block inhibits oil production yet glides on skin and acts like an invisible sunscreen.

L’Occitane’s Buriti, on the other hand, is made with organic vegetable oil from the palm-tree Buriti, a magical sun-care ingredient with concentrated antioxidant beta-carotene that prevents photo-aging.

Clarins also has a topnotch line that features Sunscreen Cream High Protection SPF 30 as well as the After Sun Gel to soothe, re-hydrate and even prolong your summer tan.  If you happen to have stayed under the sun longer than necessary and got sunburned, Clarins SOS Sunburn Butter has shea butter and mango to soothe and repair skin. A less expensive option would be Nivea’s Soothing After Sun Spray which I used during the summer months, when the sun was so harsh on the skin. 

Sisley also has its own line of suncare. Sisley’s Grand Ecran Solaire Visage facial sunscreens come in porcelain, colorless and low-protection facial sun care. Sisley’s Body Sun Oil also effectively protects the skin, while the Fluid Body Sunscreen provides high skin protection.
Global makeup brands have also introduced sunprotection in their range of products through the years. I love Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizers until I shifted to Olay Complete. They offer the same sunprotection at SPF 15.

Only recently, Bobbi Brown recently came up with its own sunscreen/base. The Bobbi Brown Brightening SPF 50 UV Protective Face Base is a soothing lotion that helps shield your skin from the harmful effects of the sun with a high level of broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Lightweight and quick-absorbing, it can be layered over Brightening Moisture Cream to help prevent future damage and help maintain a radiant, even skin tone.

“I did  not pay attention to my underarms until I started taking tennis lessons and wearing tank tops to the gym. Only when someone close friends told asked me what deodorant brand I use did I start taking care of my underarms because they embarassingly dark,” says Leila, 32 year old marketing exec.

Here’s what Mylene, 18 yr old nurse recounts. “My close friends and I went to the beach and we shared about how bikini line skin can darken. We have that in common and we like to wear two-piece swimsuits and worry over how it can cause embarassing moments.”

There are areas in the body that we hardly pay attention to unless they become noticeable and, as in the case of dark underarms and dark skin in the bikini line, cause embarassment. Other problems such as excessive sweating and body odor, only close friends can tell you when you yourself don’t notice. Research say we can sometimes be immune to our own bodily odors but people who come close are sensitive to them so if a close friend tells you you smell (or stink for that matter) better believe it.

There are various ways to remedy dark underarms and groin area, but in order to avoid resorting to expensive treatments, because this happens when the problem has worsened due to neglect, try a few at-home remedies and weekly rituals.

For the underams, find a deodorant product that eliminates odors and is formulated to whiten the underarms.Some deos do not darken the armpits but provide minimal protection against body odors. Some, on the other hand, do offer maximum protection yet can be very harsh on the skin and really cause darkening.

If possible, use two kinds of deodorant depending on your daily activity — one full strength you use only when you engage in physical activities that will make you sweat a lot. Another kind that you use when you will only have to stay indoors, like in the office or to the mall.

If you’re at home , don’t use deodorant at all. The trick is to minimize use of products on your skin to allow them to breath.  It’s pretty much like going without makeup when you’re at home. Deodorants are chemicals and exposing skin to them day in and day out can cause adverse effects.If you start to smell, jump into the shower. Or, use the sink and wash your underarms and dry it with a washcloth. The soap you use can also help. Try kojic acid soap as these contain whitening agents. You may alternate with a strong anti-bacterial soap to kill odor-causing bacteria.

Underarm skin is delicated so you can use whatever facial wash you use to clean your underarms if you want. You may also use baking soda for washing. A facial wash that contains microbeads can help exfoliate skin on a daily basis. You simply don’t want deodorant residue when you go to bed at night after your shower. Apply an underarm lightening cream before you sleep at night because this really helps.

Once a week, do try using a medium strength exfoliating product to further lighten armpits. Or try this: Get a slice of lemon or calamansi and mix with milk. Apply on armpits  from 30 minutes to an hour before you take a bath in the morning. Lemon contains ascorbic acid while milk has lactic acid. These are mild and gentle acids that can counter the darkening and can also be used on the face.  You may do this  every other day if you have plenty of time to spare. Some swear by cider vinegar since it can whiten and counter excessive sweat. To save time, after application, take your coffee and read the morning paper first as I do.

Once a month, go to a dermatologist and get an underarm diamond ultrapeel to go with your monthly underarm lightening treatment.  If you have money to spare, why not also get a permanent hair removal program for the underarms since waxing and plucking darken the skin. The trick is to minimize trauma to skin bacause this is one of the causes of darkening. Same for the groin area.

Speaking of the groin area, caring for them is not difficult to do. Follow a daily and weekly ritual which includes use of whiteing soap or scrubs when you shower. Before you dress up, apply whitening lotion on the groin area before you wear underwear. Wear skirts more often and pants that are not too constricting as friction from tight clothing darkens it. At night apply whitening cream before you go to bed. At home, don’t wear underwear; or, opt for short shorts or silk pantylets that let your skin breath.

Choose underwear that has minimal or no shearing on the leg hole. Garters that rub off on the groin skin can cause darkening. Look at the fabric as well. Full cotton fabrics are best. Silk underwear is more luxurious if you can afford it.

What do we learn from all these  tips? It’s not about how expensive the stuff you put on your skin is.It’s how often you follow a ritual or care regimen is what ultimately counts. Beauty comes with a price — time and effort.

Bobbi Brown developed a cream-based brow pencil that is blendable and natural-looking. Available in five shades and comes with a built-in sharpener, these brow pencils give eyes an instant “lift.”

Clinique on the other hand developed a two-in-one automatic brow pencil/highligher to define and  optically “boost” brow arches. Pencil in brows, then use the pearlized shade of highlighter just below the brow hairs. The added contrast lifts the brows.

Smashbox, a cult favorite, improved on their two-tone brow product by adding another shade of hair color-coordinated powders to ensure a perfect match every time you apply. Here’s how to use: get a brow brush,  lightly dip into brow powder and brush through brows using short, upward strokes. Apply the lighter shade first in the fullest part of brows to naturally fill brows in, then apply the darker shade to define the outer part of brow. To customize the shade, simply mix together and brush-blend. Follow with wax, applying in the same motion to set the color and makes it long-lasting.

A tip: get a sturdy pair of lightweight running shoes

Remember when badminton became all the rage 10 years ago? Nowadays it’s running and jogging that’s experiencing a big resurgence. Every month some big company-sponsored running event at the The Fort in Taguig or Greenbelt in Makati is being staged while mini-runs are held weekly by clubs or small organizations for  fund-raising. Either way, running is a great way to keep fit as it not only fosters camaraderie but is cost-effective as well– you need only a pair of good running shoes and a nice route or track.

You can run with a group or by yourself, all alone, which is also a good form of therapy as running soothes the mind as well. Running stabilizes blood pressure, lowers blood sugar, lets you detox and burn fat. Many attribute their trim waists to daily running because it is one of the best belly-busting exercise one can do at any time of the day, sans equipment. Who needs a treadmill anyway when you can breathe in clean air while zipping past greenery and observing people as you move along?

If you have a fitness goal, say, lose a kilo a week, then look to running. I myself, the kikaygurl, can attest to the effectivity of running as a means to maintain weight. I took to running two years ago, sporadically at first, until I have come to enjoy it and made it a daily habit. It’s become as easy for me as brushing my teeth. I wake up, get my caffeine boost and run 15-20 minutes a day with my Ipod. If I have time, I go to the park, if not, I run within our residential compound and the adjoining streets.

There are running clinics being held every now and then which help novices get a few pointers on how to avoid the common injuries runners experience –shin splints, runner’s knee, tendonitis or sprain — but the most important thing to remember is to cool down and stretch. Get a nice, sturdy pair of running shoes, one that has breathable mesh material,  light weight, and is made specifically for running. If you find yourself able to run at least 3 km without tiring out, then by all means, join a running event and aim for the 5k. There is no limit to what one can achieve as long as you remember the cardinal rule: run to get fit and have fun while you’re at it.

To prevent UV damage and stave off photo aging look no further than Dermalogica  and L’Occitane brands. Dermalogica has formulated a fragrance-free sunblock with its patented ChromaWhite system to prevent hyperpigmentation and shield the skin against damaging UV rays. Dermalogica Oil Free Matte Block inhibits oil production with an invisible sunscreen and promotes skin health.

L’Occitane’s Buriti, on the other hand, is made with organic vegetable oil from the palm-tree Buriti, a magical sun-care ingredient with concentrated antioxidant beta-carotene that prevents photo-aging.

Sisley’s Grand Ecran Solaire Visage facial sunscreens come in porcelain, colorless and low-protection facial sun care. Sisley’s Body Sun Oil also effectively protects the skin, while the Fluid Body Sunscreen provides high skin protection.

Clarins also has a topnotch line that features Sunscreen Cream High Protection SPF 30 as well as the After Sun Gel to soothe, re-hydrate and even prolong your summer tan.  For sunburn remedy, SOS Sunburn Butter has shea butter and mango to soothe and repair skin.