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Natural Bodies Pilates is locally owned, and a Vermont business for social responsibility.

Vermont Business for Social Responsibility

The VBSR provides an essential forum and advocate for like-minded, socially-concerned companies to share ideas and resources, as well as to address important social issues in the state legislature.

Mind-Body, the Brain, and Movement

BrainDance

"Enhanced core support, connectivity, and alignment: Becoming aware of the visceral and muscular systems that support the body leads to correct use of body structures and helps children and adults to be injury-free and move with ease and coordination. Each pattern underlies and supports the next pattern and when done in succession brings connectivity to our use of the body, reflecting an integration of body and mind."

Brain Gym

"The BRAIN GYM movements interconnect the brain in these dimensions, allowing us to easily learn through all the senses, to remember what we learn, and to participate more fully in the events of our lives. We are able to learn with less stress, and to express our creativity using more of our mental and physical potential. The movements also assist in clearing emotional stress that can affect us both mentally and physically."

Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Fibromyalgia is not a mental illness

"Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a relatively common rheumatic disorder characterized by muscle pain, stiffness and unrefreshing sleep. People with FMS may experience migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and other troublesome symptoms. While there are men who suffer from FMS, most of the estimated 10 million people with FMS in the United States are women."

"People who have FMS can easily become deconditioned. It is unlikely that anybody would feel like exercising when they always have flu-like symptoms! However, the great benefit of even a gentle exercise program is an improvement in the quality of sleep. It is during deep, "restorative" sleep that the body produces the hormones required to repair muscle tissues. Conditioning exercise also reduces the likelihood of injuring muscle tissues. The challenge for the person with FMS is in the gradual approach to exercise."

Fibromyalgia 101

"The need for exercise is a significant issue for most people with fibromyalgia; muscle pain may increase after exercise, and repetitive motions of any sort make most fibromyalgics hurt more.... But most experts agree that exercise is the single most important factor in a fibromyalgic's well-being. It need not be strenuous: Riding a stationary bicycle and walking are the two most recommended forms of exercise. People with fibromyalgia may have to start with two or three minutes of exercise and work up from there a minute at a time, but without exercise FMS can indeed seem to be a progressive disorder, as unused muscles stiffen and atrophy, causing more pain and muscle damage."

Fibromyalgia and Pilates

"Pilates is becoming an increasingly popular form of self care treatment for individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome.... Pilates can help individuals with fibromyalgia because it helps build muscle strength and reduce overall muscle tension. In addition, pilates exercises helps alleviate widespread fibromyalgia pain by focusing on gentle strengthening and low impact movement, while avoiding any jarring movements that can cause injury."

Fibromyalgia Exercise - Pilates

"Unlike weight bearing exercises, Pilates is designed to stretch and strengthen the muscles, open joints and release tension. Thus, the muscles grow longer and leaner. Blood flow is increased and energy begins to stream into specific areas of the body. Those who practice Pilates feel more energized and find their movements less restricted.... One aspect that differentiates Pilates from other forms of exercise is that it takes a commitment on the part of both the student and the teacher.... 'Pilates requires more personal supervision, but it helps to insure that it is safer and more effective. If the teacher and student create a trusting relationship, you both will enjoy what you are doing and it will therefore have remarkable results.'"

Diet and Metabolism

Metabolic syndrome

"When you talk about the risk of heart disease, there's often a sort of cluster of symptoms that puts you at greater risk for heart disease. People point to blood pressure, increased cholesterol. If you have this sort of syndrome of symptoms, look at the list there; obesity, high blood pressure, high sugar levels, abnormal cholesterol levels. These things together collectively put you at higher risk.... Having two servings of meat a day actually puts you at 25 percent, 26 percent greater increase of this metabolic syndrome."

Meat, diet soda linked to heart disease: study

"The symptoms of metabolic syndrome include excessive fat around the waist, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and high blood pressure.... Lots of meat, fried foods and diet soda add up to heart disease, the researchers said, and the conclusions add to a swelling body of evidence linking fast food with unhealthy lifestyles."

Double-Whammy From Fatty Foods: study

"Certain saturated fats ... trick the brain into eating more. Certain fats interact with, and actually change, your brain chemistry .... The fats at fault -- particularly palmitic acid, found in milk, butter, beef and cheese -- tell the brain to ignore hormones involved in the regulation of food intake. So you wind up eating more. And the research shows it can take anywhere from three to five days for the brain to wash out misleading signals spurred by the fats and start responding properly to the weight regulation hormones again."

Why we eat too much, and how to get control

"We all know we're supposed to eat healthy portions. So why is it that a rough day at the office or even just the smell of chocolate-chip cookies can cause us to throw our best intentions out the window? ... You're not getting enough sleep ... You're sabotaged by stress ... You've got fatty foods (literally) on the brain ... "

Study: Artificial Sweeteners Increase Weight Gain Odds

"Calorie-conscious consumers who opt for diet sodas may gain more weight than if they drank sugary drinks because of artificial sweeteners contained in the diet sodas, according to a new study."

The Anti-Inflammation Diet

"Inflammation, the body's most primitive weapon against infection and injury, may be at the root of some of the deadliest diseases of the 21st century, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer's.... experts are also learning more about some simple, even pleasurable, ways to reduce inflammation. Exercise and stress relief are important, but the best defense, most researchers agree, is through diet. Most foods either fuel the fires of inflammation or tamp them down, Galland explains. And fat is the crux of the issue."

Reducing inflammation — the natural anti-inflammatory approach to good health

"Fuel your body with natural anti-inflammatory agents and keep your joints flexible and well-nourished by exercising every day. Start slowly with a five-minute walk and build your stamina. We recommend 20–30 minutes of activity, five times a week. Exercise is a great way to counteract stress, especially when combined with deep breathing — as with yoga or Pilates. These exercises are appropriate at all levels of stamina."

Spine Health

Pilates exercise system to promote back health

"Pilates is an exercise program that focuses on the core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and are essential to providing support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of neutral alignment of the spine and strengthening the deep postural muscles that support this alignment, which are important to help alleviate and prevent back pain."

Pilates exercise and back pain

"The principles of movement important for back health are taught in some of the simplest exercises of the Pilates system. One cannot underestimate the benefit of simple exercises that support the deep postural muscles of the trunk, awareness of neutral alignment, and supple use of the shoulders and hips. It is best to learn exercises that can be practiced at home between scheduled Pilates sessions.

"Given its roots in ballet and dance, some of the movements in the Pilates system are very difficult and challenging. Many of the exercises should be avoided for individuals with significant back pain or degenerative disc disease. Remember, it is always advisable to first see a physician prior to starting any exercise program."

Exercise and Memory

Exercise may Help Improve Memory Problems