RE: More Data on Exercise

June 14, 2006

Cooky, get that mental block out of there and climb back on that old - yes,

there goes the OLD word again - Windsor Pilates machine. I swear that is the

best investment I have ever made. I have bought and thrown away more money

on machines or clubs and will never do that again. Bought my Pilates machine

three or four years ago at QVC on line and I LOVE it. I recommend it for

EVERYONE.

June 14, 2006

To answer all of you,

To begin with, there is an antique exercise tape called Callanetics by

Pitney Callan or Callan Pitney. (I am sitting at work without benefit of

seeing this except in my mind so if I have misspelled, please forgive me.) I

had

reached a point where shoulders and neck were for all purposes frozen.

Could not turn my head. I found the tape - it was a tape then but it also was

put on DVD - and slowly began my way toward stretching and releasing these

muscles. The tape looks deceptively easy. Over the years, I have done Yoga and

my trusty Pilates machine. Now, I do believe that the Pilates mindset might

have come at either the same time or right after Callanetics as they are quite

similar except mine is machine (I do know that Pilates is also floor mat)

and they both work at stretching and limbering the muscles. With yoga, many of

you might well have a problem with the wrist in the position of downward dog

or upward dog. With callanetics, I don't think any of you would. It, like

Pilates (and yoga, too) is for no stress or feeling of pressure to compete

or keep up with others. Just DO YOUR OWN PACE.

The Callanetics tape/cd is so old you can probably get a copy off

amazon.com pretty cheaply. Money well spent.

If someone were to tell me what started me off toward getting well, I would

have to say these tapes and then AP and then supplements and diet, certainly,

along with chelation. Not being able to move from the stiffness sure takes

a bite out of the quality of life.

As far as the pilates machine, it is positioned to much of the exercises

lying on your back to protect that area. My pilates machine was about

$350.00 as the time I ordered it. You can go to google.com and look up pilates

machines and spend $3,000.00 up should you just desire to give away your money.

Were mine to break today, I would order another one tomorrow. Mine also

has the little attachment that is a small trampoline which looks easy and is a

killer for the heart rate. Again, you are lying down instead of jumping on a

real treadmill so you are protected while doing this. Five minutes of that

cardio piece and I am exhausted but a good exhausted. Yes, I know I am

supposed to do ten. I figure they tell you ten so that we will do five.

Right?

ps On amazon.com, it is shown as Callanetics: 10 years younger in 10 days

or something like that. I wouldn't go that far but I would tell you that I

love this tape. Do NOT buy the SuperCallanetics. You won't be ready for that.

They also have a beginning one. I have not seen that one. s

June 14, 2006

, can you tell us about the Windsor Pilates Machine? I am thinking

about purchasing something to help with flexibility..thanks much, Debbie

Re: rheumatic More Data on Exercise

Cooky, get that mental block out of there and climb back on that old - yes,

there goes the OLD word again - Windsor Pilates machine. I swear that is

the

best investment I have ever made. I have bought and thrown away more money

on machines or clubs and will never do that again. Bought my Pilates

machine

three or four years ago at QVC on line and I LOVE it. I recommend it for

EVERYONE.

June 14, 2006

:

How is this machine on the back and joints?

Roni

-------------- Original message from Sltfain@...: --------------

> Cooky, get that mental block out of there and climb back on that old - yes,

> there goes the OLD word again - Windsor Pilates machine. I swear that is the

> best investment I have ever made. I have bought and thrown away more money

> on machines or clubs and will never do that again. Bought my Pilates machine

> three or four years ago at QVC on line and I LOVE it. I recommend it for

> EVERYONE.

>

June 14, 2006

Another option for anyone interested are Windsor Pilates Tapes or DVD's. I

have them and they're great if you don't want to invest the money or space

for a machine.

Dee

Re: rheumatic More Data on Exercise

:

How is this machine on the back and joints?

Roni

-------------- Original message from Sltfain@...: --------------

> Cooky, get that mental block out of there and climb back on that old -

yes,

> there goes the OLD word again - Windsor Pilates machine. I swear that is

the

> best investment I have ever made. I have bought and thrown away more money

> on machines or clubs and will never do that again. Bought my Pilates

machine

> three or four years ago at QVC on line and I LOVE it. I recommend it for

> EVERYONE.

>

June 14, 2006

Hi Gang! Geoff here.

FWIW, strength training does not have to mean lifting heavy barbells. It can

mean moving something as light a 10fl oz botle of water. It is repition x

weight that = strength. The delivery guy that lifts nothing heavier than a ten

pound box, but does it 200 times a day lifts 4,000 pounds daily, 2 tons!

Repition is the key and the weight can be very, very light.

Geoff

Acts 2:39

June 14, 2006

It seems like Pilates seems to be popular with a lot of people. I have never

tried the method of stretching, but do know that I need to do something. I plan

on buying a bike next weekend and then some exercise tape to help me stretch. I

do think that the lack of stretching is part of my problem with the neck and

back stiffness.

Thanks everyone for all of your input.

Roni

--------- Re: rheumatic More Data on Exercise

>

> :

> How is this machine on the back and joints?

> Roni

>

> -------------- Original message from Sltfain@...: --------------

>

> > Cooky, get that mental block out of there and climb back on that old -

> yes,

> > there goes the OLD word again - Windsor Pilates machine. I swear that is

> the

> > best investment I have ever made. I have bought and thrown away more money

>

> > on machines or clubs and will never do that again. Bought my Pilates

> machine

> > three or four years ago at QVC on line and I LOVE it. I recommend it for

> > EVERYONE.

> >

June 20, 2006

Cooky,

Since I purchased a middle priced Pilates machine from QVC, my machine did

not come with the cardiac aerobic tramp - yes, you use it jumping while lying

down. I purchased it extra a few months later. Sounds funny doesn't it? - I

ordered it and like it said, it is definitely a cardiac workout. I would

also be concerned about your ankles with your particular problem as you

describe and your feet and ankles are pushing you off and away from the little

tramp, even lying down. I also have a treadmill. I find it completely boring

as

compared to walking outside.

I hope this helps you!

Welcome to the new members. We are so busy at work that I have not

stopped to tell you, " welcome, " and that you have found a good home here.

June 20, 2006

Hi again Ken,

I loved reading the articles you sent. The make me want to do my exercise

more often and walk more often. Iknow my muscles have really gotten mushy

since retiring and when I am with the grandchildren (we usually visit for 4

to 5 days)I ache for the first 2 or so days.

Thanks for the articles.

cooky

rheumatic From Ken (London)

Hi Cooky and Roni

I got RA in September 2004 and it was really bad. I became depressed and

my weight plummeted to 70 kg from 85. I started 100 mg Minocin, 3x a week in

November 2005. The swelling went down and my weight went up to 85 again. I

try to do weights 3x a week but have developed a bit of a paunch. I had my

last predisone shot in February 2005 and also stopped NSAID- Anthrotex.

Are either of you interested in weight training which is supposed to be

the best exercise for RA?

Ken.

aljuarez@... wrote:

rb09322@... writes:

> Cooky,

> How true your post is. I very naively thought that when the numbers got to

" 0 " that this SD would be gone and I'd be symptom free. So here I am at 186

and feeling good, but like you get tired if I push it too much. My life is

much, much fuller than when I was first diagnosed and the doctor just put me

on the " will die " list. So another reason I need this group, to help me

retain this almost remission stage and help me when I think I can do

everything with lots of energy and then wonder why I'm exhausted.

>

> Just wondering if you are doing any " exercise " . I am contemplating buying

a bike so that I can peddle around the neighborhood and get back in shape.

Do you find that a lot of heavy exercise tires you out?

> Roni

>

> --------- rheumatic Ethel

>>

>> I have been reading the posts in here but have never been able to

>> post...been a member since a year ago March. So, i just email folks

>> with questions and responces to their posts. I recently asked Chris

>> for help, she is working on it. This is a " test " post to see if it

>> works yet.

>>

>> Back a year ago March it was a posts in here that made me search

>> further for information the antibiotic therapy. I have been on AP one

>> year and have been blessed with a renewed life....not remission yet,

>> but on my way. Thanks for caring.

>> Jan

>>

>> To unsubscribe, email: rheumatic-unsubscribeegroups

>>

June 20, 2006

Hi ,

I did calanetics when it first came out and after I improved on Minocin I

started it again. I totally forgot abot it when I got so depressed at work.

I only have some papers I cut out of a magazine but I think I will try to

get the tape. I agree it did not make a new body for me but stretched the

muscles.

You said on your pilates machine there is a trampoline and then said you do

it laying down. You do the trampoline jumping right? I would order the

machine if I thought I would use it. I have a trampoline, treadmill,

weights,a bike and lots of exercise tapes. I only use the tapes sporatically

and hardly ever use the treadmill. I have ankle issues and cannot do Yoga

and the treadmill makes my ankles weak instead of strenghtening them. After

using it I feel like if I step the wrong way my ankles will break. I do use

a support for my ankles. Its funny but aerobics do not do

that to me. If I walk outside I am also OK.

Its good to know about the pilates machine...thanks

cooky

Re: rheumatic More Data on Exercise

To answer all of you,

To begin with, there is an antique exercise tape called Callanetics by

Pitney Callan or Callan Pitney. (I am sitting at work without benefit of

seeing this except in my mind so if I have misspelled, please forgive me.)

I had

reached a point where shoulders and neck were for all purposes frozen.

C

June 20, 2006

Thanks for the explanation . Next time QVC has Pilates on I am going

to watch and maybe get a machine.

cooky

-----Original Message-----

Cooky,

Since I purchased a middle priced Pilates machine from QVC, my machine did

not come with the cardiac aerobic tramp - yes, you use it jumping while

lying

down. I purchased it extra a few months later. Sounds funny doesn't it? -

I

ordered it and like it said, it is definitely a cardiac workout. I would

also be concerned about your ankles with your particular problem as you

June 20, 2006

Cooky,

Don’t quite write off yoga for exercise. It is very healing. It helps to

keep your range of motion and is gently strengthening and stretching the

body. You may not be able to do the type of yoga that is fashionable these

days, but there are many ways to do yoga. Look for an experienced, well-

trained yoga teacher who knows how to help students adapt the poses to

their needs. You might remember that I am a yoga teacher. I have some

students with all kinds of health issues and they find yoga very helpful

for their conditions. Some come to class others see me for private lessons.

You don’t have to do “Down Dog”. It’s even possible to do yoga in a

chair…or in a bed if necessary. It is also cheap. You will pay for

instruction, but can do it without fancy equipment at home …free! If you

work out on a carpet, which I recommend, you don’t even need an icky mat

(poly bla bla bla, indestructible for eons).

I taught yoga classes throughout the times when I was quite ill with RA. To

tell you the truth, if I had not students waiting for me in the morning, I

would have preferred not to move because of the pain. I had to spend at

least a couple of hours, first soaking in the tub and then icing sore

joints to be ready for class at 9AM, but I always felt much better

afterwards. Off course I adapted the yoga to my needs and by doing that

modeled to my students how to take care of themselves when they have

special needs.

Take care,

Ute

June 21, 2006

Ute, read your letter to Cooky about the yoga. I, too, continue the yoga

and always had to " go through the pain " until I began to turn around. We HAD

a special class here for those who are challenged physically but it

disappeared. Because of Cooky's special ankle problem, I was worried about

that. As

you are the expert, I defer to you!!!!! :>) I love both my yoga and my

pilates. Keeps me stretched. I don't feel like I have gotten any taller and

could have stood for some of that, but I love the feeling of not being

compacted and my muscles stretched.

June 21, 2006

Thanks for the info. I wish you could be my instructor!

In the fall a new class will start up and maybe I will talk to the

instructor and see if she can help me adapt my problems to her yoga.

cooky

RE: rheumatic More Data on Exercise