By CarolWestmorland

Last updated 04:13, Monday, 19 May 2008

Have you ever wished for more ‘umph’ in your day? Have you ever wished for more energy at the end of your day rather than feeling drained? Have you ever wondered why people accept, and worse still, give in to their aches and pains? Why do we move the way we do?

Superfit: ‘Pilates is simple in its theory and effective in its execution,’ says Carol Westmorland

The answer to this can be found in our way of life. We all know how it feels to stand up after sitting for a long time or how it feels to get out of a car after a long journey.

Our bodies feel locked. By and large our bodies are not quite as delicate as we would like to believe. We should be able to lift a heavy object or climb over an awkward wall. We should not place so many limits on ourselves.

It is easy to move into a way of life that doesn’t challenge. It is not so easy to attempt to change once habits have been formed. The adage of ‘healthy body, healthy mind’ is as true today as it has ever been.

One of Joseph Pilates’ favourite quotes isw from German philosopher, Schiller, who said: It is the mind which controls the body.

Our workplace has become more sedentary and our leisure time, for many, has followed.

We tend to favour the group of muscles we use to perform our day to day activities. Then we become unbalanced. Our muscles then hold the ‘memory’ and that may be unnoticed until we attempt something new.

That, in turn, may put us off trying again and so the cycle continues. We find our comfort zone and stay with it even if we acknowledge its weaknesses.

On regular visits to Denmark I was always impressed with the care they took looking after their health, particularly their backs. It is perfectly normal to visit an osteopath regularly and to use correct seating in an office and have a good bed. As a nation of tall people, perhaps they understood that better than most.

As an example, hunched shoulders are a product of a prolonged, desk-bound life and, similarly, walking with a forward tilt is the result of wearing high heels over a long period.

Well, imagine an exercise routine that can give you a firmer, flatter middle, improve your posture, and provide you with more energy. Imagine an exercise routine that makes you think. Imagine an exercise routine that lengthens. No equipment needed but you. Imagine an exercise routine that provides you with inner confidence, control, balance and strength making you feel good; wanting more.

Now imagine combines all these things into one exercise routine. This is the routine that will change your life and your attitude to your own body.

You will adjust your desk at work, the seat of your car and you will notice those around you who have lost that special magic. This is a routine that can give you an increased vitality, make you feel years younger and improve your posture while, at the same time, toning those lazy muscles.

This is a routine that can eliminate that nagging back pain and give you back the confidence to try challenging new pursuits.

Pilates is designed to complement not replace a favourite activity and will make you enjoy it more.

It could just highlight the need to restore strength following absence from activity through injury or a host of other reasons. Pilates is simple in its theory and effective in its execution.

• Carol Westmorland is holding a two-hour interactive workshop at The Rheged Discovery Centre, Penrith on Saturday, April 26. Tickets are £15. To book your place call 01768 868000.

• Further information on www.pilates-cumbria.co.uk

• Carol Westmorland is also a champion cyclist who tries to ride every day for at least two hours.

She holds the 2004 National 12-hour Championship with 243.19 miles and the 2006 National 24-hour Championship with 445.41 miles. Her personal best for 10 miles is 23 minutes 18 seconds.