Mens Health Australia May 2017

*ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

; ** BEIJING NORMAL UNIVERSITY

40 MAY 2017

MUSCLE +

FITNESS

Flex and Flexibility

Even hardened gym bros appreciate the benefits of

more therapeutic disciplines these days. But to really

increase mobility, should you be omming or ahhing?

Extinguish the incense. While yoga’s stress relief credentials should not be swept under

the mat, pilates’ focus on core strength and posture makes it the ideal way for MH men

to see off desk-induced aches and slow the march of time.

THE MH VERDICT: PILATES WINS!

YOGA PILATES

No.1

Yo g a i s A u s t r a l i a’s

fastest growing

fitness activity,

doubling in popularit

over the past 8 years.

HISTORY LESSON

ENDORSEMENTS

IN THE MIND

BODY BENEFITS

BEST MOVE

Joseph Pilates opened his Body

Conditioning Gym in New York in the

1920s. He developed the machines to

activate the body’s inner muscles

Research into pilates training

noted an increase in “alpha peak

power”, related to improved neural

networks and memory**

THE HUNDRED

Knees bent, brace your abs and

pulse your arms. Inhale for 5 reps

and exhale for 5 reps, 20 times

The word was first used in Indian sacred

text Rigveda to describe the rituals of

priests. It’s estimated yoga developed

as a prac tice more than 5 0 0 0 year s ag o

Regular yoga practice raises levels

of GABA amino acids in the blood,

which are vital to cognitive

function and mood regulation*

CHILD’S POSE

S it back with glutes just above

your heels, arms stretched. Hold

for 10 breaths; repeat. Namaste

Russell Brand Jennifer Hawkins Jon Bon Jovi Adam Levine David Beckham Hugh Grant Tiger Woods LeBron James

%

The past 15 years have

een a huge increase in

attendance of pilates

classes – and it shows

little sign of recoiling

Sounder sleep Greater flexibility Reduced BP Lower diabetes risk Core strength Less back pain Better posture Injur y resistance

T

se