An oldie but a goodie

A few years ago, and I don’t remember how I came upon it, I ordered a VHS tape of an old exercise routine created in the 80s.

Callanetics is a form of deep-muscle exercise created by (and named after) Callan Pinckney.  It’s similar to pilates, I would say.

The exercises are simple in that you can do it on your living room floor and that you don’t need anything special besides a chair or a coffee table. However, they are hard. I consider myself in pretty good shape and I struggle through many of the exercises.

The reason why callanetics is very challenging is that it works muscles you normally don’t use very often.  You’re forced to target then, and then work then again and again for 50 to 100 reps! Now, the reps are very tiny, smooth movements and it all seems rather easy until you actually try it.

For example, one of their warm-up exercises works your arms, especially your tricep.  Stand with your feet about a foot apart and hold your arms out, palms down, so that you form a T shape. Twist your arms around by moving your thumb down and then around so that your palms now face up.  Then move your arms together behind you, keeping them straight, as if you were trying to touch your thumbs together behind your back.  Your palms should still be facing the ceiling.  Get your thumbs as close as you can, and then move about a 1/2 inch closer, then back apart.  Repeat 50 times, keeping your arms held as straight and high as possible.  Believe me, you will definitely feel the burn and your arms will be sore tomorrow!

After years of not doing the Callanetics (and never being consistent with it in the first place), I got the DVD off eBay about a month ago (Amazon has it but eBay was cheaper).  Last night, I put it in and went through the whole routine.  Now, I have been going to the gym pretty much every weekday, hitting the weight machines and sometimes also doing some cardio on the stepmill.  Never, never, have I been this sore from that.  My arms, thighs, upper back, and legs are aching.  Not in a bad way though; it’s telling me that I definitely reached in and worked those muscles yesterday!

I’m looking forward to completing the “10 hours” of workouts and seeing what kind of results I get.

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