Pilates + Dublin, Dublin 2 Classes and Treatments

NEW BEGINNERS PILATES COURSE .....

pilatesplus — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:03:09 GMT

there is also ANOTHER (and last one for the year) BEGINNERS PILATES COURSE starting on wed 10th NOVEMBER @ 7.20pm

I am taking reservations for this course. There are 5 places left...

Deposits of €50 are requested asap to secure places so please bring them into the studio between 6pm and 6.15pm mon - fri.

thanks

jett@pilatesplusdublin.ie or 0879092400

PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLES AND STRESS INCONTINENCE

pilatesplus — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:12:54 GMT

The pelvic floor muscles hang like a hammock, extending from the pubic bone to the tailbone under the abdominals. To be in good shape these muscles need to be able to hold in urine, gas and faeces. These same muscles need to be able to relax as well. A strong pelvic floor is as important for men as for women, because the pelvic floor muscles support the internal organs. A deficiency in these muscles can cause urinary problems in middle age.

Stress incontinence occurs when pressure within the abdomen causes urine to leak out involuntarily during coughing, laughing or exertion. According to physiotherapist and incontinence expert Beate Carriere, stress incontinence affects 1 in 10 men and 1 in 4 women. It also effects 17% of children between the ages of 5 and 15.

Dr. Arnold Kegel was one of the first authorities to specifically prescribe exercises for the pelvic floor, mainly to women whose pelvic floor muscles were slack from childbirth. ‘Kegel exercises’ were developed in the 1940’s; women were instructed to draw the pelvic floor up and in, and to exercise 3 times a day for 20 mins. The effectiveness of the exercises depended on motivation and how well the exercises were explained.

More recently, exercise balls have been used with great success in treating stress and urge inconinence and in rehabilitation patients with pelvic floor dysfunction following pregnancy and other conditions. 90% of cases can be greatly improved or cured with simple exercises. By using firm exercise balls and diaphragmatic breathing, patients retrain weak pelvic floor and sphincter muscles .The ball exercises are good for both for prevention and restoration.

Movements on the ball, especially in a sitting position, simultaneously and funtionally retrain muscles of the pelvic floor, abdomen and inner thighs. Bouncing on balls can be used as a means for strenghtening the pelvic floor as well as testing for deficiencies.

Lying on a mat or a bed and gently squeezing a ball or a pillow helps more muscle fibres to be recruited than in an ordinary mat exercise.

At our studio, we address all pelvic floor conditions with appropriate exercises in specific classes. There are a number of beginners pilates classes due to start in September. It is essential that new students participate in a full 6 week beginners module BEFORE coming to a drop-in improvers class.

e-mail jett@pilatesplusdublin.ie or call Jett on 087 9092400 for class details. www.pilatesplusdublin.ie

ZITA WEST network for Reproductive Health IS NOW ACCESSIBLE IN IRELAND!

pilatesplus — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:35:18 GMT

Bridgette Horszowski (Jett) is an affiliated acupuncturist with the Zita West Clinic which expanded into Ireland recently.

All acupunturist members of the Zita West network received training in Zita's unique, holistic approach to achieving optimum reproductive health, as well as instruction in the relevant acupuncture protocols followed at her Harley Street clinic in London.

These cover a wide range of treatments to help boost fertility, enhance IVF, improve pregnancy and support post-natal recovery.

Please call jett on 087 9092400 or contact her on jett@pilatesplusdublin.ie for an appointment.

I am recognised by Vivas, BHI, Quinn direct and other major health providers...

Rude Health: Reflexology a healthy option in pregnancy

pilatesplus — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:22:49 GMT

Sunday Business Post Article, November 23, 2008 - By Fiona Ness

With many western medicines deemed unsafe for use during pregnancy, there is little conventional medicine can offer mums-to-be who are looking to bolster their bodies and minds during the nine months of upheaval that precede their new arrival.

The good news is that medical practitioners are increasingly recognising the benefits of some complementary therapies. Reflexology, acupressure and acupuncture, for example, are all gaining sound reputations as alternative ways of maintaining health, preventing illness, and even preparing the body for birth, during pregnancy.

Reflexologists work on the principle that all parts of the body are connected by a flow of energy which runs from the head down to the feet through ten zones. Illness results when this energy becomes blocked. By working on the ‘reflex’ points in the hands and feet, reflexologists rebalance the energy throughout the body, restoring it to health. Relief can be almost immediate, but chronic conditions take longer to heal.

Now, as a fairly practically-minded person, I have a little trouble thinking in terms of an unseen energy flowing through my body, never mind one that can be manipulated by what might seem, at first, to be a glorified foot massage. However, having already experienced the benefits of other alternative therapies such as reiki and acupuncture, and read widely about the benefits of reflexology in pregnancy, I resolved to test it out with an open mind.

My therapist, Jett, explains the treatment in detail. After dispelling the myth that reflexology can bring on early labour, she emphasises the role of stress in causing many illnesses in the body. Reflexology, she says, enhances circulation, which improves blood supply to every cell in the body. This in turn bolsters the immune system and counteracts the effects of stress, which can stop the body functioning properly. So far, so practical. Jett combines reflexology with acupuncture, targeting points that enrich the blood, reduce nausea and calm the mind. This has an unexpected added bonus in your pocket, too, as acupuncture is a treatment recognised by medical insurers VHI and Quinn Healthcare.

The first step is to hop or roll (depending on your trimester) up onto the treatment couch, where you are quizzed about potential fungal foot infections. After this, the feet are sterilised and powder is applied to allow the therapist to manipulate each foot individually.

My therapist works from a foot chart which she uses to map out which points on my feet are sensitive. These give her an indication as to what is going on inside the body, and what points she needs to work on. She notes the sensitive areas in order to monitor progress made through subsequent sessions.

A cursory examination of skin tone and the feel of the foot gives the reflexologist an indication of the condition of the body. My feet, Jett says, are damp but not sweating - indicating respiratory problems as a result of too much ‘‘heat energy’’ in the body. She recommends I stay away from ‘d amp’ foods, such as wheat, potatoes and bananas which will make the condition worse, and concentrate on releasing unnecessary mental tension by practising breathing relaxation techniques.

The skin on the long arch of my foot, meanwhile, is yellow in pallor - something which she says indicates over-exercising. I admit to being guilty of this, and resolve to cut back for the duration of the pregnancy. Getting down to work on the areas of the feet, she notes that the bladder and kidney areas are well-hydrated. The high flexibility evident in my foot, she says, is mirrored throughout my whole body - and shows flexibility of mind, too.

A closer examination of the points of the foot that correspond to the lungs and kidneys show what Jett terms a ‘chi’ deficiency caused by an obstruction of the energy flow to the organs. Shortness of breath is a common complaint in pregnancy, but my therapist points to an underlying weakness in my lungs. I concur that I’ve suffered from a wheeze in my chest for the last two years, and it’s been worse in pregnancy. She works on pressure points to nourish the organs. A tender spot around the back of my ankle indicates lower-back sciatica on the left hand side - again bang on.

Lymphatic drainage is next, to help with fluid retention, and an ‘‘endocrine balance’’ which Jett says is wonderful for calming the raging pregnancy hormones. Jett recommends monthly treatments for those having a normal, healthy pregnancy, moving to weekly sessions in the last month. Follow up treatments post-pregnancy, meanwhile, are said to help normalise hormone levels, help prevent post-natal depression and get the muscles back into shape.

If you are suffering ailments associated with pregnancy, or even just the usual discomforts, reflexology can offer some relief. Moreover, the deep relaxation the treatment brings must surely be beneficial in helping women adjust to the changes taking place in their bodies during pregnancy, and reduce the anxiety surrounding birth.

Mums in need of a pregnancy pick-me-up should forget that new pair of shoes or indulgent facial, and do themselves and their energy levels a favour by treating themselves to reflexology instead. Jett Horszowski is a certified pilates and yoga instructor at Yoga Dublin (www.yogadublin.com) and other Dublin city centre locations. She can be contacted through her website, www.qirooms.com

The treatment: Pregnancy reflexology

What it promises: A non-invasive method of maintaining health and preventing illness during pregnancy – including relief from morning sickness, constipation, fluid retention, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, raised blood pressure, and back and leg pain. Nourishment of the foetus, uterus and ovaries. A shorter and more comfortable labour for those who practise regular reflexology after the first trimester of pregnancy.

The results: After one session, I had relief from some of the less welcome features of pregnancy, which for me included insomnia and sciatica. Deep relaxation, elevated mood.

When not to do it: If you suffer from deep vein thrombosis; or placenta previa or hydro amnios after 32 weeks; or if otherwise advised by your doctor/midwife.

Contact and cost: Bridgette Horszowski at jett@pilatesplusdublin.ie or tel: 087-9092400. A one and a quarter hour treatment costs €60, and includes ear acupuncture, tongue and pulse diagnosis and dietary advice

http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2008/11/23/story37610.asp

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Karma Chameleon

pilatesplus — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:16:51 GMT

Article from Irish Independent 28th Feb 09

There was a time when yoga was simply a means of keeping the stress and fear of living under Apartheid at bay for South African Bridgette Horszowski. Now living in Ireland, she has turned it into a career

South African-born Bridgette Horszowski is a great example of how people can turn a negative into a positive when it comes to the cards they are dealt in life. While living through the oppressive days of Apartheid, she discovered the benefits of yoga as a means to destress from the social unrest around her, and later transformed her devotion into a solid source of income in Ireland.

Looking back, Horszowski says Apartheid had a massive impact on her family in terms of stress. “We were raised as equality supporters; therefore we never really understood the importance of skin colour when it came to whom we befriended. Neighbours used to report us to the police, for example, if we had any Indian or Chinese friends in our house. They would call to the door telling us there was a curfew, and if our guests didn’t return to their townships, they faced imprisonment. I was always proud of my principles of equality and fairness, so I had to leave the country. My only other option was to end up dead, or in jail.”

Horszowski took the painful decision to leave her friends and family 20 years ago for a better quality of life abroad. After a short spell in France and the UK she settled in Ireland in 1993, and decided to study the principles of Pilates (invented by German Joseph Pilates in 1912), and yoga (a group of ancient spiritual practices that originated in India) further. From there, things began to look up.

“I wanted to help people overcome their disadvantages and be their motivator in life, so it was always my calling to become a teacher,” she says.

Horszowski completed a Bodyfirm Pilates course in Dublin in 1999, before embarking on yoga teacher-training courses in 2001 and 2005 in the disciplines of Iyengar and Ashtanga, two different styles of Hatha yoga. She says both forms are great for chakra balancing and relieving stress in the endocrinal system.

For those not familiar with these exercises, Horszowski explains: “Ashtanga is a lot more dynamic and athletic, whereas Iyengar concentrates on asana (posture) in a specifically aligned manner. Both are great for flexibility and relieving stress and also improve strength, stamina, balance and muscle tone. The mental benefits include an improvement of concentration and an increased sense of calm. Pilates, on the other hand, focuses on the core postural muscles to help maintain balance in the body, which is essential in providing support for the spine. It also lengthens short muscles and shortens long, weak muscles, so it’s excellent for correct alignment.”

For the past five years, Horszowski has taught yoga and Pilates at Yoga Dublin. She is also a qualified acupuncturist and reflexologist, and believes these approaches combined are a great natural means of combating workplace stress.

“I teach in the corporate market and think yoga and Pilates are great for keeping bums on seats,” she says. “Stress counts for at least 70pc of all injuries, as well as increased absenteeism at work. These exercises are great for preventing shoulder and neck pressure or lower-back pain caused by heavy lifting or sitting down all day.”

Horszowski teaches clients on a one-to-one or class basis in both the city-centre studio and in Ranelagh. She also recently devised a 21-day holistic detoxification course (including Pilates, yoga, reflexology and acupuncture) to cleanse, rejuvenate and lose weight. “If someone doesn’t comment on how great you are looking within two weeks, you’re cheating,” she says.

Her career in Ireland to date has enabled Horszowski to raise her 14-year-old daughter Kara in much calmer circumstances and with the same principles of fairness she fought to maintain during Apartheid. “Kara has grown up Irish and goes to a multi-cultural school in Dublin, so she is going out into the world on the right footing.”

Horszowski says the only downside to living here is the climate, and her long-term goal is to open a holistic healing centre in Portugal and reunite with her family. “My folks have moved to Portugal, which I’m pleased about, as I believe there might be a civil war when Mandela dies.”

By Barbara Harding
http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/jobs-careers/real-life-and-work-karma-chameleon-1301447.html

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