These are two of my favourite emails from this past month. One comes for Danielle and her horse and the other Vreni who suffers from fibromyalgia. Vreni’s email speaks for itself.
I love all the emails as they give me encouragement in designing new and better programs.
Miranda,
Hello. I recently picked up the core workout and back pain relief DVDs. I'm a Dressage rider and my poor posture and body issues are causing major problems with my riding and even with the horse (the horse reflects or mirrors the rider). I have tension throughout my body but more on my weaker left side. I'm very drawn in through my chest with no core/abs and long weak back muscles. This causes me to sit further to the left side of the saddle while rotated to the right, collapsing on the right side and shoulders rounded forward. To be a good rider I need an evenly balanced seat that is independent. My hips should be open and free (which they are not... they are very tight) to allow my pelvis to move with the motion of the horse in a relaxed way while keeping my upper body independent and relaxed with straight spine and also allow movement of my legs without tension and without affecting my pelvis or upper body. Same for my arms, free movement without affecting my upper body, pelvis or legs. I hope that makes sense!
Anyways, at the recommendation of a fellow rider I purchased the core workout and as I have upper back tension and occasionally have lower back pain/spasms I bought the back pain DVD. I noticed in the intro to the back pain DVD you mention continuing with the series DVDs. I looked at the two sets available (season 6 and season 4) and noticed they are slightly different.
Given my sport, what I'm trying to achieve, and my current issues, which of these seasons, if any, do you recommend? Also what would be a good approach for me to the program? Are there particular episodes that would be better to focus on than others? A particular order to the episodes that would be better for me? How many days a week should I work on them and when would be a good time to work in the 55min core workout?
Thank you for any direction you can provide.
My horse and I thank you.
Danielle
Hi Danielle & horse,
The best DVD for you is the 600 series. It is more advanced. Your email tells me that you are in pretty good shape. What you need to do is rebalance your muscles.
Do a different episode EVERY day as they are designed as a package to rebalance the muscular-structure. If you have the time start your first week with two episode in a row to kick your body into gear and then return to one episode a day (23 minutes an episode).
When you have an hour available to exercise, do the core workout as it is one of the best full body core workouts for strengthening all of the core muscles. You will see a massive change in your body if you follow these directions.
My best & keep in touch
Miranda
Hello,
I have been a follower of your program for many years. Actually I used one of the first DVD’s that you produced. I know it by heart. I do not even need to look at the screen, but just to hear your words and instructions. I have had to modify some of the moves because of knee problems, but generally I can do most.
I have Fibromyalgia, and doing your stretching exercises is without a doubt the best exercise there is for this condition. I even do them in the water in the pool. When I can’t stand up to do them, I improvise and do them lying down. It works.
I am also in the health field and have contact with many FM patients. I always recommend getting on the best vitamin and mineral supplement (voted the best in independent studies out of 1500 brands) Usana Health Sciences has perfected the formula, plus I tell them to do the stretching from your DVDs. It is absolutely vital that they do this, even when in pain. The exercises, when diligent will take the pain away. It is hard for some people to understand this.
Thank you for all you do, and I love reading your newsletters.
Warmest regards,
Vreni
