Callan Pinckney developed the Callanetics exercise method in the 1980s to deal with her debilitating back and knee pain. She combined her experience as a ballet dancer with exercises recommended by her therapists into a unique set of small muscle movements. In 1986, Pinckney shared her method with the world in book and video form with "10 Years Younger in 10 Hours," which gained popularity in the booming fitness community, says callanetics.com.
Programs
Though many trainers and group exercise instructors incorporate Callanetics into their programs, Pinckney's Callanetics Management Company holds a trademark on Callanetics. All official Callanetics programs are taught by trainers who have earned a specialized certification from CMC. These programs are taught in studios, as well as on videos you can buy on DVD or watch online. The basic philosophy of all of CMC's programs is teaching muscle control through the specific tension and relaxation of small muscles.
The Basics
As of February 2011, five DVDs were available from CMC that cover the basics of Callanetics. There is a 30-minute beginner's workout and a 90-minute advanced workout to bookend the original 60 minute "10 Years Younger in 10 Hours" release. "am/pm Callanetics" breaks the traditional workout into two 20-minute mini-workouts, specially designed to help you charge up and face your day in the first segment, then to help you wind down and relax in the second.
Target Training
The "Quick Callanetics" series features three DVDs, each 20 minutes in length, that focus on a specific body part or muscle group. Each of these workouts features a full-body warm-up and cool-down, then hone in on the target area. Areas featured are the hips and buttocks, legs and stomach. As with any strength-training program, it's recommended you don't do any of these workouts on back-to-back days in order to give your muscles adequate recovery time.
Aerobic Exercise
A more recent addition to the Callanetics program is "CardioCallanetics." This hybrid program adds an aerobic element to the traditionally anaerobic Callanetics exercises. In this workout, Callanetics exercises are made aerobic by engaging multiple muscle groups in rhythmic movements, as opposed to the small, pulsing movements in traditional Callanetics. Movements in this 60-minute DVD burn more calories than other Callanetics workouts, because aerobic activities require more energy to perform, says Aerobic: Aerobics and Anaerobics.
Member Comments