Pietra Fitness for Athletes
The Pietra Fitness Athlete series will transform your athletic performance. Through full-body workouts you will improve your flexibility, balance, range of motion, and strength. You will gain a deeper awareness of and exercise greater control over your body. You will also learn poses that help you release tension, to help your body recover so that you can give your best time and time again. Many great saints spoke about the spiritual life in terms of sport because these holy men and women recognized that the dedication, perseverance, and self-control embodied by athletes can help you stand firm against temptation and assist you in the pursuit of virtue. The combination of Catholic prayer and meditation that Pietra Fitness incorporates into all of their workouts will help you glorify God with your whole body, mind, and soul, so you can become a strong athlete for Christ.
Athletes place a high amount of stress on their bodies to compete in sports so they should prepare and be ready! Warming up is a crucial part of preparation. This 17-minute general warmup can be used before any sport or activity. Lori takes you through dynamic exercises that increases the temperature of the muscles, increases the heart rate, and sends blood flow to the working muscles. The movements will also enhance the neuromuscular relationship between the muscles in the body and the nerves, which will help athletes to be in better control of their movements and functions.
The best remedy to staying injury free is to have a consistent program of stretching after your sport or practice. Stretching after your game or workout can help increase your flexibility and range of motion, reduce the risk of injury, decrease muscle tension and stress in your body, and promote increased circulation. It can even help improve your performance the next time you play. The extra time you spend stretching are well worth it; your body will thank you!
Every sport requires rotational movements, but this movement is necessary in higher demands in certain sports such as tennis, golf, figure skating, dance, baseball, and gymnastics. The athlete in these sports uses twisting within the torso to perform the movements needed to play. Lori prepares the rotational athlete by working on strength and mobility in the core and hips as well as the entire body. You will leave the class ready and able to practice your skills in a more improved way. The meditation will have you thinking about God’s plans for you.
Clare Schiller, Foundation 3 Pietra Fitness Instructor
The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
Good footwork is necessary, to a certain degree, in all sports but it is so important in certain sports that increased speed and agility can make or break the game. When you are prepared to move on your feet quickly and precisely, you will start to see that you are in better control of your body throughout your movements. This skill can take your game to the next level. It can also help to reduce the risk of injury as you learn to maintain proper form during quick changes in direction and initiating movements. The meditation will have you focusing on God’s constant gaze of love.
Clare Schiller, Foundation 3 Pietra Fitness Instructor
The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
This class is great for those wishing to improve their performance in running sports. Many runners focus solely on hitting the pavement but lack the skills necessary to enhance their running outcomes. Lori focuses on running form, mechanics, and knee drive especially using the core. She also focuses on building all those slow- and fast-twitch muscles in your body that will effectively change your running for the better. Be prepared to improve your stamina, speed, strength, and skill! The meditation will have you contemplating the primacy of love.
Clare Schiller, Foundation 3 Pietra Fitness Instructor
The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)
For athletes, upper body strength and flexibility can be crucial, especially for certain sports like rowing, baseball, tennis, volleyball, and pole vaulting. When an athlete is weak in these areas, they can be susceptible to numerous kinds of injuries. Also, the low back muscles often compensate for the arms and shoulders which can result in injury or strain. This workout focuses on building strength in the upper body as well as stretching necessary muscles needed to support upper body movement. The Meditation will have you contemplating God’s gift of rest through sports.
Clare Schiller, Foundation 3 Pietra Fitness Instructor
The Nobertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey (www.stmichaelsabbey.com)