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Web Rip of http://callaneticsstudio.comLanguage: EnglishVideo: MPEG4 Video (H264) 640×360 23.976fps 16:9Audio: AAC 44100Hz stereoWHAT IS CALLANETICS?Callanetics fans will be familiar with the precise set up positioning for the exercises.  They will recognise the tiny, repetitve movements that sculpt and change the body shape at record speed.  They will also know why Callanetics is so addictive and why, after over 20 years of absolutely no active marketing, people continue to practice the exercises daily.  It was a relief and joy for many when the original programs, led by Callan Pinckney herself, were finally released on DVD and her fans could pack away their dusty, stretched and worn out video cassettes to continue pulsing their way towards their perfect body shape. But, for those of you who may have never heard of, let alone experienced a Callanetics workout, this first part is for you….. This powerful, dynamic and non-impact program works by isolating a muscle group to train or stretch via precise body positioning.  Once we’re in our best position we either relax in to the position, to allow muscles to lengthen, or commence to sculpt the body by creating the tiny, delicate movement which we call a ‘pulse’. The targeted muscles change shape quickly revealing a slimmer, stronger and more flexible, supple you.  The gentleness of the program along with the rapid, visible results led the way quickly to the Callanetics Method gaining the reputation of being ‘unique’ throughout the fitness industry.HOW DOES CALLANETICS WORK? Many exercise programs focus on the larger surface muscles but totally ignore the deeper and important muscles that lie closer to the skeletal frame.  We are dependant on these smaller muscles for strength, support and yield, allowing our limbs to move freely without stiffness or pain.  We have over 600 muscles throughout the body and almost 500 of them make up these smaller, intrinsic muscles.  It’s these that we target during a Callanetics Workout. The precise set up position creates a thorough lengthening of the musculature and when you then add the pulse, the movement will be so tiny that it’s barely visible.  However, the student will feel this deep, close to the bone, where many muscle fibres are recruited.  The result is an immediate sense of change within the body and, very quickly, a visible change to body shape. As a fan of Callanetics for over 26 years, and a Certified Callanetics Instructor for over 12 years, Sandra loved the fabulous results herself and enjoyed teaching them to others in her Queensland Studio.  After filming Callanetics Evolution in 2006 she returned to Australia with a desire to learn more and increase her knowledge about movement, anatomy and Biomechanics.  When Adelaide, her daughter in-law, became equally addicted to the method and certified as an Instructor herself, they found themselves being led on a journey that gradually changed the original Callanetics program, that they had been teaching in their respective studios, to what is now known as The Callanetics Studio Method or TCS Method.WHAT IS THE CALLANETICS STUDIO METHOD?The first change began when Sandra read Thomas Hanna’s book ‘Somatics – reawakening the minds control of movement, flexibility and health’.  She read about the loss of control of our musculature and movement patterns as we age resulting in what he called Sensory Motor Amnesia. Lengthening the muscles of back Our brains respond magnificently to everything that happens both negatively and positively. Not really a revelation to many of you but it’s the central nervous system and ultimately the entire body that we are referring to. As we move through our days, weeks, months and years we are unconsciously responding to stress.  We may have a minor or major accident at some point, or we may fall ill and spend a period of time resting, feet up or horizontal.  Whatever the occurrence is our brain will adapt and our musculature will respond to that adaptation. By the time many of us reach middle age we are feeling and experiencing the effects of these adaptations.  We start experiencing stiffness in our joints, our movements aren’t as fluid and range of movement severely diminished.  We discover that we’re not quite able to reach up to the top shelf as easily as we once did and more than likely are completely unaware of a shortened stride as we walk – “my goodness, you’re shuffling my dear…”.  It’s time to sigh and label these symptons as ‘ageing’.  ”Oh well” we declare “I’m not as young as I used to be so I guess it’s to be expected”.Wrong…These so called ‘ageing’ signs can be reversed with The Callanetics Studio Method and pretty quickly for most of us.The stress responses, that occur in our bodies every single day, create a shortening and tightening of the musculature.  In particular, the flexor muscles of the stomach and extensor muscles of the back respond to this environmental stress. Thomas Hanna called this the Green and Red Light/Startle Reflex.  Eventually, the muscles become so contracted that the rib cage pulls downwards towards the pelvis drawing the shoulders, neck and head along with it.  Adding on to this severally, and habitually, contracted extensor muscles of the back and all signs of youth are obliterated. This also significantly impacts our reach upwards; no more top shelf champagne for you oh, aged one!  This shortening of the muscles in the mid section of the body also reduces the length through our legs and the shuffling begins.  Our breathing is impaired and vitality depleted. Whilst reading Thomas Hanna’s book Sandra realised that Callanetics is also a Somatic exercise program.  To perform, and become proficient of the exercises you needed to embrace the ‘meditation with movement’ philosophy that Callan Pinckney introduced to us in her book and videos.  This Somatic, or mind/body integration, approach during the exercises delivered results that went way beyond just toning abs, lifting buttocks etc but also returning, to the Callanetics student, a control of their movements and awareness of muscles that had laid dumb and dormant for many years. Sandra pondered how it would be if she added these Feldenkrais based Somatic exercises to her studio especially for the older students who would join a Callanetics class extremely out of alignment, de-conditioned and with little or no body awareness.  They moved considerably slower compared to the younger students, they also took longer to comprehend the instructions and would stop mid way through the set up a little confused as to where their limbs would be, which way their head was turning etc. A lifetime of involuntary muscle contractions of the back, stomach, waist and hips resulted in partial or complete sensory motor amnesia (SMA).  How did this affect their Callanetics workouts?  Well, one answer could be if you have no awareness of a muscle or muscle group, or that they are held in a permanently contracted state, how can you possibly apply the ‘relax in to position’ concept? Sandra stretched her way through the Daily Stretch routine, or Cat Stretch as Thomas Hanna called it.  She noticed that something was changing inside her body, there was a definite internal shift.  She was curious and excited to discover that even the Callanetics exercises seem to be working deeper resulting in another transition towards improved alignment and a further positive change in body shape.  There was a dramatic internal sense of being open and fluid, longer and leaner, especially around the trunk.  Within weeks she was teaching all her students the stretches and they all, old and young enjoyed the routine and the benefits immensely. Sandra noticed that many, most especially those that practiced the stretch routine regularly at home, became more mindful of their movements during the Callanetics portion of the class.   The difference was more noticeable in the older students.  Some would sense and comment on the subtle changes and internal experiences that before went unobserved or acknowledged. There was less rushing through the set up and more control of their bodies and pulsing movements.  Most commented that the set up for the Callanetics exercises felt smoother, less effort was needed and intensifying an exercise less daunting. They would commence their Callanetics workout with their muscles already lengthened and with a sense of suppleness that generally reveals itself more towards the end of a Callanetics session.  Thomas Hanna’s amazing routine of daily stretches had become an integral part of our Callanetics Studios exercises.