One of the big changes for me now I’m a student, is the lack of deliberate spaces and times in the day for exercise. I no longer have the benefit of exercise being considered a productive part of my day, and no one demanding I participate. I guess that’s not so different, coming from the Army or from High School – both institutions value fitness and make time for it; once you’re outside those organisations, it becomes entirely a matter for the individual.

Not only that, but College can be pretty bad for you anyway. Working, hunched over in Coffee shops, or lounge spaces with others, even in the library you don’t always get to sit in the best spaces, or the best ways. You may not feel it in your very early twenties, but I can promise you it is startling how soon back pain can inject itself into your life! Sitting badly at a computer for extended periods  is a well known evil, but like most things that are bad for us, yet not immediately painful or unpleasant, we just do it anyway. By the time you feel the pain, it’s already getting pretty far along. Even if you do abide by good posture, even take breaks every hour and follow all the good advice that’s out there, it’s still not a natural thing to be sitting at desks, working on computers, the way we all do.

Is Bigger really Better???

As someone who is always interested in new forms of exercise I was pretty keen to give Pilates a go. Sure, it’s not exactly what you think of when you think of military style fitness, but I’ve seen some pretty tough guys almost break down in a hard aerobics class, and the purely fittest people I’ve met have sworn by spinning and other less than macho forms of exercise, so I always keep an open mind; if it’s tough for you to do, it’s good exercise.

Better Exercise

Power Pilates may have the ring of Hollywood fad to it, but the form has been around a long while, and you only have to consider the physiques of most Hollywood stars to realize there may yet be something in it.  For me, the real benefits lie in the combination of stretching with resistance that really pushes your muscles to their limits, whilst keeping everything in a natural range of motion. This means that whilst you might get pretty exhausted, you should never be straining yourself, or doing damage. It also means that it works really well in strengthening those muscles that are hard to reach independently, like the ones holding your spine in place! Getting at these stabilizers is always valuable, and any exercise that can effectively target them is going to be more valuable than you realize.

Do you have a dentist phobia?  Or are you just relaxed about having the routine 6 mouth check-up and cleaning?  It is a rather intimate situation; you feel exposed by giving someone the authority and privilege to poke around and examine your mouth.  For me the worst part is the unbiased suggestions on proper hygiene that feels more like a scolding.  But the thing about fears is that you have to face them.

I was long overdue for a cleaning and went to see Dr. Maritza Villamar Lozano.  Her office was warm and her staff was very friendly.  I felt calm and relaxed from the moment I walked into her office.  There was no wait and I was having X-Ray’s taken soon after I arrived.  Dr. Lozano was very compassionate and amicable.  She was also extremely meticulous, and professional, and took great care in answering my questions.  With up to date technology, she was able to take pictures and videos of my teeth and went over in detail, all of her concerns.

The cleaning process was quick and painless.  The hygienist took care great in being gentle and gave me advice on maintaining the hygiene of my teeth and gums.  My overall experience helped to alleviate my fear of the dentists and I feel much better knowing that I took a big step towards taking care of my teeth.  I feel more in control of not just my dental hygiene but also my life.

Rona, Columbia University, School of General Studies

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