Sep
25
2009
This recipe from Mark Bittman is out of this world and a great way to use those surplus tomato’s growing in your garden (or the ones your neighbor gives to you. It does take a while but once in the pot it just sits and you have to stir it occasionally. I hope you enjoy:
Tomato Jam
Recipe courtesy of Mark Bittman
1-1/2 pounds good ripe tomatoes (Roma are best), cored and coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon fresh grated or minced ginger
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1 jalapeño or other peppers, stemmed, seeded and minced, or red pepper flakes or cayenne to taste
1. Combine all ingredients in a heavy medium saucepan, Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often.
2. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture has consistency of thick jam, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, then cool and refrigerate until ready to use; this will keep at least a week.
Yield: About 1 pint.
Larry’s Notes: My jam took considerably longer than the hour and fifteen minutes to reach the jam consistency, but my plum tomatoes might have been more on the juicier side. It also firmed up more after hanging out in the fridge for a bit when done.
Sep
14
2009
Recently I have been having a lot of people coming in for Pilates with various issues in their backs. These issues include Herniated Discs, Bulging Discs and Spinal Stenosis. It is important to address these issues as Pilates can be a great alternative to surgery.
I have modified the exercises in the Sequences that we use at The Center Studio to directly address the problem. Most likely the client will not be able to perform forward flexion at the affected area of the back, and as well will not be able to do spinal sequencing (bridging or more advanced Pilates Exercises.
Before I will even do a warm up I like to review the correct way to sit and stand from a chair (leaning forward to weight the feet and letting the momentum bring the body up), as well as the correct way to lay down (the Log Roll, laying on the side and rolling onto the back.
Then in their warm-up I perform the following exercises.
Single Leg Lifts / Leg Changes
Chest Lift while maintaining a neutral pelvis
Chest Lift with Rotation - again maintaining a neutral pelvis
Possibly, depending on the client, I may do the chest lift and chest lift with rotation over the Step Barrel to facilitate ab strengthening.
Exercises I would perform include:
Foot work on the reformer, or
Foot work on the Wunda Chair
100’s prep or the 100 while holding neutral. The client will need to be strong enough to hold the legs up for the full hundred.
For Hip Work - Standing leg press on the Wunda chair - this will facilitate balance as well as engaging the muscles for Gait.
Stretching - Either standing lunge on the reformer or utilize the Ladder Barrel for Stretch - Stretching is important, but over stretching (in the case of dancers) should be avoided.
Arm work - Ped-A-Pul, Supine on the Reformer, Seated Arm Series, or Kneeling Arm series.
Here - planks are a wonderful exercise for people with back issues - once they progress doing the kneeling arm series will really help with their back issues.
Extra Leg Work - I like to do clams, or standing clams on the reformer. This is similar to a single leg skate and again here will help with gait exercises
Lateral Flexion - Side leg lifts
Back Extension - Before doing back extension on the equipment review proper mechanics of back extension by either doing back extension will standing against the wall or laying on the floor. Then progress to back extension exercises on the Wunda Chair (Basic Back Extension or Swan on the Floor, or pulling straps on the reformer will be a great way to teach upper back extension. Please note that these exercises are a progression over time and it may be a couple of months to get into a whole program.
As a teacher one must be patient with their clients and the clients must also be patient with their own progress.
I hope this is a help.
