Tell me about Pilates...

I second findacure's recommendation, though I found that I didn't need to lift weights w/regular Pilates. I do an hour of Pilates 3x/week and an hour of cardio 3-4x/week and that seems to take care of it. I bulk up w/weights, though, and my Pilates teacher is heavy on the strength poses.

I have an older Pilates machine and use it all the time.  I also have ILC with involvement of the pectoral muscle.  I have been told they will remove that muscle in the radical after chemo and radiation.  I am pretty sure I wont be able to do much after that and am quite scared.  Looks like swimming laps will be out the window too.  ICK.

Hey, Digger. I do both at the local YMCA (the best bargain in town). I only pay for a Reformer class if I miss 1-2 mat classes/week. I think that the mat classes tend to strengthen your abs a tad more but the Reformer classes do build strength more quickly. I think our Reformer classes are about $7, and though that's a bargain, I usually stick w/mat because I like the instructor and there's a lot of strength work.

priz47...I am a Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor and am also certified in several subspecialties such as Pilates. The question of focused abdominal exercise after a TRAM is a good one and there's no easy answer other than you should definitely discuss it with your surgeon and/or physical therapist. There is not only the question of how able you'll be to perform the exercises while missing some of the crucial muscle, but you surely don't want to risk herniation (did the surgeon put internal surgical mesh over the area?). The U of Penn has a website that provides this guideline for post-TRAM exercisers:

"After TRAM reconstruction, one needs to be extremely careful about exercise. Immediately after the surgery, the only exercise that is recommended is walking. With your surgeon's permission, you may then begin other exercises after about two months. If you had the rectus muscle removed from both sides of your abdomen (bilateral TRAM), there is no muscle to "crunch" during sit-ups. If you had a unilateral TRAM, the rectus muscle is missing from one side of your abdomen and therefore can't be used to do a sit-up. The abdominal exercises that can be done should focus on the remaining abdominal muscles, the obliques. It is important to have a professional, such as a physical therapist (PT), evaluate your technique first so that you do not use improper form and injure your back or your reconstruction."

I think that a good medical professional should be able to tell you what you can & can't do and many physical therapists are familiar enough with Pilates to make an educated recommendation.

~Marin

I've used the Pilates Reformer machine, but have never heard of malibu pilates. There are plenty of cheap Pilates DVDs available. All you need is a yoga mat that you can throw on your carpeting. If you have hardwood floors, you might need 2 yoga mats or a Pilates mat. They're thicker than yoga mats.

i have been doing pilates/mat for 3 years. last aug i had a mast and within a week after the drains were removed i went back to the mat.  i am 72 and have been working hard to regain my mobility in my right arm.  i would highly recommend a pilates mat class. it is now 8 months since my mast i have regained full mobility.  i also make sure to do some arm stretches before getting out of bed, and after a warm shower. i think that doing that has also helped me with my mobility.  i am determined to regain my srength and movement and will pursue it vigorously.  as i am an older person i believe that i have to act aggresively so as not to lose ground.  i say to all of us who are fighting the beast-keep fighting, keep trying.......

Here's a funny.  My MS free TRAM actually made my adb much stronger and my mild, long-standing lower back pain went away completely!  PS says this is from tightening up the abd. fascia during the surgery.  A side-benefit!  Now my abd is so flat I don't NEED to do special abd exercises.