First, there’s nothing like a good scrubbing. Everyone should have a nail brush, to help keep grime and dirt out from under the fingernail. Not only is it not sanitary, but no matter how nicely tended your nails are otherwise, they will look terrible if there is visible gunk under your nails. Scrub them with some mild in warm water for immediate improvement. Scrubbing also removes any germs that might be resident under your nails. Next, take a look at your cuticles. If they are overly long or have a weathered edge, they will obscure the fresh bases of your nails, making them look shorter than they are. Soak your hands in warm water for a couple of minutes to soften them up, and then gently push them back. Your nails will look longer, and healthier. This will give you nails not only a longer but also more delicate look. Once you’ve taken care of your unruly cuticles, get out your nail trimmers and go to work. All of your nails should be cut to the same height, and be cut in the same shape. It might seem cruel to cut them all back when only one or two have broken, but it will look better overall- and they do grow back. When you’ve finished trimming, file the cut edges to a smooth surface, to avoid snagging and tearing. Finally, and very importantly, don’t bite! Biting your nails makes them look terrible no matter how faithfully you tend them. It leaves ragged edges to snag on clothing and tear, is bad for your teeth, and is unsanitary. So keep your fingers out of your mouth, and keep them healthy and beautiful. Beautiful nails enhance the beauty of your hand, there is no point having soft and slender fingers when you have cracked or brown nails. Your nails need to be looked after just like any other part of your hand. You also need make sure that they are trimmed regularly and filed after they have been trimmed. As you can see from the tips above that maintaining your nails is not a difficult task. All you need to do is take out some time at least once a week to go through these tips and you will have excellent nails.

Pilates was a sickly child with asthma. To help fight his illness and build his strength, he experimented with various mind-body disciplines and later became an accomplished skier, diver, gymnast, and boxer. While in internment during WWI in England, he taught fellow interns his concepts and exercises that he developed over 20 years of self-study and apprenticeship in yoga, Zen, and ancient Greek and Roman physical regimens. During this time, Pilates began devising the system of original floor exercises known today as “Pilates matwork”. Within a few years, he became a nurse to the many internees under care with wartime disease and physical injury. Here, he began devising exercise apparatuses to rehabilitate the patients by taking springs from the beds and rigging them to create spring resistance and “movement” for the bedridden. This “system” formed the foundation for his style of body conditioning used today.

The benefit of Pilates’ movement therapy exercises for women thru pregnancy and post-partum is mostly misunderstood. Simply put, Pilates is a safe and effective approach to exercise for pregnant women to assist with breathing, body alignment and to recover body shape and tone after birth. Pilates focuses on breathing, which promotes relaxation and helps activate the transversus abdominus. The transversus abdominus is the deepest of the abdominal muscles and is responsible for supporting the lumbar spine and pelvic area at a time when ligaments are lax due to the natural hormone relaxin excreted by the body during the pregnancy and nursing stages. Lateral breathing also inherent in Pilates fitness, which improves rib cage mobility when the range of motion in the diaphragm is limited due to the high position of the baby in the third trimester. Back pain is a common side effect of pregnancy. Unless the abdominal muscles, pelvis and spine are strengthened, problems with the back can occur. Strengthening the transversus abdominus (“abs) through guided Pilates movements will not only improve back pain and postural alignment, but will aid women during labor for a much quicker & safer delivery. Research has shown that activation of the transverses abdominus also activates the pelvic floor, keeping these muscles strong and supple for the birthing process. This can also help with any incontinence that you may experience during and after pregnancy.