Don't believe the hype.

Trends cannot always be trusted.
http://www.acefitness.org/getfit/studies/toningshoes072010.pdf

Above is a link to a recent study on fitness shoes that are unstable on the bottom. According to this, there is little difference between this and regular running shoes. The only real benefit is that it might motivate people who aren't otherwise compelled to take a walk.

My mother has a pair of these. A few people I know and think are very intellegent people have multiple pairs. All of them have the feeling that they are accomplishing something. For many, that is a very difficult thing to acheive in the realm of fitness.

I consider that an advantage. Just like I consider other trends like "hot yoga", cutely named fitness classes such as booty ballet and buff brides bootcamp, and infomercials to be advantageous. Sometimes, we need that excitement to get moving, and I'm all for movement. Heck, in my days working as a waitress at the Cheesecake Factory, I burned off a slice of cheescake a day by doing TaeBo with Billy Blanks on my TV in my little studio apartment.

Just remember, folks, that this formula, in it's purest essence, will always hold true: get off the sofa, move around in a way that you enjoy and causes you to sweat a little, or almost lose your breath. It doesn't take money. It just takes motivation to get up.

I am a big believer in losing your breath once a day in any fashion, by being inspired, surprised, or just plain juumping up and down.CARDIOLATES, anyone?

The Domes

Once a student has been made aware of postural/ alignment issues, one of the most common approaches I see them take is to throw their body in the opposite direction. If they slouch, they force themselves upright. If the hike up one or both or their shoulders, they try to shove them back down. I understand the impulse. You want to fix the problem as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it's not as black and white we would like. We can't just "put it back" when we realize that it's out of place.

When we get into mind sets like these, it's important to remember that ultimately, our goal is centering. When all is said and done balanced muscle development is the goal.

So when trying to self correct your posture, think of lining up your "domes". This is a little imagery trick I learned from two amazing Pilates instructors: Arlene Bass and Sharon Gawin in their "Unlocking Thoracic Mobility" workshop. (I always feel the need to give credit where credit is due.)

Your body has natural structural domes. Going from the bottom up, the first is in your feet. If you place your feet together, you'll find that the arches of your feet form two halves of a dome. Going up to the pelvis, your pelvic floor is a dome. Above that, your diaphragm is dome like, and then over that the roof of your mouth is also a dome. I've found that if you try to center these domes, one on top if the other, you'll develop a relaxed centered posture over time, rather than one that slouches out of tiredness and forces itself back up.

Give it a try.

Let me know how it works for you.