Celebrity Pilates pro, Bernadette Giorgi recently launched her "Pilates on the Greens" golf strengthening program. I've included information below on the unique Golf & Pilates program/techniques.

Pilates can help you hit a golf ball consistently farther and straighter with reduced risk of injury and back pain. "Pilates programs can be tailored to target the biomechanics of the golf swing, emphasizing golf-specific exercises in the Pilates technique," explains Pilates pro Bernadette Giorgi.

The surge of popularity that Pilates has enjoyed in recent years has been powered to a large extent by a wave of women participants and instructors, leaving some with the impression that the Pilates method is more for women. More men are turning to Pilates and Giorgi wanted to tailor a program that would fit their fitness needs. Increasing flexibility is a goal that Pilates addresses in a way that men often feel comfortable with. Pilates works toward functional fitness. That is, the ability to have the strength, balance, and flexibility that allows one to move through daily-life tasks with grace and ease. "Pilates is based on the six fundamental principles of concentration, centering, control, precision, flow and breath," explains acclaimed Pilates expert, Bernadette Giorgi. "Combining these principles with natural movement provides an ease of motion through the balancing of strength, flexibility and increasing endurance."

Golfers can take the Pilates techniques out onto the course, implementing them in all aspects of the game from teeing off to walking! Bernadette shares three key moves below:

Standing Bow & Arrow
Rotate through your spine and move your top hand back as if stringing a bow.
Breathe in and lengthen up through the spine. Zip and hollow

Hug A Tree
Reaches that awkward, hard to reach spot under your arm and shoulder
Isolates the tricep/lat connection
Reach forward from the triceps
The work is all in the back of your arms
Engage your powerhouse the whole time
Inhale to prepare for movement and exhale to initiate movement

Backstroke
Has three positions
The first position starts with elbows up at 90 degrees
The next position the elbows drop down onto a V
Bring arms back, holding the scapula together as much as we can
For the last postion the arms will be straight with palms up
Rotate shoulders back as far as possible

For more information on Bernadette Giorgi or her DVDs log on to www.justbmethod.com

For more information on Bernadette Giorgi, please contact Yvonne Leslie/Melange PR at 866-854-5923 or at yleslie@melangepr.com