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Pilates: Streamline Your Body; Focus Your Mind! 身心灵的完美境界－彼拉提斯

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Pilates is an exercise regimen that is extremely popular these days. Stars like Madonna and Brad Pitt, as well as an estimated six million other people, are praising its benefits. But exactly who or what is Pilates?

彼拉提斯是近年来最热门的运动。像是玛丹娜、布莱德彼特，还有将近六百万人都盛赞彼拉提斯的好处。但是，到底什么是彼拉提斯？谁又是彼拉提斯呢？

Pilates is a physical training regimen that can streamline the body and focus the mind through correct posture and well-controlled movements. This graceful and nature exercise system was created by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, and it revolutionized fitness training.

彼拉提斯是一套运动训练课程。只要把握正确姿位、控制得宜的运动等原则，彼拉提斯就能使你的身体线条优美并集中心智。这套优雅自然的运动系统，由二十世纪初的约瑟．彼拉提斯所创立，他因此革新了健身训练方式。

Pilates was a weak and unhealthy child, and he was often bullied by other children. But Pilates’s life changed for the better after a physician gave him an anatomy book. Pilates studied this book intensely. He once said of it, “I learned every page, every part of the body; I would move each part as I memorized it.” Using what he learned, Pilates developed a series of exercises that greatly improved his poor physical condition.

彼拉提斯从小就虚弱、不健康，常常被其他小孩欺负。当一位医师给他一本解剖学书，彼拉提斯的一生就此改变。他致力研读这本书。彼拉提斯曾说：「我研读每一页、身体的每一个部位。只要我移动那个部位，我就会记下它。」彼拉提斯发挥所学，而发展出这一套运动系统，大大改善了自己的健康状况。

By the time he was 14, his body was so strong and well-developed that he was modeling for anatomy charts. In 1914, when World War Ibroke out, he was interned in a camp in England for German nationals. There, Pilates used his knowledge and exercise system to help his fellow internees stay healthy. When an influenza epidemic swept through his camp in 1918, Pilates’s followers were strong enough to resist the disease, and none of them fell ill.

约十四岁时，彼拉提斯的身体既强壮又健全，所以成为解剖学图片的模特儿。1914年，第一次世界大战爆发，彼拉提斯因为德国公民身分而被英国政府软禁在军营内。在那儿，彼拉提斯将自己的知识和创立的运动与同伴分享，使大家保持健康。所以1918年爆发流行性感冒时，军营中彼拉提斯一伙人仍相当健康，足以抵抗疾病，没有人生病。

Vocabulary

单词发音

regimen [ˋrɛdʒə͵mɛn] n.【正式】养生之道﹐摄生法 a systematic way of life or course of therapy, often including exercise and a recommended diet

streamline [ˋstrim͵laɪn] v. 把……成流线型 to improve the appearance or efficiency of; modernize

posture [ˋpɑstʃɚ] n. 姿势，姿态

fitness [ˋfɪtnɪs] n. 健身 good health or physical condition, especially as the result of exercise and proper nutrition

anatomy [əˋnætəmɪ] n. 解剖（学）the bodily structure of a plant or an animal or of any of its parts

intern [ɪnˋtɝn] v.（尤指战时）拘留 to confine, especially in wartime

internee [͵ɪntɚˋni] n.（战争期间）被拘留者

epidemic [͵ɛpɪˋdɛmɪk] n. 流行病﹐传染病 an outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely

课文讲解

The hectic pace of modern life causes our bodies to become imbalanced over time. Regular routines and habits cause us to consistently overuse specific muscles. For example, always carrying a purse over the same shoulder or always using the same hand to brush your teeth can throw your body off balance. Such problems are exacerbated by a lack of exercise or exercising in the wrong way.

现代快速步调的生活型态，使我们的身边长期处于不平衡的状态。例行工作和习惯，让我们持续过度使用某些肌肉。例如，每天用相同肩膀背背包、总是用同只手刷牙等等，会让身体失去平衡。这些问题因缺乏运动、或错误的运动方式而变本加厉。

The Pilates system was designed to alleviate these problems. The system is based on elements from the West, like gymnastics and the East, like yoga and Zen. This combination of styles gives users the advantage of both physical and mental health. The program incorporates a series of movements rather than a monotonous repetition of just one movement, like in weightlifting. Pilates’s slow and streamlined exercises are designed to stretch and strengthen the body in a natural way.

彼拉提斯系统就是为了缓解这些问题而生。这套运动系统的元素取自于东、西方：如西方的体操，和东方的瑜珈、禅定。东西方精髓结合而产生的彼拉提斯，让练习者同时获得身体和心理的益处。这课程还编入一系列动作，而非像举重一样，单调的相同动作不断重复。彼拉提斯运动采用自然的方式伸展肌肉，增强体能状态；动作设计缓和而能增加身体曲线优美。

When doing the exercises, practitioners must concentrate on each and every movement. Keeping your leg in the proper position while stretching it will make all the difference. Even details like the distance between your elbows are important. When your body is in the proper position, energy flows and creates balance, and the exercises are effective.

练习彼拉提斯时，必须集中精神并留意每一个动作的精确性。伸展腿的时候，保持腿在正确的位置，运动效果就会显着不同。一些动作细节都相当重要，像是双手手肘间的距离等等。只要身体在正确的姿位，体内能量就能流动、增加平衡感，运动效果立现！

Although the Pilates method has been around for a long time, it is now gaining a reputation as an excellent way for anyone, young or old, to become healthier and stronger. As Joseph Pilates himself said, “Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.”

虽然彼拉提斯运动已创立多年，近年来才受到注目，成为男女老少增进健康、强健体格的绝佳运动。就如同约瑟．彼拉提斯所言：「彼拉提斯健身运动是幸福生活的第一要素。」

－by Michelle Smith

Vocabulary

单词发音

hectic [ˋhɛktɪk] adj. 繁忙的﹐ 忙乱的 marked by intense agitation or emotion

exacerbate [ɪgˋzæsɚ͵bet] v. 使恶化；使加重 to make (pain, disease, emotion, etc.) more intense; aggravate

alleviate [əˋlivɪ͵et] v. 减轻；缓和 provide physical relief, as from pain

gymnastics [dʒɪmˋnæstɪks] n. 体操；体育

incorporate [ɪnˋkɔrpə͵ret] v. 包含; 并入 to unite (one thing) with something else already in existence

monotonous [məˋnɑtənəs] adj. 无变化的；无聊的 tediously repetitious or lacking in variety

repetition [͵rɛpɪˋtɪʃən] n. 重复；反复

practitioner [prækˋtɪʃənɚ] n. 从事者，实践者 one who practices something, especially an occupation, profession, or technique

requisite [ˋrɛkwəzɪt] n. 必要条件

课文讲解

Kate’s friend Edmund has been ringing her doorbell for five minutes.  凯特的朋友埃德蒙在凯特家门口，按门铃按了五分钟。

E: Hey! Why did you keep me waiting?

嘿！干嘛让我等这么久？

K: Sorry, I guess I didn’t hear the doorbell. I was doing Pilates exercises.

对不起，我正在练习彼拉提斯。我可能没听到铃声吧。

E: Pilates is an exercise regimen, right?

彼拉提斯好像是一种运动的样子？

K: Yeah. I was just doing some kneeling side kicks, but they hurt my calves. (Kate hands Edmund a book, Elva’s Pilates from the 5th Avenue.)

没错！刚刚我做到「屈膝侧踢」这个动作。害我小腿受了伤。（凯特给埃德蒙看看萧亚轩的《第五大道的Pilates》）

E: Hmm, it looks like Pilates is about relaxation, flow, precision …. Maybe your calves hurt because you weren’t doing the exercises properly.

嗯……Pilates看起来要放松、流畅、精确……妳的小腿受伤，也许是动作不够精确。

K: OK. I’ll try it again and you tell me what I’m doing wrong.

不然，我再做一遍，你帮我看看哪里做错了。（凯特跪在客厅的垫子上）

E: First, put your left hand on the mat. Then, lift up your right leg.

首先左手撑在垫子上，然后抬起右腿。

K: Ouch! (Kate falls down.)

唉哟！（凯特跌倒）

E: You fell down because you didn’t keep your left arm straight.

妳会跌倒是因为左手没有打直。

K: Really? I didn’t know I was supposed to do that.

真的吗？我没注意到应该要打直耶！

E: Try again. Now, move your right leg up, but keep it parallel to the ground.

再试一遍看看。接下来把腿向前伸，腿向前伸时应该与地板保持平行。

K: Wow! That feels great!

哇！感觉顺多了！

E: Why are you interested in Pilates, anyway?

嘿！妳为什么对彼拉提斯这么感兴趣啊？

K: It straightens the joints, spine, and muscles. It will also give me longer, leaner muscles and a healthier body.

彼拉提斯可强化关节、脊椎、肌肉，而且会让我的肌肉线条会变得修长优美，而且身体更健康呢！

E: Well, Kate, speaking of giving, how about lending me this book?

埃德蒙：嗯……我看妳就日行一善借我这本书吧？

－by Michelle Smith

Vocabulary

单词发音

calf [kæf] n.〔人腿的〕腓﹐小腿肚

precision [prɪˋsɪʒən] n. 精确 the state or quality of being precise; exactness

mat [mæt] n.（体操，摔跤用的）垫子

parallel [ˋpærə͵lɛl] adj. 平行的 being an equal distance apart everywhere

spine [spaɪn] n. 脊柱，脊椎

Kneeling Side Kicks