Inspiration of the Month Gina Luegering

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 GinaInspiration of the Month

October 2014

Gina Luegering

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?

I’m so happy that I made the decision to start Pilates. It has been something that I’ve always wanted to try and  I have found all of these things and so much more after starting at Rivercity Pilates. I wish I would have started sooner after seeing the changes in my body and the energy I have since starting in August!

How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?

My personal goal is to attend 4 to 5 classes a week, but with two busy teenagers I sometimes only get in 3 times a week. I love all of the Pilates classes and try to do at least one of each a week

What benefits have you seen by committing to a regular Pilates practice?

After a couple of injuries I really wanted to do something that was low-impact on my body while building strength, tone, and balance.

Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?

My favorite is the reformer classes.

What would you say to someone thinking about starting Pilates?

When I walk into Rivercity, it’s always a positive atmosphere, the classes are small, and the instructors are amazing. I would recommend Pilates to anyone looking to build strength, energy, and bring balance to their life!

Shoulder and Chest Stretch with the Theraband

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Carey Sadler, owner of Rivercity Pilates in North Liberty, IA demonstrates a simple exercise you can do to stretch the shoulder and chest with a medium weight Theraband.

The Journey to Finding your Roots

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Julie

“Roots are not in landscape or a country, or a people, they are are inside you.” 

Isabel Allende

 

As I celebrate one year back in the US after living in Mexico for 8 years I find myself nostalgic.   As I reflect on this period of my life I long for my friends, the language, the food and the chaos of the city but most of all for the experiences of great growth that living abroad brought about in my life.

It was an adventure that began as a student intending to study for (at the most) two years in Mexico.  The plan was to learn Spanish, have some adventurous fun, eat lots of guacamole, get my degree and be back.  But what ensued was a love affair and I don’t mean of the romantic kind.  It was a love affair with myself.

Yes, I got my degree and I learned Spanish and I did eat LOTS of yummy food but more than anything I learned about myself.  I learned who I was in the face of being completely different and out of place.  I learned how to navigate life on my own.  I learned how to let go and be led.  I learned how to be flexible and adaptable and how to live with less comfort and things. I guess you can say that I learned who I was and what I needed.

And what I needed was roots.  I needed a place to grow down into as well as growing out into the world.  I needed stability and fertile soil.  There is this sensitive, feminine part of me that I wasn’t allowing out to play.   I was smashing it down into the crevices of my being as I embarked on getting ahead in the world, on the search for a well paid job, on the hunt for what society and my family expected of me.

So in the midst of the chaos of Mexico City, a bit alone and confused, I was able to explore what truly made my heart sing.   It allowed me to set sail again on my own adventure, of going deeper into the ground that holds me, into the roots of my soul, into the depths of me.  It has been a journey, unimaginable and at times dark and difficult, and at other times light and frivolous.  It is a journey that continues…

As I think about what lies ahead for me, I am lit up by the thought of helping others along the path of creating authentic, rooted lives.  In the midst of life; in the heart of motherhood; in the darkness of divorce or joblessness; on the cusp of retirement; in the transition from dependent to independent, there isn’t a better time to embark on the journey to your roots.  Because roots are inside you, they are you and they will allow you to grow oh so much taller.   – JULIE JACK

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Julie Jack, whom many have already met as a Barre and Yoga teacher at Rivercity Pilates will be deepening her involvement with the studio as a Life Coach.  She will be offering private sessions by appointment, as well as a monthly (FREE) group for women focused on living authentic, vulnerable, full lives.

Inspiration of the Month Jennifer Reekers

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Empower your Body-Inspire your Life!Jennifer Reekers

Inspiration of the Month

November 2014

Jennifer Reekers

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?

Given some weight gain and history of low back pain, I initially began Pilates with Rivercity back in 2012 in an attempt to strengthen my core and create that long/lean body we all seek! I was amazed how just one consistent mat class per week could strengthen my body.  That same year also became the time period when I decided to change careers and my Pilates practice became nonexistent as I allowed my full-time school schedule to dominate my life for almost 2 years. Today, my new career as a hairstylist requires me to stand and use my entire body for long lengths of time so I became concerned with how the physical requirements would impact my 30+ year old body. My goal is to have a healthy, strong body without my intermittent back pain. I figured if one Pilates class per week had such a positive outcome… completing multiple classes per week must feel pretty amazing?! Out of curiosity for how my body would respond, I decided to fully dedicate myself for the month of August to a highly-attended Pilates routine. I enjoyed it so much that I chose to commit to my new routine indefinitely!

How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?

Thanks to the newest option to purchase MONTHLY UNLIMITED Pilates Mat classes at Rivercity, I currently practice 6 times a week in the group setting! I schedule all of my classes one month in advance which allows Pilates to be more of “an appointment” in my weekly routine vs. “do I feel like working out today?” With scheduling my entire month in advance, it holds me accountable. I attend Pilates mat class twice a week, barre class twice a week, and also the Arms/Abs and Thighs/Buns classes.

What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Pilates and how has it benefited the other types of exercise you do?

I have always had a straight/boyish figure but now I’m beginning to see the start of a waistline (yay, for curves)! In just 3 months, I am definitely more flexible and toned, and I no longer experience the pesky back pain! My posture is much better and my core is the most solid I have experienced since my teenage years (and I’m excited for the continued progress)! My coworkers have complimented the difference in my body even through my clothes, which are fitting better. I also really notice tone and strength added to my legs. After my initial one-month stint of Pilates alone, I returned to the gym to complete my previous leg/machine workout… and my usual weights had become too easy! I had to add 10-15 lbs more weight to achieve the optimal leg workout. I even beat 2 large, muscular men in a friendly competition of “who can hold a wall-sit the longest.” Overall, Pilates is the ultimate form of exercise. It rejuvenates me mentally while toning from head to toe and reduces the strain I was experiencing from standing all day long.

Do you have a favorite Pilates exercise?

Call me crazy, but I really enjoy the side-laying leg series (because I used to absolutely dread it)! It’s a true testament to how your outlook changes given the small achievements over time. Initially, I lacked the range of motion therefore leg series felt really uncomfortable. Now that my body is more open with improved strength and flexibility, I enjoy the challenge of the movements while enjoying more toned hips, butt, and thighs!

What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing Pilates?

When I tell others that I practice Pilates, I find many people are intrigued but either confuse yoga with Pilates or assume that it’s not a “real workout” in comparison to other forms of exercise. Pilates is such an incredible, well-rounded form of exercise as it strengthens you from the inside-out! First, I definitely recommend someone come to Rivercity as this is the only true Pilates studio in the area! Second, I tell people that Pilates is something that an individual needs to EXPERIENCE in order to truly understand the benefits. If planning to give it a try, CONSISTENCY IS KEY! I highly encourage someone to COMMIT to Pilates for at least 8-10 weeks. Whether it’s one class a week… commit to that one class per week for a designated length of time and only THEN, determine how Pilates makes you feel. When you initially start, the smaller movements may not seem like much in comparison to the stereotypical workout… but you WILL notice a different kind of full-body strength, both mentally and physically, over time!