Julie & Asha

Julie & Asha

You may already know me as a Barre and Yoga instructor at Rivercity Pilates but I am happy to reveal that I am also offering Life Coaching and Reiki services!

So as my service to you deepens, I only thought it was fitting to deepen our relationship and tell you a little bit more about me and how I got here.

As a young girl, I was fascinated with movement and dance.  It was my outlet and a way for me to express myself, as I was also extremely shy and timid.  This was my place to shine but also to connect to like-minded friends.  It was a savior for me!  But as I grew older, I held the belief that I needed to pursue a lucrative career, one that would provide “security” and independence.

I received a Master’s degree in Administration focusing on the non-profit sector and worked for many years in program development.  But as the years flew by, I felt deeply in my soul that I wanted to work with people in a more profound and personal way.  So, drawing on my love of movement, I enrolled in a Yoga Teacher training and began to teach yoga in the evenings. The more that I worked with people helping them to connect to their bodies, the more I learned about and desired to incorporate a holistic mind, body and spirit approach.

So I set off to embark on a second master’s degree in counseling psychology and then promptly took a job as a program director for the Fulbright Commission in Mexico City, yet another administrative role.  They say that old habits die hard and following my dreams (in the professional realm) was just not something I was accustomed to.  But they also say that life will take you where you need to go, which leads to the part where I was let go from said stable, high-powered job.

And so finally, in the midst of crisis, I surrendered to following my dream and began the journey back home to my roots.

I hired a coach to help me sort out my “stuff” and since then I have begun a journey to make my dreams a reality.   I have started my own business, begun teaching movement on a daily basis, become certified as a life coach and have become more fulfilled, personally and professionally, than I could have ever imagined.

As I reflect back on that shy, timid child who saw dancing as her savior, I am reminded that my soul has always known who I am and what I want, I just couldn’t hear the call.  I was blocked by fear and the “shoulds” and the “what will people think of me.”   I was like a little train that had gone off the track and I was getting nowhere fast! Moreover, I was tired (because its hard to move a train that’s not on track), and I was resentful and angry and most of all unhappy.  Figuring out who I was in the depths of my soul and subsequently creating a plan and acting on it has brought me more movement and happiness than ever seemed possible… in less than a year!

I share my journey, not to just blow my horn or bore you with the details of my life, but to demonstrate that my journey has led me to today.  I wouldn’t be able to coach you about what it means to dream and change and return to your purpose if I haven’t focused on what transformation really means. I am here today because I am transforming my life from blah to beautiful.  Each and every day, I do the work, and more and more every day I walk the talk.

I know that desire to connect more deeply to life and purpose.  I have desired to enhance my relationships, to follow my dreams, to be a better leader, to release fear and most importantly to love myself enough to change!  And now I want to share the wisdom that I have gained to help you along your path. I believe that the road to personal development is the path of a warrior, but it is where the victories are won.

What will the next chapter in your book be?

Life coaching is a positive and forward-looking approach to personal development that is results oriented and filled with vision, purpose and fun.  It is the intersection of dreams and reality.  My personal coaching approach is compassionate and sometimes therapeutic, but also no nonsense and down to earth.  Moreover, I bring a wealth of formal experience including:

  • MA, Counseling Psychology – California School of Professional Psychology
  • MS, Non-profit administration – University of Notre Dame
  • Certified Life Coach – Life Purpose Institute
  • Specialization in Focusing Oriented Therapy – The Focusing Institute NYC
  • Registered Yoga Teacher  – Dancing Feet Yoga
  • Certificate in Latino Family Therapy – Alliant International University Mexico City
  • Reiki Master energy attunement
  • Numerous years of experience working with people in leadership development, crisis counseling and family therapy

I will be offering one-on-one coaching services, Reiki sessions, and a free informal evening of exploration called Life Inspired once a month…and of course Barre and Yoga classes!

 

If you have questions, the slightest bit of curiosity or are ready to just dive in, please sign up for a free consultation to discuss what would work best for you.

I look forward to working with you!

Julie

 

janeeteaserToday we’d like to introduce you to Janee (pronounced Jane-ee) Anderson!   Janee teaches small group classes at Rivercity PIlates.

What brought you to Pilates? About 5 years ago, I realized how much I hurt from driving for my job every day. My lower back hurt, my shoulders were hunched up and I was basically needing to distress and relax. I searched online and came up with RiverCity Pilates. Carey was in her very first studio. It was a very small space but she was so filled with positive energy and just pushed me to try and do my best every time I was in class. I drive about 40 miles one way from Washington to the studio but it has ALWAYS been worth it.

I practice Pilates for the benefit to my body but also the benefit of the mental support it gives me every day. It is MY time to breathe, focus, and make myself stronger in all ways. I became an instructor because of the leadership Carey has always given me and the desire to help others become fit in mind body and spirit. I am truly a believer in all the benefits Pilates can bring to someone. I also enjoy the positive camaraderie at the studio with the staff and all the wonderful clients who come in.

What is your favorite color?    Black and gold are my favorite colors and I am an avid Hawk fan. I love football season and am known to dress all out on game days.

family mexicoTell us about your family!   My husband, Ross, is soon to begin his 32nd year of teaching and will be in his second year of 3-5th elementary education. I am trying to get him to do some very basic fundamentals of Pilates with his students. Jordan is 29 and works for Northwestern Mutual. He has just gotten engaged and we are thrilled to have Mandy become a part of our family. Lucas is 24 and works at our bank in Washington. Both Ross and Lucas have been to the studio and done mat and equipment classes. Luke loves the reformer and Ross likes the tower.

We also have three dogs who are important members of our family. Hawkeye is the tiny Schnauzer who has made a visit to the studio to help me plank . Luther is our yochon and Leo is our Bichon.

 

How do you relax?    Occasionally I am known to enjoy a glass of chardonnay or Pinot Grigio on my front porch. I know during exercise time the best refreshment is a big bottle of water…

hawkeyelegsTell us some things we wouldn’t know from attending your classes!   

  1. I can talk like Donald Duck. Don’t worry, I wont teach with that voice anytime soon.
  2. My longest plank was just over 3 minutes and was in the yoga room.
  3. Cassie, Shelley M and I are all Luther College grads. (Cassie and Shelley M are also RCP students)
  4. My favorite Pilates exercise is teaser.

I am a big believer in positive energy and I love taking pictures…I hope to continue adding to my classes in the next year or two. I hope to see you in class soon!

Public Weight Loss, Private Weight Loss, Is There an In-Between?

imageThe psychology of weight loss is very…weird. And frustrating. And personal. And eccentric. I’m overweight, and I have trouble making myself work out in public, because my mind says – and this is asinine, I know – that people are judging me as a ‘futile fatty’: someone who is acting like she wants to lose weight, but is probably drinking soda on the side.

Obvious solution? Work out in the privacy of my home. Problem is, that can get boring in a hurry. And there is always some housework to do. And there is always that call that ought to get made. And the email to check. And those bills to be paid…

Is there an in-between space? Someplace where my mind just gets on with its work, and doesn’t wander off to speculate on other opinions or other tasks? Some place that is, actually, you know…HEALTHY for me?

I found one! I did not expect to! I came to Rivercity Pilates because I knew I needed more muscle to burn away fat. I had done my homework, and I knew that Pilates was not the end-all-be-all for weight loss, but that it would make big calorie-burner activities doable and safer. Which was true, just as I’d read. I even lost my first twelve pounds on Pilates.

What I did not expect was to find that headspace. That “in-between”, happily on-task, HEALTHY, headspace!

It caught me so by surprise that it’s taken me awhile to find out how it is made. It is made of several things. It is built into classical Pilates, with the progression of the exercises, and the attention to individual details – that is the part that keeps the mind engaged during the workout. But the other elements?  Those are part of Carey’s studio. It is being surrounded and taught by a variety of body types, not just ‘ballerina’ types. It is being encouraged to “strengthen and stretch” yourself, never to “lose” or to “burn away” anything. It is the fellow clients and students who invest in an atmosphere of fun and delight. And it is the absolute confidence that all can “Become What You Wish”, never “you need to match this”.

Kimberly
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Picture 1 (before)

One of the things I love about my Pilates practice is being able to take what I’ve learned about efficient movement and anatomy and apply it to my everyday life.  Today I’m talking about how I was able to make a minor tweak in my bike riding position that allowed me to move from my center more, create more balance throughout my body and stop something from hurting!!

Something I noticed when I went for a longer bike ride was that my hand and fingers would fall asleep and my wrist would be achy and sometimes painful.  What I realized was that I was compressing my wrist joint and probably compressing a nerve that was causing this pain.(see picture 1 to the right) So I did a little experiment on my bike ride today!

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Picture 2 (after applying Pilates!)

I focused on putting more weight into the balls of my fingers, lengthening my wrist joint and using the muscles in my hand, wrist and arm to create this position. (see picture 2 below) Immediately I could feel a difference throughout my whole body!  Creating this “working” hand and wrist position immediately cued my body into a better whole body alignment.  I was no longer sinking into my wrist or my shoulders and I could feel this fire my core muscles creating more whole body work.

Maintaining this position definitely took some effort on my part at least at first and when I was tired climbing hills!!  But I found the more I reminded my self to find this position the better I felt and the more power I had to get up those hills!  Not only did my wrist and hand not hurt but I had a sense of moving from my center and the biking seemed easier.

Are you a cyclist or runner who has been able to use their mind-body movement practice to fine tune your movement?  I would love to hear your story!!  Share it in the comments below or share on social media!!

 

 

 

 

 

teri accola

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

I started coming to Rivercity Pilates in January of 2015. I’ve done a few Pilates classes in the past and really enjoyed it.

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

I try to make it at least 5 days a week and I have been doing mostly Tower and Reformer classes.

What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Pilates? 

I have tried all types of classes and workouts and Pilates makes me feel the best. I don’t walk out of the class injured but strong. It has helped make so many other things easier. I love the way it makes my core feel.

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

I enjoy all of it, but if I had to pick a class that I liked the most it would probably be the reformer and jump board class.

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

I would say Pilates is something we can do forever and you can’t say that about all workouts.  I have met a lot of great genuine people since I have started coming to Rivercity Pilates and that is a wonderful bonus. They inspire me!

 

Joseph Pilates incorporated squats into a variety of his classical exercises and exercise sequences for good reason. The squat is a great full body exercise that is very functional.  Think about how many times throughout your day you use this type of movement to sit down and get up or to bend and pick something up.

FullSizeRender (4)To really embody the Pilates method in your squats here are a few quick tips:

  • Coordinate your breath and movement.  Inhale as you bend into your squat, exhale to return to standing.
  • Engage your core!  Engage your deep abdominal muscles by pulling your belly button toward your spine.
  • Keep your spine in alignment. Try to maintain a nice straight line from the crown of your head to your tailbone as you are squatting.
  • Pay attention to your feet, ankle and knee alignment.  Whether you are doing your squats in parallel or an external rotation, try to line up your knees over your center toes when you squat.  Keep the knees behind the toes as you bend.

Remember it’s great to challenge yourself and work up to more and more squats but do be aware of your form and alignment.  If you find yourself not able to maintain proper form take a break!!

Need a quick visual demonstration?  Check out our squat video here!   If you want more support, and if you have an exercise ball, watch this!    As always, if you have any questions, feel free to call or stop in to the studio!