Do I really need a private lesson before joining a reformer class?

If you are brand new to Pilates, you may wonder why in the world you can’t just take a reformer class and try it out. We understand your frustration with our request to have a few private sessions under your belt before joining group equipment classes and just want to explain why in a little more detail.

I’m guessing that you are pretty healthy with no major injuries and have probably tried a lot of different types of exercises over the years, so it seems silly that you wouldn’t be just fine to join this Pilates Reformer class.  The reality of it is that you would be fine and I’m sure you could make it through class just fine.  The reason we don’t suggest just jumping into a Pilates Reformer Class without Pilates reformer experience really has to do more with the other participants in class than you.

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You see… Pilates is a mind body practice that involves learning a sequence of exercises, the breath associated with each exercise and the proper form to execute the exercises properly.

Clients who are taking a Reformer class are practicing the reformer sequence  in order to further their practice and get feedback from the instructor so they continue to progress.  Clients who are taking classes have a good basic understanding of Pilates, they understand how to stay safe in their own body and know the basics of how the equipment works.

One of the number one rules as an instructor in a group setting is that you must teach to the lowest level and understanding in your class.  Safety is always first! When clients have a good understanding of the Pilates fundamental movements and basic safety precautions it makes it a non issue to work with varying abilities in a class.  It’s fairly easy for a trained instructor to give modifications and adjustments to different levels so that everyone can be challenged appropriately.

When a client joins a class who hasn’t learned the Pilates fundamentals, isn’t familiar with safety or even how the equipment functions an instructor has no choice but to tailor class around that student.  Often this means that the instructor must stay close to the new client to ensure their safety (which takes away from the instructor being able to give cues to all clients) and class flows at a slower pace to accomodate the beginner student.

If you are new to Pilates and really want to make a practice out of it we highly suggest starting off with some private sessions so that you can create a practice.  Once you have a basic understanding of Pilates and how the equipment works, you will have no problem joining a Pilates Reformer Class or any of our other classes.  If private sessions aren’t in your budget we often suggest starting out with our Fundamental Pilates Mat class.  This class will teach you the fundamentals of Pilates and how to use them in your body.  Once you have a good grasp of the Fundamentals you will be able to try out some of the Pilates equipment work in a much safer way.

Meet the Instructor Monday: Kimberly

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Kimberly and her buddy Ivey!

Kimberly and her buddy Ivey!

It’s Monday, and we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Burke.   Kimberly is currently teaching Mat Small Group Sessions and Private Lessons.    Her calming voice and encouraging attitude during class gives everyone confidence.    Click the schedule button and sign up for one of Kimberly’s classes!

Where are you from?    I was born in Iowa City.   I’ve lived in Manhattan and in Glasgow, Scotland.   I’ve traveled to Egypt, Moldova and Turkey; still, I like it here.

How did you end up teaching Pilates in North Liberty?   When I first looked into taking Pilates I checked out a number of studios. With the exception of Rivercity, they were all yoga studios that just happened to teach a Pilates class too. The class sizes in these places were large, and when I asked about the teachers’ training, people got nervous. All of which made me nervous. THEN I found Rivercity, with its controlled class size, and uber-trained instructors, and gave it a try! Instant addiction!

The more I did, the better I felt, and the more I discovered about how my own body works. Eventually, I decided to take the Teacher Training for Mat — I wanted to deepen my understanding of the exercises. About two-thirds of the way through that, I decided I’d like to teach, and that I’d like to do the full line of courses, learning equipment additionally to mat. It can be difficult to accomplish everything, what with a full time job and a part time one going at the same time. But it is totally intriguing!

Favorite food to prepare?   I seldom have the opportunity to really cook anymore, but when I did I loved to bake bread. It was my weekend *thing* do to in winter. The smells, the textures — I found it soothing.

Hobbies?   Jack-of-all-Crafts, Master-of-None! I can do, or rather dabble in: crochet, tatting, knitting, beading, jewelry making, drawing, origami, cooking, reading, writing, and sewing.

Why did you choose to practice pilates?   I needed a workout. But I was raised to be paranoid about injury, and I am easily bored by physical routines. Prior to Pilates, the only exercise that had held my attention was martial arts. I had practiced Hatha Yoga for 3 years, and loved the feeling of it, but kept losing my focus, and couldn’t seem to advance. Pilates seemed very complimentary to yoga, but with a different dynamic. I can’t do Pilates on autopilot, and the attention to specific muscle areas and individualized adaption means that there is always something doable to focus on — always some area to see progress occur.

Is there something about you that would surprise the students that have attended your classes?  I once was pulled off a train in Moldova by a Russian-speaking soldier with a very big gun…

What is your favorite song / favorite group or favorite genre of music?   My musical tastes are a total hodge-podge! Chopin, Beatles, Journey, Beethoven, Near Eastern dance music, Beach Boys, Celtic, Musicals….bit of everything, so long as there is a melody line of some sort.

Social Media?  My twitter handle is @kimberlyriverc1.   I love following Mayo Clinic and other science sites to see how their research supports what we learn in Pilates!

Nervous about Pilates?

Have you heard of Pilates and wondered what is the big deal about this type of exercise?  You are not alone!

Often when people talk about their Pilates practice they are VERY passionate and there are many great reasons for this!  There are so many wonderful benefits to practicing the Pilates method on a regular basis that once people create a regular practice they are often hooked for life!  I could spend hours talking about the benefits of Pilates (and we have many past blogs you can read up on that topic) but today’s blog is about how you take action in your life and start feeling the benefits ASAP!!

If you are not practicing  Pilates on a regular basis I want to give you some quick action steps on how you can start experiencing Pilates in your life:

1.  Make a commitment to yourself to create a regular Pilates practice for at least 6 months, a year would be even better.  The Pilates Method is just that- a method of exercise that is designed to change how you move and exercise your body.  The true benefits come when you incorporate the method into your body and life.  Trying one two or even 5 sessions isn’t enough to really experience Pilates!

If you are brand new to Pilates it will take you a while to learn the exercises, the proper form and how to continually use the techniques to challenge your body.  It doesn’t matter if  you’ve practiced Yoga for years, done the Insanity workout in your basement for 4 months, just ran a marathon or used to be an athlete-this is new and you will have to learn it.

2.  Decide what regular means to you.   It’s not realistic for many people to get on a mat or go to the studio daily to practice Pilates.  That’s OK.  Commit to at least 1 session per week(anything less is probably not going to be “regular”).  You will find that as you create a regular Pilates practice and truly learn the method and more about your body that you naturally start incorporating the work into your daily life and routines.

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3.  Decide how you want to learn.  Learning Pilates is no different than learning Algebra or how to knit- you need instruction!  Having an instructor who is educated about how to present the material to you in a way that is most conducive to your learning style is most ideal but this is not in everyone’s budget.  Here’s a quick list of ways you can learn the Pilates Method starting in the order of the most effective:

  • Take private sessions with an instructor who knows the work in their own body and is trained to teach others how to discover it in theirs(A PMA Certified instructor is ideal). If you have injuries or things that hurt in your body I would highly suggest starting your practice this way!  It’s very difficult to jump into group classes or watch a video and learn how to adjust the method specifically for your body.
  • Take small group classes (again with a qualified instructor).
  • Watch and workout using videos created by qualified instructors.
  •  Read books (may I suggest Return to Life written by Joseph H. Pilates himself…), articles and blogs by qualified instructors and create your own at home practice.

4. Just Do it!  The only way to find what it feels like to have a regular Pilates practice is to do it and stay committed!!

We would love to help you start a Pilates practice!!  At Rivercity Pilates we offer a complimentary private session to all clients so we can help you decide what path is best for you to learn the Pilates Method.  Ready to make that commitment?  Schedule your session today!

Are you an exercise introvert?

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careyfamilyI don’t know about you, but the thought of having to go to an event or business or even a new dentist or doctor for the first time is on the bottom of my list of favorite things.  I would definitely call myself an introvert and it takes some effort on my part to get out of my shell and talk to new people and get out of my comfort zone.  I’m also crazy busy with a business and 3 kids (4 if you count my husband and 5 if you include our dog) and just the thought of setting up something new seems like such a big task – that often I avoid it if I can.

When it comes to exercise I feel the same way.  I have always loved to exercise and move but often have just done it on my own because the thought of joining a new gym or fitness group seems, well daunting.  I think one of the reasons I was so drawn to Pilates was the small studio atmosphere, the personal connections I had with my instructors and classmates  and also the ability to practice on my own.

When it comes to setting up my business I have tried to keep all of this in mind and make getting started at the studio as easy as possible and as intimate as possible.  We offer a complimentary one on one session for all new clients so you can get aquainted with our studio space, our instructors and what we do without the intimidation of having to meet and workout with a roomful of strangers.  We want you to feel at home at the studio and it’s important to us to get you started on the right foot!

Now of course if jumping into a new group class at a new space is exactly the thing you love- please take advantage of a complimentary class instead!  We know everyone is different and would love to have you try us out in whatever way you prefer!!

For more information about getting started at Rivercity Pilates click here!

Your Pilates instructor training starts the first day you start learning Pilates!

IMG_4202“How do you remember all of this?” is a question I often get from clients.  My simple answer is years of repetition.

Joseph Pilates created a system of exercises that have a specific order.  There is a specific sequence of exercises in the Mat and Reformer work.  These sequences truly provide the framework for the practitioner to learn the method and for instructors to teach from.  It’s part of the genius of the system. Having a sequence and an order is important for many reasons.

  1. It allows your body to learn quicker.  The best way to learn anything is to practice, practice, practice.  Not just once or twice, not just 10 times,but hundreds and hundreds and thousands of times.
  2. Every time you practice a movement you are able to master another piece of it.  There is A LOT that goes into every single exercise and even with daily practice it may take you years to work toward perfection!  Note that I said towards perfection ….I truly believe that your movement goals should not have an ending spot….we can always fine tune and move better wherever we are in our practice.
  3. By learning a movement and sequence so deeply that you can repeat it automatically you take your movement to a different level.  You can focus on smaller details and continue to progress in strengthening and balancing the body.

IMG_3026From day 1 of your learning process you are teaching your body a sequence of exercises.  It doesn’t matter if you only get to 2 exercises that day( maybe you do your hundreds and a version of a roll up).  Every time you practice it is all a process of learning a sequence of exercises so intimately that you eventually can do those exercise on your own without your instructor.  Once you’ve learned the exercises in your own body the next logical step is often diving into learning how to teach the movements to others.

Once you know the exercises in your body teaching others is merely the act of stepping into your students body and figuring out where they are, what type of movements they are ready for, and being their guide.  ( Ok well there’s a little more to it….like knowing safety issues, modifications,etc.)

Just like it took lots and lots of practice to learn the exercises in your body – learning to be a good teacher takes lots and lots of practice.  Every time you teach something you learn from your experience.  Every student is different and unique and you get to use your own personal experience in your own body and teaching others to guide your next student along their path.

For those wanting to take the next step in your Pilates journey, Rivercity Pilates offers a fully Comprehensive Classical Pilates Instructor training program that is broken into modules for ease of learning.  Want to learn more?  Click here to learn about our programs or schedule a complimentary consultation to talk to us in person.  We’d love to take you on the next step of your Pilates journey!!