Meet the Staff Monday: Nancy

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IMG_7082In our staff meeting everyone was asked to write a blog. I thought to myself,  “What do I have to say?”. But then I got to thinking,  I have a lot to say.
The last year and a half have been a medical roller coaster for me. Between my knee, back surgery, a pinched nerve and Parkinson’s, it’s been a trying year. Thru all this I try to stay positive, even though sometimes it is hard.
I continue to go to the studio and try my hardest at pilates. When I walk into Rivercity Pilates, Shelley or Carey or whoever is there is smiling and I know they care and understand. I love pilates and the friends that I have made there.   It truly is a community of caring.  Carey looks after me and never judges, she pushes me to my limits but never pushes to hard. She keeps me positive and strong.
Keep working hard at pilates, yoga, or Barre class.   Whatever you take,  it pays off.  Remember every day is a good day. Even if it sometimes it seems like it isn’t.
Nancy
Evening Front Desk
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Is exercise like getting your hair cut?

I often wonder if other people get as excited as I do when I get my hair cut appointment reminders from my hair stylist?  It seems silly but it always makes me happy.  I have an amazing, talented hair stylist who always gives me a hair style I love.  But when I think about why I love “Hair Days”,  as I call them, there’s so much more to it.

Like most people, my life seems packed full of stuff….running a business, kids activities, family time, laundry, dinner, etc., etc., etc.  When I take some time to do something for myself it is heavenly!  An entire hour or two of time where I get asked what I want and can sit and chat with one of my favorite people is truly a gift in my life.  I always enjoy my time and walk away feeling refreshed, energized and happy. (And if I’m lucky I can go 2 maybe 3 days where I barely have to do anything to my hair and it looks like I just walked out of the salon!)

today (1)When I really sit and think about it I have lots of other moments in my life that give me that happy Hair Day feeling.  Things like vacation time, talking with friends, dates with my husband, hiding out somewhere by myself reading a book, journaling, going for a walk or a run and my Pilates practice.  Yes I included exercise in that list!  I think one of the reasons I love to move so much is that my movement time is my ME time.  Just like after a Hair Day, when I get time to exercise and move I always feel better afterwards.  I have time to focus on myself and do something I enjoy. I get that same refreshed, energized and happy Hair Day feeling that helps me be a better person when I go on to tackle everything else I do in life.

As you may know, I’m pretty passionate about Pilates and movement, but even more than that I’m passionate about helping people find a way to move that makes them happy!  I really believe that movement should be a tool you can use in your life to help you feel better inside and out.  If you’re looking to explore some movement options you might enjoy, myself and the staff at Rivercity Pilates would love to help you discover it!  Contact us today to schedule a complimentary private session or class to get started!

 

Am I going to Pilates class or practicing Pilates?

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If you know what Joe's favorite outfit to workout & teach was - you are definitely practicing Pilates!

If you know what Joe’s favorite outfit to workout & teach was – you are definitely practicing Pilates! If you don’t know, ask at the studio, or google Joseph Pilates!

There is definitely a difference between trying a few Pilates classes to improve your health and having a Pilates practice in your life.  For those who get to the place where you have a practice, you know what I mean.  Pilates becomes part of you and almost feels like belonging to a super cool exclusive club where you’ve had to earn your way in.  For those of you that have a Pilates practice in your life…I think you’ll relate to this list.  For everyone else these are some of the things you can look forward to:

Top 10 signs you have progressed to practicing Pilates.

  1. You see your instructor coming toward you and you connect your shoulders.
  2. You know what your instructor is going to say before she says it.
  3. You know the next exercise before your instructor tells it to you.
  4. You have a foam roller in your living room (or a magic circle, or some other favorite prop!)
  5. Exercises you’ve done at least a hundred times get harder every time you do them.(How is that possible??)
  6. Changing one little, tiny, minute detail (like what your toes are doing) changes the whole exercise. How can that make SUCH a difference??
  7. You hear your instructors’ voice in your head when you are slouching at your desk at work (roll your shoulders down your back, bring your head into alignment…)
  8. You do belly up and in when you’re pulling weeds in the garden, shoveling the snow or maybe just sitting at a stoplight in the car.
  9. You start sounding like a Pilates Evangalist!    You are teaching your friends Pilates and talking about how good Pilates has been for you!  It’s too good not to share!
  10. Your body misses it when you don’t do it .. even though a roll up, a teaser or maybe just rolling like a ball is incredibly challenging – you finding yourself wanting and even craving to do them even on your own! Crazy huh?

[tweetthis remove_hidden_hashtags=”true”]Top 10 Signs you are #practicing #pilates![/tweetthis]

We’d love to hear from you!  How many of these rang true for you?  Can you add to our list?

 

 

 

 

 

Pilates after a total knee replacement!

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October Inspiration of the Month, Jenny Fitzpatrick

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?   I started with private sessions in December 2014 with Carey. I had a total knee replacement that year and was eager to get stronger and back into condition.

 How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?  I typically attend a group class and private session each week at Rivercity Pilates. I have taken Pilates classes including Chair, Reformer, Equipment, Tower and also Yoga. Each style of exercise brings something different to learn and experience. I also have attended the Friday night girls night out Life Inspired which is always fun.

What benefits have you seen by committing to a regular Pilates practice?  I am definitely stronger as I can finally perform Teaser on the Reformer!  I like the integration of various muscles and the balance of flexibility and strength in the exercises. It is a workout I can do where my joints are not as grouchy which is wonderful.

 Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?  I really like the variety of options the most. I do enjoy a good stretch with push through on the Cadillac!

What would you say to someone thinking about starting Pilates?  Start today! The instructors are very knowledgeable and caring. They teach at your working level wherever that might be so you can have success.

 

Meet Shelley & Pippin

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FullSizeRender (14)We have a little dog named Pippin. He came into my life much like Pilates did…unexpectedly! We weren’t expecting or planning to get another dog after losing our beloved lab of 13 years…maybe we should just be pet-less for a while, I thought. But, a friend posted Pippin’s photo on Facebook with, “Free to a good home”. My husband and I both asked each other, “Did you see that dog’s photo on Facebook? Isn’t he cute?” and then, “Should we go see him?”. Needless to say, we brought him home with us the very day we met him!

He was a bit of a challenge at first. He was a year and a half old when he came into our home and those formative years were spent in a large family and his “puppyhood” was somewhat undisciplined. He needed some attention and re-training for some bad habits and just a lot of love, consistency, and patience to build his confidence that we would kindly teach him and give him a new and loving home.

I unexpectedly found Pilates again in 2012, after many years away from it, when driving on Hwy. 965 in North Liberty. Did I see that sign on that building that said “Rivercity Pilates”?  Wow! I thought…so close to home and I remember loving Pilates! But, I was undisciplined, hadn’t been exercising, and my confidence in starting something new was very low…and like Pippin, I had some bad habits! I’d have to start at the beginning, meet new people…would they be patient with me and would I feel at home there? I was going to be a challenge…just like Pippin!

I went home and Googled Rivercity Pilates and really liked what I saw on the website. I got up my courage and made the call to schedule my complimentary Private Pilates session with Carey. I was nervous, but excited. I felt undisciplined and lacked confidence, but Carey was very patient with me. I kept going pretty regularly and I became stronger and more confident. I had rediscovered a form of mind-body exercise that I loved and gradually, (like Pippin new to our home), I became more comfortable and more at home at the studio, and more importantly, in my body! A year later when I couldn’t come to the studio for almost 9 months I missed it so much and couldn’t wait to get back to a regular Pilates practice. Now, I’m really “at home” with Pilates and anxious to keep learning more.

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Shelley and Carey

Hopefully, my Pilates practice is maturing from “puppyhood” to the next level that is within my own abilities and strength, but with a gradual increase in knowledge of the methods and sequence of movements and how they feel in my body. Just like Pippin, I’ve learned to be more comfortable and feel at home…him with us, and me with Pilates.

Unexpected? Maybe not! Pilates coming into my life like Pippin coming into our family? Yes, I think they were both meant to be.

So, what’s next for me? Pilates Teacher Training starts tomorrow! Can’t wait for my next unexpected journey!

My Top 5 Reasons to LOVE the Annual PMA Meeting!!

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It’s less than a month away from the 15th Annual Meeting of the Pilates Method Alliance and I am already so excited!!  The annual meeting is something I try to attend most years and the longer I teach Pilates the more and more I look forward to it!  There are many reasons I look forward to this fabulous yearly event.  Here’s my top 5:

1. Learning    I love to learn new things, get new ideas and just be challenged to think differently about movement and the body.  The conference is an outstanding event when it comes to taking continuing education courses with some of the best instructors and movement professionals in the world.  My clients who have been with me for awhile know I always come back from the meeting with lots of “fun” new ways to move and think about Pilates!!

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Body Precision founder Beth Downey and fellow Body Precision graduates (2012 Meeting)

2. Friends   The social aspect of the conference becomes more and more important to me the longer I teach.  I started teaching Pilates in the Philadelphia area and many of my original Pilates friends and colleagues still live out East or in other parts of the country.  I love being able to reconnect with everyone!  Over the years through online Pilates business groups and social media I have also been able to connect with lots of other amazing instructors and the conference is a chance for me to connect with these friends face to face!

3. Shopping    I’m not going to lie, this is one of my favorite parts of the conference!  Usually I’m not much of a shopper but I LOVE the expo shopping at the conference!  It’s so fun to check out the latest and greatest Pilates equipment, Pilates clothing, Pilates socks, books, posters, hats, etc.   My biggest problem is having enough room in my suitcases to take everything home!

4. Pilates Classes    I love the daily Pilates class that we get to take!  Every day participants get to take a class with one of the conference presenters and they are always amazing!  As an instructor it’s always great to get to be the student and take a class!  And let me tell you there is nothing more motivating than working out next to and with 50 or more fellow Pilates instructors. (Usually by day 3 of the conference my abdominal muscles are very aware…ie they hurt when I laugh!)

5. Inspiration (my favorite reason)    There is something simply amazing about being with a thousand other people who share your love and passion for movement and Pilates!!  The energy at this yearly conference is hard to describe in words.  The incredible environment of learning, sharing, and talking Pilates truly re-lights my “fire”.  It reminds me of how amazing the Pilates work is, its reminds me how much I love being part of it and it inspires me to go home with a even bigger passion for teaching.

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Cassie & I during the 2013 PMA Meeting

I’m super excited to be attending this year’s conference in Denver with fellow Pilates instructor Cassie Cumings-Peterson from Northwoods Pilates and Wellness in Ankeny, Iowa!  Here’s a picture of us from the 2013 Annual Meeting!  Be sure to follow us on social media as we share our adventures in Denver this year!!  #PMA2105 #PMADenver