Running late? Come anyway!!

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late1Ever have one of those days when you everything seems to go wrong and you can’t seem to get to your class or private session on time? Maybe you are one of those people who absolutely hates to be late (I know I am!) and so when that happens your first instinct is to just not go (even though you know you will be charged because of the studio’s 24 hour cancellation policy!).

My best advice: Come anyway!!  We understand and we really don’t mind you coming in late!  Sure you may not get a full 50 minute class or private session in but that doesn’t matter!  You are still getting a workout in and it might be just what your body needs that day!  We’re ok with you sneaking into class after it started and would rather you did that than not come!!  If you are taking a private session then your instructor has that time reserved for you anyway so she would love for you to just come when you can!  We promise to take advantage of the time you are with us and help you get the most effective workout your body needs that day!!

 

 

#PracticeWhatYouTeach: Meet me at the Bar, I mean Barre!

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img_6583This week I got a call from one of my instructors that something came up and she needed someone to sub her Barre & Pilates class in the evening and couldn’t find anyone else to do it. I said I could cover it for her.  Normally subbing a Pilates class is no big deal and I’m pretty comfortable just jumping in and teaching whatever class it is. I have to tell you barre work is a little different though.  If you know me at all you know that I am not a dancer, my hips are tight,my turnout is horrible and coordinating movement to music takes me hours of practice!  I like the barre work as it’s really good for me but it’s not necessarily my thing when it comes to teaching.

It turn out one of my favorite workouts this week ended up being prepping for Barre & Mat class.  I threw some music on and played, and once I got over my “I’m not good at teaching barre attitude” it was pretty fun. I practiced some barre work so I would be familiar enough to teach it and got a great workout in along the way.

My students in class that night were wonderful (they were great sports about trying my barre variations!) and we had fun playing with the barre work and of course doing some of our Pilates Mat work.  It was a great reminder to me of how good it can be to get outside of your comfort zone and do something you don’t normally do.  I may have to Meet You at the Barre more often!

 

 

What is a Pilates Figure?

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Like any fitness method or routine Pilates enthusiasts love to tote the “eye appealing” benefits of a Pilates practice such as longer, leaner muscles and abs of steel to try to entice others to try out the practice.  Commonly heard are things like,”You’ll change your shape, or your clothes will fit better no matter what the scale says”. But what does a Pilates figure look like in real life?

To me a Pilates figure looks happy, healthy, strong, full of life, full of energy and moves with ease.  I can tell you from a Pilates teacher standpoint that a Pilates body has nothing to do with your age, your weight or your God given natural body size or shape.

Pilates figures are good movers.  They have figured out how to use the amazing bodies that they have in an efficient, controlled way and it shows in all of their movements.  You don’t need to be able to do a crazy split or hang upside down to have a Pilates figure!  Someone with a Pilates figure has become proficient at listening to their body, adjusting movements to maintain balance, coordinating their breath with movement, engaging their core and they know how to move through their spine.

Every month at Rivercity Pilates we highlight a client and their Pilates story.  Every month I am inspired to hear about how someone has used the Pilates Method to improve their health and their life.  If you want to know what a Pilates figure is take some time to read through some of our Inspiration of the Month Blogs.  I think you’ll find a whole new appreciation of a Pilates Figure!!

If you listen to your body when it whispers…..

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There is a quote that says,” If you listen to your body when it whispers….you won’t have to hear it scream.” As a Pilates teacher this is a lesson that I often find myself trying to teach clients.  Often times I think people think I’m a little crazy at first when I suggest that maybe they try the “easier version” of an exercise so that they can do it properly and not injure themselves.  For some reason we have this belief that just because we have done something at a harder level we are failing if we don’t do that all the time.

First of all let me say, “There is no failing in Pilates! If you have showed up, are doing the work and are paying attention to your body as you are moving- you are succeeding!”.  Second, one of the biggest gifts you can give yourself in your Pilates practice is learning how to pay attention to your body and adjust your movements to what your body needs and can handle on any given day.  As a teacher I can tell you it is always one of my goals to teach clients how to listen to their own body as this is such an amazing health tool in your life!

So the next time your Pilates teacher suggests you try a different or maybe easier version of an exercise, don’t let yourself go down that negative road of saying to yourself, “I am not strong enough, I’ve gone backwards, I can’t believe I can’t do that…..

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More than likely your instructor (who spends a lot of time helping people find the best movement for each body) is trying to give you a version that is best for your body that day and one that will help you continue to create balanced strength and flexibility in your body.  Be nice to yourself, listen to your body (and probably your instructor too!) and see what happens!

#PracticeWhatYouTeach: Public Speaking Terrifies me!

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from a wordpress blog - https://stagustaf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/I suck at talking.  Give me a pen and paper or a keyboard and I’m a happy camper but communicating with my voice is something I’ve always struggled with.  It does not come natural to me.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy being around people and talking, I just always feel like when I talk nothing comes out how I want it to come out.  I would much rather be the listener in a group of people who only chimes in with little bits of well thought out conversation.  After conversations I’m always thinking to myself…why did I say that, why didn’t I say this,  that’s not what I wanted to say…..     Needless to say public speaking terrifies me!  And it doesn’t matter if I’ve had months to prepare for something..I still get terrified and still feel like I suck!

Maybe you are saying to yourself right now, Don’t you talk for a career?  Don’t you spend your time one on one and in group settings teaching people Pilates (mainly using your words)?  The answer to that is yes I do and there are many days when I ask myself how in the world did I get here???  This was one of those weeks where I asked myself that question about 50 times.  My week started off teaching a full day of Pilates Teacher Training workshop to 8 new trainees.  What this means for me is that for about 6 solid hours I stood up in front of a group of people and talked with 8 sets of eyes and ears focused on my every word and even taking notes!!  Just writing about this makes my stomach a little queasy! Fortunately, usually once I get into my teaching zone I forget about my nervousness and my love of what I’m teaching shines through.

pilatesunfilteredLike most weeks, I taught my usual schedule of around 20 private Pilates sessions and 10 group classes (again…more talking..) And then something happened that was more terrifying than all of my live speaking time….A recorded interview of me talking to Jenna Zaffino aired on her new, super amazing podcast Pilates Unfiltered.  For someone who hates talking, I can tell you that even worse than having to talk in front of others is listening to yourself talk.  I listened to the podcast so I could remember what I had said. Knowing that quite possibly hundreds of other people could listen to it too is terrifying!   Unlike other speaking opportunities I’ve had on local news stations or in front of local community groups where I’m talking most likely to people who don’t know a whole lot about the topic of Pilates, this podcast is specifically geared toward other Pilates instructors and enthusiasts!  I compare this to being in junior high and having to talk in front of all the “cool kids”.  Quite possibly, Pilates instructors that I’ve admired for years for their amazing teaching and their incredible knowledge of the body and the Pilates work…. could listen to this. Did I mention my stomach is queasy just writing this??

1-steve-jobs-1I’m hoping that by sharing my fears this week, I might inspire someone to follow their heart.  You see as much as I suck at talking, as much as I hate putting myself out there so people can hear me suck at talking I know that it’s what I need to do.  I decided a long time ago that life is too short to not do what you are passionate about.  Life is too short to not push yourself to grow and expand.  I’m not exactly sure where I’m headed in life or what my exact purpose is but I do know that I’m pretty passionate about how amazing the Pilates work is and how it can be used as a health tool in anybody’s life.  I have a career that I absolutely love and believe in with my whole heart even if I do have to push past my discomfort of talking in front of others.

I want to send a big thank you out to Jenna for being such an amazing supporter in my Pilates journey and for being an inspiration for myself and everyone who is daring to put their passion out in the world.  And a thank you to all those supporting people in my life (way too many to list) who love and support me in whatever I do, no matter how it turns out! I’m going to go do some Pilates now and try to forget about the uncomfortableness of sharing me (the parts I like and the parts I don’t) with the world!

 

 

Roll Out Relief – A Workshop to Reset the Whole Body

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Whether you are a Yogi, a Pilates practitioner or just want to feel better in your body and release some tightness, aches and pains….this workshop is for you.  Shara will guide you through self-massage and myofascial release techniques that are sure to leave you with greater range of mobility, decreased muscle tightness and an overall sense of wellbeing.  This workshop will be October 8th  from 11a -12:30p and will cost $20.

therapyballsThe Roll Model® method is a model of self-care that is easy and accessible to people of all activity levels. Muscular and myofascial release is obtained by the specific application of “therapy balls” in targeted locations, think upper back and neck. The result is a reshaping of your body into one that has less pain, is suppler and has a greater range of movement. What are you waiting for!

All levels welcome, even those with no movement experience. Therapy balls will be provided for you to use.    Register by clicking this link!
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