I am very excited to focus on mindfulness at Rivercity Pilates this month. I have to admit, a few months ago I am not sure I really understood mindfulness. I am still not sure I do, but I am excited to share a few insights from my experience taking the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program through the University of Iowa.
When I signed up for the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program, I was apprehensive and not entirely sure what I was getting myself in to….What is mindfulness? How do I achieve it? What will it do for me? What I learned is there are many possible answers to these questions.
While my understanding of mindfulness continues to evolve, after participating in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program, I have some initial answers to my questions.
What is mindfulness? According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, “Mindfulness is the awareness that comes from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.”
How do I achieve it? Mindfulness is a practice, not a destination. It is a way of living. In the words of Jon Kabat-Zinn, being mindful is simple but not easy.
A few ways that we practiced mindfulness during the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program include a guided body scan, meditation, mindful eating, mindful movement, and paying attention to our senses (smelling, tasting, feeling, seeing, and hearing) during events throughout the day.
What will it do for me? There are many potential benefits of practicing mindfulness, including decreased stress, decreased chronic pain, decreased anxiety, improved anger management, and improved quality of life. Personally, practicing mindfulness is helping me become more responsive rather than reactive. It is helping me focus on the present, rather than dwelling in the past or worrying about the future. It is helping me become a little less judgemental with myself by focusing on the process rather than the outcome. And for all of that, I am grateful.
“Mindfulness means seeing things as they are, without trying to change them. The point is to dissolve our reactions to disturbing emotions, being careful not to reject the emotion itself. Mindfulness can change how we relate to, and perceive our emotional states.”
Tara Bennet-Goldmen,PhD in Emotional Alchemy
For more information about mindfulness programs at the University of Iowa, visit https://uihc.org/mindfulness-programs
Do your Black Friday Shopping early, then come in and relax with free classes, snacks and special in studio deals starting at 9 am!! Friends and family are welcome!
- 9:00 am Zumba with Amy Boelk
- 10:00 am Everybody Pilates Mat with Shelley Oglesby
- 11:30 am Reformer Flow with Carey Sadler
- 1:00 pm Restorative Pilates Mat with Carey Sadler
Sign up for FREE Classes! Space is limited so sign up early to reserve your spot!
Click Here to sign up for a free class!
Healthy Snacks will be provided by Amy Boelk and Tree of Life Health Coaching
Saturday and Sunday our client gratitude continues – bring any family or friend to class with you for free!
We’ve just recently added Zumba to our class schedule at the studio and we wanted to fill you in on why we love it so much! Probably the number one reason we love it is that it is an amazing, safe workout for active agers of all ages. Not sure what exactly an active ager is? Read our definition below!
Active Agers: Someone well past their 20’s who has realized that fitness and movement is not just something we do to fit into our favorite jeans…but that it is essential as a health tool in our life. Active agers want to keep moving well so they can do all of the amazing things they want to do in their lifetime. Active agers want their movement time to be effective and enjoyable and they don’t want to get hurt while doing it!!
So what’s so great about Zumba for active agers? Here’s our favorite reasons:
- It’s fun! Yep that’s our number one reason! We believe that if your movement time is fun you are more likely to keep doing it! What could be more fun than listening to some great music and dancing?
- Everyone can do it! Our instructors teach you the dance moves and give options for every fitness level. We love this because we know that everyone is safely getting their heart rate up, doing some great overall strengthening for their body and they are not going to get hurt doing it!
- It’s functional! Dancing has your body moving in a variety of planes of movements, just like how you move in your daily life. It’s great “moving in your life” training!
I teach a weekly class that I call Return to Life on the Mat. In this class we practice the entire advanced Pilates Mat sequence that Joseph Pilates created in a very flowing tempo. Most of the classes on our group class schedule are considered all levels, but Return to Life is not and because of that I require that students be approved by a teacher to take the class. This is because we do exercises that are often not taught in an all levels class and the pace is pretty quick so there is not a lot of time as a teacher for me to stop and “teach” an exercise to an individual body who has not done it before. As a teacher it’s always first on my list to keep all students safe in their body. Truly this class flows enough that at the end of class your heart rate is often raised and you are dripping with sweat as if you just went for a brisk walk or run! If the challenge of being able to safely practice the advanced mat sequence is something you would love to do, definitely talk to me or your teacher about how we can help you get there!
Now that I’ve told you all about the advanced Pilates Mat class, I have something VERY important to tell you:
There is absolutely no need to be able to do advanced Pilates Mat exercises to get the amazing benefits of a Pilates practice in your life!!
If you practice Pilates on a regular basis I probably don’t need to tell you this. You’ve probably had some “aha” moments in your practice when you say to yourself:
“The more I learn about how to move my body correctly, the harder the exercises are!”
“I think that going slow and at a “beginners” pace today was harder than when we have more flow?!”
You can practice Pilates for your entire lifetime without doing the “advanced exercises” and you will still feel amazing in your body and you will still be progressing!
The reason so many of our classes are “all levels” is that you don’t need to do a more advanced exercise to improve your Pilates practice. When you practice Pilates exercises on a regular basis, when you learn to focus and concentrate more on each movement and be more precise, you are advancing in your Pilates practice! And I’m guessing you’ve probably noticed that and said to yourself, “Why is this Pilates thing feeling more challenging the more I do it?!”. It’s because you are progressing, improving and becoming a better, more efficient mover who is stronger and more balanced in their body.
The goal of your Pilates practice is not (or should not!) be to “get to a certain level” or to be able to do a particular exercise. The goal is to move your body in a way that brings balance and uniform development to your body, which in turn allows your body to function at its best. I believe the best way to achieve that goal is to find movement classes that you enjoy coming to and create an at home practice that supports your goal to create optimum health in your body. Probably the most challenging part about a Pilates practice that I see in clients is consistency. The method itself is amazing, and if you practice on a regular basis you will feel results and reap daily benefits from it. But let’s face it…life gets crazy and movement and exercise time is often one of the things that easily gets thrown aside. If you want to make a commitment to advancing your Pilates practice simply make a commitment to keep practicing!!
Jane balancing on the rocks of Ellesmere Island, arctic Canada, August 2017. Photo by Bill McClelland
When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?
I started Pilates in 1999 with a terrific instructor, but when she left the area I eventually stopped. I finally restarted about a year ago doing private sessions with Carey. I was terribly out of shape and out of balance – mostly due to a major surgery that severed the balance nerve on the right side of my brain – and these sessions have really helped me get “centered’ again. Carey is absolutely fantastic at analyzing my body’s problems and working with me to improve form and function. I am a field geologist, so fitness is important to me.
How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?
I try to take 2 Pilates classes a week. The private session with Carey keeps me honest. Carey targets my trouble spots and really helps me with flexibility. I also enjoy Shelley’s Every Body Mat Class. I don’t have the patience to do 50 minutes of Pilates at home, but time flies in Shelley’s class. The equipment classes are also great if you remember to sign up in time. Recently, I tried Zumba for cardio … the jury is still out … but it is also good for coordination.
What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Pilates?
Since I started Pilates again, I notice my body moving better and my posture improving. I really believe that keeping the body moving is the key to a healthy life, especially as I age. My old rock climber balance will never be what it was, but I want to maintain what I have and maybe even improve.
Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?
The challenge of doing Pilates on the reformer boxes really pushes me to the limit of my comfort zone, and I like that.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing Pilates?
Rivercity Pilates is a VERY welcoming place. The classes are small by design, the space itself is cheerful, and best of all … the staff are amazing. So if you are thinking about doing Pilates – go for it! I convinced my husband to try it, and he is hooked.