What if exercise didn’t seem like EXERCISE…?

Not everyone loves to exercise….we understand!  At Rivercity Pilates we tailor our individual sessions and group classes to the “everyday” person (you know…the average person who just wants to exercise so they can feel better in their body, avoid injuries and keep up with life’s activities).  Our goal is to create an environment that you love so much, you almost forget you are exercising!! If you’ve never practiced mindful movement like Pilates or Yoga before…we would love nothing more than to be the place you start!    Our trained instructors will teach you how to individualize exercises to your unique body, you’ll be educated on how movement can be a health tool in your life and most importantly your time at the studio will help your body feel amazing and ready to take on whatever life throws your way! 

Here’s just a few things we do to make your time at the studio amazing:

  • We get to know you from the start.  We offer a complimentary private session for every new client so we can get to know you, your body and your individual goals.  We continue to tailor your classes and sessions to you as you progress.  We find this helps our clients stay safe and best reach their goals!   
  • All of our teachers are trained not only in the exercise method but in how to adapt exercises to different bodies.  This means you can be sure that the exercises you are being taught are safe no matter what is going on in your body or what level of fitness you are starting at! 
  • Our in studio group classes are small.  Our Pilates Mat, Yoga and Barre classes are limited to 5 participants.  Small classes means your instructor knows you, tailors exercises to you and you don’t get lost in the crowd. Your instructor is always making sure you are doing exercises safely and your instructor is able to give you feedback on how you can make each exercise more effective.
  • We offer semi-private sessions taught by comprehensively trained Pilates teachers utilizing the Pilates equipment.  Semi-private sessions are basically a way to do personal training utilizing the Pilates Method and all of the fun equipment and props used in the Pilates Method.   We find that our semi-private sessions provide a personal, individualized approach to movement while still offering the fun, support and motivation of working out with others! 
  • We offer virtual classes and sessions to help you stay accountable to your movement time even when you can’t make it to the studio. Many of our clients travel and have busy schedules that can make keeping consistent with the workouts a challenge. Our virtual options are the perfect solution! 
  • Exercises are functional, safe and progressive.  Our goal is to help you get stronger, more mobile, more flexible and more balanced in your body.  We don’t believe you need to do crazy acrobatic feats to be healthy and in shape for your life.  We want you to learn how to move better and feel better and we do that as simply as possible! 

Empower your Body ~ Inspire your Life. ….  that’s our tagline and it’s our passion!  Our Rivercity Pilates staff really believes that mindful movement can teach you to empower your body, inspiring you to live your best healthiest life!  

Rivercity Pilates offers small group Pilates Mat, Barre and Yoga classes.  utilizing the Pilates Equipment, Pilates Mat Classes, Yoga classes, Barre classes, classes specializing in self care methods like rolling and other specialty mind body exercise classes.  We also have a beautiful massage room where you can book a relaxing Massage!

Rivercity Pilates is also a Pilates teacher training studio. We offer a comprehensive classical Pilates teacher training program and a Pilates mat teacher training program. 

Give Pilates a year and you’ll think it is the cheapest health care around!

Yes I guess Pilates is expensive, I kind of forgot….   I forgot how when I started Pilates the cost was a factor in my planning my Pilates classes and sessions.  These days I don’t think twice about what I pay for Pilates sessions.  What I do think about is how I feel if I haven’t been to the studio in a week due to travel or life (tight, creaky and missing my Pilates time…)   For me Pilates has become part of my health plan in my life and I wouldn’t consider not doing it (and since Mike and I spend part of our year traveling — I still do Pilates private sessions via Facetime when we travel.)

I don’t think about the cost of Pilates any more than I don’t think about the cost of my favorite Starbucks coffee drink or any more than I don’t think twice about how expensive my favorite cowboy boots were (because I love them and they are so comfortable and and so they are worth every penny).  So when my friend brought up the money thing when I mentioned she try Pilates I wasn’t quite prepared with an answer that might convince her to try an exercise method that could possibly change her life… and her quality of life.

As I think about it more I would remind her that you usually get what you pay for in life and Pilates is no exception.  A trained Pilates teacher spends a minimum 450 hours just to get their initial training and most of them spend years studying the Pilates method, anatomy, the body and movement in general.  Their training and expertise really shines through when you are looking for someone to help guide you through an exercise program for your life that is built upon the idea of learning to move properly, efficiently and without getting injured.   A Pilates teacher doesn’t spend their training just learning choreography.  Back in the day, I taught choreographed fitness, and I even taught a Pilates specialty class.    I cringe when I think about that now, because I was teaching after learning the method on a DVD, nothing like what the Pilates student teachers do at the studio I go to.    

Here’s a quick list of the things I treasure about my Pilates classes that I could never put a price on:

  • I always feel amazing and better when I’m done!  (I have never really loved to exercise so I can’t believe I am writing that about any type of exercise!).   
  • I have learned so many things about my body that allow me to take care of my body and my health… I finally know what that phrase self care means and I am continually learning ways to do it!   I run my own business, and as in any business — there’s always something to do.   I feel guilty if I take time for myself instead of working on my to do list!   I used to think of self care as an expensive hot stone massage, or a bubble bath.   Now I know that taking time for my Pilates sessions out of my days is an essential part of me being motivated and effective at running my business! 
  • I love that my Pilates teacher knows me and my journey.  My Pilates teacher celebrates with me when I accomplish something in my body, she tailors sessions to my body no matter what is going on and how I’m feeling each day and I always know I’m doing movements that are safe and effective for my body.   

If the cost of Pilates is holding you back from trying it…I do understand but would encourage you to take the plunge and try it.  There is a reason that Pilates is more expensive than a membership to a gym and I think you’ll find that once you try it you’ll be hooked by the amazing changes in your body and life. 

At the very least, if you live within driving distance of Rivercity Pilates — try out a complimentary private session at Rivercity Pilates so that you have a better idea of what it could do for you.  The Rivercity Pilates staff is amazing and you will enjoy being able to try the Pilates method in your body without any pressure to purchase or make a quick decision about whether Pilates is for you.  What do you have to lose?  

What’s a good age to become a Pilates teacher?

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Are you  surprised to know that many of the people that take our Pilates teacher training programs are in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s?  There of course are absolutely no age “rules” about how old you should be to teach Pilates.  I would guess that the average age demographic that most people start to add Pilates into their life is usually between 40 – 60, so I think it’s pretty fabulous to be able to train teachers who are in this same age demographic.  If you’ve thought about the possibility of teaching Pilates but ruled it out because you thought you were too old…think again! 

  • One of the things that I believe makes a great Pilates teacher is being able to empathize and relate with your students and so many times this is easier when your students have similar life experiences.  If you are 55 and new to Pilates and exercise…would you rather learn from a 20 year old( who may be very knowledgable and a great teacher..)  or would you be more comfortable learning from a 60 year old who knows what it feels like to exercise and move in a body your age?  
  • Does the idea of having to take a training program intimidate you because you feel too old to “go back to school again”?  The Pilates teacher training program is a very hands on type of program and most participants find they actually enjoy the process of learning to teach Pilates no matter what their age.  Unlike the traditional school setting we grew up with this program can be very flexible to work around your schedule and the “training time” is often fun stuff like doing Pilates in your own body or teaching Pilates to others.  No matter your age you will actually find yourself enjoying “school time”! 
  •  The process of becoming a teacher includes keeping yourself healthy through your Pilates practice and learning how to use your experience to help others do the same!   What this means at any age is that becoming a Pilates teacher actually improves your physical and mental health!  (Who doesn’t want that?!) 

We believe that teaching movement is truly a way to change lives… both yours and the lives of your students!  Want to explore the possibility of becoming a Pilates teacher and sharing the power of a Pilates practice to change peoples lives for the better?  Contact us today and we’ll send you details about our teacher training programs so you can learn more!  

We’ll be starting a new training program session in early 2019!! 

5 easy minutes of movement can totally change your day…

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My favorite client story this week: I was trying to be supermom this week and save a little time (not sure why I didn’t just make 2 trips!) I tried to carry all the grocery bags into the house all at once and by the time I made it in I was feeling tightness and pain in my hip and down my outer leg.   I got my roller out and spent 5 minutes rolling everything out and could just feel my sore hip ease back into place….  It didn’t bother me at all after that!

THIS IS SELF CARE!!!  And THIS is why I teach Pilates.  Don’t get me wrong… I love to move, I love to take people through a work out and I love to help people learn how to do Pilates.   But my passion for doing all of that is to help people on their journey of figuring out how to better take care of themselves.  And self care sometimes means making yourself go to Pilates class, do a workout, go for a walk, etc…. but many times it’s as simple as listening to your body and getting out your foam roller when something is tight!!  

Teaching Pilates is always more than just teaching Pilates! Here’s a quick list of some of the amazing things you can do as a pilates teacher:

  • Help others create a positive self body image
  • Teach people how to use movement as a self care practice
  • Help people use movement to de stress and relieve anxiety
  • Give people a sense of community and connection with others 
  • Give clients knowledge about how their body works and moves
  • Inspire people to make other healthy changes in their life just from being you and being an example

Want to learn more about how you can help others grow in their self care journey and in their life journey through movement?  Contact me today to set up a time to chat more about our Pilates teacher training programs and mentorship programs!! 

Why add a foam roller to your Pilates routine?

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Ever wonder what the big deal is with foam rollers?  They seem to be everywhere and so many people are talking about why they love them. We kind of think they are amazing too and wanted to share with you why you might want to consider adding in the foam roller into your Pilates practice!

  1. Core Strength.  The shape of the roller makes it just enough unstable that when you lay on it…your core muscles have to activate to keep you from falling off!  What this means to you is that you work your core muscles more and you don’t even have to think about it.
  2. Balance.  Balance is something we can always improve.  By adding in the foam roller to traditional Pilates exercises you can challenge your body to work on it’s balance in new ways.
  3. Getting rid of tension and tightness.  As a teacher I can tell you once of my biggest challenges is teaching clients how to work less in some places and how to reduce tension.  The foam roller can be a great tool used to roll out tight muscles and fascia.  When those muscles and fascia are released the rest of your exercises become better and you can do them more efficiently, creating balanced strength and flexibility quicker in your body.
  4. Life skills.  I always think of my Pilates time as “training for life” time.  I exercise so that I can move through life without getting injured and feeling great in my body. Life is not usually predictable when it comes to movement.  You need to be able to adjust when you accidentally step on a rock that twists your foot or have to balance on your tip toes to reach something on the top shelf.   Challenging your body to move in a variety of ways is always a good thing. Adding in the foam roller to your Pilates exercises challenges your body to have to move and react in different way than what you typically would in each Pilates exercise.   By mixing things up slightly and asking your body to do things a little different with the foam roller you can prepare it better for the unexpected movements that happen in life!
  5. Variety. Variety keeps you from getting bored and maybe not focusing as much as you should. Adding in a prop like the foam roller creates just enough change to an exercise that you can’t just space off and do it like you usually do!  You really have to pay attention and check in with the whole body to do the exercise well! Increased focus often means we move better, engage more muscles properly, and get more out of each exercise.  It also is a great stress reliever! 

If you are interested in what the foam roller could do for you, we have the perfect class:  Beginner Friendly Foam Roller Pilates Mat! This beginner friendly class will give you a fabulous Pilates workout while incorporating the foam roller!  You’ll have fun, and learn some ways you can use your foam roller as pat of your Pilates practice, and learn how to use it to stretch and lengthen tight muscles and fascia throughout your body!  

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