October Inspiration of the Month: Diana Strahan

 Inspiration of the Month
October 2018
Diana Strahan

 When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?  When my youngest son started college last year I decided it was finally time to focus on myself and me and some friends started looking for an exercise class of some sort.  Although I had been working out regularly on my elliptical, I wanted something for flexibility and strength.  I started Yoga at Rivercity Pilates last September and I hesitantly transitioned to Pilates in November. I wasn’t sure what Pilates was and thought it would be too hard for me.  My friend Theresa talked me into it and I agreed to try it for one month.  I have now been doing Pilates for almost a year. 

How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?   I mostly take mat classes, but enjoy taking Barre classes, as well.  I try to do Pilates three times a week but due to work schedule and life commitments I can’t always make it to the studio so I do Pilates at home on the days I can’t make it, using techniques I learned at the studio.  

What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Pilates? My core is definitely tighter and I feel stronger all over.  I have noticed that my clothes fit me better even though I have not lost weight (which was never the goal).  In addition, doing Pilates really helps my mental health.  I can have a stressful day at work, but once I start doing Pilates I can feel the stress melting away.  Pilates has been great for my body and mind!
 
Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)? 
My favorite exercise is Seal!  
 
What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing Pilates?  
I really didn’t think I would do Pilates for more than one month but I have found it to be so beneficial for me and I genuinely enjoy it.  Anyone who is thinking about Pilates should go for it!  I think the teachers at Rivercity Pilates teach to everyone’s level and help new students feel great about themselves and their ability.   

Exploring the Advanced Pilates Mat Exercises Workshop

,

 
This workshop will take you through the entire Pilates Mat sequence that Joseph Pilates outlined in his book, “Return to Life”.  For each exercise we’ll talk about how Joe did the exercise, the goals and skills of the exercise, transitions between exercises and how you can find a working level version of the exercise that works for your body!
 
This workshop is designed for anyone who has been practicing Pilates and wants to dig deeper into their Pilates Mat practice. We will “workshop” each exercise so that there is plenty of time for you to try the exercise and find a version that works best for you.
 
Cost $25.00     Register Here 

4 Week Beginner Yoga Series starts October 7th

Start your week right with our Beginner Yoga Class on Sundays at 4pm!

This series is designed to introduce Yoga to those with limited or no experience. If you’re a beginner in Yoga or haven’t practiced in awhile, start here! Over the course of 4 weeks, we will learn the basics of Yoga, breath work, postures and alignment and see how all of these combined will help you on your journey to more focus, balance, strength and flexibility.

What to expect/bring:

Bring a Yoga mat if you have one and if you don’t we have some at the studio!
Bring a water bottle if you like to rehydrate during movement.
Wear clothing that allows you to move freely.
Be prepared to move and also be prepared to have moments of stillness.
Bring a positive and open attitude towards the discovery of you…

Click here to sign up today !!!  Or call us at 319.631.9510 or email us at rcpilates1@gmail.com and we can help you sign up! 

Healthy Feet Workshop

,

Healthy Feet Workshop

October 6, 2018 – 11 am

Cost $20.00

If you have ever had foot pain you know how debilitating it can be and how it can affect your whole body. In this workshop we’ll talk about some basics of why the feet are so important in relationship to the rest of the body’s movements and in our daily life. You’ll walk away with some easy exercises that can be incorporated into your life to keep your feet healthy, flexible and strong.

You don’t need to have foot pain to benefit from this workshop but if you have dealt with or are dealing with Plantar Fasciitis, bunions, hammer toes, heel pain or any foot discomfort you will especially love this workshop!!

Here’s what one of our previous participants had to say about the workshop: I was impressed by the workshop! I have to admit, I was a little skeptical when my friend asked me…after seeing a podiatrist and physical therapist for the past year, I figured the workshop might be more of the same stretches & that I had previously been told. I am excited to try all the different things you taught to do with the balls.

Register for workshop on October 6th.

 

Purchase Online in our Workshops section of our online scheduling software! Gift Certificates available online or at the studio as well! Contact us at rcpilates1@gmail.com or 319.665.2499 if you need any help purchasing or scheduling

Beginner Pilates student: meet your new BFF

,

I’m not going to lie…learning to practice Pilates does not always feel “easy”. Just as learning any new movement in your body (think about learning to ride a bike, ski or learn a new dance) it takes practice and time. Any experienced Pilates practitioner will tell you though that it is worth investing your time! They would also tell you if you have the chance you should try learning the Pilates method using the Pilates equipment as well as the Pilates mat work as it will make it seem easier!  Here’s why:

  • The equipment simplifies the learning process.  This is opposite of what most people think when they look at the equipment with all of its’ springs, straps and chains, but I promise it’s true!  You see there is a lot of internal work involved in learning Pilates.  It is a mind body exercise method that is designed to teach you how to coordinate specific body movements using your thoughts and your awareness of what’s going on in the body.  The equipment basically gives you a support system that makes it easier to figure out how to do the movement so that you can focus on the specifics of doing it correctly in your body.
  • The Pilates equipment gives you instant feedback.  The Pilates equipment is designed to connect your body to the equipment in a way that will allow you to better feel if you are doing the exercise correctly. Joseph Pilates most likely designed his equipment to make his job easier as a teacher.   As a student you are able to make more corrections yourself because of the equipment and your teacher doesn’t have to give you as many cues to correct you. ( This helps you feel results quicker and makes your teacher’s job easier!!)
  • It’s an alignment corrector (everyone needs one of those right?!).  The equipment is designed to help you position your body properly for each exercise. Each Pilates exercise is designed to be done while in proper alignment to achieve the maximum benefit of each exercise.  Since it is often hard to tell if you are in alignment or not, your teacher will help guide you and give you instruction on how to figure this out.  You’ll also find that the equipment is like having a second teacher and will allow you to figure out how to feel your best alignment in your own body!
  • The Pilates equipment helps you create strength,stability and mobility SAFELY while you figure out what it means to practice the Pilates principles in your body! Joseph Pilates created the equipment as a tool to help people figure out this method he was teaching.   Joseph Pilates designed it so that people could start anywhere in their body and progressively build their strength and mobility and feel successful at every step along the way.

The Pilates equipment can be really intimidating when your first see it, but trust us when we tell you it is designed to be a beginner’s best friend!  Learn more about learning the Pilates method utilizing the Pilates equipment by signing up for a complimentary private Pilates session.  After you’ve been introduced to the studio, Pilates and the equipment we have variety of beginner small group classes and sessions available to get started!

Sign up for you complementary session here.

You don’t have to be an “advanced” Pilates Mat student to explore the “advanced exercises”!

,

 

 

If you didn’t even consider reading more about our Exploring the Advanced Pilates Mat Exercise Workshop because you still consider yourself a beginner..you should think rethink it!  Even if you have no desire to ever take our Return to Life Advanced Mat class (trust me when I tell you this is OK … read this blog if this is you!), I think you’ll find that this workshop will change the way you practice Pilates in an amazing way.  Sometimes practicing the same exercises over and over again(even as a beginner) can seem boring or monotonous…but by educating yourself on the details of the exercises and the method I think you’ll find yourself more inspired than ever to give it your best every time you lay on your mat.  Let me tell you a little bit more about this workshop and why I think you will enjoy it regardless of how you might label your Pilates level.

 

  1.  Depending on who you ask there are about 13 exercises in the original 31 mat exercises that are considered “advanced”.  In this workshop we will talk about all 31 exercises…which means about 60% of the workshop time will be going over exercises that you’ve probably been practicing!  You’ll walk away with an in depth look at how to do each exercise in your body and how to keep progressing your Pilates practice.
  2. By understanding how the exercises relate to one another and the basic skills each exercise requires to do it safely and efficiently you’ll have a better understanding of how to improve your movement practice no matter what exercises you are doing.  Pilates is a system of exercises and each exercise utilizes a variety of basic movement skills to strengthen and balance your body.  In this workshop we will be breaking down each exercise in the original Mat sequence down into the movement skills needed to do each exercise. You’ll have a better in depth understanding of why you do each exercise and how you can adjust the exercise to challenge your body safely versus just doing the exercise because your teacher told you to!
  3. Knowing where you are going will help you work smarter where you are at!   You can have a fabulous strong, balanced body without having to do “advanced versions” of exercises but knowing the progression of each exercise and the possibilities of each exercise helps you to learn the skills of each exercise and helps you continue to gradually challenge yourself every time you do each exercise.  This workshop will explore things like the order of the exercises and how learning one exercise prepares you for other exercises.  You’ll get a better sense of the method as a whole and be able to set realistic expectation for your own body in your Pilates practice.
  4.  The advanced exercises are the same exercises beginners start with in disguise.  Sounds ridiculous I know…but its true.  This workshop will help you “connect the dots” between exercises.  You’ll be a lot more motivated to fine tune your Hundred and Roll up when you realize how those exercises are really just a variation of the Teaser and other more “advanced” exercises!
  5. You’ll be empowered to try an appropriate version of an advanced exercise because you’ll understand that it doesn’t matter so much what an exercise looks like.  What is important is that you are practicing a movement skill at your level that helps you feel stronger and more balanced in your body.

Maybe you are still thinking…but what if I can’t do an exercise?  The whole point of this workshop is to show you that every Pilates Mat exercise no matter how advanced it is…has a true beginner version. Even if you are brand new to Pilates you will be able to do a version of each exercise.  This workshop will be a combination of moving time and listening and soaking in details of the exercise time.  As a participant I promise you’ll feel comfortable trying out exercises if you want, but of course there will never be any pressure to do something you are not comfortable doing in your body.  If you have questions about the workshop feel free to send me an email or catch me at the studio to chat in more detail!

Cost $25.00   Click here to register for workshop.