Worried about losing your balance and falling?

The weather has turned cooler, the sunsets have been gorgeous (have you noticed how pretty the fall sunsets are?!) and it’s funny how I’ve been finding myself talking to clients a little more about balance this past week. 

If you live in Iowa you know that cooler temps means we are headed into the season of slippery walkways, snow, and ice, all things that make keeping your balance an extra challenge!

If you are coming into the studio for sessions or taking classes with us via our on demand memberships you should know that all of our sessions and classes incorporate balance training that will absolutely help you navigate your balance this winter. 

For those of you wanting to do a little more to improve your confidence in your balance be sure to read more about some of my favorite balance tools you can use at home to improve your balance!

There are lots of ways to improve your balance just using your body so you don’t NEED to have a prop or piece of equipment to help you. 

That being said, our clients tell me that they find that using a balance tool like a balance pad, a half foam roller or a balance board makes the experience more fun and motivates them to practice more!

If you can avoid a fall, the cost of having some balance props at home – is well worth it!   

Today I’ll give you a quick description of some of my favorite balance tools so you can decide if you might want one at home to practice with!

Balance Pad: The balance pad is an easy way to make any standing exercise more effective when it comes to improving your balance. The squishyness of the pad encourages the muscles of your foot/ankle to have to continually adjust and work…increasing strength and increasing proprioception. Besides using it to stand on, you can also kneel on the pad to cushion knees and encourage balance work and you can use it under your hips for various exercises. If you are new to balance training I often suggest starting with a balance pad before moving into “balance board” options.  

Small Half foam roller:  The small half foam roller is a great “balance board” alternative that is really small, lightweight and portable and has lots of uses besides just standing on it!

If you need a little something fun to motivate you to practice your balance this inexpensive tool might just be the thing!

Rocker Board:  The Rocker board allows you to build strength and practice your balance while still feeling safe. It is the most basic design of balance boards and a great place to start training if you are new to balance training.

The sturdy board allows you to rock side to side or front to back depending on your feet orientation which is a great way to improve strength and mobility in your feet, ankles and legs.


Round Wobble Board:   The Round Wobble Board is more challenging than a Rocker Balance board and is especially great for building foot/ankle strength in all ranges because of its extra instability. 

I usually recommend this board to clients who have already been practicing on a rocker board and for those who want to take their balance skills to the next level!

If you have any questions about which balance tool would be best for you — email us at rcpilates1@gmail.com.

The best way to get better at balance is to practice!   Did you know we have balance class memberships? Get your free 10 day trial here!


We are so grateful!

For me, November is my gratitude month. Gratitude is something I am mindful of practicing in my life all the time, but during November I give it some extra special attention! 

You know I like themes!   I use them in group classes, in private sessions, and I also like to give my months a theme!   One of the many things that I’m grateful this November for is you and all the others in our fabulous RCP community!

In an effort to help you realize how appreciated you are we are doing some extra special things just for you this month!  

We are adding extra FREE virtual classes to our Youtube Channel!

We have a playlist called Anytime Virtual Classes and each week we’ll be adding more classes with your favorite teachers that you’ll have access to anytime! 

So many of you take classes with us via Zoom or on demand throughout the year and we appreciate letting us be part of your movement practices and part of your life!  If virtual classes aren’t in your budget right now we want you to know that we have A LOT of free classes on our YOUtube channel!

These classes are easily accessible from any device (phone, tablet or computer) and can be a great resource for you to stay consistent in your workout routines!! Click here to go to our Anytime Virtual Classes Playlist and check out all of the FREE classes you have access to! Be sure subscribe or check in periodically throughout the month as we continue to add new classes each week!

Our annual Purple Friday email full of deals will be headed your way the day after Thanksgiving!

The way the email works is we pick a variety of fabulous deals, decide how many we can offer (the better the deal the less of them we offer). Those who respond to the email first grab the deals! 

Set your clocks for 8 am on November 25th!

Staff Highlight: Jenny Fitzpatrick

(written by Jenny)

An Iowa native, I grew up riding my bike, playing on the jungle gym and running around my family acreage.  Movement is a part of my DNA!  In high school, I became a 4 year letter winner in softball and participated in a wide variety of other activities.  I headed to Iowa State intending to become a health teacher; but after sustaining a knee injury and receiving physical therapy, I decided to become a physical therapist. I graduated with a BS in Psychology and was accepted into graduate school at the University of Iowa obtaining an MPT in Physical Therapy.

After more surgeries, I found pilates in 2006 as a way to move with less difficulty and completed the Stott Pilates Rehab training. I bought a reformer for home and also started attending classes at Rivercity Pilates. With an interest in holistic health, I pursued certifications in Integrative health through the University of Arizona College of Medicine and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. With a focus in chronic pain, I became certified in Pain Neuroscience Education and joined a team in developing the Pediatric Chronic Pain program at UIHC. In continuing my journey in integrative health, I became certified through Duke University as a Health and Well Being Coach and completed a 200 hour yoga certification. 

Now as an integrative health specialist with over 30 years of experience in the health and wellness field, I utilize my background in pilates and yoga-incorporated rehabilitation, pain science, mindfulness, and holistic health & well being, combining all of these in a unique way for each individual.

I enjoy helping people feel better in their bodies by addressing the whole person. I partner with clients along their journeys in making sustainable changes to live the lives they desire. It is a natural fit to blend my curiosity with my background to assist clients who seek greater confidence and peace in leading healthier lifestyles.

For fun, I enjoy laughing with my husband and two grown sons, playing with movement, getting sunshine vitamin D at Lake MacBride and gulf beaches, reading, (at least a book a week!) and finding new recipes while listening to a great playlist. I have traveled our big world experiencing 49 states and 13 countries.

To me, wellness is not a quick fix, but a lifelong journey. I look forward to hearing your story, joining you on your journey and helping you find your way to feel amazing.

In Studio Mat sessions

As we expected our new small group mat sessions we announced at the beginning of September filled up quick! We were so excited to have so many people wanting to commit to a regular weekly mat session! 

If you are searching for Mat Small Group sessions in Mindbody you’ll be able to see any openings that are available on a particular day. When there are openings on a particular day, Mindbody should allow you to request an appointment for these sessions.  

If you don’t feel like looking through the scheduling system to see if the session you want to attend is available please just send us a quick email and we can let you know what is available and help you schedule if you would like!

We currently have 4 weekly Small Group Mat sessions on the following days:

  • Sundays 5pm with Shannon
  • Wednesday 6 pm with Curtis
  • Thursday 10 am Barre and Mat Session with Nancy
  • Thursday 4:30 pm with Rachel

Pilates Reformer for a Healthy Back

It’s no secret the Pilates gets credited by a lot of people for helping their back feel better. If you’ve been curious about PIlates, curious about the PIlates equipment and would love to feel better in your back and body….we have just the thing for you!

For the month of October Shannon is going to be teaching  “themed” sessions in her Tuesday night 6 pm semi-private group.   All month long she’ll be teaching sessions focused on using the Pilates reformer to help your back feel better!

**Side note: If you’ve practiced Pilates you know that it always helps your back and your whole body feel amazing….these sessions will just give a little extra focus on the benefits for your back!

October Reformer Healthy Back Themed Classes

These sessions are suitable for ANYONE who has a back! Each session will be focused on the idea of practicing movements utilizing the Pilates reformer that keep your back healthy and happy.  With the assistance and support of the Pilates reformer you’ll learn to strengthen and stretch your body in a balanced way that leaves your body feeling amazing. No Pilates Reformer experience necessary!

This session might be for you if:

  • You are interested in how Pilates exercises can help your back feel better
  • You are looking for an exercise program that can specifically help you with tightness, discomfort or pain in your back
  • You are brand new to Pilates and would like to join a small group equipment  session
  • You enjoy knowing that your teacher will be giving you a variety of options of how to do exercises and your teacher will help you find the best one for you
  • You’ve been practicing Pilates and love the idea of practicing fun things on the reformer that help your back feel better!
  • You’ve heard about how great the Pilates reformer is and want to try it out!

Tuesday nights from 6pm to 6:50 pm

How do I sign up? You can request  semi-private sessions in our Mindbody system if you are savy and comfortable navigating our scheduling system or you can simply email us and we can schedule you and set you up!  ( P.S. – this is how most of our clients schedule…don’t feel bad about sending us an email to schedule…we love helping you schedule sessions!!)

Please note you do not have to sign up for a session every week and can simply sign up for the sessions that work into your schedule.  You can cancel a session with 24 hours notice with no charge.

If you plan on attending weekly and want to make sure you have a spot we always suggest having us schedule you ahead for the sessions and then you can always let us know by email or by canceling in Mindbody which sessions you can’t make.  

What if I can’t attend all the session?
You do not need to attend every session. You can simply schedule the sessions that work for your schedule.  If you purchase the special package of 4 sessions you can also use those sessions to attend other semi-private sessions.

Email us if you’re interested in these sessions!

Interesting Conversations with Clients

Lately, I’ve really been noticing how a lot people have a habit of talking and thinking endlessly about things that bother them. 

I’ve also been noticing that the people who do this are usually not very happy overall and they don’t feel good in their bodies!

The people who choose to look at things positively, who look at the bright side and see obstacles as way to grow and learn…are the people who are happier and feel better in their body. Have you ever noticed this?  

Have you heard Joseph Pilates famous quote: “Everyone is the architect of their own happiness”?  I think Joe was talking about the simple idea that you can choose how happy you are by choosing how you think about things!

When you move your body you can choose to focus on what hurts and what doesn’t feel good or you can choose to focus on what you CAN do in your body.  You can choose to look at an injury or a pain in your body as something horrible or you can choose to look at it as an opportunity to grow and understand your body better. 

It always seems kind of silly to me that anyone would choose to think about things in a negative way, but I continue to realize that most people don’t even know they are doing this. It’s just a habit.

I was thinking about how much I love that our Pilates teachers are experts at helping bodies figure out what they can do. I love that our teachers are experts at not just teaching exercises to all bodies but also teaching people how to think about movement in a way that helps them feeI better in their body and in their life.

I love that our teachers are experts at creating a comfortable, encouraging environment to help clients practice doing things that help them find their happy!

I’m so excited that we are going to be able to offer more opportunities for clients to be able to get in to the studio and work with our amazing teachers in person this month! Be sure to send us an email if you want to reserve  a spot!