Find your inner strength & vitality!

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Are you looking for a movement class that’s fun, challenging, and makes you feel rejuvenated?

Ready to try something new and exciting?

Join us for our weekly steel mace yoga class. It’s a supportive, judgment-free zone where we’re all discovering our strength and vitality. Your body (and mind) will thank you!

Yoga instructor Shuva Rahim has started introducing clients to the world of steel mace yoga in her Yoga For Every Body small group session (5:30 p.m. Wednesdays).

Why should you give steel mace yoga a try?

Here are three compelling reasons:

  1. Boost Your Functional Strength
    The steel mace adds gentle resistance to traditional yoga poses, helping you build strength in a way that translates directly to everyday activities. Whether it’s lifting groceries, playing with grandkids, or tending to your garden, you’ll notice the difference in your capability and confidence.
  2. Enhance Your Balance and Flexibility
    As we get older, maintaining balance and flexibility becomes crucial. Steel mace yoga challenges your stability in new ways, improving your overall balance and keeping you nimble. You’ll be amazed at how this practice can help you move more freely and gracefully.
  3. Sharpen Your Mind-Body Connection
    The unique movements of steel mace yoga require focus and coordination, providing a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the connection between your mind and body. This mindful practice can help reduce stress, improve mood, and keep your brain sharp.
testimonial from a student of Shuva's Steel Mace Yoga class at Rivercity Pilates.

Don’t let the idea of using a “mace” intimidate you – you’ll get an orientation on how to handle this tool and can always opt to start with a light rod (1 pound) as we focus on proper form. The maces we use are 5 to 7 pounds.

You’ll be surprised at how quickly you adapt and grow stronger.  

Yoga For Every Body small group meets 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Rivercity Pilates. For the you can purchase any small group Yoga package for 30% off using the code steelmace!  

This is a short video demonstrating Yoga with the steel mace.

NEW! Roll & Release Small Groups!

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Carey Sadler, Owner Rivercity Pilates, North Liberty IOwa

If you have worked with me it’s likely you’ve heard me say, the most effective things to help us feel better in our body are often the most simple things. They are often so simple that people don’t do them because they seem so simple that they don’t convince themselves to add these things into their routines or into their daily life.    

Years (and years) ago I started practicing and learning rolling techniques with a teacher named Jill Miller.  Rolling is a way to practice self massage techniques to release tightness and tension in muscles and connective tissues throughout the body. Personally I found the practice empowering because when I noticed tightness or discomfort in my body I felt like I always had a tool I could easily use to help my body feel better. 

As a teacher I loved that I could use the techniques to help clients do the same thing.  As a teacher I also noticed that by adding in regular rolling sessions with my clients they  were feeling better in their body, were able to work in a more balanced way and got more out of the Pilates and strength training work they were already practicing because of it.  Needless to say I am a big fan of rolling!

There is one thing I notice though that I’m not a big fan of….these simple techniques fall into the category of almost too simple! Most people say that even though they can immediately feel the benefit of this work, they don’t prioritize adding it into their life. 

For many of my clients, they weren’t doing the beneficial rolling practice unless I made sure they were doing it when they came to see me.  This inspired me to create our Roll and Release Small Group Sessions as a regular offering at the studio.

I’m so excited to announce that we’ll be offering weekly Roll and Release small group sessions that will allow more of you to create a regular rolling practice in your life!

When you come in for your session we’ll have a mat set up for you with a lot different balls and rollers available for you.  Your teacher will guide you through a variety of movements and rolls designed to help you release tension and tightness throughout your body. 

These sessions are doable by ANY body and no experience is needed. If you are new to rolling check out the video I included below as an example.  This Psoas roll is one I recommend for those with tightness in their hips. If you have a ball at home try it out and let me know what you think.  

Starting July 20th we’ll be offering a weekly Saturday 10am and a Monday 5pm Roll and Release Small Group Session!   

Curious about creating a rolling practice? Email me to try out a Roll and Release session for free!

Body, Mind & Spirit

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I was thinking this week about the phrase body, mind and spirit.  Joseph Pilates was quoted as saying that “Contrology is complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit.”

This phrase body, mind and spirit to me refers to a focus on the whole person and I do think that this focus is something that sets Pilates apart from simply working out.

In case you are curious here’s a quick explanation (in Carey terms) of the 3 focuses of body, mind and spirit in our Pilates practice. 

The first focus is simply the body.  Pilates is a way to train the physical body to be stronger…..in many ways Pilates could just be considered a workout for the physical body.  Just this component of Pilates is truly great and for most people even if they went through the motions of Pilates without adding in the focus on mind and spirit…they would get great results.  They would be moving more, building more strength and mobility and likely feeling better just from adding in more physical activity.   But it’s the other two components that I think separate the Pilates method from just exercising.

To truly practice Pilates you must engage your mind.  The Pilates method is designed to be a process of learning about how your body works and learning how you can control how your body feels and functions by how you train it. 

I think this “mind piece” of Pilates is what keeps many people coming back to this practice. There is something fun and fascinating about the process of moving your body in specific ways to get specific results that inspires you to keep at it! As you practice you always feel like you are learning and figuring things out and it’s very empowering to have that much control over your body.

To me, spirit represents you and your individual spirit or being.  Coordinating your spirit means that when you practice Pilates you focus your mind on what you are doing and you are truly present.  Sure your mind might wander every once in awhile, but as you practice you’ll find yourself bringing yourself back into the present moment and focusing on your breath, your alignment and your movements. 

This type of practice is something that is often taught in practices like meditation and mindfulness and I believe it’s a skill that helps you navigate the craziness of life!   Just like you might practice a sport so you can improve your performance in a game. I kind of think that everytime I practice being present and mindful on what I’m doing when I practice Pilates…. as practice time for my focus and mindfulness skills for the game of life.    

As I was writing this I was thinking about how there are lots of other movements practices that also combine the body, mind and spirit.  Yoga and the various martial arts are the ones that immediately come to my mind.

Carey Sadler, Owner & Instructor at Rivercity Pilates in North Liberty.

What I love about PIlates, Yoga and other body,mind spirit practices is they are not really something you start and stop.  Once you have started practicing on a regular basis it really just becomes part of what you do.  Even if you are not practicing with a teacher or being consistent with your own movement practice you still find yourself incorporating everything you’ve learned along the way into your life.  And when you are ready to pick up your practice again you know you have the knowledge of how to do it. 

Thanks for reading my thoughts on this idea and thanks for being part of our Rivercity Pilates community!  It’s so fun to get to share this journey of moving and learning with you! Do you have a favorite piece of your movement practice? Body, mind or spirit?  Email me as I would love to know!