Practice what you teach: I need to take more classes!!

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I got to start off my week taking a Pilates Mat class this week and it reminded me of all the reasons I should take more classes with other instructors even though I practice Pilates on my own on a regular basis!!

#PracticeWhatYouTeach (1)

Side Leg Kicks….my favorite!

1. 50 minutes of me time!  It’s pretty rare that I take a full 50 minutes to do my Pilates workouts!  Often I flow through a workout in 20 or 30 minutes tops and sometimes I do smaller 10 or 15 minutes workouts when I can fit them in.  There is something very therapeutic about knowing for the next 50 minutes the only thing I get to do is pay attention to my body, breathe and move the best I can!

2. New cues and fine tuning.  Listening to someone else explain an exercise or give alignment cues helps me fine tune more and work deeper.  It makes me think differently about how I’m doing each exercise and I really get more out of each exercise.

3. Energy of the class.  I love being in a room full of people who are doing mindful movement.  It’s kind of hard to describe, but it definitely motivates me, keeps me focused and is just fun!!

4. Client perspective.   From a teaching standpoint being a client and taking a class reminds me what it’s like to be the student!!

5.  I do more than if it were just me working out!  Like most people I’ll admit that when I’m working out by myself I’m less likely to push myself or I occasionally skip things I don’t love!  (Which as I tell all my clients…the things we don’t love are often the things we need most!!) Case in point….side leg kicks.   The side leg kick series is sooo good for my body but they are also really challenging for me to do well!  So….. I often don’t do as many of them or I skip them.   In a class though, the energy of the class and my competetive nature kicks in and I do way more than I would on my own!!!

That all being said I’m going to try to take more classes this year!  Maybe I’ll see you in class this week!

 

Couch Potato Pilates for Beginners

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CP1 (1)Has it been awhile since you’ve worked out? Are you feeling uncomfortable in your body and ready to make some steps toward getting your health back? Does the thought of joining a gym or a group fitness class scare you? Our 6 week Couch Potato Pilates Series for Beginners is designed for you!!

This 6 week series of classes will introduce you to the Pilates Method of exercise in a very un-intimidating small group atmosphere. Each class will only have 6 clients maximum and everyone will be starting fresh like you! Movements and exercises will be introduced with detailed explanations of what to do and why we do it and there will be lots of variations for every body type. There will be plenty of time for questions throughout the sessions.

Clients will be introduced to basic Pilates movements and we will be using the Pilates Tower system to introduce movement ideas and concepts. The Pilates Tower equipment is designed to help Pilates instructors give clients a “support system” to move at their appropriate level so they can move safely and efficiently and continue to progress in their Pilates practice.

Ready to get started? We are offering 2 session options starting in February.  You can choose 8 am Saturday morning starting February 6th or 11:00 am on Mondays starting February 1st.  We suggest scheduling a complimentary private session with your instructor before starting the series so you can get introduced to the studio and learn more about the 6 week series!

Couch Potato Pilates (3)

Your neck shouldn’t hurt during Pilates!

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One of the first things I tell new clients when they are starting Pilates is,” Pilates should not hurt!”.  If something hurts then we need to adjust the exercise in your body in a way that it can be effective and help you create balance and strength so you can continue to progress without pain.

upperabcurlOne of the most common places people find their neck hurting is while doing any exercise called an upper ab curl.  This movement specifically involves lifting your head off of the mat and curling toward your body as you roll to approximately the tips of your shoulder blades.  This movement is fundamental in many traditional Pilates exercises, although can be modified as needed for individual bodies.

If someone is brand new to Pilates and they jump into a large group class without any specific training on how to do this movement properly in their body, they end up feeling like they are straining their neck and not feeling the work of the movement throughout the rest of the body.

[tweetthis]Does your neck hurt during upper ab curls? STOP and read this![/tweetthis]

Since Pilates movements are designed to integrate the whole body, figuring out where you need to work more or less so you are not in pain is often not as easy as simply changing an exercise to an “easier” version.  Often times just changing how you think about an exercises or what you focus on can change completely how an exercise feels in your body and make it more effective.  This is where working one on one with a trained instructor can be highly beneficial.  An instructor can help you try different variations or even just change your focus on an exercise and this can completely change how you do an exercise.

If you’ve tried Pilates and have experienced pain consider working one on one with an experienced instructor.  Often times just one or two sessions can give you enough insight into how to improve your body movements that you’ll be able to continue your practice without pain and with a better knowledge of your own body and how to adjust it.

 

 

 

What I love more than Pilates…..

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I was chatting with a group of people the other day ago and the topic of exercise came up.  One of my friends prompted me to explain the great benefits of Pilates to one of our other friends who was had been trying a new workout routine in order to get fit and healthy.  And although I deeply love to talk about the benefits of Pilates as an exercise program I found myself talking about something else that I love even more.  More than Pilates..crazy huh?

IMG_6324So what could I possibly love more than Pilates?  Quite simply,  it’s the amazing atmosphere that my super awesome, talented, caring staff (they really are rock stars!!) and our inspiring clients create at Rivercity Pilates.  I could talk until I was blue in the face about the benefits of Pilates, Yoga or any of the other mindful movement practices we offer at the studio, but unless you do these practices on a regular basis you’ll never see the benefits.

Believe it or not, even more than I love Pilates, I love the welcoming, non-intimidating supportive environment that I get to be part of and share with others on a daily basis!!  I love that men and women of all sizes, shapes, ages and backgrounds feel comfortable and at home working out at Rivercity Pilates!

[tweetthis remove_hidden_hashtags=”true”]What does a #Pilates #Instructor #Love more than #pilates? See Carey’s story.[/tweetthis]

If you’ve researched into Pilates or Yoga and maybe you’re new to mindful exercise and a studio atmosphere…you might be a little intimidated starting at a new studio.   Here’s where our staff and our clients change things.

IMG_0123_2Our instructors are not only highly trained in their movement specialty but they are kind, caring, inspiring instructors who love to teach, have fun and connect with clients.  I always “catch” our instructors and our other staff members going above and beyond.  It’s normal for them to take extra time before or after class to check in with clients, help them with some exercise or movement, or just answer questions.  It’s not unusual for our instructors to send a follow up email or even a postcard,  just to check in or just because.  Worried about being uncomfortable as the new person in class?  Our staff is so friendly and encouraging you’ll forget,  it’s your first time in!

1493173_10152188575767526_297849416_nSo what about clients..how do they come into play?  I always say that we have the most amazing clients around (really we do..)!  If you come to a class and you are brand new I can almost guarantee that one or more of the other clients in class will introduce themselves, probably share their movement experiences with you and give you some positive encouragement during and after class!  Our clients really are part of the family here at Rivercity Pilates and their love of movement and the studio shines through when they interact with others!

P1020773Whether you are brand new to mindful movement or been practicing for years, if you are looking for a studio to call home we’d love to meet you!  Stop by for a studio tour or schedule a complimentary private Pilates or Yoga session so you can learn more about us!!

Carey

 

 

You want me to do what with that strap?

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Are you new to the Pilates reformer?  Moving the equipment and straps around on the Pilates equipment can sometimes be intimidating as a new Pilates student.  In the video below, Rivercity Pilates owner Carey Sadler shows you in detail how to adjust the reformer straps to prepare them for the traditional Short Spine and Long Spine Pilates exercises in which we put the feet into the straps.  Don’t worry- we’ll walk you through this in your class or session! If you are a visual learner though, you may find it helpful to watch the video as a learning tool!!

Pilates for Seniors & Injuries. Don’t Judge.

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Interested in trying Pilates but worried about having to get onto the floor and get back up?     Maybe you’re not worried, you just know that you’re not able to get down to the floor and get back up.    Don’t judge Pilates yet!  Be open minded, and read this blog.

[tweetthis]#Pilates is NOT just for athletes and movie stars! It works for 55+ too! Don’t judge! [/tweetthis]

Although Pilates can be done on a mat on the floor it can also be done laying on a raised mat or a piece of equipment called  a Cadillac or tower system.  The raised mat surfaces are about the height of a chair and make it easier for clients to get up and down.  Often our clients with knee, hiIMG_6792p or back problems prefer these mats as they making getting up and down to a position on their back much easier.

At Rivercity Pilates we offer a complimentary private session to all new clients so that you can learn more about what Pilates is, get all your questions answered by one of our highly trained instructors, and try out some Pilates basics yourself in your own body.  We know it can be intimidating starting a new exercise program and we want  you to be comfortable and at ease.

We also want you to know that just because you have a limited range of movement or maybe an injury you shouldn’t rule out Pilates as an exercise method.  In fact, the Pilates method is so adaptable that it is often the ideal type of exercise for someone who is recovering from an injury or someone who is just starting an exercise program.

Contact us today to set up your complimentary session!  Mention this blog and get a $10 account credit that you can use for your first purchase at the studio!