Centering

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 This month’s studio focus is the idea of centering in your movement practice and in your life, and I think it’s pretty relevant to this time of year.
For me centering represents focusing on the important stuff first, because I find when I take care of what matters most first everything else falls into place.  When I’m practicing Pilates this means giving myself time to take care of myself and simply focus on myself even though life is crazy busy and I could be doing 100 other things other than Pilates.  It also means focusing on moving from my center first, because all the other details of the exercises often fall into place when I come back to practicing initiating movement from my center.
What does centering mean to you? We’re hoping you’ll take some time this month and explore how a little focus on centering might improve your movement practice!

Strength without strain..why you need to try the Pilates reformer!!

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Have you seen the Pilates reformer machine and said,” I wonder what is so great about that piece of fitness equipment that everybody raves about it?”

My simple answer: strength without strain!  The Pilates reformer is designed to help you move better without strain.  So many fitness fads involve pushing yourself to the extreme, seeing how quick you can be, how fast can you go, how much weight can you lift, often times before your body has progressed properly to that level.  The Pilates reformer will strengthen and balance your body more efficiently than any of these fads and you’ll do it without strain, without being miserable!!  It works for elite athletes and it works for couch potatoes who just want to feel a little less achy in their body.  It’s kind of amazing!    The reformer was designed to work with your body so that you can do movements that build strength in a very balanced way.  This means not only do you strengthen your muscles uniformly, you stretch muscles that need lengthened and you create balance in your body.

One of the first exercises we teach on the reformer is called footwork.  I often describe the movement to newbies as a fancy version of a leg press.  And by fancy I mean well designed to help you become aware of your alignment and whole body movement from your feet to the crown of your head.  Every “leg press variation” you do doesn’t just strengthen your legs in ideal alignment, it strengthens your core muscles, teaches your muscles how to activate to decompress and lengthen your spine and gives you a whole body movement experience.

Another of my favorite examples of strength without strain on the reformer is the exercise called long spine.  Most people could not possibly do this particular movement on their own without throwing their body up and possibly straining something in the process.  But when we put someones feet into the feet straps attached to the reformer, most clients are able to use the support from the equipment to figure out how to roll up through their back and back down again with control and precision and use the muscles they are supposed to use!!

This particular exercise is a client favorite because:

  1. It feels really amazing on your back and
  2. I think most people are just so proud of themselves that they can do it well and really feel their body getting stronger and more flexible every time they do it!!  Take a peak of this exercise in the video below:

Want to see the reformer in action?  Check out this video of some of our Rivercity Pilates staff working out on the reformer to get a birds eye view of the type of exercises you might do on the Pilates reformer!

 

Try out the reformer yourself by scheduling a complimentary private session or trying a complimentary Reformer group class!!

 

 

 

Tips to help you with your Cadillac Roll Down!


The Roll Down on the Cadillac is a great exercise for gaining more mobility in the spine as well as strengthening the core and shoulder stabilizers.

This video will highlight the basics of the exercise including how to set up and breathing. It will also give you some fine-tuning tips so that you can get more out of each exercise.

If you liked our tips, be sure to click like above and share the Pilates wisdom with your friends!

 

Fine Tune your Roll Down!


The Roll Down on the Cadillac is a great exercise for gaining more mobility in the spine as well as strengthening the core and shoulder stabilizers.

This video will highlight the basics of the exercise including how to set up and breathing. It will also give you some fine-tuning tips so that you can get more out of each exercise.

Share this blog on your facebook page, tag us, and you’ll get a free mat, barre or yoga class at Rivercity Pilates!

My Favorite things Mat Workout!

When it comes to Pilates exercises I think most people would admit that they have some favorites and they have some that they would skip if they had the option.  Today’s Mat Workout sequence is all my favorites.  Just like Oprah had her favorite things I have my favorite Pilates exercises!  And even though I often practice all of the Pilates Mat exercises, there are many days when I just want to be able to do the exercises I like…so I do!! Enjoy!