Why it’s important to fill out your health intake completely…

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healthhistoryIf you’re new to Pilates you might find it a little strange that on your first visit to the studio we ask you to fill out a health intake form.  After all, you are just going to work out right?  Why do we need to know about your health ailments, surgeries, illnesses or past injuries? It’s not a doctor visit!!   Well, Pilates is a little bit different from traditional exercise and your health history and your current physical health highly effect how your instructor teaches you the Pilates Method.

As Pilates instructors we are trained to teach the Pilates method to the body in front of us.  What this means to you as a client is that every movement we teach you is taught in a way that is appropriate for your body.  When you fill out your health intake form completely it gives your instructor a great starting place to teach you from.Here’s a few things that people often forget to write down:

  • Old injuries (even those that happened as a child) can effect how your body moves and your movement patterns.  Old injuries that don’t bother you at all may seem silly to list, but as a movement instructor that information can help us decipher movement patterns we are seeing in your body and help us find the best way to help you improve your movement.
  • Occasional aches and pains can tell us a lot.  Don’t feel bad about telling us your low back occasionally hurts when you’ve been sitting for long periods of time or that knee you injured in college bothers you when you take a step in a certain way.  The Pilates method of exercise is designed to create balance in your body and telling us about those occasional aches and pains can help us figure out things like what muscles we need to strengthen, what muscles may need more flexibility and also what kind of movement tips we could give you to use when you are not at the studio.
  • Past surgeries even if they were a long time ago can effect your movements patterns and your muscles.  Depending on the type of surgery, incisions that were made, and what procedure was done this information can give your instructor a lot of information.

We know that for most people telling your fitness instructor your health history is not the normal and really just want you to know why we ask!  We also want you to know that the information is completely confidential and only used by our instructors to help tailor your movement practices to your body.

Rivercity Pilates might not be a good fit for you if….

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I was studying up on some business marketing the other day ago and one of the ideas that was presented was to make sure to not only let people know who would be a good fit for your business but also to let people know who is not a good fit for your business so that you are not wasting their time.  This got me thinking about who might not be a good fit for Rivercity Pilates and I came up with my top 5 reasons why Rivercity Pilates might not be a good fit for you:


IMG_65911. If the only reason you exercise is to lose weight or shred inches off your waist.  At Rivercity Pilates we know that exercise and movement are an important part of maintaining a healthy body, but we’re not so concerned about a number on a scale or a dress size.  We believe an exercise program should be fun, help you relieve stress, be safe and give you results like feeling better in your body, gaining strength and flexibility, and allowing you to do anything and everything you want to do with your body.

2. If your workout clothes are just as important as your workout.  Don’t get us wrong…we love to feel good in our workout clothes and love them as much as the next person but we know that more important than over priced Yoga pants is you feeling comfortable in what you are moving in.  You’ll find our clients wearing a wide variety of comfortable active wear and you’ll never feel like you don’t fit in because of what you’re wearing.

3. You only want to “feel the burn” when you workout!  There is definitely nothing wrong with feeling your workout but our instructors know that you don’t need to be miserable to get a great effective workout.  We give lots of variations for different body types and encourage clients to work at an appropriate level for their body.  Often times clients find that by slowing down, paying attention to their body and focusing on using the correct muscles they get a much better workout than if they had just muscled through the workout pushing as hard as they could!

4.  You are not looking for an instructor to learn from.  Some people just want to workout and are truly not interested in learning more about how their body moves and how they could do a movement better to get the most benefit in their body.  Our instructors are passionate about not only helping you get in a good workout but educating our clients so they can continue to progress safely and get the most out of their workouts.  They love to get to know each client and nothing makes them happier than to help you fine tune your movement through individual tips and cuing.

IMG_14415.  You don’t want to talk with anyone before or after your workout.  Not everyone enjoys being social or “having everyone know your name” like Cheers and if this is the case Rivercity Pilates might not be the place for you.  From our front desk staff to our instructors, our staff members love to connect with our clients so that we can better serve you.  Our clients seem to really enjoy this casual friendly atmosphere and also enjoy getting to know each other.

If you read through our list and still think Rivercity Pilates might be a good fit for you I encourage you to schedule a complimentary session with one of our instructors so you can get to know us more!

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.

 

 

 

Why husbands should buy their wife Pilates sessions for Christmas!

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christmas!It’s that time of year again and if you are like many men you are trying to think of a unique, thoughtful gift for your wife that she won’t want to return! What about purchasing her a package of private Pilates sessions? I know what you are thinking…..if I buy my wife fitness classes she’s going to think I think she needs to lose weight or get into better shape and that could get me in trouble! Let me put some of your fears at ease and give you some of my top reasons why private Pilates sessions makes a perfect gift and why it may be the best present you’ve ever gotten her!

1. She will feel like a movie star!! There’s a reason why you hear about all of the stars who are doing Pilates (Jennifer Anniston, Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz…) Pilates instructors are highly trained instructors who specialize in teaching the Pilates Method of exercise to any body type. Her one-on-one sessions will be tailored specifically to her body and she will feel like a queen! What a great gift from you! What could be better than individual sessions tailored to exactly what your wife wants from a fitness program?

2. Pilates is great for every body and every age. Individual sessions can let you explore if it is a method of exercising that she wants to incorporate into her life. Whether you are recovering from a back injury or an elite athlete- Pilates can improve how you feel, how you move and how your body looks! Pilates instructors are trained to work with lots of different body types and even injuries so there is no need to worry about if your wife will feel comfortable working safely with the instructor.

DSCN76943. Going to the studio is NOT like going to the gym. The studio atmosphere is spa-like, comfortable and welcoming! It’s like the “Cheers” of the fitness world! Everyone knows your name and your instructors know you and your body. You don’t have to worry about getting lost in the crowd. Many of our clients refer to the studio as their “Happy Place”!

4. She probably wouldn’t buy them herself. Women tend to take care of everyone else in their life first and often don’t spend the time and money they should to take care of themselves! You know how important your wife and her health and happiness is to your family life right? Let her know how much you appreciate all she does for you and your family by supporting her in learning to take care of herself and her health! Learning Pilates is a way to learn to move and feel better not just at the studio but in everything you do in life. Let’s face it, when she’s healthy and happy so is everyone else! In the long run the benefits of this holiday gift will come back to you a hundred fold down the road!

Introduction to PilatesPackage

5. It’s easy for you! We can help you pick out the perfect Pilates present for your wife and we love doing it! We can throw in some cute Pilates accessories (like Pilates socks, a cute workout top or a water bottle) and we can gift wrap it so all you have to do is give it to her!! Give us a call, email us or stop by the studio.

What should I wear to Pilates/Yoga?

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While you will see some classmates wearing colorful workout pants at RCP – by far the most common color is black!

When it comes to workout clothes there are a TON of options out there.  There are a lot of companies making very expensive Yoga, Pilates and workout wear and you may wonder do I need special clothing to take a Pilates class?  At Rivercity Pilates, labels and logos are not important.   You might see someone wearing exercise pants from Costco or Target or you might see someone wearing a logo some people recognize!  What is important, is that you are comfortable.

There are some things you may want to consider when deciding what you wear to class and they really have nothing to do with the price tag or the company who makes your pants.  Here are some quick tips to finding an appropriate pair of pants for your next Pilates class:

1.   No Zippers! 

In Pilates we articulate (aka roll) through the spine in many exercises so you’ll want to avoid pants that have zippers, buttons or even uncomfortable seams.   Those cute running tights with the zippered key pocket on your back side just might hurt you when you roll down to your mat!

2.  Consider your classmates/instructor!   Avoid Loose Shorts!

There are many exercises that involve you laying on your back with your legs reaching up to the ceiling and away from your body.  Avoid wearing loose fitting shorts or skirts or make sure you wear a biking short underneath so you are not exposing yourself to your classmates & instructor! 

3.  Consider a higher waisted workout pant!  

For me, higher is better. Hip bones or higher is a good rule of thumb.  Because of all of the rolling, twisting and just plain moving we do in Pilates most people find a higher waisted pant keeps them covered better through out movements.  It can be really distracting if you are seeing the underwear of the people next to you, and there is no need to share your back side with the rest of class!!  Pants with an internal drawstring are a great feature in a Pilates Pant!  While this blog concentrates on pants, a longer shirt can also help with this coverage issue!

4. Sweat Pants or Fleece will likely be too hot!  

Pick a lightweight breathable fabric.  A bulky sweat pant material can make it hard to move in and will be just plain hot!

5.  Choose a comfortable functional length. 

If you get hot easy -a shorter capri style pant might be best.  Avoid overly long or wide legged pants that might hinder your movement or may even get caught in your springs if you are attending a Pilates Equipment class.  I have found the pants labeled yoga pants make great pajamas, but not such great pilates pants.   They are generally longer and looser than other exercise pants.  

6.  Thoughts on Spandex!

Wearing a pair of fitted pants will allow your instructor to see your alignment and help you do the exercises.  However, they don’t have to be extra tight, or “girdle-like”.  There’s a difference between fitted and too much spandex!  Breathing is important in Pilates, and you don’t want to be fighting your pants when you take a deep breath!  My best advice is to try the pants on in the store before you buy them, to make sure they are comfortable.  I buy pants that say slimming, but the difference is they go up higher, not that they pull in more or hide my curves!   Sometimes I go up a size, simply because of the style or fabric. No one will check the label for a size at Rivercity Pilates!

7.  Most important find a pair of pants that is not only functional but something you are comfortable in and feel good wearing! 

Feeling good in your workout clothes is important!  You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great functional pair of Pilates pants.

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