Strength Training at Rivercity Pilates

At the beginning of the year I was checking in with all of our Rivercity Pilates staff to see if they had any ideas about new offerings for 2026 and oh I wish you could have been a fly on the wall for some of the conversations I had! I was reminded how grateful I am to have such an amazing, talented passionate group of teachers at RCP who want more than anything to share their insight and knowledge with others so they can help others live their best life.

A quick example of this was my conversation with Shannon.  She said I would really love to offer small group strength training sessions if you think it would work?

 

“The older I get the more I have realized the absolute necessity of regular strength training to my movement practice.   I was looking at a statistic that said 50% of women over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis! Many of those women end up not being able to go back to their normal life activities because of the injury! 

I would love to be able to offer small group strength training simply using hand weights, bands, the magic circle and just body weight exercises.

I just want to help women realize that they can easily add in strength training to their life and it can make a big difference in how how they feel and function as they age!”     

Shannon, Rivercity Pilates Instructor

 

So needless to say…Shannon is going to be offering small group strength training twice a week

These sessions will meet on Thursdays at 3 pm and Saturdays at 10 am.  Sessions will be priced the same as our small group Pilates Mat and small group Yoga sessions.

You can schedule any of these sessions in Mindbody under appointments or simply email us and we can schedule you!

 

 

Simple, consistent movement has made a difference in my life!

,
Carey Sadler, Owner of Riercity Pilates.

I often get asked what my Pilates practice looks like.  As a studio owner I have access to all the toys and all the Pilates equipment but I have to tell you the Pilates Mat exercises are the bread and butter of my Pilates practice!

Over the years I have found personally that keeping my movement practice consistent is the key to me feeling great and the Pilates Mat exercises are easy for me to get in no matter where I am and with very little “extra stuff” needed.

In the morning when I wake up I start my day with a 15 minute meditation and then practice a simple Pilates Mat routine.  I also get in workouts on the Pilates equipment and I play and move a lot when I’m at the studio but my Pilates Mat practice…is really my thing!  I love that whether I’m at home or traveling I can always find time and space to get my Pilates practice in!

If you are looking for guidance on learning the Pilates Mat exercises and creating a practice in your life I want to encourage you to try one of our in studio small group sessions…you might just create a movement practice that you can continue for the rest of your life!

Schedule a session Sunday’s at 5pm, Wednesdays at 8 am or Thursday at 4:30 pm!

Rivercity Pilates In Studio Small Group Session schedule in North Liberty, Iowa.

NEW! 4 Week Beginner Friendly Arms & Abs Pilates

,

Kimberly is excited to be offering her Arms & Abs Pilates Mat Class as a 4 week in studio series in February, Wednesdays at 6 pm! We love a session theme and Arms and Abs has been a favorite among clients over the years!

Looking for a workout that improves your core strength and specifically strengthens your upper body? 

This 4 week beginner friendly Pilates series will practice Pilates Mat exercises with a special focus on strengthening your core muscles and improving your arm and shoulder strength Pilates style!

This small group session will be 5 clients maximum.  Sign up now to snag a spot and get our early bird discount!! Early Bird Discounts ends on January 15th!  ( save $15 with the early bird pricing!)

You’ll get to use a variety of props to support and challenge you.

As always at Rivercity Pilates you’ll feel comfortable working at your level and you’ll feel comfortable asking Kimberly questions about what you are doing.  

4 weeks for only $89

Brand new to the studio?  Take a complimentary private session with Kimberly to get introduced to the studio, get introduced to Pilates and learn more about opportunities to work with Kimberly and the rest of our Rivercity Pilates staff!  Kimberly has openings on Monday January 15, January 22nd or January 29th at 7 pm. Click here to schedule.  

If you need to miss a week…no worries! You can make-up your missed session in any other group session on our schedule. Already have a Pilates Mat Session Package? You can use any Pilates Mat, Strength or Yoga Package for this series!

Purchase the 4 Week Series

NEW Yoga Workshop with Kim Blackwell

Yoga for Aging Strong Workshop

Wednesday, January 31 at 10 am

Space limited to 5 clients
JUST $25

Designed for those new to Yoga, 50 and over,  who want to learn about the benefits of Yoga, try it out and get all their questions answered in a fun, non intimidating environment.  


This might be for you if you have said:

  • I kind of want to try yoga but….
  • What if I have a hard time getting to the floor and back up?
  • Want if kneeling is uncomfortable for me?
  • What if I’m really tight and inflexible?
  • What if my balance is not very good?
  • I’m not sure if I have the body shape to do Yoga.
  • I’ve had a knee replacement.
  • I have had a hip replacement.

Kim will chat in the beginning about the benefits of Yoga, explain how it can be adapted to any body and then you’ll learn some basic Yoga movements in your body.  The session will be informative, fun and we promise you’ll be comfortable asking as many questions as you like!


Everyone in class will have a chair to sit in during discussion time and Kim will always the option of doing each exercise with a chair.  This means if you don’t want to get to the floor for an exercise you’ll always have that option!

Expect to leave this Yoga workshop having a better understanding of how practicing Yoga could help you and feeling confident that you can practice Yoga if you want to.


You do not need a mat or anything specific for this workshop.  Simply bring yourself in comfortable clothes.

Workshop Bonus: Every participant will get access to a free Yoga for Aging Strong on Demand Class, perfect for practicing what you learn at the workshop anytime!

Register for the Workshop

R

A Yoga class designed for age 50+?

, ,
Kimberly Blackwell, physical therapist and yoga instructor at Rivercity Pilates
Kimberly, PT and Yoga Instructor

Yoga is one of those movement practices that I think a lot of people have heard of, a lot of people have thought about because they realize it could really help them with feeling better in their body, but people hesitate to try because they feel intimidated by joining a group class.

Kim’s Wednesday small group Yoga session is designed for those 50 and up who are interested in practicing Yoga as a way to improve their flexibility and strength.

P.S.  You can still take this session if you are under 50 but I want everyone to know that you are not going to be coming in and taking sessions designed for 20 year old bodies!!  

Kim’s small group Yoga sessions are individualized to those coming in and you can be confident that you’ll feel comfortable in this session even if you are challenged by things like balance, getting down to the floor and back up, kneeling, any sort of plank or push up position or flexibility. You’ll love how Kim helps you create a Yoga practice in your life that you love!!

Try a small group yoga session for free all month long by simply emailing us.

I’d like to try a yoga session for free!

Can 1 session a week make a difference?

,

Do you have 1 hour a week you could dedicate to yourself?

We live in a society that has conditioned us to think that if we can’t be at the gym 5 days a week, commit to 3 Pilates sessions a week or practice Yoga daily then it’s probably just not worth it.. This is the biggest lie you could tell yourself!  

Pilates sessions at RIvercity Pilates

In fact as a movement teacher for 25 years I can tell you that I would much rather see someone start adding in 1 movement session a week versus 3 or 4 because the people that add in a once a week session usually create a habit of movement in their life that they actually stick with.  

Probably the biggest “secret” to success when it comes to movement and exercise to create results(like improved strength, less pain, more ease in your movements..)  is consistency!!

If you are waiting to start moving more until you have time for 2, 3 or 4 sessions a week it could be a year or two from now before you actually start!!

I promise that one session a week will help you build strength, mobility and just plain feel better in your body!  I am so confident in that statement that if you decide to add a weekly session in and after 10 sessions you don’t feel better in your body...we’ll refund all of your sessions!

Email me and I can help you find a weekly session!