Why adults should play and how Pilates can help!!

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Every just sit and watch children move and play? Have you ever said to yourself,” I wish I had all that energy” or ” I wish I could move like that”?   You can and it’s just as important for you to play and move as it is children!

Joseph Pilates stated,“Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure.”

I couldn’t agree more and I truly believe our bodies are designed to move and play at any age and are ability to do so has a huge effect on our overall health and happiness. Empowering your physical body inspires your mind and spirit and truly inspires your life in all aspects!

You might be saying, sure I want to move like that but:

  • I’m too old
  • I’m too inflexible
  • I haven’t got enough time
  • I have an injury that stops me
  • I weigh too much
  • I don’t like to workout
  • …Add your favorite excuse

We love to tell ourselves these myths that allow us to stay in our comfort zone. But are they really true? Is there no possible way you could find a safe, fun way to move your body? Isn’t it true that if your body is healthy you will have more energy and zest to do everything else you want to do in life?

I LOVE the Pilates method of exercise because above all it gives me a method of teaching others where ever they are in life and in their bodies that there is a way for them to move, play and find joy in their physical movement!

Looking to find a way to incorporate movement into your life?  Sign up for a complimentary session with one of our inspiring instructors who can help you empower your body with movement and inspire your life to the fullest!

P.S.  I’ve included this video because it was my inspiration to write this post.  I LOVE to play and the Cadillac is one of my favorite pieces of Pilates equipment!  I’ve been practicing many of these movements for 15 plus years.  Please know that the Pilates method of exercise is truly a method that will teach your body how to move efficiently and without pain and you don’t have to swing on the Cadillac to accomplish that(unless you want to of course!).

Inspiration of the Month Amber O’Rourke

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When did you start coming to Rivercity Pilates and what inspired you to start?

I started coming to Rivercity about a year ago, shortly after the birth of my third child. Though I lost the baby weight rather quickly, I definitely didn’t feel in shape and had heard many great things about Pilates. Specifically, I knew Carey from when my son attended preschool with her daughter so it felt less intimidating to start Pilates having known her outside of the studio.

How often do you take classes and what type of classes have you been doing?

It’s not easy getting to class on a regular schedule with three young children and a physician husband who works long hours, but I grab any chance I can to get to the studio! You’ll often find me at a Sunday evening Yoga or Barre class, but I also try to get to Tower and Mat classes once a week.

What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Yoga and Pilates?

The biggest benefit for me has been the mental release of being a stay at home mom. For that hour I am in class my only job is to focus on myself. It’s often a challenge to leave “it” at the door, but Pilates and Yoga both require a physical and mental presence that force me to be in the moment. I’ve noticed a desire to take better care of myself all around since starting Pilates and getting back in to Yoga. I’m eating better and am slowly getting back in to running.

Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?

I really enjoy the Tower. Though it’s an intimidating piece of equipment to those new to Pilates, I quickly discovered that after each Tower class I felt as refreshed and rejuvenated as I do after a massage! I also like the challenge of doing “Seal” correctly. It appears easy but it’s actually quite difficult to rely more on the strength of your core rather than the momentum of the movement. Not to mention, it’s hard to take myself too seriously when moving like a seal!

What would you say to someone who is thinking about coming to Rivercity Pilates?

I would encourage anyone to try out a few private sessions at Rivercity. I was very intimidated to start Pilates but the individual attention at my initial private sessions gave me all the confidence I needed to start taking classes. The atmosphere at Rivercity is unique, I think, in that the instructors and members are very welcoming and helpful toward “newbies” and they do a great job of challenging you as an individual while also recognizing that each body has its own limits and capabilities that may even change from class to class.

Bringing Pilates into the Workplace

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IMG_1714As a former Pilates teacher, I know the importance of moving throughout the day. I loved being able to stretch, roll, curl, and balance along with my students. When I started a new job that involved sitting at a desk for a large part of the day along with a hefty commute, I quickly realized that something needed to change.

I could feel my shoulders rounding forward, my low back aching, and my hip flexors tightening from all the sitting. Not to mention that the mantra “sitting is the new smoking” played on repeat in my head. Luckily, my new boss is a fellow Pilates enthusiast and was all ears when I told her that I was searching for ways to bring more movement into my workday.

When you first start practicing Pilates, it may appear to be nothing more than a series of exercises taught in a particular order. After a while, however, it should become apparent that the method of Pilates is something that transcends any particular exercise. Pilates is the way we breathe. It is moving from our center. Pilates is fierce concentration coupled with precision and flow. It’s a mindset and can be applied to every part of your life.

My first task in bringing Pilates into my workspace was to move more. I started standing up to complete certain jobs and eventually built a standing desk based on this model (http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dollars.html). I love my standing desk! It was extremely reasonable and has changed my outlook on the workday. Standing desks are not for everyone, but the freedom to move around not only helps push me through the 2 p.m. slump, it allows me to dance a little at my desk, too.

I’ve found that the standing desk helps with my posture and low-back tension. Being upright also makes it easier for me to interject Pilates stretches into my day. I sometimes slip off my shoes and roll up to the balls of my feet to balance. I also keep a 4-inch green ball in my desk to massage my feet when they feel tense.

When I need a shoulder stretch I’ll hold on to either side of my filing cabinet and walk back until my back is flat. And if I need to recharge I’ll do a standing roll down and hang in a rag doll position for a minute. This not only releases my low back, it sends blood to my brain for optimal productivity. Most importantly, I sometimes stand at my desk and take deep, powerful Pilates breaths.

I still love practicing Pilates on my own and in a studio setting, but one of the hidden blessings of my new job is that I get to apply the Pilates principles and movements in an entirely new way. To borrow from Carey and Rivercity Pilates, I’ve always known how Pilates empowered my body, but the last six months have shown me how it inspires my life.

What’s your Intention for 2015?

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The New Year is here and we are super excited for our first Life Inspired meeting of the year!  This month’s gathering will focus on exploring what your intentions are for the next year.  We’ll spend the evening talking, dreaming and laughing about what we want our year to look like!

We are getting out the crafting supplies and we’ll play around with creating a intention board or vision board that captures what we really want.  If you have some extra magazines laying around- please bring them with you!

We’ll start the fun at 6pm on Friday, January 16th.  We’ll provide drinks and light snacks and the gathering is completely free(so bring your best freind or your sister!)

Click here to sign up and let us know you’re coming.  No worries if you don’t sign up- you can always drop in!!

Save MONEY at Rivercity Pilates!!!

dollarsEveryone likes to save money — right?    If you save money on your class package, then you can divert that savings to a new pair of workout pants, or a Rivercity Pilates Tee!   Here’s a hint!

At Rivercity Pilates one of the places that we post specials is on Facebook.    Usually when we do this, there are a limited # of packages at that price!    There’s a slight complication for us as a business.   Facebook decides the posts that you want to see and depending on whether you’ve clicked on “like” or “commented” on a past post.   Facebook probably shows different posts to your friends and families.   Facebook has some programmers that have created algorithms to decide what you want to see, and your personal newsfeed is one of the mysteries that makes Facebook successful.

Facebook might not even show you that great offer that will save you money! Facebook wants businesses to purchase ads, thus they make more money.  In response to it’s users, Facebook developed functionality that would allow you to decide what to see first in your newsfeed.     You can go use the “See First” to tell Facebook you don’t want to miss a post from Rivercity Pilates.   Here’s How

In the Facebook App!

  1. Touch More in the lower right corner.
  2. Touch settings
  3. Choose News Feed Preferences
  4. Choose Prioritize who to see first.
  5. Touch the pictures for your friends that you’d like to see first!  (We hope you’ll touch Rivercity Pilates!)

On your computer:

  1.   When you have Facebook open, on the top of the screen, you will see a search box, and then your name.   Continue moving to the right on that line and you’ll see a down arrow.   Click on that arrow.
  2. Choose News Feed Preferences
  3. Choose Prioritize who to see first.
  4. Touch the pictures of who you’d like to see first.

If you do this — you’ll see Rivercity Pilates posts first!   If a limited time special is posted, you’ll see it the first time you open facebook.   Win!     If you have any questions about this, we can help you at the studio!

Inspiration of the Month- Teena VanDaele

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DSCN0393December 2014

Inspiration of the Month

Teena VanDaele

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?

I began Pilates about 10 years ago and was extremely diligent with my lessons, then my oldest child was born and Pilates fell to the wayside.  I restarted in May of this year because I was getting older and because of my occupation, I had horrible lower back pain.  I soon realized how much I truly enjoyed the experience of Pilates.  Not to say I didn’t have my struggles as I began taking classes again, but I was truly amazed that despite the few years I had been away from Pilates, I was still able to “maneuver” myself into various positions.

How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?
I began in May with two sessions per week: 1 private and 1 class.   I enjoy the private classes for the individual perspective they provide.  Private classes enable you to perfect to your “working level” the techniques of Pilates, giving you a perspective on where improvements need to be made or where your strong points remain.  Class gives you the opportunity to work at a faster pace with a variety of sessions; i.e. mat, reformer, Tower.

Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?

My personal favorite is by far the tower classes; they provide an interesting mix of mat work/resistance combination.

What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Pilates?

In restarting Pilates this past May, I have noticed a vast improvement in my lower back pain and my energy levels throughout my day.  I no longer wake up in the middle of the night with back pain and I find myself sleeping better overall.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing Pilates?
What I have learned and would pass along as a piece of advice from someone who started Pilates in my late 20’s, early 30’s and did not restart until I was 40, is that you certainly do not have to master the skills within each aspect of Pilates to retain the benefit of what it can do for and to you.  Everyone has a varied skill level and no matter what that skill level is; simply trying Pilates will provide benefit to you… that is the art of Pilates.