November Beginner Pilates Mat 4 Week Series

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November 7 -28, Wednesdays at 5pm with Jane McKenrick

This 4 week Pilates Mat class series is designed for those who are brand new to Pilates and want to learn what it is all about and how they can use the Pilates method of exercise to feel better and move better in their body. This class will move slowly and participants will get detailed explanations of how to do each movement in a way that is safe for their body and in a way that makes it most effective for them!  Expect to learn how to breathe better, how to engage your core muscles, and how to start thinking about movement and exercise in a whole new light!

Sign up here.

4 Week Beginner Pilates Mat Series

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Beginner Pilates Mat Series

4 weeks – Wednesdays at 5pm

October 3, 10, 17, 24

Everybody has to start somewhere and if you are looking to start practicing Pilates or maybe come back to your practice, this is a great place to start. The Pilates Mat for Beginners class will focus on learning the fundamental Pilates skills as it introduces participants to a beginner  mat sequence perfect for building strength and mobility in your body no matter where you are starting. By committing to 4 weeks you’ll have a chance to not just try it out but to really experience how a weekly Pilates class can change how your body feels.  This is a great class for those brand new to Pilates, those coming back to their Pilates practice and those who are wanting to just fine tune their Pilates practice.
4 week package runs from October 3-24th,   Wednesdays at 5 pm
Need to miss a class due to other commitments? No worries, you can make up the class in the next 4 week session!
Cost $49.00

Beginner Pilates Mat

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Beginner Pilates Mat
Wednesdays at 5pm
4 week series $49 or use any class pricing option
 
 
You don’t have to be a first time Pilates student to enjoy this class!! If you are just coming back to your Pilates practice or recovering from an injury this will be a perfect class for you!!
 
This beginner class will focus on the Pilates basics using only your body and small portable props. You’ll gain strength, flexibility and mobility and learn exercises that you can practice just about anywhere!
 
Space is limited to 8 people!

We have added a Pilates Equipment Class for Back Health

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Pilates Equipment for Back Health
New Class beginning Tuesday, September 11!
with Shaina Boylan
Tuesdays at 7pm
 
 
Pilates Equipment for Back Health: This beginner friendly Pilates equipment class will explore using a variety of pieces of the Pilates equipment to help you gain mobility in your back while increasing your core strength and getting a great whole body workout. Both beginners and more experienced students will enjoy this class!
 
4 classes $89 or use any class pricing option.   Call 319-665-2499 for more information or email us at rcpilates1@gmail.com!   
 
 
 
 

Why add a foam roller to your Pilates routine?

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Ever wonder what the big deal is with foam rollers?  They seem to be everywhere and so many people are talking about why they love them. We kind of think they are amazing too and wanted to share with you why you might want to consider adding in the foam roller into your Pilates practice!

  1. Core Strength.  The shape of the roller makes it just enough unstable that when you lay on it…your core muscles have to activate to keep you from falling off!  What this means to you is that you work your core muscles more and you don’t even have to think about it.
  2. Balance.  Balance is something we can always improve.  By adding in the foam roller to traditional Pilates exercises you can challenge your body to work on it’s balance in new ways.
  3. Getting rid of tension and tightness.  As a teacher I can tell you once of my biggest challenges is teaching clients how to work less in some places and how to reduce tension.  The foam roller can be a great tool used to roll out tight muscles and fascia.  When those muscles and fascia are released the rest of your exercises become better and you can do them more efficiently, creating balanced strength and flexibility quicker in your body.
  4. Life skills.  I always think of my Pilates time as “training for life” time.  I exercise so that I can move through life without getting injured and feeling great in my body. Life is not usually predictable when it comes to movement.  You need to be able to adjust when you accidentally step on a rock that twists your foot or have to balance on your tip toes to reach something on the top shelf.   Challenging your body to move in a variety of ways is always a good thing. Adding in the foam roller to your Pilates exercises challenges your body to have to move and react in different way than what you typically would in each Pilates exercise.   By mixing things up slightly and asking your body to do things a little different with the foam roller you can prepare it better for the unexpected movements that happen in life!
  5. Variety. Variety keeps you from getting bored and maybe not focusing as much as you should. Adding in a prop like the foam roller creates just enough change to an exercise that you can’t just space off and do it like you usually do!  You really have to pay attention and check in with the whole body to do the exercise well! Increased focus often means we move better, engage more muscles properly, and get more out of each exercise.  It also is a great stress reliever! 

If you are interested in what the foam roller could do for you, we have the perfect class:  Beginner Friendly Foam Roller Pilates Mat! This beginner friendly class will give you a fabulous Pilates workout while incorporating the foam roller!  You’ll have fun, and learn some ways you can use your foam roller as pat of your Pilates practice, and learn how to use it to stretch and lengthen tight muscles and fascia throughout your body!  

https://www.instagram.com/p/BW7pPPSHA7I/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Are you an anti-gym person?

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Does the thought of going to  “the gym” to workout sound like one of the worst things in the world to you?  Do you immediately cringe when you think about having to put your workout clothes on and go into a large room with all kinds of people you don’t know while you try to do some exercises that you probably are not very good at?  Maybe you always feel like you are not sure if you are doing things correctly or doing the right thing.  Does it make you nervous, intimidated and just plain unexcited?  You are not alone and I often think that the anti-gym feelings are the reason that many people don’t start an exercise program.  They have an image in their head about what fitness looks like and it’s a turn off!!

If you are one of those people I have some great news for you!  There are many alternatives!!  There are so many great options of how you can fit fitness and movement into your life and never have to step into a gym!!  

  1.  Find more ways to move and add movement into your life at home and work!  Walks with the dog, walking the stairs instead of the elevator or just parking a little further away are all ways to add functional movement into your life!!  You don’t need to log your walking miles in on a treadmill for them to count!  Want to incorporate more movement at work?  Check out our Office Pilates series….simple movements and exercises you can do right at your desk!
     
  2. Find some strength and flexibility exercises that you can do in the comfort of your home.  Not sure where to start?   YouTube can be an amazing resource for learning new Pilates, Yoga and strength training exercises. (We might be biased but we really love the Rivercity Pilates YouTube Channel!) 
  3. Try a gym alternative!  There are a lot of local fitness professionals that offer fitness in places other than the gym.  Check out a local Pilates or Yoga studio and you’ll immediately know these spaces are not a gym atmosphere. At Rivercity Pilates we pride ourselves in offering a small studio setting that feels so comfortable and inviting that clients actually look forward to coming in to exercise.  There are also a lot of fitness professionals who offer outdoor fitness options like Pilates in the park, group paddleboarding (have you tried Pilates on the Lake yet?), hiking groups and more!!

At Rivercity Pilates we believe movement time is a key part of your health plan and we love finding ways to help you incorporate it into your life without having to go to “the gym” …!  

Try out a complimentary private session and you might discover that the “anti-gym” person in you loves our welcoming atmosphere, small individualized group classes and personalized instruction!!