How can Pilates help me relieve stress in my life?

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Joseph Pilates knew the importance and power of our own thoughts. One of the fundamental ideas throughout the Pilates work is concentration.

Concentration refers to simply paying attention to what you are doing and how it feels in your body.

This means when your mind starts to wander and you begin to think about what you’re making for dinner tonight during your Hundreds exercise , bring your focus back to the exercise and the sensations in your body.

It sounds simple yet I believe that concentrating during Pilates is one of the hardest aspects of the work. We are all so busy and have so many things packed into our lives that it is hard to spend a whole session focusing on ourselves and our bodies. It is also one of the most beneficial aspects of Pilates, as it allows us to quiet our minds and relieve the stress of our day to day lives.

During your next session or class, try to work on your concentration and let us know how it changes your workout. When your mind wanders (and it will, probably a lot!), just remind yourself to come back to the present moment and focus on the task at hand. Know that whatever else is on your mind will wait until after your session and that by this practice of concentration you are truly giving your body a gift of health!

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#PracticeWhatYouTeach: Travel Pilates

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img_4474I was traveling this week and so besides getting my workouts in at home and the studio I got to practice a little travel Pilates. Travel Pilates for me is a combination of anything and everything I do in the form of movement to keep my body feeling healthy and happy when I travel. Here’s just a few of the things I do:

1. Airport Pilates : I know that sitting on a plane for almost 3 hours is not always my body’s favorite thing so I try to get my body moving and stretching before I have to sit in those every so comfortable little seats! I try to walk around just to be moving and then while I’m sitting at the gate waiting to board I sneak in things like:

  • Seating Hamstring stretches (I stretch my legs straight in front of me and hinge forward at the waist with a flat back)
  • Seated spine movements(like cat but sitting up!)
  • Neck stretches
  • Seated Mermaid stretches

2. Airplane Pilates: Once I get on the plane my space is of course limited a little more, but I still try to sneak some movement in. Here are some of my favorites:

  • Shoulder Rolls
  • Seated spine movements again!
  • Foot/Ankle circles
  • Using my Yoga Tune Up therapy balls to sit on or lean against
  • Wiggling and adjusting my posture!

3. Anywhere Mat Pilates: When I travel I try to sneak some Pilates Mat work in whenever I can. This trip I found myself sneaking in some Mat work while I laid on my pool chair soaking in some sun and watching my daughter play in the pool! I also like to just throw a towel on the floor or even lay on the hotel bed and sneak in some of my favorite exercises.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPfVPswgz89/?taken-by=rivercitypilates

I love that I can take my Pilates practice with me wherever I go by just getting a little creative! I consider my Pilates practice part of my self care plan that keeps me and my body healthy and happy even when I’m traveling!!

Practice What You Teach: Pilates Back up Plan

friendilatesOne week into Friend-ilates and my challenge to myself to attend more classes and I’ve gotten 1 class in…and my rock star partner has gotten 4.  I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed in myself, but I’ve decided I’m not going to go down that road.  I’m going to look at the success I had throughout the week, evaluate why I didn’t get more sessions/classes in and keep at it!

I actually had two different times last week when I was planning on taking a class at the studio and at the last minute something came up at the studio that I needed to take care of.  As a business owner, this type of situation is not new to me and I really don’t mind.  I love owning a business, getting to do what I love and getting to work with amazing staff and clients every day. I know that along with all those perks there are the occasional “unexpected moments” that have to be dealt with.

From a personal standpoint though I realized this week that I need a back up plan.  My goal was to get in 3 classes or sessions each week, to be a student 3 times.  When my original plan didn’t work, I kind of just forgot about getting those sessions in as they were not in my schedule and life got busy!

pilatesanytimeSo this week I am creating a better plan, which includes back ups to traditional classes at the studio! I am putting in my schedule classes on Pilates Anytime.  I love Pilates Anytime because I can take a class anytime that works in my schedule.    But clearly I need to schedule it or it doesn’t get done.  I also scheduled myself for group classes at the studio, hoping that between the two I will get all of my img_0436“being a student” time in!!

I would love to hear what you do to ensure you are getting your movement time in?  Do you have a back  up plan for when things don’t work out like scheduled?

 

 

 

 

#PracticeWhatYouTeach: Friend-ilates

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img_4942One of my goals for the year was to be a student at least twice a month.   As I am finishing up the week I realized that I already snuck in a Yoga class and a Pilates mat class and I’m feeling like maybe I was a little cautious in my goal setting.  I like to be realistic when I set a goal but I have to admit I’m feeling like I could have set the bar a little higher. Soooo….

I’m jumping right into this next week by making what feels like a huge commitment for me!  I’m partnering up with my friend and fellow Rivercity Pilates staff member Shelley O for Friend-ilates!  Friend-ilates is a studio promotion where we are encouraging friends to partner up for accountability and a chance to win some great prizes! Our goal is  40 classes or sessions total between the two of us before the end of February.  That’s 20 times of “being a student” for me in less than 2 months.   Have I mentioned how little I actually take a class or session (rarely!) and how often I just workout on my own (usually!).

I do love a challenge and I kind of love how out of reach the goal seems to me! I feel like those moments in life when we push ourselves to do more than we even imagine what we could do are the moments we grow the most.  So here go!  Be sure to check in next week and see how it’s going and definitely ask me about it when you see me at the studio!!

 

 

 

Pilates Magic Circle Mini-Workout

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Introducing the core, inner thigh, and back of the arms Pilates Magic Circle Mini-Workout!


If you’re looking for a quick core-strengthening, arm-toning, inner-thigh workout . . . this is it! This magic circle mini-workout is a great workout to do at home in between your classes or as an addition to your at home workout. Try it twice a week and be sure to let us know what you think!

Need a Pilates Magic Circle? Stop by the studio and pick one up at our Inspiration Boutique!

The Inspiration Boutique is our studio retail store. We have a line of fashionable, functional workout clothes (including Lucy, Glyder and Rivercity Pilates gear) and an assortment of small at home workout equipment including the Magic Circle, foam rollers, and various balls and props.

Practice What You Teach: 2017 Goals

img_1626As we head into 2017 I’ve been thinking about my movement practice and contemplating what I would like to accomplish and experience throughout the year.  From a personal standpoint, I’ve decided that this year my focus is growth in all aspects of my life. What that means for me, is just a continual focus on the things I want to create more of in my life. It also means that I continue to hold myself accountable to goals and actions that keep me moving forward.

So what does growth mean for my movement practice?  I’ve decided that growth for me means being a student more, stepping outside my comfortable zone more and continuing to try new things.  I made it a goal to be a student at least 2 times a month. (That doesn’t seem like very many times but for someone who generally just works out on her own..that will take me some planning!)  I’m hoping to get in more than 2 of month but I like to be realistic and I want to be able to keep it up throughout the year so that’s my number!

I also want to include being a student of other movement practices besides Pilates.  I always love how experiencing other movement practices or workouts makes me appreciate my Pilates practice.  So I am making it a goal to try at least 6 completely new movement experiences throughout the year.

I look forward to sharing with you my movement practice throughout the year and as always I love to hear about what you are doing!! Please share!  If you have some suggestions for some fun new movement experiences I should try throughout the year…I would love to hear those too!