Pilates Day 2015 at Rivercity Pilates

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Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate Pilates Day 2015 with us!!

 

We started off our Pilates Day 2015 with 2 Free Pilates Mat Class and we were super excited to have so many of you join us!!  Guest instructor Cassie Cumings-Peterson taught an all levels Fundamental Mat Class and Rivercity Pilates owner Carey Sadler taught Return to Life on the Mat.

After classes everyone grabbed a snack and watched the hard working students from Hillside Christian School as they demonstrated a mini Pilates Mat Class.  The students at Hillside Christian School range from kindergarten to 8th grade.  Every week for the last 3 years Carey has been teaching a Pilates Mat class at the school.   Be sure to check out the video clips of their fabulous demonstration!!

The Rivercity Pilates Staff had a special surprise for everyone on Pilates Day!  After watching Michelle Obama and Ellen Degeneres do a little choreagraphed dance to Uptown Funk in honor of Michelle’s Get Moving campaign, the staff decided to do their own version.  We had a blast practicing and performing for everyone and we hope you’ll watch the video and dance along!!

Everyone who came to Pilates day was eligible for door prizes!  We gave away T-Shirts, Toesox, headbands and a copy of one of our favorite Pilates books: Horatio Moves by Jenna Zaffino.

After prizes, our staff jumped on the reformers and demonstrated some of the wonderful exercises that can be done on this traditional piece of Pilates equipment!

Thanks again to everyone who joined our celebration!  We look forward to seeing you next year for Pilates Day 2016!!

 

Inspiration of the Month – Gwen Johnson

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

I started coming to Pilates when I was struggling with Shingles and working out.  I was in a great deal of discomfort and needed to workout and I thought it might help.

How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?

I attend Pilates classes a minimum of 3 days a week. I have participated in individual and group classes, but by far my favorite is couples! :)

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

My favorite benefit of Pilates is starting my day in tune with breathing, which translates to a better day, which allows me to embrace the moment.

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

I love the long spine. I feel strengthened, stretched, and lean when I do it.

What would you say to someone thinking about starting Pilates?

I love Pilates for a couple of reasons. It is stretching and getting in touch with your muscles and at 54 it is important to keep them all working together, and I truly can see a difference in my ability to move and keep moving!

 

Why Pilates is the Perfect Exercise for Women over 50

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Pilates is a fabulous method of exercise for any body, but if you are a woman over the age of 50 you may find it’s the perfect form of exercise for you.

Have you ever said:

  • I just want to stay strong and lean.
  • I see my mom aging and know I want to keep my own body fit, strong, flexible and functional so I can live life to the fullest.
  • I want an instructor/trainer who understands that I’m not 25 and trains me accordingly.IMG_2412
  • I want to enjoy my workouts.

The Pilates Method of exercise may be the perfect exercise for you and here’s why:

  • The Pilates Method combines strength, balance, and flexibility into one very efficient workout session that will keep you lean and strong.
  • The Pilates Method focuses on using proper body mechanics and teaches you how to move in a way that will balance out your body and prevent injuries as you age.
  • The Pilates Method is truly a movement practice that can be done at any level and can be done throughout your entire lifetime.
  • A PMA Certified Pilates instructor has had over 500 hours of initial training and mentoring hours that results in experienced instructors who understand how to work with bodies of all ages, levels and conditions.
  • The Pilates Method uses a variety of equipment and props so that there is a ton of variety.  You’ll develop a practice of movements and exercises that become familiar to your body but you’ll also be continually challenged.

 

Click here to learn more about trying out Pilates at Rivercity Pilates!!  Schedule a complimentary private session and learn what it can do for your body!  At Rivercity Pilates we offer private Pilates sessions, semi-private Pilates sessions(scheduled with a friend or family member) and small group classes(averaging 6-8 clients per class).

 

 

 

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!).

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.

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.