43 Days to Spring… and a Great Time to Begin

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Someone texted me recently with a simple note:   “43 days until spring.”    It made me smile.  Not because I’m rushing winter away — but because it reminded me how powerful it is to have something positive ahead to look toward. A small moment of hope. A shift in mindset.  And honestly… that’s exactly what I see happen inside the studio every day.

I get to watch our staff connect with clients in quiet, meaningful ways — guiding, encouraging, adjusting, and supporting. I see people arrive stiff, unsure, or tired… and leave standing taller, moving easier, breathing deeper.

Many of them tell us so as they walk out the door.  Those moments remind me why Rivercity Pilates exists.

Movement doesn’t have to be extreme to change your life.
When it’s thoughtful, supportive, and consistent, it changes how your body feels — and often how your whole day goes.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start something… this might be it.

Introducing: Yoga for Balance & Strength

Fridays at 8:30 AM

This is not a typical yoga class.

Yoga for Balance & Strength is a gentle, supportive small-group session designed especially for women 50+ who want to feel steady, capable, and confident in their bodies again.

We focus on the movements real life actually asks of you:

  • Getting up from a chair
  • Turning without feeling unsteady
  • Carrying things without strain
  • Walking with confidence
  • Preventing falls before they happen

No rushing.
No forcing.
No “keeping up.”

You Don’t Have to Get on the Floor

This class is primarily chair-based and uses props, light resistance, and guided movement.

That means:

  • No pretzel poses
  • No pressure to be flexible
  • No worrying about getting up and down

Just practical strength and balance your body can truly use.

It’s especially helpful if you:

  • Have back or knee discomfort
  • Are returning after injury or surgery (with clearance)
  • Feel intimidated by traditional yoga classes
  • Want to stay strong as you age
  • Simply want movement that feels safe and doable

Why Small Groups Matter

We limit this session to just 5 participants.

That allows us to:

  • Adjust movements to your body
  • Offer options every step of the way
  • Keep you safe
  • Help you progress gradually
  • Create a calm, welcoming environment
  • You won’t disappear into the back of a class here — you’ll be guided.

A Different Kind of Progress

Balance improves with practice.
Strength improves with consistency.
Confidence improves with support.

You don’t need intensity.
You need the right environment and the right movements.

And over time, those small weekly changes become noticeable in everyday life.

Ready to Feel Steadier This Spring?

Spring always motivates us to do more — walk outside, travel, garden, play with grandkids, live fully.  Starting now gives your body time to prepare for it.    If you’re looking for a place to move safely, be encouraged, and feel better each week… I would truly love to help you find a good fit.

Join us for Yoga for Balance & Strength — Fridays at 8:30 AM.

Your future self will be glad you started before the season changed.

Discover Strength, Mobility, and Balance with Our Steel Mace Yoga Workshop

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Are you ready to explore a unique and empowering way to enhance your movement practice? Whether you’re completely new to yoga or looking to try something fresh and innovative, our Introductory Steel Mace Yoga Workshop is the perfect opportunity to experience movement in a whole new light.

What Is Steel Mace Yoga?

Steel Mace Yoga combines traditional yoga poses with the functional strength and mindfulness of steel mace training. The steel mace serves as an extension of your body, helping you build strength, improve balance, and deepen your mobility while enhancing your overall yoga practice. It’s an incredible way to connect with your body and explore movement in a supportive and beginner-friendly environment.

Why You’ll Love This Workshop:

  • Perfect for Beginners: This workshop is designed for those new to yoga, steel mace training, or both. No prior experience or advanced flexibility is required.
  • Learn at Your Own Pace: We’ll guide you step by step through foundational steel mace techniques and yoga poses, ensuring you feel confident and comfortable.
  • Supportive Environment: Join a community of like-minded individuals looking to improve their strength, mobility, and mindfulness.
  • Try Something New: If you’ve been searching for a way to refresh your movement routine, this workshop will inspire and energize you.

Workshop Details:

Date: Thursday, January 30
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Location: Rivercity Pilates Studio, North Liberty
Cost: $45

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Don’t miss this chance to discover the benefits of Steel Mace Yoga and take the first step towards improving your strength, mobility, and balance.

Click here to register now!

Spaces are limited, so secure your spot early to ensure you don’t miss out. We can’t wait to see you there and help you embark on this exciting journey!

Yoga for Strength & Stability

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We have a new Beginner Yoga for strength and stability starting next Wednesday and I was thinking about how something as simple as taking a 4 week Yoga series could really make an impact in someone’s life. 

Your first Yoga class might not be the start of a new career like my first Pilates class was.  Yet you could discover that you really enjoy Yoga and start exploring a Yoga practice, you could meet new people that you enjoy moving and exercising with and and you could realize that something as simple as a weekly Yoga class could help you feel amazingly better in your body.

We’re excited to introduce a new 4-week yoga series at Rivercity Pilates—Strength and Stability Yoga, designed specifically for beginners! This unique class incorporates the steel mace, a powerful prop that enhances your practice by building strength and stability.

Strength & Stability Yoga Series Details

  • Duration: 4 Weeks
  • When: 5:30 pm – 6:20 p.m. Wednesdays – Sept. 18, Sept. 25, Oct. 2, Oct. 9.
  • Where: Rivercity Pilates
  • Cost: $99 for the 4 week series or use any current small group package

We understand that the steel mace might seem intimidating, but in our supportive and welcoming environment, you’ll find it to be an incredible tool for deepening your yoga journey.  Under the guidance of our expert instructor Shuva, you’ll learn how to safely and effectively use the steel mace, transforming it from a fitness tool into a partner in your movement practice.

Why should you join this series?

  • Enhanced Stability: The steel mace helps you focus on balance and control, crucial elements in yoga.
  • Strength Building: Incorporating this prop adds a new dimension to your poses, helping you build strength in a gentle yet effective way.
  • Supportive Community: You’ll be surrounded by fellow beginners, all learning and growing together in a positive environment.
  • Loving Your Movement: Most importantly, you’ll discover a new way to enjoy your movement time, making each session something to look forward to.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to experience yoga in a whole new light. The series begins September 18, and spots are already filling up fast! Reserve your place today and take the first step towards a stronger, more stable you.

What should you expect in Strength and Stability Yoga at Rivercity Pilates?:

  • Each week, we’ll focus on integrating strength-building exercises with yoga poses that promote flexibility, balance, and stability. The steel mace will be used as a tool to enhance your strength training while maintaining the mindfulness and flow of yoga.
  • Each session will have a specific focus, targeting different muscle groups and stability challenges. You’ll learn how to engage your core, improve your posture, and develop functional strength that translates into everyday activities.
  • Receive guidance from our experienced yoga instructor, who will guide you through each class, ensuring proper technique and alignment while encouraging you to explore your limits. Modifications will be provided.
  • Results: By the end of this series, you can expect to feel stronger, more stable, and more confident in your body. You’ll also gain valuable tools to incorporate into your personal practice, enhancing both your yoga and strength training routines.

Spaces are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot today! Whether you’re looking to build strength, improve stability, or simply try something new, this series is perfect for you. Let’s embark on this empowering journey together!


Sign up by requesting an appointment in Mindbody or simply email us and we can register you!

Find your inner strength & vitality!

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Are you looking for a movement class that’s fun, challenging, and makes you feel rejuvenated?

Ready to try something new and exciting?

Join us for our weekly steel mace yoga class. It’s a supportive, judgment-free zone where we’re all discovering our strength and vitality. Your body (and mind) will thank you!

Yoga instructor Shuva Rahim has started introducing clients to the world of steel mace yoga in her Yoga For Every Body small group session (5:30 p.m. Wednesdays).

Why should you give steel mace yoga a try?

Here are three compelling reasons:

  1. Boost Your Functional Strength
    The steel mace adds gentle resistance to traditional yoga poses, helping you build strength in a way that translates directly to everyday activities. Whether it’s lifting groceries, playing with grandkids, or tending to your garden, you’ll notice the difference in your capability and confidence.
  2. Enhance Your Balance and Flexibility
    As we get older, maintaining balance and flexibility becomes crucial. Steel mace yoga challenges your stability in new ways, improving your overall balance and keeping you nimble. You’ll be amazed at how this practice can help you move more freely and gracefully.
  3. Sharpen Your Mind-Body Connection
    The unique movements of steel mace yoga require focus and coordination, providing a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the connection between your mind and body. This mindful practice can help reduce stress, improve mood, and keep your brain sharp.
testimonial from a student of Shuva's Steel Mace Yoga class at Rivercity Pilates.

Don’t let the idea of using a “mace” intimidate you – you’ll get an orientation on how to handle this tool and can always opt to start with a light rod (1 pound) as we focus on proper form. The maces we use are 5 to 7 pounds.

You’ll be surprised at how quickly you adapt and grow stronger.  

Yoga For Every Body small group meets 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Rivercity Pilates. For the you can purchase any small group Yoga package for 30% off using the code steelmace!  

This is a short video demonstrating Yoga with the steel mace.

New Class! Yoga for Every Body!

Shuva is back teaching a Wednesday night small group Yoga session and we’ve created a new name for this session!  We love this name because we think it embodies what Shuva and all of our teachers are so passionate about…making movement accessible, fun and beneficial to your life no matter where you are in your practice!  

Whether you’re new to yoga or working on building a consistent practice, this class will help you de-stress and improve your concentration with common poses. With as-needed guidance of props, such as straps and blocks, you’ll focus on matching breath to movement while you transition into and hold different positions.

Each class will include warm-up exercises, balance poses, posture-correctors, and hip-openers to help facilitate a full-body workout that will leave you feeling more flexible, stronger, and relaxed.

Sign up for Yoga for 4 Weeks for $99

Want to try a free yoga session?

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Shuva Rahim, New Yoga Instructor t Rivercity Pilates

 Small Group Yoga with Shuva
Wednesdays at 5:15pm

I am so excited to have Shuva Rahim teaching at the studio!  When I moved to the area over 14 years ago and opened up Rivercity Pilates I met Shuva in a women’s small business group I had joined. At the time Shuva was growing her photography business and we were both trying to figure out what it took to run a small business! 

Shuva has been a friend and supporter of my business since the beginning. She starting practicing Pilates with me at the original Rivercity Pilates location, she was our photographer for the very first photo shoot at the studio, she took some of my favorite family photos over the years and she is truly just a great human who I am honored to call a friend. Be sure to check out the photo collage I put together highlighting some of our memories together over the years!


Shuva describes herself as a newish Yoga teacher (she finished her RYT 200 training in August 2022) who wants to share her love of Yoga with the world.  She shares her love of Yoga with others by teaching and writing! Be sure to check out Shuva’s blog here.

Shuva is excited to be teaching a Friday night flow small group Yoga session designed to help you build strength, flexibility and kick off your weekend feeling amazing! This small group yoga session will be limited to 5 participants and will happen Wednesdays at 5:15 pm.

The Yoga flow session will focus on aligning breath with movement and learning to transition from one pose to the next. (If you are familiar with yoga you’ll recognize that this follows the principles of Vinyasa Yoga)   Shuva will help you find adaptations and variations of poses that are perfect for your body. 

Shuva’s small group sessions are designed for ALL bodies and you’ll be comfortable in this small group setting if you are a brand new to Yoga beginner or if you have Yoga experience.  

Try a Wednesday night session for FREE in November by emailing us and letting us know which day you want to try the session!