Kari Gerst Inspiration of the Month August 2018
When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?
I started Pilates after attending an open house at Rivercity Pilates in May of 2016. I have been a student of Iyengar Yoga for 10 years and after moving here 4 1/2 years ago was looking for something in North Liberty. There was an article in the Press Citizen about Carey and her studio Rivercity Pilates and I thought I needed to check it ou
How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?
I am usually at the studio two times a week for a mat class, jump board, or an equipment class. I started with the private sessions which were very beneficial to me since I had never done Pilates and it is different from Yoga.
What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Pilates?
I have a stressful job, (who doesn’t, right?), so when I am doing Pilates it takes my mind off my worries, the headaches go away and it brings me back down to earth. The physical health benefits are huge! No stiffness, the back pain goes away, and I have noticed the jump board class has improved the looks of my legs!
Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?
I enjoy the mat class because I am still learning the fundamentals and you can do it at home. But, my favorite is the reformer and Shaina’s jump board class!
What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing Pilates?
You have to try it! Don’t think because you have always done Yoga you won’t like Pilates. I still do both, they each have different benefits for me. As our body ages we have to keep moving. Routinely doing Pilates will add years to your life. I have taken classes from many of the instructors at Rivercity. All of them are very helpful and go out of their way to explain how to do the exercises and the benefits.
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