Tag Archive for: Pilates Cedar Rapids Iowa

I need to get into better shape before I start Pilates again…

, ,

I’ve been teaching Pilates long enough that I have clients that have been seeing me for years which quite frankly I find pretty amazing!  I adore that clients have found a love for Pilates and incorporate it into their life and am super honored that they continue to choose me as their instructor throughout their journey.

Recently I had a client come back in after being away for awhile.  This is a client I knew quite well and who I knew had been battling some health complications over the years I’ve worked with her.  When she came back in we had a pretty honest talk about why she hadn’t been back in sooner and I really appreciated what she told me.

She mentioned that she kept telling herself that she needed to get in better condition before she came in.  She said she was embarrassed at how far out of shape she had gotten and quite honestly didn’t want to disappoint me.  I can tell you she’s not the only one who has thought something like this or told me this.

My heart kind of sank when she said these things. All I could think of is that just like I tell my kids, “I’ll love you, support you and will be there for you no matter what”…..I have the same sense of non judgmental support for my clients.  Part of what I love about my job is being part of people’s health and wellness journey no matter where they are in their bodies or their life.

Mindful movement can be so healing, energizing and life changing in so many ways.  Movement can help you from a physical and spiritual stand point when you are going through “stuff” ( you know… the stuff that happens to everyone at some time like injuries, illness, family problems, life problems, etc).

As an instructor I love showing people that you don’t have to be doing the hardest, most grueling exercise for it to be an effective tool in your life.  Learning to move safely in your body where you are at any given day is a gift that can change your life.  Learning to listen to your body and find movement that feels good and is effective can change your health and your happiness.

So I have to tell you some amazing things happened within just a week of this client starting Pilates again.  First of all the second time I saw her, she was moving amazingly better and was already feeling a difference in her body (and I could see the difference!).  By the second week it was a dramatic enough difference that she sent me this note:

WE received a compliment tonight!  My husband has been really busy the last couple of weeks. He has been going to work really early and coming home super late.   The first thing he said to me tonight when he arrived home was, “Wow, you are moving so much better since you started Pilates.”  Yeah for us!

(I love those type of notes by the way!) You might be wondering what kind of amazing exercises and sessions we did to get such great results?  Well, we had done three 25 minute sessions( which included some talk and discussion time) over 2 weeks.(Yep…that’s it!)  We did a lot of breathing, fundamental Pilates movements and some exercises using the Pilates equipment.  We started with the basics and did exercises that helped her body find a sense of ease of movement while working in a space she was comfortable.  Nothing crazy or out of the ordinary…but the difference it made in her body and her life was pretty amazing.

So if you’re feeling like you need or want to get back to your Pilates practice but maybe you have some similar thoughts going through your head about why you’re not coming back in……know that I would love nothing more than to help you get started again wherever you are in life and in your body!

P.S. If you’re reading this and I’m not your Pilates instructor I can tell you that your Pilates instructor feels the same way I do!

Inspiration of the Month: Shari

,
ShariWhen did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start? Two years ago, I was experiencing a lot of back pain. I had trouble getting out of bed in the morning and stopped exercising all together because I was afraid it was making things worse. After seeing an orthopedist and being diagnosed with osteoarthritis, I was told that the best thing I could do was to keep moving. I was told to find some type of exercise that I enjoyed and to stick with it.
I decided I wanted a personal trainer or program which would accommodate my physical limitations and hectic schedule. To be honest, I can’t remember exactly how I found Rivercity Pilates but I am sure glad I did!  
How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?  I try to attend at least two classes per week. I usually attend mat classes, but I also enjoy the equipment classes as well. I get bored easily and I like to mix it up with different classes and instructors. Each instructor has her own unique way of explaining the exercises and that helps me focus on my technique.
What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Pilates?  Just like a lot of things in life, you don’t appreciate something until it is taken away. I didn’t notice all the benefits I was getting from Pilates until I had to stop due to an injury. When I am able to attend class regularly, my back feels better and my body is better toned. Since I work out of the home in a stressful job, I also really enjoy the social aspects of attending a class. After class, I always feel better and more relaxed.
Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?   I enjoy working with the tower!

Why you should learn Pilates so you never have to go to a studio!

, ,
IMG_4249

One of the things I love most about my own Pilates practice is that I can do it anywhere (and I do)!  I love that whether I have 40 minutes or 5 minutes I can find some movement sequence to do that makes me feel better and energizes me.  I don’t need to rely on going to class, watching a video or anybody else.  Of course I also love to go to class and get instruction but I don’t need to.

I always love it when I see this phenomena happening in my clients because I feel like it means I’m doing my job well.  I get excited when I hear things like,” I didn’t make it to class this week but I did my Hundreds at home everyday.  OK…not a lot of people tell me this one….but I can pretend!  More likely is, “I did my rolling like a ball and shoulder bridge in the living room during the Big Bang Theory!

To me, this is what having a movement practice is all about! The reason to take sessions with a knowledgable instructor is so that you can learn about your body and learn how to create a movement practice not just in the studio but in your life.  There will always be times in your life when you can’t make it to a studio to take a class or get your private session in but that doesn’t mean you can’t get some movement in!

As you progress in your Pilates practice you’ll find yourself thinking about movement in a whole different way! You’ll start seeing movement as a way to feel better in your body and you’ll probably crave it!  You’ll start paying attention to your posture at work and maybe sneaking in some of your favorite exercises during the commercials of your favorite TV shows!  As a bonus, you won’t feel bad when you can’t make it into the studio for your session or class!  You’ll feel comfortable knowing that you can practice your favorite Pilates exercises on your own and still get a great work out!

Practice what you teach: Breath and concentration can do wonders..

, ,

Our Pilates Instuctor-Trainees in Pilates Principles Tees!

Our Pilates Instructor-Trainees in Pilates Principles Tees! Available in our online store

Breath and concentration (two of our Pilates principles) can do amazing things!  I woke up on New Years day with a pesky pain in the muscles between my shoulder blade and spine.  It was nothing horrible, just a “I must have slept wrong” kind of pain.

My usual routine in the morning is to start my day with my Pilates Mat work and even though I was feeling a little tight and twingey by my shoulder blade, I wanted to start the year off right and get my day started with some movement.  I grabbed my foam roller as that spot in my upper back really just felt like it needed a good massage.  I spent a few moments just lying on the foam roller in different positions and massaging near the spot- which helped although it was still there.

I decided to go through my mat routine and make my focus breath and specifically breathing into the area that was bothering me.  Throughout my routine whenever I felt that spot I took a deeper breath and really envisioned my breath expanding into that area.  Even though I tell people all the time to try techniques like this I am always re-amazed when I use them on myself and they work!  I love to be reminded of how amazing our thoughts, our bodies and our ability to create change in our body is!!

#PracticeWhatYouTeach (1)Needless to say I felt soo much better after getting my Pilates Mat work in.  The spot by my shoulder blade had not completely disappeared but it was so much better AND what happened the rest of the day was even better.  When I found myself feeling that tightness I went back to my practice of breathing into that space and it was better.  By the time the Hawkeyes were headed onto the field for the Rose Bowl I wasn’t feeling the pain at all!

[tweetthis]Movement is healing! #breath #concentrate #Pilates #practicewhatyouteach[/tweetthis]

Why husbands should buy their wife Pilates sessions for Christmas!

, , ,

christmas!It’s that time of year again and if you are like many men you are trying to think of a unique, thoughtful gift for your wife that she won’t want to return! What about purchasing her a package of private Pilates sessions? I know what you are thinking…..if I buy my wife fitness classes she’s going to think I think she needs to lose weight or get into better shape and that could get me in trouble! Let me put some of your fears at ease and give you some of my top reasons why private Pilates sessions makes a perfect gift and why it may be the best present you’ve ever gotten her!

1. She will feel like a movie star!! There’s a reason why you hear about all of the stars who are doing Pilates (Jennifer Anniston, Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz…) Pilates instructors are highly trained instructors who specialize in teaching the Pilates Method of exercise to any body type. Her one-on-one sessions will be tailored specifically to her body and she will feel like a queen! What a great gift from you! What could be better than individual sessions tailored to exactly what your wife wants from a fitness program?

2. Pilates is great for every body and every age. Individual sessions can let you explore if it is a method of exercising that she wants to incorporate into her life. Whether you are recovering from a back injury or an elite athlete- Pilates can improve how you feel, how you move and how your body looks! Pilates instructors are trained to work with lots of different body types and even injuries so there is no need to worry about if your wife will feel comfortable working safely with the instructor.

DSCN76943. Going to the studio is NOT like going to the gym. The studio atmosphere is spa-like, comfortable and welcoming! It’s like the “Cheers” of the fitness world! Everyone knows your name and your instructors know you and your body. You don’t have to worry about getting lost in the crowd. Many of our clients refer to the studio as their “Happy Place”!

4. She probably wouldn’t buy them herself. Women tend to take care of everyone else in their life first and often don’t spend the time and money they should to take care of themselves! You know how important your wife and her health and happiness is to your family life right? Let her know how much you appreciate all she does for you and your family by supporting her in learning to take care of herself and her health! Learning Pilates is a way to learn to move and feel better not just at the studio but in everything you do in life. Let’s face it, when she’s healthy and happy so is everyone else! In the long run the benefits of this holiday gift will come back to you a hundred fold down the road!

Introduction to PilatesPackage

5. It’s easy for you! We can help you pick out the perfect Pilates present for your wife and we love doing it! We can throw in some cute Pilates accessories (like Pilates socks, a cute workout top or a water bottle) and we can gift wrap it so all you have to do is give it to her!! Give us a call, email us or stop by the studio.

I can’t believe I pay people to make me sweat!

dollars“I can’t believe I pay people to make me sweat!”   says a student after a Cardio Funk class.  Another student answers,” I can!  I know I could do it myself, but I wouldn’t and this is much more fun!”   The first time I bought a 6 month class package, I almost had a panic attack, because it’s a big investment.  The difference it’s made in how I feel, the new friends I’ve made, and how I deal with stress has made it well worth the investment.   I pay people to make me sweat, and it has made a positive change in my life.  When I say I feel better, it means I’m not creaky or stiff when I wake up, I am so much more flexible, and I rarely get sick!  Knock on wood!  

I know,  if you really want to, you can stay healthy and fit by working out on your own….but most people don’t!  There’s no reason to feel bad about the fact that you have a hard time motivating yourself to workout on your own or you just don’t enjoy it.  There are worst things in the world then paying to experience a workout you enjoy and one that is effective.  Your health and happiness are important!!

Need some justification for paying for your exercise? Here’s just a few:

  • The act of going into a space where you can purely focus on yourself and your body will decrease your overall stress, improve your overall health and decrease your chances getting sick (saving you money and and misery in the long run!)
  • You are much more likely to create a habit of exercise when you have instructors and fellow classmates that you enjoy being around and by creating that habit you’ll start seeing and feeling results!
  • You will likely work harder.    I don’t know about you, but when I work out at home I take breaks to go get water, to go to the bathroom, and I rarely stretch that extra inch that really cinches in my belly!
  • You feel more accountable because you made an investment!  With me, my dedication goes up in relation to how much money I have spent.    When I belonged to a gym that cost $38 a month, I had no problem not going to the gym more than once a week.      But when I pay $16 per session, and I have to sign up ahead of time, and pay if I don’t cancel early, suddenly I am much more self disciplined.   I make it a priority, and I go to class.

Rivercity PilatesSchedule Ahead RewardsAll these things being said, I truly appreciate all the things Carey has put in place in the studio to let me save money.    If I stop and add the money I’ve saved with Schedule Ahead Rewards, Referral Bonuses, VIP packages, and the longer term class packages, it would pay for another pack of private sessions!

Check out Carey’s blog about Budgeting for your Health here!

 

~