Tag Archive for: Pilates Cedar Rapids Iowa

Did my Pilates teacher not notice my scrunched shoulders that time?

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shoulders scrunchedOne of the most common things I hear that tells me my clients are progressing in their Pilates practice is something like this,” My shoulders were up and you forgot to to tell me!”.

My answer….I didn’t need to tell you…you figured it out yourself and that is exactly what I want as your teacher.  It tells me that you are progressing in the Pilates work when you can correct yourself and you don’t need me to do it!!  You have learned what balanced movement feels like in your body and you can create it without my cues….super exciting!!!

Of course as an instructor I will continue to give you cues and fine tuning wherever you are but you may find those cues are much different from when you started your Pilates practice.  In the beginning you just need to learn the choreography of the movement in a safe way.   After you have a grasp for what the movement is then we can begin fine tuning.  Every time you do the exercise we can focus on fine tuning the pieces like shoulder stability, hip stability, how to integrate your whole body, finding control, moving from your center, etc. etc.

[tweetthis remove_hidden_hashtags=”true”]#Pilates #Instructor #Tips. When your student starts to self-correct![/tweetthis]

After you have started to tie these pieces together my job as your instructor changes.    My job becomes more about giving you cues to keep you progressing and exploring the movements in your body.  Maybe encouraging you to do something you might not have done on your own.

So if you find yourself catching your instructor not giving you corrections…it’s a great sign that you are progressing and you’re exactly where you are supposed to be in your Pilates practice!  Congratulations!!!

Is exercise like getting your hair cut?

I often wonder if other people get as excited as I do when I get my hair cut appointment reminders from my hair stylist?  It seems silly but it always makes me happy.  I have an amazing, talented hair stylist who always gives me a hair style I love.  But when I think about why I love “Hair Days”,  as I call them, there’s so much more to it.

Like most people, my life seems packed full of stuff….running a business, kids activities, family time, laundry, dinner, etc., etc., etc.  When I take some time to do something for myself it is heavenly!  An entire hour or two of time where I get asked what I want and can sit and chat with one of my favorite people is truly a gift in my life.  I always enjoy my time and walk away feeling refreshed, energized and happy. (And if I’m lucky I can go 2 maybe 3 days where I barely have to do anything to my hair and it looks like I just walked out of the salon!)

today (1)When I really sit and think about it I have lots of other moments in my life that give me that happy Hair Day feeling.  Things like vacation time, talking with friends, dates with my husband, hiding out somewhere by myself reading a book, journaling, going for a walk or a run and my Pilates practice.  Yes I included exercise in that list!  I think one of the reasons I love to move so much is that my movement time is my ME time.  Just like after a Hair Day, when I get time to exercise and move I always feel better afterwards.  I have time to focus on myself and do something I enjoy. I get that same refreshed, energized and happy Hair Day feeling that helps me be a better person when I go on to tackle everything else I do in life.

As you may know, I’m pretty passionate about Pilates and movement, but even more than that I’m passionate about helping people find a way to move that makes them happy!  I really believe that movement should be a tool you can use in your life to help you feel better inside and out.  If you’re looking to explore some movement options you might enjoy, myself and the staff at Rivercity Pilates would love to help you discover it!  Contact us today to schedule a complimentary private session or class to get started!

 

Pilates after a total knee replacement!

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October Inspiration of the Month, Jenny Fitzpatrick

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?   I started with private sessions in December 2014 with Carey. I had a total knee replacement that year and was eager to get stronger and back into condition.

 How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?  I typically attend a group class and private session each week at Rivercity Pilates. I have taken Pilates classes including Chair, Reformer, Equipment, Tower and also Yoga. Each style of exercise brings something different to learn and experience. I also have attended the Friday night girls night out Life Inspired which is always fun.

What benefits have you seen by committing to a regular Pilates practice?  I am definitely stronger as I can finally perform Teaser on the Reformer!  I like the integration of various muscles and the balance of flexibility and strength in the exercises. It is a workout I can do where my joints are not as grouchy which is wonderful.

 Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?  I really like the variety of options the most. I do enjoy a good stretch with push through on the Cadillac!

What would you say to someone thinking about starting Pilates?  Start today! The instructors are very knowledgeable and caring. They teach at your working level wherever that might be so you can have success.

 

Meet Shelley & Pippin

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FullSizeRender (14)We have a little dog named Pippin. He came into my life much like Pilates did…unexpectedly! We weren’t expecting or planning to get another dog after losing our beloved lab of 13 years…maybe we should just be pet-less for a while, I thought. But, a friend posted Pippin’s photo on Facebook with, “Free to a good home”. My husband and I both asked each other, “Did you see that dog’s photo on Facebook? Isn’t he cute?” and then, “Should we go see him?”. Needless to say, we brought him home with us the very day we met him!

He was a bit of a challenge at first. He was a year and a half old when he came into our home and those formative years were spent in a large family and his “puppyhood” was somewhat undisciplined. He needed some attention and re-training for some bad habits and just a lot of love, consistency, and patience to build his confidence that we would kindly teach him and give him a new and loving home.

I unexpectedly found Pilates again in 2012, after many years away from it, when driving on Hwy. 965 in North Liberty. Did I see that sign on that building that said “Rivercity Pilates”?  Wow! I thought…so close to home and I remember loving Pilates! But, I was undisciplined, hadn’t been exercising, and my confidence in starting something new was very low…and like Pippin, I had some bad habits! I’d have to start at the beginning, meet new people…would they be patient with me and would I feel at home there? I was going to be a challenge…just like Pippin!

I went home and Googled Rivercity Pilates and really liked what I saw on the website. I got up my courage and made the call to schedule my complimentary Private Pilates session with Carey. I was nervous, but excited. I felt undisciplined and lacked confidence, but Carey was very patient with me. I kept going pretty regularly and I became stronger and more confident. I had rediscovered a form of mind-body exercise that I loved and gradually, (like Pippin new to our home), I became more comfortable and more at home at the studio, and more importantly, in my body! A year later when I couldn’t come to the studio for almost 9 months I missed it so much and couldn’t wait to get back to a regular Pilates practice. Now, I’m really “at home” with Pilates and anxious to keep learning more.

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Shelley and Carey

Hopefully, my Pilates practice is maturing from “puppyhood” to the next level that is within my own abilities and strength, but with a gradual increase in knowledge of the methods and sequence of movements and how they feel in my body. Just like Pippin, I’ve learned to be more comfortable and feel at home…him with us, and me with Pilates.

Unexpected? Maybe not! Pilates coming into my life like Pippin coming into our family? Yes, I think they were both meant to be.

So, what’s next for me? Pilates Teacher Training starts tomorrow! Can’t wait for my next unexpected journey!

Meet the Instructor: Shaina

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Happy Monday!     It’s Meet the Instructor Monday, and today we’d like to introduce you to Shaina, who recently moved to the corridor.

10922646_3212700633473_6873223768443032675_nWe heard you are moving from New York City to Iowa — can you tell us a little bit about why you are moving?  Moving from Queens, New York to North Liberty, Iowa.   BIG CHANGE.    Making the move to be with my boyfriend who I met through mutual friends who also live in North Liberty.

How long have you been practicing Pilates?  I am relatively new to Pilates.   I took my very first class in June 2013 and fell in love immediately.   I practiced for about a year before starting my certification program.

What made you decide to be a Pilates Instructor?  I became a Pilates instructor for a number of reasons.

  • It helped me SO much with my own spinal injuries that I wanted to be able to pass that on and help others.
  • I was an athlete all my life and played volleyball in college so exercise was always part of my day to day life.   I struggled finding a form of exercise that I enjoyed and that was safe for my spinal injuries in my adult life and Pilates was definitely the answer.
  • It seemed like the perfect time in my life to start something new and it gave me a sense of freedom that I could go anywhere in the world and be able to teach.
  • The extra cash doesn’t hurt!  :)

What was your favorite part about living in New York City?   It would be impossible to pick just one thing.    First of all I have lots of family in NY so it has been reallly nice having everyone so close.   The city itself provides an energy that is indescribable.   Not to mention you can do, see, and order anything you want at any time you want.   It truly is the city that never sleeps and I feel very lucky and proud to have lived there and made it my own for 5 years.

Favorite Food?     Like a true New Yorker:   Pizza and Bagels.   I’m a sucker for a good carb!

shainapuppyHobbies?  I work in digital marketing so Pilates is my hobby!  Outside of the office or studio you can find me hanging out with family and friends, playing with my new puppy Samantha, or binge watching tv shows!

Hometown?   I moved around my whole life so I don’t really have a “hometown”.    I have lived in Michigan, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Ohio, Vancouver, Phoenix, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York and now Iowa in my short 27 years!

Twitter Handle?    Not very active on Twitter but you can follow me on Instagram @shaybo6.

Favorite Pilates Exercise?   Probably a tie between Short Spine and Semi-Circle

Do you have a favorite Pilates teaching moment?     Not too long ago I had a woman come in for her first sessions at my NYC studio.   She had done Pilates years ago and she was trying to get herself back into shape.    I could tell she was uncomfortable with herself and a little overwhelmed by everything.   We took the session slow and when we started doing planks on the Reformer she was very tense and was using her traps to do the work rather than her lats and serratus muscles. We stuck with the exercise and on the last rep she finally made that lat/palm connection and her whole face lit up!   She felt exactly what I was saying and she was so excited and proud of herself.   After that she was so much more relaxed and confident.   The rest of our session was fun, upbeat and productive.   Every time I see a client have an ‘ah-ha’ moment it motivavtes and inspires me to continue teaching and pushing my students!

You’ll probably suck at Pilates at first!

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I am often amazed at how many clients come into a session and expect to be able to do everything we teach them perfectly on the first try and then beat themselves up when they can’t do it!  It doesn’t matter if you danced for 20 years, are an elite athlete, run marathons, lift weights, did Yoga or if you are in the best shape of your life!  If you are brand new to Pilates you are brand new to Pilates and it will take some time to learn!

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I often hear a client say, but you just did that exercise perfectly.  My response is usually something like:  Let me tell you how many times over the last 15 years I have done that exercise…(hundreds…even thousands)  and I’m still working on it too!

The only way to learn something is to practice it!  That’s why it’s called a Pilates practice.  Pilates is not a quick fix exercise program.  Pilates is a method and system of exercises designed to teach you how to move better (more efficiently) by balancing out your body’s strengths and weaknesses.  It’s designed to become part of your life and something you continue to work on every time you get on your mat.

If you are contemplating starting a Pilates practice or may be you’ve just recently started please know that we don’t expect you do get everything perfect on your first try (or even your 50th).  As instructors we love helping you learn and we love to be part of the process!

It’s OK to suck at Pilates when you start!!  Just think of the progress you’ll make every time you do it!

We’ll be super supportive and we’ll give you lots of chances to try things out in a safe, non-intimidating atmosphere.  Click here to learn about scheduling a complimentary Pilates session at Rivercity Pilates.