Tag Archive for: Pilates Coralville iowa

Wait….those people in that Pilates class look normal

Just last week I was chatting with a client during one of her introductory private sessions and we were talking about adding some more classes into her regular routine.  She mentioned that she was enjoying her beginner classes she had started doing and she thought she was ready to add in another time or two per week. She also mentioned how relieved she was to see that the people that were headed to a different class on our schedule that day were….well…normal.  I could tell that seeing a variety of ages and body shapes heading into class helped her realize that she too could do a class and not feel out of place! 

So many times in life I think the thing that stops us from doing something that might make a huge difference in our life and in how our body feels on a regular basis is our fear, our fear of worrying about what other people might think of us and our fear of not fitting in.   I know that my passion and “my why” in life have a lot to do with helping people realize how movement can be an amazing health tool in their life to live their best life.  I’ve also come to realize that the hardest part about sharing my passion with others is that for me to get to have the chance to share it with people I first have to convince them that their fears of not fitting in, not being strong enough, not being flexible enough, etc to start a movement practice are not really true!!    

If you are one of those people who really wants to add some movement time into your life but you are just plain scared that you might not fit in or you might not be able to do it..you are not alone!  Most of our clients feel that way when they get started!  But I have to tell you…it doesn’t take them very long to figure out that Rivercity Pilates is a place where everyone fits in. 

Let me help you out with rethinking some of those fears! 

  • I am too old…    nonsense!!   If you are wanting exercise and move at whatever age you are, doesn’t it make sense that there are others close to your age that feel the same way? 
  • I am too out of shape…..    I know you probably don’t believe me but I can promise you that our teachers are experts at giving you exercises that are within your abilities that can be done at a level you are comfortable at AND you will not feel out of place doing it! 
  • I’m not sure if I can do it because of …(fill in the blank with an ailment or injury)    Again….I know this might be hard to believe but our teachers not only know how to give you exercises that allow you to strengthen and move no matter what is going on….they do it all the time even in small group settings.  When you take small group classes at our studio you will see people in class doing lots of different variations on exercises because we know that not every body is the same.  You won’t feel out of place adjusting an exercise for your body because we insist that everyone does the exercise in a way that is beneficial for their body (and we of course will help you figure out what that way is!) 

Ready to get out of your own way and experience how movement can help you feel better in your body?  Schedule you complimentary session today!

 

 

 

Inspiration of the Month Kathy Mathews

Inspiration of the Month – September 2018

 Empower Your Body ~ Inspire Your Life

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?
I started taking Pilates classes about 3 years ago.  I was having a lot of back pain and was encouraged by Shelley Mockler to give Rivercity Pilates a try.  She promised me I didn’t have to be an athlete to feel comfortable going there (and she was right!)

How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?  
I have a full schedule in the rest of my life, so I try to make it to at least one session per week, either a class or semi-private with a friend. I also try to do at least a few mat exercises or Carey’s 20 minute intermediate mat exercise video at home most days. 
 
What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Pilates? 
I have a lot less back pain and tend to be more aware of how I hold and move my body.
 
Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?  
I don’t think I have a favorite—I like learning something new and being challenged to do any of the exercises better.  I appreciate the concentration it takes.  

What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing Pilates? 
Give it a try for a few months and don’t be intimidated. It’s fun and feels good!  I would also encourage everyone to take some private or semi-private classes if possible to learn some of the core principles that will let you get more out of the group classes.  

 
 

5 easy minutes of movement can totally change your day…

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My favorite client story this week: I was trying to be supermom this week and save a little time (not sure why I didn’t just make 2 trips!) I tried to carry all the grocery bags into the house all at once and by the time I made it in I was feeling tightness and pain in my hip and down my outer leg.   I got my roller out and spent 5 minutes rolling everything out and could just feel my sore hip ease back into place….  It didn’t bother me at all after that!

THIS IS SELF CARE!!!  And THIS is why I teach Pilates.  Don’t get me wrong… I love to move, I love to take people through a work out and I love to help people learn how to do Pilates.   But my passion for doing all of that is to help people on their journey of figuring out how to better take care of themselves.  And self care sometimes means making yourself go to Pilates class, do a workout, go for a walk, etc…. but many times it’s as simple as listening to your body and getting out your foam roller when something is tight!!  

Teaching Pilates is always more than just teaching Pilates! Here’s a quick list of some of the amazing things you can do as a pilates teacher:

  • Help others create a positive self body image
  • Teach people how to use movement as a self care practice
  • Help people use movement to de stress and relieve anxiety
  • Give people a sense of community and connection with others 
  • Give clients knowledge about how their body works and moves
  • Inspire people to make other healthy changes in their life just from being you and being an example

Want to learn more about how you can help others grow in their self care journey and in their life journey through movement?  Contact me today to set up a time to chat more about our Pilates teacher training programs and mentorship programs!! 

Why add a foam roller to your Pilates routine?

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Ever wonder what the big deal is with foam rollers?  They seem to be everywhere and so many people are talking about why they love them. We kind of think they are amazing too and wanted to share with you why you might want to consider adding in the foam roller into your Pilates practice!

  1. Core Strength.  The shape of the roller makes it just enough unstable that when you lay on it…your core muscles have to activate to keep you from falling off!  What this means to you is that you work your core muscles more and you don’t even have to think about it.
  2. Balance.  Balance is something we can always improve.  By adding in the foam roller to traditional Pilates exercises you can challenge your body to work on it’s balance in new ways.
  3. Getting rid of tension and tightness.  As a teacher I can tell you once of my biggest challenges is teaching clients how to work less in some places and how to reduce tension.  The foam roller can be a great tool used to roll out tight muscles and fascia.  When those muscles and fascia are released the rest of your exercises become better and you can do them more efficiently, creating balanced strength and flexibility quicker in your body.
  4. Life skills.  I always think of my Pilates time as “training for life” time.  I exercise so that I can move through life without getting injured and feeling great in my body. Life is not usually predictable when it comes to movement.  You need to be able to adjust when you accidentally step on a rock that twists your foot or have to balance on your tip toes to reach something on the top shelf.   Challenging your body to move in a variety of ways is always a good thing. Adding in the foam roller to your Pilates exercises challenges your body to have to move and react in different way than what you typically would in each Pilates exercise.   By mixing things up slightly and asking your body to do things a little different with the foam roller you can prepare it better for the unexpected movements that happen in life!
  5. Variety. Variety keeps you from getting bored and maybe not focusing as much as you should. Adding in a prop like the foam roller creates just enough change to an exercise that you can’t just space off and do it like you usually do!  You really have to pay attention and check in with the whole body to do the exercise well! Increased focus often means we move better, engage more muscles properly, and get more out of each exercise.  It also is a great stress reliever! 

If you are interested in what the foam roller could do for you, we have the perfect class:  Beginner Friendly Foam Roller Pilates Mat! This beginner friendly class will give you a fabulous Pilates workout while incorporating the foam roller!  You’ll have fun, and learn some ways you can use your foam roller as pat of your Pilates practice, and learn how to use it to stretch and lengthen tight muscles and fascia throughout your body!  

https://www.instagram.com/p/BW7pPPSHA7I/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Not starting Pilates or Yoga because it’s hard is not an excuse (anymore!!)

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I overheard a conversation the other day ago where a couple of my Pilates clients were talking about the new Yoga class we were offering. One of the students had been taking the class and mentioned to the other student she should try it.  Her response was ,”I probably should…but Yoga is hard!”    This struck me as a little bit funny because as her Pilates teacher…I’ve seen how hard she works in my Pilates classes.  

If you’ve done Pilates, you know that there is not necessarily anything easy about Pilates. Pilates requires you to be completely present in the moment, focusing on your breath, your movements, your alignment, your core engagement and I personally feel like it is never “easy”. As much as I love to move and exercise my body I kind of think it’s alway “hard” to regularly exercise.   It’s hard to make myself add it in (even when I don’t feel like it), it’s hard to stay focused on what I’m doing in the moment and it’s hard to not want to quit when my muscles get tired and feel like they are working!  So I guess it seems logical that when anybody is contemplating doing something new, that we might use the excuse “it’s going to be hard”  as a way to justify not doing it.  I kind of see it as our mind’s way of tricking us into not being vulnerable enough to try something new…even though that something new might have immense benefits in our life!   

If you are one of those people who is not trying Pilates or Yoga because you think it’s too hard, maybe it’s time to change the story you are telling yourself. Try telling yourself that learning a new movement practice is a challenge for everyone, but the challenge is what in the long run is going to help you get results in your body.   Starting a new movement practice is never easy and because of that the staff at Rivercity Pilates always makes sure to do their best to create an environment that you can succeed in and actually enjoy.  Here’s just a few of the things we do:

  • We get to know you before your first class.  We offer a complimentary private session to all clients so we can get to know you and your body before you take your first class. We do this so we can make you as comfortable and at ease as possible for your first class! We find that this helps us create the best possible movement experience for you.  As a client, it’s kind of like already having a friend on your first day of school… 
  • Each exercise will be taught in a way that is doable in your body!  There will always be lots of options on how to do an exercise and you’ll feel completely comfortable choosing the version that feels best in your body
  • There are no unreasonable expectations.  You don’t have to worry about being the only one in class not able to twist like a pretzel or stand on your head….. our classes focus on functional movements that don’t require you to already be super flexible or know how to do some acrobatic move! 
  • We won’t single you out and over correct everything you do, Our teachers are great at teaching in a way that ensures you are doing things properly and not injuring yourself without making you feel silly or embarrassed because you are working on things!  
  • Exercises will always be safe for your body.  Safety is always on the top of our instructors mind and you will be coached on how to do exercises as safely and as effectively as possible in your body!
  • The class atmosphere will be positive and inspiring!  Our teachers are pros at creating a great environment to work out in!  You’ll walk out of classes not only with a great workout, but feeling good about what you did and enjoying your movement time!  

Ready to try out a new movement practice like Pilates or Yoga in your life?  We would love to get to know you and introduce you to a mindful movement practice!! Schedule a complimentary session to meet us and see if we’ll be a good fit for you! 

WINNER – Joe’s Challenge

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Joe’s Challenge Winner!

Since January 1st many clients participated in what we called Joe’s Challenge! We challenged you to complete 30 sessions of Pilates or Yoga by March 31 or by the end of April if you got a late start. We asked you to send us an email about how you felt after 10, after 20 and after 30 sessions. We have shared some of what you said in our past couple of newsletters. We know you’ve been anticipating the prize announcement!
 
…and the winner is….
 

Danielle Wilbanks!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!  You win 3 Months of  Unlimited Classes! 
$780 Value!
Thanks to every client that participated! You are all winners by continuing to move and encourage and inspire us all with your dedication to your Pilates and Yoga practice.
 
Here’s what a couple of our fantastic clients said after finishing the challenge:
 
“As always, I am grateful that Pilates came to me at this stage in life!! I love the classes in which I participate, 
the instructors, the studio, the participants…AND, most of all that it’s keeping me fit, toned, limber & balanced. I have no fear of saying ‘I’ve fallen & I can’t get up’….I CAN get up!!!”      ~Pam
 
“Having finished 30 sessions I come to recognize how I actually feel when I’m not doing Pilates. It took me a while to finish all 30 sessions because I was traveling and what I noticed most is how much better I can move and feel when I’m attending Pilates regularly. When I miss Pilates I am not as flexible and not able to move as well and overall just don’t feel as good.” ~Cyndi