Tag Archive for: Pilates Iowa City

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

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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!

Practice what you teach: Sometimes I surprise myself…

As someone who teaches movement for a career I have to tell you sometimes I am honestly surprised at how strong, flexible and functional my body is.  I’ve been keeping track of my Pilates practice since the beginning of the year for this blog and I have to tell you I don’t workout in the traditional sense very often.  It’s pretty rare that I take a class or spend an entire 40 or 50 minutes doing Pilates.

plankoffThe other day ago I challenged my 12 year old son to a plank off as our staff was trying to do some extra planks as part of the studio’s 6 week Challenge designed to motivate clients to move more.  I managed to hold a plank with pretty good form (or so I think) for 3 minutes and 48 seconds.  If you’ve held a plank before you know this is not easy!!  Considering how little I actually “workout” in the traditional sense…I was pretty happy with that and it made me really look at what I’m doing for my movement practice and why it’s so effective.  Here’s what I decided….

I play….. a lot.   I sneak in little sequences of movement through my days doing things like practicing what I want to teach to clients, laying on the floor while hanging out with my kids and sneaking in some exercises or movement, I go for walks and runs with the dog and my kids, and sneak in occasional squats or planks leaning on my kitchen counter and of course I teach Pilates 5 to 8 hours a day (which if you are a Pilates instructor you know does not mean I get to workout 5-8 hours a day!!)  My teaching time is kind of like the rest of my life…play time.   I’m generally teaching with my words, walking around clients giving feedback and cues and occasionally am showing a movement or exercise.

IMG_0887So what’s my secret?  Here’s what I discovered by accident!  Last week I had a day where my teaching schedule included Return to Life Mat Class ( a class that goes through Joseph Pilates’  mat sequence as he laid out in his book) and also some private sessions.  As I was teaching a private client later in my day I had a moment where I got that intense feeling of work in my abdominal muscles much like I get when I’m doing the work myself.  At that moment I had a little aha moment where I realized how much I often “do the muscles engagement and probably sequencing of muscle engagement” part of the movement with my clients as I’m teaching.  When I’m teaching I often find myself trying to put myself into my clients body in my mind so I can help them figure out how to move better and obviously as I’m doing that I’m engaging muscles with them.  When I’m teaching a class I often use my body to show a movement without actually getting down on a mat and doing it.

This is just a theory, but I have to believe that this engagement of my body while I teach only helps to strengthen my body and also just plain helps me make moving a continual part of my life.  It also reminds me of how lucky I am to be able spend my days doing something I love that keeps my body healthy and strong!  #jobperk

P.S. I would love to hear what other instructors think about how their teaching hours effect their overall health, strength, etc.!!

Inspiration of the Month: Shari

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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!

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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!

Office Pilates Day 14: One Leg Balance

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How’s your balance?  If you have a standing desk you can easily stand on one leg and balance and still keep working!! Standing balance exercises will strengthen muscles in your foot, ankle, legs and hips and give you more functional balance throughout your life!

For more ways that you can use the Pilates principles during your work day, visit any of the links below:

[catlist name=”office-pilates” numberposts=30 pagination=yes instance=1]

[tweetthis twitter_handles=”#officepilates, #pilates”]Did you know that just standing and balancing builds muscle? [/tweetthis]

Why husbands should buy their wife Pilates sessions for Christmas!

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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.