Tag Archive for: Pilates Iowa

What does a Pilates practice really look like?

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2016Happy New Year!! I don’t know about you but there is something about a new year that I love! I love to take a little time and just see where I am in life, be grateful for what I have and set some goals and focus for the year ahead.  This year as I was taking a little time to think about what I wanted 2016 to look like I decided that I wanted to continue to do more of what I love in life.  Like most people I have a tendency to get caught up in my to do lists, the day to day stuff that needs to be done and the little things that quite frankly don’t matter so much.

On the top of my lists of what I love to do are Pilates (and movement in general) and writing.  So I decided to commit myself to writing a weekly blog about my own daily Pilates practice.  Here’s a few reasons why I’ve decided to share this journey with you:

  1. Personal growth.  I’m not going to lie, this is a pretty selfish endeavor!  Committing myself to writing about my daily Pilates practice over an entire year is going to commit me do digging deep and exploring what I am practicing, why I am doing what I’m doing and will without a doubt make myself a better instructor in my professional life and a better person overall! Pilates is an integral part of my health and my career but I’ve never taken the time to look so closely at my own practice and share it with others!
  2. Realism.  (is that a word??)  I want to share what a Pilates practice looks like with the world.  Every time I turn around there is a barely dressed, super-model-looking-woman doing super advanced Pilates exercises on Instagram, Facebook and  everywhere online.  I want people to know those pictures are not what having a Pilates practice is about. I’m super passionate about the Pilates method of exercise being able to change lives for the better and I want people to have a realistic view of what it’s like to incorporate the method in their life! I’m pretty lucky to be able to teach Pilates as a career but just like everyone else I still have to find time to fit in my own Pilates practice throughout my days.  There are days when I get a full mat or equipment workout in and there are days when I sneak in various exercises in between clients, and taking kids to activities and folding laundry!  A Pilates practice doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective!!
  3. Inspiration.  We all need to be inspired some days and I’m hoping that sharing my Pilates journey over the year might encourage someone to start their own practice, have the courage to walk into a Pilates studio and try something new or maybe just restart something they used to do.  I’m hoping it will encourage everyone to not be so hard on themselves when they don’t do something perfect in their own movement practice and realize the amazing benefits to creating a Pilates practice in their life wherever they are!

#PracticeWhatYouTeach (1)Be sure to check in with me each week as I give you some highlights of what my Pilates practice looked like, how my body was feeling, and how it affected the rest of my life!  I’ll be using the hashtag #pilates #practicewhatyouteach throughout the year!

 

Summers are hard on stay at home Moms

photo from jeffgreenhouse.com

Sometimes the stars are aligned, and sometimes…….

Summertime for a stay at home mom of three young children is hard work. Much harder than the school year. Add in to the mix a husband that works 60-70 hours a week and you’ve got yourself one tired momma. I only get Mom-time when the stars align.

My trips to Rivercity Pilates has been limited to mostly 4:00 pm Sunday yoga for the past few months since that’s about the only time that my husband is home to watch the kids.

Kimberly demonstrating and cueing!

Kimberly demonstrating and cueing!

A few weeks ago, the stars aligned and I found myself free on a Tuesday evening with no little league game on the calendar and my husband home at a reasonable time. With shaky fingers, I signed up for Kimberly’s 6:30 pm Tower class, certain that my recent absence from Pilates would slow down the class and earn me glaring eyes from everyone else who knew what they were doing.

When I entered, I joked with Kim that I’d be lucky to walk out of the class alive after not having been to a Pilates class in so long. She quickly calmed my nerves and said it would be like a private lesson since I was the only one signed up for the class. The stars really were on my side that night as I eased back in to my Pilates practice with Kim’s gentle guide and reassurance that I was, in fact, breathing correctly and swinging like a ballerina rather than a chimpanzee on the Cadillac.

I later joked with Carey that it was like a first date and Kim said all the right things! With any luck, the stars will align in my favor soon so I can return to life on the mat regularly.

~Amber, stay at home mom of 3 who LOVES her Yoga and Pilates mom time!!

[tweetthis]Mom time for #Fitness is hard to find in the summer! One Mom’s story[/tweetthis]

 

 

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Why Pilates is the Perfect Exercise for Women over 50

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Pilates is a fabulous method of exercise for any body, but if you are a woman over the age of 50 you may find it’s the perfect form of exercise for you.

Have you ever said:

  • I just want to stay strong and lean.
  • I see my mom aging and know I want to keep my own body fit, strong, flexible and functional so I can live life to the fullest.
  • I want an instructor/trainer who understands that I’m not 25 and trains me accordingly.IMG_2412
  • I want to enjoy my workouts.

The Pilates Method of exercise may be the perfect exercise for you and here’s why:

  • The Pilates Method combines strength, balance, and flexibility into one very efficient workout session that will keep you lean and strong.
  • The Pilates Method focuses on using proper body mechanics and teaches you how to move in a way that will balance out your body and prevent injuries as you age.
  • The Pilates Method is truly a movement practice that can be done at any level and can be done throughout your entire lifetime.
  • A PMA Certified Pilates instructor has had over 500 hours of initial training and mentoring hours that results in experienced instructors who understand how to work with bodies of all ages, levels and conditions.
  • The Pilates Method uses a variety of equipment and props so that there is a ton of variety.  You’ll develop a practice of movements and exercises that become familiar to your body but you’ll also be continually challenged.

 

Click here to learn more about trying out Pilates at Rivercity Pilates!!  Schedule a complimentary private session and learn what it can do for your body!  At Rivercity Pilates we offer private Pilates sessions, semi-private Pilates sessions(scheduled with a friend or family member) and small group classes(averaging 6-8 clients per class).

 

 

 

Inspiration of the Month- Teena VanDaele

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DSCN0393December 2014

Inspiration of the Month

Teena VanDaele

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?

I began Pilates about 10 years ago and was extremely diligent with my lessons, then my oldest child was born and Pilates fell to the wayside.  I restarted in May of this year because I was getting older and because of my occupation, I had horrible lower back pain.  I soon realized how much I truly enjoyed the experience of Pilates.  Not to say I didn’t have my struggles as I began taking classes again, but I was truly amazed that despite the few years I had been away from Pilates, I was still able to “maneuver” myself into various positions.

How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?
I began in May with two sessions per week: 1 private and 1 class.   I enjoy the private classes for the individual perspective they provide.  Private classes enable you to perfect to your “working level” the techniques of Pilates, giving you a perspective on where improvements need to be made or where your strong points remain.  Class gives you the opportunity to work at a faster pace with a variety of sessions; i.e. mat, reformer, Tower.

Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?

My personal favorite is by far the tower classes; they provide an interesting mix of mat work/resistance combination.

What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Pilates?

In restarting Pilates this past May, I have noticed a vast improvement in my lower back pain and my energy levels throughout my day.  I no longer wake up in the middle of the night with back pain and I find myself sleeping better overall.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing Pilates?
What I have learned and would pass along as a piece of advice from someone who started Pilates in my late 20’s, early 30’s and did not restart until I was 40, is that you certainly do not have to master the skills within each aspect of Pilates to retain the benefit of what it can do for and to you.  Everyone has a varied skill level and no matter what that skill level is; simply trying Pilates will provide benefit to you… that is the art of Pilates.

2014 Rivercity Pilates Inspirational Clients

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It’s the end of the year and as we reflect on the year past we love the chance to honor our amazing, inspiring clients!  At Rivercity Pilates, our instructors and staff are truly dedicated helping others create health and wellness in their lives and our biggest inspiration is our clients.  We hope you enjoy this video honoring our monthly Inspirations of the Month for 2014!

 

Be sure to share the inspiration with your family and friends by reposting this video on all your favorite social media sites!

Inspiration of the Month Gina Luegering

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 GinaInspiration of the Month

October 2014

Gina Luegering

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?

I’m so happy that I made the decision to start Pilates. It has been something that I’ve always wanted to try and  I have found all of these things and so much more after starting at Rivercity Pilates. I wish I would have started sooner after seeing the changes in my body and the energy I have since starting in August!

How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?

My personal goal is to attend 4 to 5 classes a week, but with two busy teenagers I sometimes only get in 3 times a week. I love all of the Pilates classes and try to do at least one of each a week

What benefits have you seen by committing to a regular Pilates practice?

After a couple of injuries I really wanted to do something that was low-impact on my body while building strength, tone, and balance.

Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?

My favorite is the reformer classes.

What would you say to someone thinking about starting Pilates?

When I walk into Rivercity, it’s always a positive atmosphere, the classes are small, and the instructors are amazing. I would recommend Pilates to anyone looking to build strength, energy, and bring balance to their life!