Tag Archive for: Rivercity Pilates North Liberty Iowa

What I Love about Pilates!

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For those of you who practice Pilates you know its not always easy to describe Pilates to those who have never done it.  I had a prospective client ask me the question,” What do you love about Pilates?” .  I naturally listed off some of the many things that popped into my head. Really though I felt like I needed to sit down, think about and write out what it is that I really love about Pilates.

So here it is, short and sweet:RCP-6

I love that this method of exercise challenges me every time I do it.  It challenges my body and my mind and no one workout is ever the same.   I love that my Pilates practice is part of my life and not just something I do for exercise or because I have to.   I LOVE how awake, alive, and accomplished  my body feels after practicing!  I love that anyone in any physical condition, any age, any size, any gender….can be successful at Pilates.   ~Carey

So we want to know- what do you LOVE about Pilates??

 

 

 

Pilates Inspiration of the Month – Becky Monroe

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Empower your Body-Inspire your Life!
Inspiration of the Month
Becky Monroe

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

I started Pilates the last week in March. The past 2 years have been challenging for me.  I’m an only child and in the past 18 months, my then 84yo mom had a stroke, broke her hip, and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  She passed away 5 months and 2 weeks after her cancer diagnosis in my home.  My 90 year old father has moved in with me and it’s been 18 months of making sure my parents had everything they needed. I had let my fitness slide before they moved in with me and I continued down a non-healthy path and gained more weight.  I finally embraced the advice that to be a good caregiver, you also need to take care of yourself, but still I was scared. It’s hard being out of shape and overweight.

The one thing that actually got me to make the commitment to try Pilates was the complimentary session offered by Rivercity Pilates.  I felt like I could make sure I was comfortable there and try it out before  I actually signed up for sessions.  When Carey explained that Joseph Pilates invented these exercises because he was sickly, the practice of Pilates made much more sense to me.

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

I have been trying to go to Pilates 4-6 times per week to improve my health.  I started with one-on-one training sessions and made sure I was comfortable doing some of the exercises, (I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t look like an idiot), before I joined a group session.  My favorite phrase in Pilates is, “your working level”, although the instructors are terrific at letting me know how to challenge, “my working level”, so I can see improvement.  I am much more comfortable in the equipment classes than I am on the mat, but I am trying to attend a variety of classes to keep challenging myself.

 

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

I can see myself improving on some of the exercises now that I couldn’t do, (or could barely do), 2 months ago. What I love about Pilates is that you can see improvement if you commit to improvement. I think it’s the same challenge people get from playing golf. You are concentrating on yourself, so you really notice improvement.

I have more energy, I am not feeling as creaky (and old) as I was two months ago. But most importantly, one of my best friends was here this weekend and she said that I looked healthier. That’s all I needed to confirm that Pilates is helping me become healthy again.

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

Mostly I have least favorite exercises because I am still gaining the strength to do them completely. I like all the equipment classes because I find the ingenuity to create the machines to assist with the exercises amazing!  I’m a technology geek, but this equipment was developed before the depression.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing Pilates?

Before I started I was trying to balance the cost of classes against the benefits as well as the insecurities. It was easy to say that Pilates was too expensive and continue to be a couch potato.  However, just 7 weeks after starting Pilates I feel better, and my closest friends can see that. In the words of Nike, “Just Do It”.  Check out the website and sign up for the complimentary session.

Inspiration of the Month

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anne

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start? I have only been practicing Pilates since November 2013.  I had tried fitness classes and different types of yoga but never really found my niche.  An avid runner and self-described “gym-rat,” I really wanted something that would complement my usual work outs.  Pilates forced me to slow down and to balance my mental AND physical needs.

What benefits have you seen by committing to a regular Pilates practice? It’s surprising how many times I consider Pilates each day.  From my posture while sitting at my desk in the office, to feeling more strength in my legs and core on my long runs, and even just remembering to breathe, Pilates is really improving all aspects of my life.

Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?
My absolute favorite piece of equipment is the Chair. It’s small but packs a mighty work out!

What would you say to someone thinking about starting Pilates? It’s funny because I probably sound like a broken record to my friends and family because I’ve been recommending Pilates to everyone since I started.  It’s a great addition to your traditional cardio and weight training programs- the perfect combination of core work and mindfulness.  I even got my husband (a personal trainer up in Cedar Rapids) to come with me to a recent Saturday morning class. He loved the class  (and our classmates) and is definitely coming back!

The Best and Cheapest Pilates Prop Ever!

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carey's fav propOne of the things I love most about the Pilates method of exercise is that you can workout just about anywhere.

The Pilates mat work is so versatile. There are so many different options, there is really no excuse not to do a little something as long as you have a comfortable carpet or mat you can use.

I love to be able to mix up my mat work and add in some fun props(or toys as I often call them).  Props can add variety to your workouts and help you engage and work just a little bit more.  There are a lot of great props designed for Pilates and they can range $1.50 to $200+ depending on what they are.

By far one of my favorite and cheapest Pilates prop ever is the  playground ball. 

I just picked up a few small ones today for $1.50 per ball!  The medium sized playground balls were $2.50 per ball!  Check out the video below for a quick mini-workout that would work great with either a medium or small playground ball!

 

 

If you have neck pain, Pilates may be the perfect exercise method for you!

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Do you have chronic neck pain, limited range of movement in your neck, fused cervical vertebrae or other neck issues? The Pilates Method of exercise may be the perfect form of exercise for you.stiff-neck-1

Often times people with neck problems give up exercise all together because popular exercises can exaggerate their pain and leave them frustrated without seeing any results.

If you are someone who has been dealing with neck pain or problems -know that just one session with a qualified Pilates instructor, may change your views of exercise completely.

The Pilates method of exercise is a total body exercise that works the entire body and is completely adaptable. Exercises can be designed to create strength, balance and flexibility in your body without causing more pain in your neck.

In fact, many clients find that their Pilates practice helps them create balance in their body which reduces neck discomfort and leaves them feeling an overall sense of well being. By concentrating on specific movements and breath, the Pilates Method of exercise is great stress relief as well.

If you are interested in trying out the Pilates method of exercise here are a few quick tips:

1.  Ask about your instructor’s background, teacher training and their experience working with your specific issues to help you find an instructor who is a good fit for you.

2.  Make sure you fill out your health form completely and keep your instructor informed on how exercises feel in your body. Your feedback will help your instructor fine tune exercises so you get the most benefit in your body.

3.  Start off with private sessions.  Although private sessions are more expensive than group classes, they are essential especially if you have physical pain or are overcoming an injury or chronic problem.  Private sessions will allow you to learn the method specific to your body so that you are able to get the maximum benefits and not aggravate any existing conditions.

4.  If you want to work into group classes just let your instructor know.  Your instructor can teach and prepare you to learn how to modify exercises for your body so that you can safely and easily integrate into small group classes.  Your instructor can also give you suggestions on which type of class might be the best fit for you.

5.  Talk to your health care providers(doctor, physical therapist, chiropractor, etc.) and let them know what you are doing.  Most Pilates instructors welcome the chance to work together with health providers when planning your Pilates sessions.

To learn more about scheduling your complimentary Pilates session at Rivercity Pilates contact us today!

 

 

 

A Love Letter From Your Pilates Instructor

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heartPilates instructors are very passionate people who LOVE what they do and they love the people they work with.  In honor of Valentine’s Day,  this letter was written to show you how much we care!

Dear Devoted Pilates Client,

1.  You are amazing!  I am amazed and inspired daily by your devotion to your Pilates practice!  I know, as much as you love your Pilates sessions, that it is not always easy to get to the studio.  Life happens and there are a million excuses you could use to not come in- but you do.  Your devotion inspires me in my daily life.  Thank You!

2. You are making amazing progress in your Pilates practice and in your life every time you practice.  As instructors we are often giving you feedback on how to improve your practice because that’s part of our job.  I probably don’t spend enough time telling you how far you’ve come and how great you’re doing.  One of the wonderful parts of my job is that I get to see people create positive changes in their bodies on a daily basis. Keep it up!

3.   I love to celebrate the little milestones with you!   Can you pick something off the floor without your back hurting?  Can you sit comfortably on the floor with your kids or grandchildren?  Are you sitting taller at your desk or has your posture improved?  I love to hear about and celebrate these moments with you.  I practice and teach Pilates so that I can help others live life to the fullest and it makes me happy when I hear your success stories!

4.  Please don’t feel bad about speaking up and telling me something doesn’t feel good in your body.  I know that not every exercise or movement is right for every body and it does not bother me at all if you tell me that something hurts or doesn’t feel right. In fact- I LOVE the opportunity to find something that does work for you.  Changing, modifying and creating exercises designed specifically for your body is what I am trained to do and I LOVE to do it!  It makes me cringe to have a client work through the pain.  I believe and know that exercise does not have to hurt to be super effective.  If you are in pain, then you are not getting the benefits of the exercise and you might be doing more harm than good to your body.

5. Thank you for choosing me to share your Pilates journey with you!  Working with amazing, nice, thoughtful clients makes me happy!  I know there are lots of choices when it comes to instructors and I truly value you as a dedicated client.

With Love,

Your Pilates Instructor