Tag Archive for: small group Pilates and Yoga Classes

Pilates gets personal!!!!

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I’m guessing you’ve never been at the gym doing bicep curls and had your trainer ask you,” How did that exercise feel in your body?”  As a Pilates instructor this is a question I often ask my clients as we work together.  You see,  learning the method of Pilates in your body isn’t just doing the exercises that your told to do, but it’s a process learning about your own body and how to move it as efficiently as possible on any given day.

The learning process that happens is really a 2 way street between instructors and clients.   When I ask a client how something felt I am doinIMG_7081g a couple of things.  First I am asking them to be aware enough of what they are doing to be able to describe how something felt in their body.  Second I want to get a sense of what a movement felt like to them because that’s the best way for me to help them learn that movement and other movements I’ll be introducing to them.

There is no right or wrong way to answer the question as I’m really just wanting to connect with a client so I can help them learn how to move better. There’s so much more to a mind body movement practice like Pilates  than just repeating an exercise and as an instructor I love to connect with clients and help them develop their practice in their bodies and life.

Interested in exploring a mind body practice like Pilates?  At Rivercity Pilates we offer a variety of classes and instructors and would love to help you develop your movement practice.  Try us out today by scheduling a complimentary private session with one of our Pilates or Yoga instructors.   If you prefer to attend a small group class to try Pilates your first class is complimentary.   For more information on what to expect in your first session, click here!

 

 

Meet the Instructor: Courtney

IMG_6272Hi!   It’s Meet the Instructor Monday, and we’d like you to meet Courtney Fleming.   Courtney began teaching Yoga at RCP earlier this summer.

When I participate in Courtney’s classes, I leave Courtney’s class with a better sense of my body.  Her gentle cuing allows me to explore each pose and fine tune what my body needs that day.  We hope you have a chance to attend one of her classes soon!  Read on to see Courtney’s answers to our questions!

 

Where are you from?   How did you end up in North Liberty?
I am originally from Southeast Iowa, but I moved to North Liberty during high school with my family. I decided to attend the University of Iowa, which is why I am still in the area.

What is your favorite restaurant?  My favorite restaurant is P.F. Changs. (It’s a bummer that there isn’t one in Iowa City!)

Why did you choose to practice Yoga?  How long have you been a yogi?  I can’t remember when I began practicing yoga, but I actively started practicing in 2011. I decided to use yoga to cross train with my dancing. It has really helped with preventing any injuries I may obtain.

1 thing on your bucket list that you could share with us….Before I die, I would really like to go to Spain.

Why did you become an instructor?   I became an instructor to share my knowledge and love for yoga. I also want people to feel better about themselves and their bodies.

Has yoga changed you/your lifestyle?   On an emotional note, yoga has changed my perception of how I treat myself, others, and the environment. Yoga has helped me become more mindful and aware of the things going on around me. On a physical note, yoga has helped me increase strength in all parts of my body, as well as helping with preventing injuries.

Music?   What is your favorite song / group /genre of music?  I don’t have a favorite IMG_6164song, because it changes constantly. If I had to choose, I would say my favorite singer/songwriter would be Ed Sheeran.

Tell us something that would surprise the students who have been in your classes… Something that may surprise my students is that my yoga classes tend to be a yoga class and anatomy class in one. I think it is important for my students to understand their body and how it works. This will allow my students to get as much as they can out of a class. Also, it gives them the tools to stay safe and comfortable in my classes and any other classes they may take.

 

 

 

 

My First Yoga Class @ Rivercity PIlates!

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My first and until last week, my only experience at yoga was at one of those big box gyms. You know, the kind you join for $30 or $40 a month? I wanted to de-stress, I wanted to be more flexible, and I had read that yoga helps with that. I went once. It was years ago. I remember thinking, when is this going to be over. I thought that for an hour. It was get to a pose, wait a couple of minutes, new pose. Every time we were holding a pose, the instructor was quiet, I was waiting to figure out what came next and all the stress came back from work, and by the end of class I had a list of 20+ things to do in my head.

Shara O'Burg Power, Yoga Instructor @ Rivercity Pilates

Shara O’Burg Power, Yoga Instructor @ Rivercity Pilates

I told Carey that story one night, and the next day she invited me to a yoga class at Rivercity Pilates and asked me to blog about it. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I had seen Shara’s picture on the website, and I was totally intimidated. I put on some workout clothes and put a scrunchie on my wrist. I didn’t really think I would need a pony tail, because isn’t yoga about sitting in weird poses and stuff? Surely I wouldn’t sweat in my first class.

When I met Shara, she was positive and bubbly and easy to talk too, but still i wondered if I would be breaking my neck trying to stand on my head in class or feeling foolish because I would be the only one who couldn’t stand on my head.

We went into the class and I strategically took a place right by the door. You never know when you might need to make a quick exit. Shara put on some music, and I thought, this might be ok. It wasn’t country music that I prefer, but it wasn’t that chants snake dancing stuff either. Then more people came in. A yoga instructor, a Pilates instructor, and a physical therapist and two more folks I hadn’t met. Ok, I wanted to head out the door. But, I didn’t want to be called a quitter! Then she dimmed the lights and switched the music to “yoga music” or as I call it “snake charmer music”. I wasn’t very comfortable with the music. Why don’t they use some Luke Bryan?

We started standing, and Shara told us to close our eyes. Ok, I can do that.   That worked fine until she started giving instructions using words I didn’t know. I had to peek thru my eyelids to see what to do.  No one seemed to mind that I was peeking.   She said if we had an “intention” for the class to think about that. I made my yoga mantra. “Please let me make it thru the class without falling over in a pile”. That was pretty much the last non-yoga thought I had for one hour. After about 5 minutes, I was totally focused on trying to keep up with the movements, and even the snake charmer music was so much in the background, that it didn’t bother me.

Shara led us in a series of exercise that flowed from one to another. (No two minute hold the pose moments for my mind to wander). My quads began to scream at me. Shara was calm and encouraging, and her excitement was infectious as she talked us thorough the subtleties of the pose to ensure everyone had the best experience. You know when fitness instructors tell you that they are working large muscles first to get your heart pumping? My heart was definitely pumping and the sweat started to roll! This was a workout!  Who knew that yoga would make you sweat so much?

My neck was so hot, I wanted to put my hair in a pony tail, but my hands were always busy with the exercises. From downward dog to plank to half way up to standing, there was always something for my hands to do and there wasn’t a minute to get my hair in a pony tail! I had to listen so I knew what to do next. I figure I was a few seconds behind all the yoga regulars that practice yoga regularly, but it wasn’t as awkward (or embarrassing) as I had anticipated. The lights were dim, Shara was coaching and guiding as she worked along with us thru the exercises, and she was so terrific at describing body position (what to squeeze when) and so positive when she saw any student make a correction and get that extra oomph out of each move, that dare I say – I actually thought I might like this thing called yoga despite all the sweat.

Did I make it thru the whole hour?  Stay tuned for Part 2 of my first yoga class!

Becky Monroe
Rivercity Pilates Student
901_ERD_7633 (13)

10 Reasons to Begin a Yoga Practice at Rivercity Pilates

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As healthcare and healing modalities continue to evolve, Yoga is quickly becoming an intricate part of health and wellness programs because of it’s ability to promote health and healing at all levels:  physical, emotional and spiritual.   Check out these Top 10 reasons to begin a Yoga Practice at Rivercity Pilates!    We have private or small group training sessions available for Yoga
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yogawordle210 Reasons to Practice Yoga!

1.  Stress relief
2.  Inner Peace, Calm and Authentic Happiness
3.  Increased Strength, Physical Conditioning and a Beautiful Posture
4.  Weight Loss and Weight Management
5.  Increased Overall Energy
6.  Improved Sleep
7.  Heightened Mental and Intuitive Awareness.
8.  Improved Hormonal balance (especially in cases of breast cancer, infertility and prenatal conditioning)
9.  Brain Synchronization and Brain Fitness
10.  Whole Body Detoxification

Beginning a new movement program can be overwhelming.    We encourage you to take advantage of our complimentary first session to become familiar with Rivercity Pilates, and meet with your instructor.   You can schedule your complimentary first session on our website, or you can call 319-665-2499 and we will do the computer work for you!    We hope to hear from you soon!

Meet the Instructor Monday – Shara Power

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2014-03-22 14.53.07In today’s Meet the Instructor Monday, we’d like to introduce you to Shara Power, who began teaching yoga classes at Rivercity Pilates this summer.   If you haven’t tried one of Shara’s classes, I guarantee she will make you feel terrific, as she leads you in moves that will work every muscle in your body! We asked Shara some questions, and here are her answers!

Compare yoga to your full time job!!  During the day for my “real” job, I am an Informatics Specialist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. This is a fancy way of saying I work with the hospital’s computer charting system. I was a Bone Marrow Transplant nurse for the first 7 years of my career and transitioned to the information technology side of health care in 2012. It was at this time that I started my first teacher training at Jane’s House of Yoga in St. Louis, Mo in the Dynamic Yoga Method. I learned a lot about change in that time frame and yoga was the grounding force that helped me deal with it. I use yoga everyday in my daily life, not just in the physical adjustment of my body but more so in how I deal with others, stress and challenging situations. Yoga has taught me to accept what I can not change and to be open to the exploration of new ideas and complex problems.

Favorite food to prepare?  I am not an incredible cook but I am learning! I try at every holiday to learn how to make a family recipe. My husband, Zach, and I like to share the wealth when it comes to cooking at home. We try to cook and clean up together whenever possible. It is great being able to spend time together by doing something so simple.

We heard you were a dancer, can you elaborate?  I started dancing when I was 4 years old and danced all the way through college. I have done just about every style of dance out there but jazz and lyrical were always my favorites. In fact, it was my love of movement that brought me to yoga after college. I have yet to try ballroom or belly dancing but hopefully I can get Zach to ballroom with me at some point in our lives!!

Why did you choose to practice Yoga?   As I mentioned, I was an avid dancer and have always had a need for movement in my life. I have never been a sports person or a runner so when I graduated from college and went from dancing 4-6 hours a day to nothing, I felt like there was a huge void in my life.  My Mom started practicing yoga in 2007 and encouraged me try it out. I started practicing in 2008 at The Studio on South Dubuque St in Iowa City. I remember being so sore for the first 2 months of practice!! But underneath all the sore muscles something was happening deep in my heart. I was falling in love with this practice! It was liberating, life affiriming and emotionally challenging all in one. I knew I was hooked from that moment on.

Why did you become an instructor?  I had been considering becoming a teacher for about a year but the turning point for me was when a teacher of mine asked me if I would be interested in teaching a class at the studio. I have been on the teaching journey ever since.

catsHow do you de-stress  outside of yoga?  Lots of time with my husband, Zach, and 2 cats, Bailey & Duncan. I also LOVE to travel and am gone as often as I can be.

What is your favorite song / favorite group?  My favorite artist since I was about 14 is Tori Amos. Don’t get to play her music much in class but I listen to it constantly and have seen her in concert about 6 times.

hogwarts

Something that would surprise the students who have been in your classes so far?  I am a HUGE Harry Potter Fan. I have my own wand from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and have been sorted into the Ravenclaw House. Zach and I plan to go on a Harry Potter themed England vacation in the summer of 2016.

I’ve attended Shara’s classes, and her excitement and energy inspire all her students!   Try a yoga class with Shara soon — I am certain that you will be glad you did!   We are excited to welcome Shara to Rivercity Pilates!

Carey

Julie’s story of living her purpose and how she can help you find yours!

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Julie & Asha

Julie & Asha

You may already know me as a Barre and Yoga instructor at Rivercity Pilates but I am happy to reveal that I am also offering Life Coaching and Reiki services!

So as my service to you deepens, I only thought it was fitting to deepen our relationship and tell you a little bit more about me and how I got here.

As a young girl, I was fascinated with movement and dance.  It was my outlet and a way for me to express myself, as I was also extremely shy and timid.  This was my place to shine but also to connect to like-minded friends.  It was a savior for me!  But as I grew older, I held the belief that I needed to pursue a lucrative career, one that would provide “security” and independence.

I received a Master’s degree in Administration focusing on the non-profit sector and worked for many years in program development.  But as the years flew by, I felt deeply in my soul that I wanted to work with people in a more profound and personal way.  So, drawing on my love of movement, I enrolled in a Yoga Teacher training and began to teach yoga in the evenings. The more that I worked with people helping them to connect to their bodies, the more I learned about and desired to incorporate a holistic mind, body and spirit approach.

So I set off to embark on a second master’s degree in counseling psychology and then promptly took a job as a program director for the Fulbright Commission in Mexico City, yet another administrative role.  They say that old habits die hard and following my dreams (in the professional realm) was just not something I was accustomed to.  But they also say that life will take you where you need to go, which leads to the part where I was let go from said stable, high-powered job.

And so finally, in the midst of crisis, I surrendered to following my dream and began the journey back home to my roots.

I hired a coach to help me sort out my “stuff” and since then I have begun a journey to make my dreams a reality.   I have started my own business, begun teaching movement on a daily basis, become certified as a life coach and have become more fulfilled, personally and professionally, than I could have ever imagined.

As I reflect back on that shy, timid child who saw dancing as her savior, I am reminded that my soul has always known who I am and what I want, I just couldn’t hear the call.  I was blocked by fear and the “shoulds” and the “what will people think of me.”   I was like a little train that had gone off the track and I was getting nowhere fast! Moreover, I was tired (because its hard to move a train that’s not on track), and I was resentful and angry and most of all unhappy.  Figuring out who I was in the depths of my soul and subsequently creating a plan and acting on it has brought me more movement and happiness than ever seemed possible… in less than a year!

I share my journey, not to just blow my horn or bore you with the details of my life, but to demonstrate that my journey has led me to today.  I wouldn’t be able to coach you about what it means to dream and change and return to your purpose if I haven’t focused on what transformation really means. I am here today because I am transforming my life from blah to beautiful.  Each and every day, I do the work, and more and more every day I walk the talk.

I know that desire to connect more deeply to life and purpose.  I have desired to enhance my relationships, to follow my dreams, to be a better leader, to release fear and most importantly to love myself enough to change!  And now I want to share the wisdom that I have gained to help you along your path. I believe that the road to personal development is the path of a warrior, but it is where the victories are won.

What will the next chapter in your book be?

Life coaching is a positive and forward-looking approach to personal development that is results oriented and filled with vision, purpose and fun.  It is the intersection of dreams and reality.  My personal coaching approach is compassionate and sometimes therapeutic, but also no nonsense and down to earth.  Moreover, I bring a wealth of formal experience including:

  • MA, Counseling Psychology – California School of Professional Psychology
  • MS, Non-profit administration – University of Notre Dame
  • Certified Life Coach – Life Purpose Institute
  • Specialization in Focusing Oriented Therapy – The Focusing Institute NYC
  • Registered Yoga Teacher  – Dancing Feet Yoga
  • Certificate in Latino Family Therapy – Alliant International University Mexico City
  • Reiki Master energy attunement
  • Numerous years of experience working with people in leadership development, crisis counseling and family therapy

I will be offering one-on-one coaching services, Reiki sessions, and a free informal evening of exploration called Life Inspired once a month…and of course Barre and Yoga classes!

 

If you have questions, the slightest bit of curiosity or are ready to just dive in, please sign up for a free consultation to discuss what would work best for you.

I look forward to working with you!

Julie