Joe Pilates was onto something. It is all about the unique ability of the whole body to restore its function when used intelligently.
Read MoreWorking in an office environment can be much harder physically than anyone expects. Staying in shape is difficult when you work a desk job; muscle stiffness, soreness, and strain can set in and make every day feel like a challenge.
Read MoreI often get asked about a good home program that you can do at home on the days you can't make it to the studio. So, I wanted to share with you a 20 min sequence that works on the mobility of most of your joints and also really gets the core muscles working!
Read MoreWe can tell you now, that the answer is yes. Pilates is the perfect exercise for people young and old, whatever their ultimate fitness goals are. The use of controlled breathing and flowing precise movements to create balance can help improve everyday functionality and strengthen your body.
Read MoreWhen you come to a Pilates class, you're probably looking for a good workout. You may be looking for a class that is challenging enough so you feel you're on a path of growth, transformation, and healing. But, the class should not be SO challenging that you feel you cannot keep up and you leave class or you wake up the next day in pain.
Read MoreIn order to get the most from your workout, a big question to ask yourself is, why are you working out in the first place? Why are you running 5 miles every day, why are you riding 60 miles each week? Why are you cross-fitting 5 times per week? Is it because you want to look better or feel better?
Read MoreUnfortunately, many men still think Pilates is not for them. While it’s true that the majority of people practicing are women, Pilates was actually designed by a man — Joseph Pilates — and was originally called “Contrology.”
Read MoreSome of you have already heard my story of what I'm calling my "hiking injury". It was not really an injury, but due to a very poorly fitted backpack and decades of rounded shoulders (What you Mara? Yes, me.) my neck went into a spasm. The morning after I returned from my hiking vacation over Labor Day weekend, I woke up with a stiff neck.
Read MoreMost of us come to Pilates, or any exercise program, with a goal in mind. Maybe it’s strengthening the core to alleviate low back issues; maybe it’s losing those last stubborn ten pounds; maybe it’s learning how to mentally relax after a difficult day at work. Whatever it is for you, there’s one thing that is pretty much universal: most of us really want our goal to happen as immediately as possible.
Read MoreThere’s a common misconception in the world of fitness that the teacher who is the strongest or most flexible is the best teacher. This is easy to believe, but the truth is that this alone can often be a detriment rather than a benefit! While someone strong and flexible can be an amazing teacher, it’s often the teacher who has been injured or has other physical limitations who is more effective.
Read MoreWe’ve created this post as a way to see what the difference is between Pilates as it was designed and Pilates as it is often taught. For lack of better terminology, we’re calling this “Gym Pilates vs. True Pilates,” but please know that there are gyms that teach wonderful Pilates and studios that do not! These labels are just for ease of reference.
Read MoreOne of the most common questions I hear over and over from clients is, "How many repetitions should I do of each exercise?" At that point, I usually launch into a lengthy explanation of why I don't give a number.
Read MoreHow do we know that we are making progress? In Pilates, we don’t count repetitions, and we don’t care about adding more weight? So how do we measure our progress? Let me explain to you the four stages of learning, which, by the way, apply to all forms of learning, not just Pilates.
Read MoreChanging anything in our lives requires changing our habits. For Pilates, this is true even more since the method revolves around changing your movement habits.
Read MoreHave you ever walked into a Pilates studio, ready to take on your first hour-long session, only to be terrified by all the equipment? You're not alone. Equipment based Pilates classes are foreign territory even to many gym class aficionados—they are what make the hard work all come together for a healthier and stronger body.
Read MorePilates is a functional fitness system that offers a total mind-body workout. Exercises are focused on controlled, proper movements aimed at conditioning the whole body and maintaining health.
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