Ashley Gray

"I was looking for a low-impact physical activity that I could do to help strengthen a previous knee injury. Since starting Pilates I've noticed improvement in my horseback riding. I also enjoy the peace Pilates brings me during the week. It's a moment I get to have for myself."

 

"I started Pilates in August 2015. I was looking for a low-impact physical activity that I could do to help strengthen a previous knee injury as well as an activity I could do along side my horseback riding. I practice Pilates 3-4 times a week. I currently do a private session once a week and Independent Practice once a week. The other 1-2 times I have homework that I do at home.

I have noticed numerous benefits to practicing Pilates. Some of them are increased flexibility, core strength, as well as my breathing is more consistent during physical activity. I've noticed improvement in my horseback riding in terms of balance and breathing. I also enjoy the peace and hard work Pilates brings me when I practice it during the week. It's a moment I get to have when I work on myself.

My favorite exercise would be Bridging. I enjoy it because it's such a challenge to be able to learn how to improve the flexibility of your spine, placing one vertebrae down at a time, but also adding in variations such as sliding in and out on the reformer. I don't have one favorite piece of equipment because there are so many different variations of exercises to do on each piece and I truly enjoy exploring each different piece and experiencing the benefits from it.

I have experienced so many different benefits from doing Pilates and this is truly an exercise program you can do for life and that will cater to your strengths and weaknesses and help you develop a healthy activity regimen."