What is Pilates?!?
As a Pilates instructor with over 15 years in the industry I can tell you I've been asked this question a thousand times. And every time I give a different answer. Pilates "is" many things to each individual that practices it. It's a journey, a habit, a supplement, a God send, a building block, a career and more. I have seen it change lives.
The one thing that all of my new clients find the most intriguing about learning Pilates is how it makes your body think. There are no mindless repetitions in Pilates. Every single motion, muscle engagement and breath is precise and given 100% effort. You cannot take short cuts. Practicing Pilates correctly takes discipline and faith. Faith that your body can change and is smart and will do what you ask it to. Maybe not the first time, but over time.
I have also been asked "How many classes will it take me to see results?" And to this I always answer "That depends." We all want a "get fit quick" fix. It's on the cover of all the heath and fitness magazines. "5 Days To A New You!" Well folks, I know this is going to be tough to hear, but if you want change you have to work for it. Yes, that can mean sweating and muscle soreness but it also means concentration and believing in yourself. Results come from within.
So what is Pilates, really? Pilates is exercise. Exercise that focuses on deep core strengthening above all else. In order to access your deep core muscles you have to know how to find them and engage them. Your brain must talk to your body! Once you can do this we add more complex exercises. We test the deep core strength by taking the extremities further away from your center while maintaining spinal stability. We work in all planes of movement on the mat and the equipment. We use breath and control. Building strength in this way leads to a healthy spine and supported joints, better posture and overall strength and a body that can think for itself. Pilates is a lifestyle.
See you at the studio....
Amie
Thursday, July 28, 2016
So Many Bodies!
Wow. What a week!
It still amazes me how many different body types can benefit from Pilates. Every week I teach the spectrum - 28yr old female getting married in 5 weeks and works out 6 days a week, 64yr old man recovering from a shoulder injury, 50 something overweight woman who hasn't exercised in years, 37yr old female with a high stress job, 62yr old female with lumbar/sacral issues, 20yr old dance student taking Pilates classes for the summer -the list goes on. Each of these clients challenge me and I am never bored!
The wonderful thing about The Pilates Method of exercising is that every individual I stated above can do something. The method is easily modifiable if you know what your doing. I can modify the equipment or which range of motion we're working in. I can make the movements smaller or bigger or add weight or take weight away (this does not always make the exercise easier, in fact it often makes it harder) I can break things down into smaller parts or make them more complicated. I can boost, prop, vary, arrange. Movement is attainable to all of them. Building strength is attainable. We might have to start small and be creative, but work we can do.
Each of these people came to me with their own goals. Those goals can range from increasing shoulder mobility to better posture, to being able to sit at my desk without back and shoulder pain, to looking SUPER HOT in my wedding dress to becoming a better dancer. My job is to guide them towards those goals muscle by muscle. I love every minute of it!
See you at the studio...
Amie
It still amazes me how many different body types can benefit from Pilates. Every week I teach the spectrum - 28yr old female getting married in 5 weeks and works out 6 days a week, 64yr old man recovering from a shoulder injury, 50 something overweight woman who hasn't exercised in years, 37yr old female with a high stress job, 62yr old female with lumbar/sacral issues, 20yr old dance student taking Pilates classes for the summer -the list goes on. Each of these clients challenge me and I am never bored!
The wonderful thing about The Pilates Method of exercising is that every individual I stated above can do something. The method is easily modifiable if you know what your doing. I can modify the equipment or which range of motion we're working in. I can make the movements smaller or bigger or add weight or take weight away (this does not always make the exercise easier, in fact it often makes it harder) I can break things down into smaller parts or make them more complicated. I can boost, prop, vary, arrange. Movement is attainable to all of them. Building strength is attainable. We might have to start small and be creative, but work we can do.
Each of these people came to me with their own goals. Those goals can range from increasing shoulder mobility to better posture, to being able to sit at my desk without back and shoulder pain, to looking SUPER HOT in my wedding dress to becoming a better dancer. My job is to guide them towards those goals muscle by muscle. I love every minute of it!
See you at the studio...
Amie
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