The way we stand, walk, slouch, reach, and push, all of it is an expression of a lifetime of habits. These habits are reflected in the way we move. So the more easily we move and get around in life, the less pain we have. We can retrain these movement habits through functional exercises that teach proper alignment and better posture. Pilates is a way to strength train pain free. How to train to live pain free? You can break…
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More and more, we are looking for resistance exercises that support overall health. When strength training, assess and develop a baseline for your body’s stability and mobility. Your strength training program should challenge your shoulders to help improve posture and help eliminate low back pain, especially for women. Do an initial body assessment to provide a strong foundation from which to build a more complex strength training program to come. Start by assessing your posture in the two most compromised…
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We get asked a lot “What Pilates fitness level is appropriate for me?” or “Do you think I can do a higher fitness level?”. As an education-focused studio, we prioritize your safety and long-term fitness health over instant results. Jumping into the wrong level could cause injury which is the last thing we want. While fitness expectations and personal health goals vary widely from person to person it’s important to assess your current, very real fitness level, age, and learning…
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Functional movement is defined by physical activities that focus on supporting someone’s daily routine. Pilates equipment is designed around household furniture; think twin-sized bed or standing up out of a chair. Joseph Pilates specifically developed the exercises in an effort to enhance one’s ability to enjoy everyday activities of daily living. As a functional movement method of exercise, Pilates supports healthy aging. What is functional movement? Think of functional as rolling out of bed, getting up off the floor. It’s…
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There is a distinction that should be made between physically working out and exercising with the intention of being mindful of how you move. But what is it? We’ll explore what mindful movement means and why Pilates is considered a mindful movement. We’ve all felt that cleansing bliss from a sweet sweat. It feels like a washing away of stress, a release through movement for a need for control, accuracy, or restraint. It can feel like freedom! If a dirty…
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Did you know Pilates has been a popular form of exercise since the 1920s, and for good reason! The form of fitness is safe, low impact, and appropriate for everyone from ages 10 to 100! The Pilates method teaches students to move better through its focus on nine specific principles which incorporate mind, body, and spirit. What are the Key Principles of Pilates? There are nine key Pilates principles, all related to mind, body, and spirit, that are practiced in…
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