There are lots of group Pilates classes available now. And for some people that works very well. But for many people that approach isn’t the best way to start.

If you have pain or injury a group setting can be very difficult and doesn’t give you the individual attention you need. Many exercises can be adjusted and modified to work for your needs but in a big class that just isn’t possible. Learning the basics at your own pace in private sessions can build the foundation of your practice and then group classes will be more effective. Or you may decide to stick with private sessions long term. Either way it is the best place to start especially if you’re new to Pilates and have pain or injuries or just feel “out of shape”.

There’s no one way to do Pilates and in my teaching I want to help each person find the best way for them to move and connect to their body. There’s no “perfect form” required, just an exploration of how to move without pain and find more strength and ease in your life. Pilates is a way to improve your quality of life and really has no body type to aspire to, although most marketing doesn’t show this. Everyone is capable of doing Pilates and enjoying its benefits. I truly love helping people develop a better relationship with their own body and learn to move in ways that make life easier and more enjoyable. If the image of the “Pilates body” makes you think it’s not for you, think again! I’m here to help you just as you are and support whatever goals you might have. Your Pilates doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

Sometimes you don’t have a whole hour to exercise, but even just 15 minutes can be so beneficial!

I’m offering short sessions of 15, 20 and 30 minutes. Priced at just $20/$27/$35 you can schedule them at your convenience and video chat from home or office. They can be “in between” sessions to supplement your studio visits or just small movement breaks during your day.

You can have a plan like “open shoulders and upper back” or “ab series” or just a general full body set. We will use a mat and whatever home equipment you have.

Get in touch to schedule!

So much focus is put onto how our body looks and most fitness is fixated on weight loss and getting “toned”. There’s also a prevailing message of “no pain no gain” and the idea that you have to push hard and work yourself to absolute muscle failure to get results But what if you don’t want to “feel the burn” and actually want to feel better?

Pilates can be a way to build a better relationship with your body. It’s like couples counseling for your mind and body! Mindfulness in movement and breathing is deeply calming for your nervous system. Building strength, flexibility, balance and coordination can happen in a way that feels nourishing to your body. The Pilates equipment creates support and challenges you in ways that empower you to understand your body more deeply. Private sessions allow you to start where you are, progress at your own rate and do what your body needs instead of trying to keep up or feel like you’re struggling instead of succeeding.

Whatever goals you have Pilates can be adapted to support you in reaching them. Some people want to work towards a marathon while others want to be more comfortable and capable in their body. Ultimately Pilates can improve your quality of life in all aspects, not just the physical.

Body mechanics is just a fancy way of saying how you move! They are important because as humans we are always moving and when our mechanics aren’t good this can lead to tension, pain and injuries. Most of us have too much sitting and lots of repetitive motion in our lives. Pilates is a great way to combat these issues because it introduces movements that give our bodies more balanced strength and flexibility. it also helps retrain your body mechanics so muscles and joints work better in your daily life!

If you have back, neck or shoulder pain you might think you need to get more strength or do more stretching. Those are helpful but ultimately retraining your body mechanics will lead to lasting changes, as well as increase your strength and flexility in the process. The way I approach Pilates is more like a full body prescriptive therapy instead of a dogmatic workout. Exercise can feel good and be something that leaves you feeling relaxed and refreshed instead of wiped out and beat up! If you want to experience more ease of movement and better quality of life Pilates is a perfect fit, especially with an individualized approach that gives your body what it needs according to your body, issues and lifestyle.

Many people are still concerned about Covid, and I am taking all the precautions I can to be as safe as possible. Masks are worn at all times. I’ve got an air filter in my studio in addition to the buildings filtration system. Contact tracing ensures that if anyone does test positive we can contact everyone immediately and ensure we stop the spread. So far I’ve been very lucky and had no exposures! Even with all the precautions its still a potential risk so I am also continuing to offer sessions online. You can still get private instruction and sessions personalized just for you and your needs… and you can do so in the comfort of your own home! All you need is a computer with internet and enough space for a mat. If you want to begin your Pilates practice but have concerns about Covid please give online sessions a try. I have been teaching people this way since before Covid and it’s very effective and a wonderful way to fit Pilates into your life.

I’m wishing you all a very Happy Holidays!

And if you are looking to add movement, mindfulness and functional fitness into your life in the New Year please get in touch. I’m going to continue with my sliding scale pricing to help make it more accessible.

There are many misconceptions about Pilates and I am going to provide a list of what Pilates actually is!

Pilates is – Strength training, full body conditioning, resistance training, bone density building, posture improving, balance building, coordination training, mindful movement practice, excellent rehabilitation therapy and injury prevention and a wonderful practice to add healthy balanced movement into your life!

The way I approach Pilates is all about each person’s individual needs. There is no dogma or routine, instead I work with everyone to make a practice that is suited to their own goals and tailored to meet them where they are starting from and progressing at their own pace. The actual exercises are just vehicles to achieve healthy fitness and move the body in all the ways it is made to move. This lioks different for every person, its not a ”one size fits all” approach, more of a bespoke experience that meets each persons needs and gives healthy challenges while never overdoing it just for the sake of feeling the burn. With time the practice will transform both your body and mind but you are in charge of what you want to do, I am here to facilitate your practice and help you meet your goals and improve your experience of living in a body!

Menopause is a nat part of a woman’s life. It can also be an extremely difficult time! While Pilates can’t eliminate hot flashes it can definitely help with back and joint pain, fatigue, bone density and sleep problems. As we age building strength and flexibility become more challenging, as does maintaining these things. It also improves balance which is crucial as we age.

I have taught many women who were in peri/menopause and post menopause and its very beneficial. Now I’m menopausal myself I have even more empathy and understanding for these challenging changes! I can not imagine my life without my Pilates practice, and I encourage anyone going through this transition to give Pilates a try. Even if you’ve never exercised before Pilates is a perfect way to start! I always work with each person and adapt the exercises to fit you. You get to start where you are and progress at your own pace. If you tried Pilates before and found it overwhelming I encourage you to try it again. I will help you build strength and flexibility without overwhelming you or pushing you too hard. Pilates is a mindful movement practice and my skills range from fitness to rehab and even restorative movements. Aging does change us but improvement is always possible!

I hear this question a lot. And the answer is pretty simple… how much results do you want?

Pilates is amazing, but it won’t transform your body in just 1 hour a week. Nothing can do that! Like anything, the more you do the more results you’ll reap.

This does nit mean that you won’t benefit from just one session per week. It just means that if you want more benefit you must do more Pilates. I love to give people some personalized homework, and if they actually do it it works. If you’re not interested in homework thats completely fine! Just know that consistent work sustained over time is how we build strength, flexibility and all the wonderful results Pilates can give you only when you put in the work. I’m here to help you reach your goals and I will do everything I can to assist you but the real magic is in putting in the time and letting the practice transform you over time, not overnight.

M

Pilates is so adaptable it can work for everyone. Too often fitness trainers give people workouts that are not truly suited to their own needs. If you have had fitness experiences that were too extreme and left you feeling like you could not continue with it please consider trying Pilates! Even if your experience of Pilates didn’t quite fit, try again. I listen to your issues and goals and choose the best exercises for your body. You get to start where you are and progress at your own pace. You’ll never have to suffer through overwhelming contortions but you will be challenged in safe and appropriate ways. I will help you with a workout that fits you, and facilitate your process of getting fit, whatever that means for you.