If you have never been to Pilates before, it can be a bit intimidating to see all the complicated equipment and strong people in challenging positions. Don’t worry! We have proficient instructors with a deep knowledge of Pilates and physiology to progress you through your Pilates training.
Pilates is for everyone. Athletes, dancers, weekend warriors, pre- and post-natal women, seniors, men and women practice it. All ages and body types benefit from Pilates. If you have an injury or physical limitation, modifications of the moves will be made for you to keep your practice pain free and safe. Pilates is easy to learn. Class sizes are kept small so the instructor can monitor your form. Pilates is exciting. Every move has different levels of difficulty, so you do more as your strength and skills progress. You will be motivated to come back for more. Pilates changes your life. Your posture will improve, your muscles will be stronger, and you will be energized.
We are confident that you will feel better after a session than when you walked in the door.
“I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They’d be happier.” – Joseph Pilates, 1965
What to Wear
Most importantly, wear clothes that are comfortable to move in. You will be bending over, laying down, curling up your body, putting your arms and legs in the air, and twisting. Most prefer clothes that are more fitted, since loose sleeves and legs can get in the way. You will probably sweat as you start warming up, so layering tops and wearing athletic clothes is recommended. You can wear shorts or pants, a tank top or sweatshirt – whatever you are comfortable in. You will not be wearing shoes, but socks are optional. Bare feet can give you a better grip for some of the exercises, but if your tootsies get cold, we do sell special socks that free the toes and have grippers on the bottom.
The First Session
What can you expect in your first session? When you arrive the instructor will review your new client form with you (click here if you have not filled it out!) and ask questions. This is an evaluation of the best way for you to proceed in order to meet your health and fitness goals. As a matter of fact, every session will start by asking what is going on with your body today. This preps the instructor for any modifications that will need to be given you during your session. And now that we’re on this subject, remember that you are in charge of your own body. If a movement hurts, tell your instructor right away. She will either give you a modification or have you do something else. Every move can be modified in several ways for all bodies.
With that out of the way it’s onto fun! You will learn the concepts of Pilates beginning with basic movements to warm up your body and a focus on breathing. After that we prep your abs with a series of exercises designed to activate your core so it is awake and ready to support you through the rest of the session. You will proceed through a variety of movements on the mat or the equipment that will challenge you physically and mentally. You will end with a brief cool down and a sense of accomplishment for the strength and stability you were able to achieve that day.
