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There are a variety of styles and versatility to this practice. Pilates, especially the way we teach at Awake Bodies can be as unique as your body. Our studio has a unique way of running too. Let’s dive into all of this.
First, pilates is named after a german man, Joseph Pilates. He was born in 1889. Joe was a creative and determined fellow that didn’t believe the doctors when they told him he would be sick his whole life. He didn’t allow others to think this way either. He believed our bodies needed to move to be healthy. I could go on and on about Joseph Pilates but you could also google him or watch this fun video.
This is cool. Joe was an inventor. While at an internment camp, he began creating equipment out of the bed springs to help patients recover. He started designing the machines we use in the studio today. Although Joe passed away in 1967, his practice and work has continued to grow and develop. Joe was a strict teacher and he liked his exercises practiced a specific way.
Maybe to his dismay and maybe not, pilates has grown and adapted through the years. There are classical teachers that like to stick closer to his original method. There are the physical therapists that have adapted his work to their own. Within this wide world of movement exploration, there are people that have spent their life watching the human body move and simply love to grow and learn with an open mind. This is where our studio fits in, if anywhere. We don’t view rules or pictures of what things “should” look like. We make sure you are safe in your body while challenging you to break old patterns.
At awake bodies our focus is on the individual and their needs on any given day. Any exercise can be modified, skipped or advanced. As long as safety is the governing rule, the rest of it can be approached with curiosity and an open mind. Some days are for lighter springs and some days days are for bigger flows. Some days require more nervous system balance and other days demand sweating. Show up for yourself and we will support you wherever you are in your experience on any given day.
Perhaps you have only heard of pilates mat classes. The mat is magical and vast. Your past experience can depend on your teachers, their style, the level of the exercises, and where you were physically and mentally when you tried it. Just know, your experience might be similar to our classes but most likely, this will be different. We currently offer live virtual mat classes and access to our online library with over 30 min to 1 hour classes you can do anywhere, anytime.
Back to the bed springs, one of the reasons pilates is so magical and results come quick is because of these super cool machines. The springs, pulleys, and unstable surfaces like the Oov help teach our nervous system new ways to react to our word. Our body is capable of things beyond our comprehension and yet we tend to stay in our typical patterns on the daily. Even our corrective exercises or sports can become repetitive. Repetitive patterns cause repetitive wear and tear. A knowledgeable body technician, challenging creative fun new ways to move, springy resistance to assist your body while it does crazy things you don’t usually think about doing and BAM! You feel better, even better than better, you’ll feel fantastic! We can’t wait to show you what we mean.
How fast until you feel the Bam!? Well, this timeline is different for everyone. The equation is built on a few factors:
How long you have been in pain? How long you have spent ignoring it? How much time are you planning to use to change it?
For some people, you have been feeling like you need to move more. Your body is simply achey, maybe in the mornings, maybe more often and you intuitively know that you just don’t do enough. If you are a mover and have experience being thoughtful in your body, you will pick this up fast. Maybe you used to dance, do gymnastics, practice yoga, ski, snowboard or play sports? Pilates is fun and you will catch on fast. A beginner group class on the reformer will be perfect.
For others, maybe you have a nagging injury or chronic pain that has been an issue for a long time. One to five years of the same pain in a joint, or maybe it is something that flares up every couple years. These are big patterns, with many layers. The body is super intelligent and all you need is someone who understands it on a deeper level and has the tools to help you feel, listen and understand it. Our nervous system is adaptable, we can find the answer; it just takes some digging and consistent work. If this is where you are, private sessions will be the best place for you to start. How many sessions depends on how many layers there are to this pattern, your level of comfort, and the time you put into your own healing.
Our bodies are amazing and can find a way to heal and move. Pilates isn’t a set of rules you need to live by, it is simply another avenue to keep your brain and body awake. If you don’t use it, you will lose it and sometimes we didn’t even know we had it. The best thing about pilates is it will improve your body awareness and quality of movement in everything you do. We don’t practice pilates to be better at pilates. We practice pilates to be better at moving through life. You will see an improvement in every activity you love. Come, move with us and find joy in your body.
We offer private sessions, virtual mat classes, virtual active aging classes, and in-studio group reformer classes. Our group reformer classes utilize small equipment like circles, balls and dowels for all types of body awareness and neuromuscular education. We also have an entire class on the Oov
and jump board at least once a month.
Check out my next blog on how to get started at our studio and how our unique studio functions.
Cheers