Explore Pilates Insights for an Active, Balanced Life

In our family, we celebrate a lot. I’m the first of twenty-one grandchildren on my mom’s side, and a bunch of us recently got together to celebrate my grandmother’s twentieth great-grandchild. Finally seeing my grandma after seventeen months apart was wonderful, and she really got me thinking about the importance of gathering – not just […]

Let’s get to the bottom of things, and talk about butts. Have you noticed that big butts are “in” over the past several years? It’s so interesting how body parts can be “in” or “out”, and how if we just wait long enough, our body can be trendy. But whether you like big butts (and […]

When I teach a beginner’s Pilates class, you would think that each person was in the same boat; they’ve never done this before, the terminology and movements are new to them, and it’s unlike any other fitness modality. Yet many people are surprised when they can’t do a “simple” roll up, while the person next […]

After a few decades of loving, teaching, and trying new forms of fitness, I’ve learned a lot. And since my longest-loves (so far) are Pilates and running, the number of lessons under my belt is huge! Every challenge we take on or when we try something new, we learn a lesson that aids our next […]

Hi, my name is Melissa, and I’m a recovering people pleaser. Did you know that about me? It might surprise you if you only know me through my classes or social media. I offer advice on how to make time to work out, and am vocal about how important it is to take care of […]

It’s in our nature to keep looking forward. What am I going to do tomorrow? What is the next goal I want to achieve? We look at the big picture and the big goals we set for ourselves – and that’s what we tend to celebrate. Crossing the finish line is always exciting (don’t I […]

Do you ever compare yourself to your past self? The stronger, faster, younger you? I sure do. I mean, in my 20’s I was leading multiple fitness classes a week while fitting in my own workouts on top of that. Past Melissa was fit. It’s hard not to wonder if age is affecting your fitness […]

Isn’t it funny how a shift in seasons can so quickly throw off our routines? Summer is especially unstructured when you have children or plan a lot of getaways; then there are the social activities that only happen in summer like BBQs and outdoor weddings. So with all of this upheaval (though we should be […]

Do you remember the first time you went for a run? I mean like a hobby. By choice. As an adult. I sure do… And it reminded me (and my whole body) that like any fitness activity, you probably shouldn’t jump in the deep end. Let me tell you about my first run… and what […]

We each have our own myriad of communities, and I’m frequently surprised by how linked we really are. I belong to the communities of running, fitness, Scottish dance, basketball, the local school, my neighbourhood, and of course – Pilates. The other day, I was reminded why I love the Pilates community; so much so that […]

If you are looking to better your squat depth or form, have you considered looking at your ankle mobility? When you squat, you flex at the hips, knees, and ankles. This isn’t something most people take note of, but your ankles are a huge part of the squat movement! And since squats show up in […]

Last week, I wrote about how to do a better, fuller range push up with modifications to help you gain strength until you can master the move. But once you can confidently do full push ups, what comes next? Just like you can modify movements to be easier, push up progressions will make the movement […]

Oh, push ups. How can something that looks so simple be so hard? And if they are so difficult, why do we keep doing them? I’ve come to two conclusions: 1) When you learn to do push ups correctly and can finally do one (modified or not), it’s a HUGE feeling of accomplishment. 2) Push […]

Are you letting your job affect your fitness? I think most of us have felt that way at some time or another. When I look back on my own life, there are definite “seasons” in my approach to fitness. And as I talk with friends and clients, they feel the same way. When we were […]

I have been a runner for most of my life, but have only got into marathons and halves for the past nine years. Over those years, my pre-race rituals have stayed consistent. But post race? As I get older, I can’t tolerate the pain after I cross the finish line! Or maybe I’ve learned that […]