Explore Pilates Insights for an Active, Balanced Life

If you are a runner, there has definitely been some point when you’ve asked yourself, “how much running is too much?” I was reading a post in a Facebook group called Girls Who Run recently, where the person had just finished her first half marathon. She was still riding the high of her accomplishment, and […]

I find that when people avoid doing squats, it’s often because their back or knees hurt. The pain could be for a number of reasons, but if you aren’t hurting from an injury, it likely stems from weakness or poor mobility in the body. Your body is trying to tell you that it wants to […]

Have you ever been told that you should start weight training, or that you need to get stronger to prevent injuries? Or you might just be curious about how to use the weights at the gym. It can be intimidating to try something new, especially when there is equipment involved, but it doesn’t have to […]

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 […]