Explore Pilates Insights for an Active, Balanced Life

Can you get down to the ground? Can you get back up off of the ground? Staying mobile as you age is important so you can keep moving in all the ways you need to. Right now, you just might feel creaky or sore. Maybe your knees hurt going up stairs, or your back hurts […]

When you walk into most Pilates studios, you’ll notice that there are all kinds of different machines, or apparatuses. I’ve been sharing about many of the apparatuses you might come across, including the reformer, tower, wunda chair, spine corrector, magic circle, 2×4, and toe gizmo. In addition to these, there are a variety of Pilates […]

We are making our way through all of the apparatus in this blog series, and next up is the Pilates apparatus for the feet. In fact, there are three of them! Much like the other apparatuses, the ones for your feet work out your whole body when you’re using them correctly. Our feet do so […]

In this series introducing you to the Pilates apparatuses, we have made our way through most of the big ones: the reformer, tower, chairs, and mat. But did you know there are smaller apparatuses, too? The Pilates spine corrector is one of them, and one most of my clients love.  This apparatus is a half-barrel […]

The Wunda Chair is the most commonly known chair apparatus that Joseph Pilates designed. It’s the one that I have in my studio but there are two others: the High Chair and the Armchair, both of which are on my wish list. Joseph Pilates thought the Chair would be the perfect apparatus for everyone to […]

Each week I’ve been sharing information about an apparatus in the Pilates studio. Last week it was the Pilates mat (or mats – since you can use either a yoga mat or an upholstered Pilates mat). I want to talk about mat Pilates just a little bit more before we move on to another apparatus […]

Have you ever wondered how to engage your muscles in Pilates with each exercise? We’ve all been told that Pilates will strengthen the core, so you may think you need to engage your abs the whole time. Then you have Pilates teachers (like me) who tell you that Pilates is a full body exercise, and […]

A large number of people are referred to Pilates to help them get a stronger core. When I first started doing Pilates, I was surprised to learn what my core really was! Before that, it was all about abs. (If you’re around my age, you may remember the workout videos like “The 20 Minute Workout” […]

Pilates has been gaining popularity over the years, with social media showing the different ways you can practice it. If you’ve been wondering which type of Pilates is right for you, it’s important to understand the various options available. Read More: Are You Ready to do Pilates? When I started doing Pilates back in the […]

Are you competitive or like to train for races? If so, you know how important it is to avoid racing injuries so you can perform your best on race day. It takes months of planning, training, and sometimes sacrifices to make it across the finish line, most of which centers around the sport itself. But […]

Do you ever get neck pain during Pilates? My neck often felt sore and overworked for years when I first started doing Pilates. While some soreness from strengthening your neck is normal in the beginning, constant neck pain is not. What can I say? I’m stubborn sometimes! There are several reasons you may get neck […]

Sometimes, I look back and wonder why I started working in the fitness industry. I have a deep passion for Pilates now, and I feel so grateful that I can make a positive difference in someone’s life, but that wasn’t why I started teaching in the first place. Honestly, being a fitness instructor was a […]

This month marks the tenth anniversary of the March MATness social media campaign that’s meant to bring the Pilates community together by sharing the original Pilates mat work. Whether you want to follow me this month on Instagram or join yourself, it’s a lot of fun.  What is March MATness? Benjamin Dengenhardt of 360° Pilates […]

If you don’t do Pilates regularly, you may wonder how you’ll feel with consistent practice. Over the past fifteen years of teaching Pilates, I’ve learned that it’s usually when someone stops doing Pilates that they notice how much it has been helping them. That’s probably because Pilates helps your body move better and with more […]

I often wish that I’d started Pilates much earlier in life. Knowing now that I can prevent back pain with Pilates, I could have avoided a lot of agony over the years. Have you ever had a really sore back? You know the kind I’m talking about; the constant aching and shooting pain when you […]