Try something "new" this year

Don't you just love this week?  

Saying goodbye to 2010 (both the good and not-so-good parts) while dreaming and scheming about how awesome you're going to be in 2011...

Personally, I've got some pretty big goals for myself next year.

How about you? 

If you're looking to change up your fitness routine for 2011, may I suggest a Pilates mat class?

Pilates is a form of exercise (originally called "Contrology") developed by a German man, Joseph Pilates, during the early 1900s. 

Joseph Pilates performing "The Teaser" circa 1945

Joe was a sickly child who eventually became a star athlete; excelling in boxing, fencing, wrestling, and jiu jitsu.  He developed Contrology to compliment and enhance his many physical activities 

While interned in England during World War I, Joe began to train the other internees in his own exercise techniques.  

Amazingly, none of the people who trained with Joe became ill during the 1918 flu epidemic!

Joe teaching a mat class

A few years after WWI, Joe immigrated to the United States with his wife, Clara, (they were never legally married - scandalous!) and together they set up a studio in a building that also happened to house several dance companies.  It wasn't long before Contrology became a form of physical therapy for many performing artists. 

(So yes, many dancers do practice Pilates, but it is for everyone... including whisky-drinking, cigar-smoking, manly-man boxers like Joe P. himself!)  

Joe wrote two books, "Your Health" (1934) and "Return to Life Through Contrology" (1945).  He believed (rightly so) that physical fitness is the solution to our modern day ills.  "Return to Life" provides an instructive guide for the original 34 mat exercises, which are still taught today by Pilates' disciples (including myself!)     

  

Don't worry, no pigtails or unitards are required in my class!

Joe never created an official teacher training program for his method - his techniques have been passed down through many generations of teachers.  Today the Pilates Method Alliance regulates the teacher-certification process.  

The best way to see what Pilates is all about is to take a class. 

It is a total-body workout that is very safe and majorly effective at creating a lean, toned physique for both men and women.

(Seriously, I'm not just saying that.  I have muscles for the first time ever.  It really works!  Actually, it's been working for almost 100 years... so what are you waiting for?  TRY IT!)

Visit my "Pilates Practice" page for class info.  

Need more information?

Send me an email!

*The first photo is from "Return to Life" and unfortunately I don't have a source for the other two, hopefully whoever took them doesn't mind!