10 Building Blocks of Pilates:  A Path to Strength and Flexibility

My neck aches. My back aches.  My knees hurt me all the time. I don’t want to live with this pain anymore! I need to build some flexibility and strength. Help! What can I do?

Does this sound like you?  Well, you’re not alone -- many clients and patients come to me for these exact same reasons.  A lot of them have coped with similar issues for years. I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to put up with these aches and pains anymore.

The answer?  Pilates!  Pilates has helped me, and my clients and patients, tremendously.  Pilates was created in the early 1900s by Joseph Pilates, who'd been a sickly child growing up in Germany. Determined to overcome his weakness, he designed a fitness program to help build core strength. He also invented spring-resistance machines that could be used to perform the exercises. Pilates exercises build muscular strength, in contrast with yoga, which mainly involves stretching, flexibili...

Barre Workout:  Is Barre for You?

Ever thought about taking a barre class?  Or even wondered, what is barre? If so, read on. 

I fell in love with barre a few years ago, but not while participating in group barre classes. I truly fell in love with barre during Balanced Body Barre ® instructor training.  Group barre classes were fun, but as I looked around the room I noticed a lot of people whose form wasn't quite right.  I decided to train as a barre instructor to help people feel better, feel stronger, and exercise safely.  

What is Barre?

Barre is a full-body workout using a combination of movements inspired by ballet and other disciplines like Pilates and yoga.  Barre workouts incorporate the use of a ballet barre for balance and to perform certain exercises, but if you're working out at home you can use a chair instead of a ballet barre.  Other props may include light weights and resistance bands for strength conditioning or mini exercise ball for core strengthening.  Energizing...

7 Reasons To Try Pilates

I was first introduced to Pilates back in 2000, when I took my first private Pilates session to see what it was all about. That first experience was okay, but just okay. To be honest, I didn’t feel like I got anything out of it. Because of this experience, I knew how important and vital it is for people to make sure they find a good instructor who gives clear and precise cues, especially for those who are just starting a Pilates practice. 

Nine years later, I rediscovered Pilates after accidentally falling and injuring my ribs. My injury, coupled with the stress of worrying about how I was going to help take care of my parents who lived out of state and happened to be ill at the same time, meant that it was a very trying period of my life. In fact, my stress began to manifest itself in physical symptoms. As a result, I felt vulnerable, de-conditioned, and had constant upper back pain from the fall. It literally felt like a knife was lodged between my shoulder...