Why choosing Pilates Training goes beyond Price Shopping Some of you may have read my blog on Making an Educated Choice in Pilates Training. In the first blog, I explained there are different streams of Pilates. It is important to understand that not all Pilates studios teach the same method of Pilates nor do you get the same training in a gym or community centre. Why is your choice of where to train more important than the cost of the classes? The Pilates industry is not regulated. What this means is you could choose to train with someone who claims to be a Pilates teacher who has little or ..read more

Many of us have had the experience of finally figuring out something was missing from our training. It goes something like this: You have been practising Pilates 2 – 3 times a week and you decide to try out another studio. You may have heard good things about this studio and/or you may have the occasion to try Pilates while you are on vacation. You are excited to try a new class only to find the teacher expects to assess you personally and is not so enamoured with your performance. You wonder if the teacher is just being overly critical or could it be that you somehow did not understand what w ..read more

Is One of Your Legs Shorter than the Other? Sometimes leg length difference is actual but often this is not the case. When we complete a Posture and Gait Analysis and Assessment, issues such as leg length difference become apparent.  We can confirm if there is an actual leg length difference or not. In many cases, we find an Apparent Leg Length Discrepancy. Actual leg length difference must be measured lying on your back because lateral tilt or pelvic rotation will affect the measurement. The pelvis must be level prior to measuring. Apparent Leg Length Discre ..read more

Where It All Began I will never forget the day when I discovered an imbalance in my postural alignment that would significantly change my life. I was 14 at the time, out shopping with my mother for a dress to wear to my elementary school graduation. Excited to model the first dress I put on, I exited the change room in high spirits and looked at myself in the mirror. My mother, standing behind me to admire the dress, didn’t quite have the reaction I expected. Instead of glowing over the beauty of the dress, or how it flattered my body, she told me to stand up straight. “Stand up straight” I th ..read more

As a Pilates Specialist in postural deviations (poor posture) and muscle imbalances, many of my clients feel they are not aligned when they have been directed to realign their position to correct alignment. Why do we feel “skew whiff” or not aligned when we are actually aligned correctly? This is what I refer to as proprioception deception. What is Proprioception? Proprioception, is the sense of knowing where a body part is in space and occurs without conscious thought. Proprioceptive abilities are often compromised when joints are injured. You may feel unstable or that the joint may ..read more

Why You Should Look for a New Pilates Teacher If I had one dollar for every time I heard a new client complain about their previous Pilates training causing neck pain, I would have a full piggy bank. The conversation usually goes like this: “What stream of Pilates were you doing?” Often the client will not have asked to see teacher certifications or they attempted to learn from a book or DVD. “Did you complete medical forms and have a consultation as to whether you needed to have a posture and gait analysis?”  The response is usually “No.” “Were you instructed in any of these Funda ..read more

How to Make the Best Choice: Private or Small or Large Group Pilates Classes on Reformer and/or Mat Many people start exploring the Pilates Method by trying a large group mat class often because a friend has suggested it, but… Is Pilates on the mat the best way to begin and what about size of class? Large group classes can be a lot of fun and a great challenge, but private sessions followed by small group training may best address your needs. Ask “yourself” these questions: 1. What are my goals in starting Pilates Classes?    2. Have I learned or will I learn the fundamentals of Pila ..read more

You may have read my tweets: “How are you sitting at your computer? …”  As children, we have all been reminded to: “Sit up straight!”, but did we really understand why… Why Posture is Important As we age, the things we do daily become how we look and feel physically. This is due to neuromuscular facilitation commonly known as muscle memory or how our bodies learn to move. Whether our habitual posture is good or abnormal, it becomes our posture. Many of us have desk jobs where we are required to sit in front of computers for long hours. When we work in a setting that is not ergonomically d ..read more

What is Pilates? First developed in the late 19th century, Pilates, pronounced Pi-laa-teez, is a method of physical conditioning comprised of over 500 exercises, performed on a mat or on specialized equipment. A challenging, precise and intelligent workout for the whole body, Pilates is effective for people of all ages and all activity levels. Pilates is recognized as a comprehensive system of physical and mental conditioning and is recommended by fitness experts, athletic therapists, and physiotherapists across North America. Pilates is the thinking persons exercise. You think, sense and feel ..read more

Vancouver Pilates Studio in the Neighbourhood of South Granville Welcome to the Pacific Spirit Pilates Studio We often try new things as a result of a friend telling us how much they like it or benefit from it. Many years ago, I was working out at a high-end women’s club when a friend suggested I would love Pilates. She was, of course, right! I really enjoyed the mat classes and eventually tried Reformer and Cadillac equipment training. I became much stronger in the process even though I had been lifting weights and doing a cardio program not to mention various ball and cross-training cl ..read more