Pilates
Yoga/Pilates
Pilates Mat 1 / 2
"Why Pilates?" (part 1)
"Why Pilates?" (part 2)
Pilates Classes
Yoga/Pilates
A dynamic blend of Flow Yoga and Pilates into a single core-building class. Pilates offers a functional approach to strength and flexibility training with exercises created to strengthen abdominal and back muscles while developing pelvic stability and abdominal control. Yoga encourages mindful breathing, concentration, and centering while fostering strength and flexibility through yoga postures. The spring
Spring '08 classes will be offered and Tuesdays at 6:15-7:15pm.
Pilates Mat
This Pilates class covers basic to intermediate Pilates exercises to strengthen the muscles of the core as well as the posturing, rotation, and stretching. Pilates rings and therabands are used for abdominal exercises and stretching, versa steps are used to challenge balance. Mildly Heated. Appropriate for Adults and Teens.
Spring '08 Classes offered Mondays 5:15-6:15pm
Pilates on the Ball: A 4-week series with Donna Onacki
Sundays, 11:00am-Noon. New session starts May 18th-June 15, (no class 5/25)
Learn how a regular Pilates regimen can support your body, limit risk of injury and enhance your golf game! Golfers are susceptible to a variety of muscle imbalances that can affect the hips, legs, shoulders, arms and back. By strengthening the core muscles and retraining the body to recruit its energy, power, and stability from its core, you can get more out of your game while lowering your risk of strains and muscle pulls. A stronger core, better alignment, and improved balance will help your performance and accuracy. So join the ranks of Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam who incorporate Pilates into their training and don't miss this great workshop with fellow golfer and Pilates expert Donna Onacki.
$56 for 4-week session. Pre-registration is required by 5/15. Sorry no drop-ins or yoga cards accepted--this is a session only class.
"Why Pilates?" by AY Staff member Donna Onacki
As a Pilates practitioner of 14 years and a certified instructor, I am very happy to bring a Pilates program to Absolute Yoga. Many practitioners agree that Pilates is a great complement to an ongoing yoga practice. However, many students believe that Pilates is no different than Yoga and some aren't sure exactly what Pilates is! Before we skip to the many ways that Pilates can be so valuable to a person's health and well-being, it is important to begin with a brief overview of Pilates history and how it has evolved.
As a child, German-born Joseph Pilates suffered from chronic asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever, leaving him physically weak. When he reached adolescence, Pilates was determined to restore his own physical health and successfully developed his own routine of floor exercises he called "contrology." Later Joe became a boxer, circus performer, and self-defense instructor. During WWI he worked as a nurse-orderly and taught the "contrology" floor routine to many of the soldiers. He also developed his own resistance equipment from hospital beds and springs that he used to rehabilitate the soldiers who were too weak for the floor exercises.
"Contrology" is what we know today as the Pilates Mat/Floor exercise routine. The objective is to build core strength, improve posture, restore balance, grace, and agility, and to increase body awareness. Through proper alignment and form, practitioners learn how to recruit the proper muscles to perform the exercises with stability, precision, and control. All exercises revolve around articulation of the spine and include flexion, extension, and rotation. Control and proper form are important while executing the exercises instead of momentum or "muscling through." Arms and legs are considered an outward extension of the body's core. As arms and legs properly move outward from the core, they essentially become free from any stress from the movement. An example of this is Pilates leg work, which is not about legs in the traditional workout sense, but instead the legs move from an engaged and stable core. Confused? You'll just have to come to class and try for yourself. I look forward to seeing you there!
The emphasis of Pilates is on core strength, stability, and recruiting the proper muscles for work, it is a good choice for injury prevention and rehabilitation of injuries.
Through engaging in a regular Pilates practice, students feel an "unloading" of the spine because they actually have re-trained their bodies how to work more effectively and therefore feel better when they engage in other activities. Their bodies work with less stress and greater efficiency. One student commented to me that her lap swimming has become less tiring, and another student was excited to share that she was able to rake leaves for 2 days without feeling any of the body pain she was used to! Others have noticed they are hunching over their desks more infrequently and when they feel the tendency to hunch over, they recognize it and begin a simple but effective posture exercise they learned from Pilates class. Yoga students who also practice Pilates notice an improvement and ease in their Yoga practice. These testimonials are the essence of Pilates. Learning how to use your body so that daily activities, sports, and recreation are more efficient for the body is the goal. Today many athletes, dancers, golfers, and yoga students use Pilates to keep their bodies strong and ultimately to improve their performance.
The benefits of a regular practice of Pilates include:
• Core strength and improved posture
• Enhances all other activities; daily, sports, recreational
• Prevention and rehabilitation of injury
• Restores body balance and symmetry
• Increased body awareness
• Allows movement with grace, agility, and control
• A powerful and safe form of exercise for strengthening and toning the body
Important criteria to look for in a Pilates Mat/Floor class:
• The instructor should be fully mat certified in Method, Stott, Powerhouse, or Peak Pilates
• All exercises, posturing and strengthening should include flexion, extension, and rotation of the spine
• Proper alignment, form, placement should be emphasized prior to an exercise and during the exercise
• Exercises are done with control and proper form
• Modifications are made for injury and special populations (scoliosis, osteoporosis, children)
• Instructor who demonstrates and walks around to ensure practitioners are in good form
Now you understand more about Pilates is and why it is a beneficial form of exercise but if you have never taken a class we encourage you to experience it first-hand. Absolute Yoga now offers several Pilates classes during the week so there are many opportunities to check it out for yourself! Be on the lookout for frequent workshops for beginners, special populations (those with scoliosis or rehabbing from injury), classes incorporating props, and more.
All you need is a yoga or Pilates mat, a towel, water and an openness to trying something new.
If you have any questions for me you can email me at donna@absoluteyoga.net. I look forward to hearing from you! See you in class!