There are SO many benefits of Pilates.  Here are just a few:

Pilates…

✓  Strengthens core muscles like no other exercise out there

✓   Improves posture

✓   Increases flexibility

✓   Can alleviate back, muscle, & joint pain

✓   Facilitates a stronger mind/body connection

✓   Relieves stress and anxiety

✓   Helps to prevent osteoporosis 

✓   Adapts to any age/stage/level of fitness 

 If you can get to a Pilates studio that you love, that’s great! The trouble is, not all of us can. Maybe it’s hard to leave the house because you have little ones at home. Or maybe you’re stuck at the office all day. Perhaps you’re only comfortable in a women-only studio and that doesn’t exist in your area. Or maybe you’re just not comfortable exercising in a group setting and private lessons are beyond your budget. Or maybe you travel a lot and you want to stay consistent in your Pilates practice no matter where you are! The list goes on and on and on! 

With online Pilates classes, you can do your workout any time, any place. No equipment is required! How simple is that?!

As teachers, we all have our strengths. I’ve come to discover that my strength lies in my ability to give clear verbal instructions. I’m also good at anticipating the “mistakes” one might be inclined to make in each position and exercise. These specific skills make me well equipped for online instruction where I can’t just reach out and offer manual corrections! 

While the videos are not live in real time, I do try to shoot my online classes in a single take.  I want it to really feel like you’re coming into my studio. If I fumble, I fumble! If I wobble, I wobble! It’s about the Pilates and the PROCESS- it’s not about perfection- not mine and not yours! That’s a big part of my general philosophy too. 

Not much! A thick mat, if you’ve got one. But even a thick towel on a carpet will do in a pinch. Pilates is done bare-foot so no specific footwear is required. Also, try to wear something form-fitting so that your clothing doesn’t get bunched up as you do the exercises.

That’s it! No equipment needed!

Early on in my own Pilates practice, I made the mistake of ignoring my teachers every time they would instruct me on the breath.  I had very falsely assumed that the breathing techniques were intended to aid in relaxation and were just an added, extra thing. Boy was I wrong!

I didn’t realize that the breath is the “secret sauce” of Pilates! It’s what enables us to connect to our DEEPER abdominal muscles.  Without the right breath-movement coordination, the exercises simply remain in the superficial layer of the abdominals.  

This kind of coordination doesn’t happen overnight so don’t be discouraged in the beginning! But like with anything else, practice, practice, practice! You’ll get there!

Because so much concentration is required in Pilates, the mind simply cannot wander off. That means that your Pilates practice becomes a time to connect your mind with your body and fade out everything else around you. And that’s a very wonderful thing! 

Also, although the breathing technique is designed to facilitate access to the deeper abdominal muscles, an hour of slow, deep breathing can, just by default, work wonders for anxiety and stress!  The slow breathing signals the body and mind to slow down and relax.

In short, no- it really isn’t. Here’s why: 

▫️ Pilates is a CORE-centered fitness modality which facilitates strengthening, flexibility and rehabilitation. In Pilates, the body is ALWAYS moving from one repetition-based exercise to another. The movements coordinate with the breath in such a way that enables the core muscles to engage and supply power to the rest of the body. In Pilates, the stretch is built right into the exercises as the body always gets worked in two directions. This two-way stretch helps you find length in your body and more control in your movements. 

▫️ Yoga is a 5,000-year-old practice which involves holding various poses for a length of time. Yoga is a physical practice which has spiritual/religious roots as well (Pilates, in contrast, is just straight up exercise). In Yoga, there are many more standing poses and deeper hyperextension of the spine and joints.

I dress modestly, in accordance with Jewish tradition. For a very long time I didn’t think that there would be a space on social media for a modestly-clad Pilates teacher. 

But then I decided to give it a try anyway and I’ve been so warmly welcomed by people from all walks of life! It has truly been a wonderful experience!