Pilates Equipment

There are several different pieces of equipment used in Pilates exercises, including The Reformer, Circles, The Cadillac (a.k.a. Trapeze Table), Wunda Chair, Pedipull, Pilates Arc, etc.  There are also variations on each individual piece of equipment depending on the manufacturer.  The Reformer is the most common piece of equipment and resembles a medieval rack.  It uses a moveable platform with handles or a series of pulleys and cables for pushing and pulling the body through the different exercises.

 

Your instructor Mary

Mary Lutes, owner of Blue Sky Pilates, began studying the Pilates Method nine years ago.  She began her journey because she was experiencing debilitating pain caused from a connective tissue disorder, Fibromyalgia and degenerative disk disease.  Pilates offered a non-impact, strengthening form of exercise that was perfect for treating the chronic pain that Mary was suffering from.  Pilates has had such an amazing effect on Mary by decreasing her pain that she decided “Wow, I have to share this with other individuals!”  Combining her experience as a Training Specialist at Los Alamos National Laboratory with her love of Pilates, Mary decided to become a certified Pilates instructor.

She has completed the certification program through Balanced Body University, www.pilates.com, required for teaching the Pilates Mat and reformer program.  Mary will complete the certification for Tower, Chair and Barrel in 2013 and then take her PMA exam. 

Guest instructor Jessica

Jessica Kisiel, Sports Alignment Coach, is passionate about helping you stay active and reach your sports and fitness goals. A former professional athlete, she suffered a career ending injury caused by poor posture and function.  The Egoscue Method of posture alignment has allowed her to expand her sports activities and reenter competition.  Advanced Exercise Therapist certified by Egoscue University Health Fitness Specialist, ACSM and ACE Certified Strength and Contidioning Specialist, NSCA.

Click here to find out more.

Guest instructor Judith

Judith is a certified Pilates instructor who has been practicing Pilates since 2005, and teaching since 2010.  Judith’s teaching philosophy is inspired by Joseph Pilates, the founder of the mind-body method who has written, “a body free from nervous tension and fatigue is the ideal shelter provided by nature for housing a well balanced mind, fully capable of successfully meeting all the complex problems of modern living”.  Interested in social-cultural values and the ways people function in, and interpret the world, Judith earned her Ph.D. in Intercultural Communication in 2010 in fact it was the demands of the doctoral program that initially brought Judith to Pilates practice as a way to manage stress.  As a Pilates instructor Judith’s applies her goal to stretch body and mind to her clients and students to balance the way we think and move in our personal and professional lives.  Judith offers Pilates workshops and instruction throughout New Mexico, and is happy to be able to bring her teaching skills to Blue Sky Pilates in Los Alamos.

Guest instructor Rainey

In her early years, Rainey was a ballerina with the Royal Ballet Company in London, England. After her dance career was curtailed by an injury, she became a certified dance teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. Later on, Rainey pursued a degree in Nursing.

After sustaining a serious back injury while working as a nurse, Rainey faced the possibility of back surgery. Instead of surgery, she decided to attempt rehabilitation of her back using the Pilates Method originally developed in Germany by Joseph Pilates. After her recovery, Rainey attended Pilates Instructor training in Seattle, Washington and at Coredynamics in Santa Fe, NM. Rainey has taught for 10 years, most recently in the Los Alamos area as owner of Transformations Pilates Studio. She currently continues her nursing career working in the Operating Room at Espanola Hospital and in various parts of the world participating in medical missions. Rainey is excited to be teaching at Blue Sky Pilates.


Guest instructor Theresa

Theresa moved to New Mexico after spending years playing in a competitive women’s soccer league and spending many hours taking classes at a local exercise studio.  However, living in this beautiful mountainous region begged for new activities such as running, biking, hiking, and skiing.  Theresa enjoys all of these activities but eventually wanted to take her fitness bent in a slightly different direction.  She enrolled in a course at UNM-Albuquerque to become a certified personal trainer. From there, teaching group fitness classes followed.  Yoga and studio cycling became the classes of choice so more specific training and certifications followed.  Yoga eventually led Theresa to Pilates and from that point, she was hooked.  When Theresa discovered Blue Sky Pilates studio, it didn’t take long for her to become a devoted practitioner.  The more Theresa experienced Joseph Pilates’ philosophy and method, the more she wanted to learn.  After becoming a certified Pilates Mat instructor through Balanced Body University and continuing to regularly take classes at Blue Sky Pilates, the wonderful opportunity to teach there presented itself and she couldn’t be happier!

Guest instructor Christa

Please visit www.spheremama.com for Christa's information.


About Pilates

Theory

The Pilates Method is a series of approximately 500 exercises or movements that use either floor mats or specially designed equipment.  In the general fitness world, floor work is the most popular form of Pilates because it doesn’t require any equipment.  This is changing with the ever-growing number of Pilates studios and access to the equipment developed and inspired by Joseph Pilates himself.  The exercises require the muscles used for the movement itself but the “core muscles” are always active to stabilize the body during each movement.  Pilates exercises can use springs and/or body weight as resistance rather than weights.

A difference between traditional weight training and Pilates is the number of repetitions.  In weight training, the emphasis is generally placed on a simple movement designed to isolate a muscle or group of muscles.  Traditional weight training usually uses a higher number of repetitions for muscle stimulation.  Because Pilates exercises are generally more complex movements that use more muscles in more than one plane of motion, a fewer number of well controlled repetitions is all it takes to get a great workout.  Pilates exercises are very low impact, making it an excellent choice for rehabilitation and recovery in addition to its regular fitness benefits.  Pilates can be taught one-on-one or in small groups.  This allows instructors to pay close attention to the biomechanics of the exercise, the positioning of the body and correct breathing.

Benefits

So what are the benefits to the Pilates Method?  Because most of the resistance is your own body weight, Pilates strengthens muscles with less impact than traditional weight lifting exercises.  Each exercise uses multiple muscles for the movement itself and for body stabilization.  This greatly enhances both balance and coordination.  Strengthening the “core muscles” which are often neglected or overlooked in a traditional exercise routine will help improve posture, as well as balance and coordination.  Another benefit to Pilates is the effect of proprioception or mind/body awareness.

Proprioception is defined as the “unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within the body itself”  What that means is being aware of the movements your making, the muscles being used and your body positioning during the movements.  Learning proprioception is beneficial for all other activities, exercises or sports and can improve your performance, help to isolate specific muscles and reduce your risks of injury.