Pilates with Robin at Total Body By Bender

08/30/2026

I thought I might mislead you with the cover photo - but that’s me leading a short breathing meditation before a special Pilates class.

But here’s why you’ll want to keep your practice an eyes-open affair. 👀 (I’ve also thrown in a solid plug for why you might want to close them on occasion too.)

Pilates emphasizes precision, alignment, and awareness on a subtle scale so with your eyes open, you can visually orient yourself. Like noticing whether your pelvis is level, whether your legs are tracking evenly, etc.

Even if you’re not consciously looking at anything, your visual system is still contributing.

Keeping your eyes open gives your brain an additional stream of information to integrate with your proprioceptive & vestibular systems. (Which are generally accessed more with eyes closed).

So with eyes open, you’re utilizing full sensory integration.

You maintain spatial orientation and even lying down, your brain benefits from knowing where “up,” “down,” and the surrounding environment are.

Keeping your eyes open gives your nervous system more information with which to control movement.

Where you look can influence head position, neck tension, balance, and movement strategy. This is why Joe invented his eye chart.

So what changes when you close your eyes?
The sensory information your brain receives changes, even when the exercise feels completely stable (like the 100)

The proprioceptive & vestibular (inner ear) demand is greater. Balance and spatial orientation is more challenging. Cognitive and motor challenges can be harder.

But remember Eyes closed doesn’t automatically mean better body awareness.” Sometimes you can close your eyes and become more internally focused. But sometimes you simply lose useful information and become less precise.

So here’s how you might integrate the two (if you’re interested to do so):

Once you’ve learned an exercise safely, briefly close your eyes as a sensory challenge, and try to sense things like:
• pressure through your feet / hands
• your rib movement as you breathe
• amount of muscle tension
• subtle differences between your left and right sides

👀 What were you taught? What do you teach? What do you practice? And why?

I’d love to know.

Follow for more “Myths” & “Truths” about Pilates, its history, its practice and mindful movement technique.

If you can think of others who might be interested in this information, please share.

08/23/2026

I’m happy to be back at
Total Body by Bender on Tuesday mornings.
Private sessions at 8:15 & 10:30, group sessions at 9:15.
Use the Vagaro app to reserve your spot.
(If you need a different time or day, contact me, I’ll try to make it happen).

07/16/2026

Interested in joining but need a private intro class?

We’ve been busy around here (which we’re so grateful for!) & have had lots of people interested in getting started. That also means our private intro classes have been filling up FAST!

If you haven’t been able to find a time that works with your schedule, give us a call or send us a text at (513) 449-1802. We’re often able to work around schedules a little easier that way! 🥰

We also recommend booking as far in advance as you can! Popular group class times may be converted to private intros if no one is signed up, or private slots may become group classes as the schedule fills.

Thank you for your support, patience, & understanding. We’re so grateful for this community💙

www.totalbodybybender.com

07/10/2026

Welcome back Robin!

06/29/2026

Tracy is a certified & licensed athletic trainer with 29 years experience in medical fitness & post rehab. She is professionally Pilates certified & is excited to push forward with us!

Look on Vagaro for her bio & Group Reformer Classes on Wednesday mornings & one Saturday a month, Private Stretch & Release sessions, & Therapeutic Pilates Privates. Her Therapeutic Pilates Privates will be half off in July!

https://www.vagaro.com/cl/gLPgOyxWZ6Crxf1iaHztvkg92TCfm6uQqkqQ-Q53K60=

05/20/2026

05/11/2026

04/30/2026

So excited about our studio growing. Stay tuned & check out Vagaro for additions to the schedule! Em

03/10/2026

👣 The Foot–Calf Connection: Understanding the Biomechanics of the Posterior Chain

The human foot and lower leg function as a highly integrated biomechanical system designed to support body weight, absorb ground forces, and generate forward propulsion. The image highlights the connection between the plantar fascia of the foot and the calf muscles, particularly the gastrocnemius and soleus, which together form a crucial part of the body’s posterior kinetic chain.

The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that runs from the calcaneus (heel bone) to the toes, helping maintain the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. Biomechanically, it acts like a tension cable supporting the arch, preventing excessive collapse during weight-bearing activities such as walking, running, and standing.

Above the foot, the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles form the powerful calf complex responsible for plantarflexion of the ankle. These muscles merge into the Achilles tendon, which attaches to the calcaneus. Because both the Achilles tendon and the plantar fascia attach to the heel bone, they are mechanically linked. This means forces generated in the calf muscles are transmitted directly to the plantar fascia.

During walking, the calf muscles contract to push the body forward during the push-off phase of gait. At the same time, the plantar fascia tightens through a mechanism called the windlass mechanism, where toe extension increases tension in the fascia and elevates the arch. This converts the foot from a flexible shock absorber into a rigid lever for propulsion.

If the calf muscles become tight or overactive, they increase tension through the Achilles tendon and subsequently increase strain on the plantar fascia. Over time, this can contribute to conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, and heel pain. This explains why limited ankle dorsiflexion and tight calf muscles are commonly associated with foot pain.

The intrinsic muscles of the foot also play an important role in supporting the plantar fascia. When these muscles are weak, the fascia must bear more of the mechanical load, increasing the risk of tissue stress and microtears.

From a biomechanical perspective, the foot should not be viewed as an isolated structure. Instead, it acts as the foundation of the entire lower-limb kinetic chain, interacting continuously with the ankle, calf muscles, knees, hips, and spine to distribute forces efficiently during movement.

Understanding this connection highlights an important principle in movement science: healthy foot mechanics depend on balanced strength, flexibility, and coordination throughout the entire posterior chain.