Pilates, yoga & pain free fitness - specializing in working with chronic pain and injuries
Specializing in working with chronic pain and injuries, as well as with beginners and those wanting to modify their practice, I offer personalized Forrest yoga & Pilates classes & private sessions to build strength & relieve the stress of modern life.
11/20/2022
My beautiful models đĽ°đ
Thank you for spending your Sunday morning doing Pilates (while being photographed) with me!!
Canât wait to see the pictures! đ¤Šđ¸
Not pictured - the magical Wild Eyed Photography team who agreed to take on something new for me â¤ď¸
2 YEARS!
Thatâs how long it took for me to finally FEEL myself pulling my shoulders up towards my ears.
2 years of (extremely patient) yoga teachers whispering ârelax your shouldersâ and gently tapping on them before I actually felt myself doing it and could correct myself.
The light bulb of awareness went off. . . and then I began realizing how often I did that in the rest of my life.
ALL. OF. THE. TIME.
I lived like that.
- At my desk.
- Driving to work
- Checking my phone.
I also had headaches. ALL. OF. THE. TIME.
It was a way of life. Another week, another headache. Thatâs how it had been since a car accident at age 19.
It took 10+ years of pain and 2 years of a consistent yoga practice to realize that - without meaning to. . .
I WAS MAKING THINGS WORSE.
I was so unaware of my own habits and posture that I didnât realize how much extra strain I was creating.
No wonder my neck hurt. No wonder my shoulders were always stiff. . .They never got a break.
It took a handful of amazing teachers shining light on my (massive) blind spot. . . many times a week for 2 years until it finally sank in.
I now have a headache about twice a year (usually following a night of one too many glasses of wine with my besties đˇđĽ). . . versus several times a week.
- I no longer carry Advil in my purse.
- I no longer NEED weekly massages.
THAT'S THE POWER OF A GREAT TEACHER
Itâs not just the exercises or the accountability.
Itâs the magic that lies in the small details that have the power to change everything.
Itâs being seen and being shown another way to move and live.
A great teacher empowers YOU to be your own expert.
So that:
- You don't need someone else to "fix" you.
- You are confident and capable of healing yourself - and maintaining your gains over time.
My life changed because of the power of a great teacher.
I want that for you too.
I'VE GOT SOMETHING BIG COMING TO ANNOUNCE LATER THIS MONTH!
A way to:
- Work with me from anywhere.
- Get all my tips and tricks and proven strategies for moving out of pain and into feeling GOOD, strong, confident.
Do you want to make sure youâre the first to get the details?
Send me a message or comment below.
Tell me. . . What's your preferred way to work out? Private session? Group class? Solo? Why?
11/01/2022
What do Pilates, yoga & skeletons have in common? . . .
. . Theyâre all about alignment!! đđ
(Yep âđź, big nerd over here đ¤)
Hope everyone had a great night.
Happy Halloween from my crazy crew!
The difference between movement that heals and movements that hurts isnât much.
Itâs not just about picking the right exercises.
Itâs about HOW you move.
I have a handful of clients (mostly men đ¤) who work out with me because they have a tendency to overdue things. They:
* believe that more is more
* push through pain
* move quickly
* daydream about their to do list rather than focusing on what theyâre doing
My role is to keep them from hurting themselves.
And the game changing thing I show them is that itâs not just about the exercise.
Itâs about controlling it.
This exercise is a great example.
When someone tells me that they can do 50, 100 or more of these, I can pretty safely assume, theyâre using momentum to push through.
So I show them my way of doing this exercise. . .
* slow
* controlled
* focused
* struggle-free
The result?
They usually complete about 8 before needing to drop their legs and head for a break.
Less strain
Better results
Less time
Thatâs what happens when you move with intention. Thatâs what I teach.
Where do you struggle?
What exercise are you pretty sure youâre doing wrong?
Or you donât get?
Or you stopped doing because youâre always achey after?
Tell me below and Iâll break those struggle movements down in a live video.
What exercise are you pretty sure youâre doing wrong?
Or you donât get?
10/24/2022
WHAT IS YOGA? IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
YOGA is. . .
An ancient spiritual practice with the ultimate goal of achieving inner peace.
In the United States, yoga is mostly a physical practice, but the movements (called asanas) are only one component of yoga. Meditation, breath work, and lifestyle are core components of a full practice.
There are several styles of yoga to fit a variety of needs and preferences, from slow, meditative and restorative to very athletic.
Some common styles include:
* Hot/Power/Bikram
* Vinyasa
* Hatha
* Yin
* Restorative
I recommend yoga to someone who:
* Needs more mobility (They often feel stiff and will say âIâm not flexible.â)
* Possesses basic balance & stability
* Wants to build flexibility, coordination, & mindfulness
* Is looking for a way to recover from other activities
* Is in need of a mental/emotional outlet
* Is on a budget and looking for a low cost exercise option. Yoga is often more widely available and less expensive than Pilates.
Want to learn more and try it for yourself?
Click the link below
10/21/2022
WHAT IS PILATES? IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
PILATES is. . .
A modern practice developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. Precisely controlled movements build strength, flexibility and joint stability.
Because of this, many people are referred to Pilates to build core strength and ease back pain.
The ultimate goal is moving through life with ease, joy and the energy to do everything you enjoy.
Joseph Pilates designed his system to be done:
- in his studio
- with a teacher
- on equipment that utilized springs to create resistance.
He also developed a collection of exercises that could be done at home, without equipment, between sessions.
There are now options for practicing Pilates on the traditional equipment in a studio or at home - with or without props.
I recommend Pilates to someone who:
* Needs more stability (These folks may be too flexible or they have joint or balance issues.)
* Is working with limiting injuries/conditions (equipment based Pilates is best for this)
* Looking for all-around fitness - a balance of strength and flexibility
* Prefers or needs more personal attention as Pilates classes are often limited to 4-6 students.
* Is less price sensitive. Pilates tends to cost more than other workouts due to the small class sizes, equipment and comprehensive training required for Pilates instructors.
Want to learn more and try it for yourself?
Click the link below.
10/19/2022
Common questions I get are. . .
âPILATES? YOGA? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?â
- and -
âWHICH ONE WOULD BE BETTER FOR ME?â
Letâs start with the similarities. Pilates and yoga are both mindful movement practices, based on a belief that health & fitness are essential to living a full, happy life.
They both:
* Emphasize breathing & coordinating breath with movement
* Require little-to-no equipment
* Improve balance, coordination, flexibility and functional strength
* Offer great low impact exercise for all ages, sizes and ability levels
The differences are less about the movements and more about the intent behind them.
YOGA is. . .
An ancient spiritual practice with the ultimate goal of achieving inner peace.
PILATES is. . .
A modern practice developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. Precisely controlled movements build strength, flexibility and joint stability.
Curious to know more?
Click the link below to learn more about each of these and figure out which one is best for you. . .
10/12/2022
I â¤ď¸ Pilates.
It's what finally made me feel strong, fit and most of all - not broken!! (which was how I had been feeling for years ever since a car accident at age 19).
I still get excited sharing it with my clients and seeing the difference it makes in their lives.
I still smile and giggle when people tell me how graceful I am or ask if I was a dancer (nope - thatâs 100% due to Pilates).
The exercises are great (and a great challenge) but I think what makes it magical are what we call the Pilates Principles.
What the heck are the Pilates Principles?!
So glad you ask.
They are the intent behind the work and what makes it different from other forms of exercise.
Pilates isnât just about WHAT you do but HOW you do it.
These fundamentals taught me (and are the foundation of what I teach):
* How to move better. . . with less pain and more ease
* How to move more efficiently (working smarter, not harder)
* How to maximize my workout so I get results without spending hours at it
* The power of breathing properly
I â¤ď¸ Pilates so much and have been doing it so long. . .
I sometimes assume that everyone else must love and know what it is too. . .
But. . .we all know what assuming does. . .
So I thought Iâd share a little more about it this week.
Tell me below (or send a message). . .
Have you done Pilates before?
Are there any questions that youâd like me to answer?