pilates

Saturday Fun

We had another beautiful day for Pilates alongside the Connecticut River in East Hartford. The fact that we’ve had such good weather is just a reminder, as summer nears to an end, that we’ve had a great summer with lots of sunny, warm weekends.

Thank to you everyone who has been joining us and to all our instructors who helped out in organizing and teaching.

Saturday FunMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:10-04:00

Never Happy with Height

(This image is from the day I officially became the shortest in my family. I’m not positive of the year, but I’m going to guess my brother is 12 and I’m 22–give or take a year for both of us in either direction.)

Though I have 5’3″ on my license because I prefer odd numbers, I always believed I was 5’2″. When I stopped growing at 5’2″, I was bummed. It sounded really short. And I certainly didn’t like being the shortest Downie in my family, especially because I’m seven and ten years older than my younger siblings.

But even though 5’2″ didn’t seem tall, I never felt short, and, eventually, I grew to like that feeling–feeling taller than I was. I came to see the many benefits of being vertically challenged. If it rains, I get to stay drier longer than tall people, to name one.

So it came as a huge surprise about a year ago when I had a doctor’s visit and discovered I was 5’4″. I was stunned and happy because […]

Never Happy with HeightMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:11-04:00

Words from the Master

Joseph Pilates, Pilates’ Return to Life Through Contrology

“By all means never fail to get all the sunshine and fresh air that you can. Remember too, that your body also ‘breathes’ through the pores of your skin as well as through your mouth, nose, and lungs. Clean, open skin pores permit perspiration to uninterruptedly eliminate the poisons of your body.”

Words from the MasterMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:11-04:00

Pilates Proven

Researchers from the kinesiology and physical education department at McGill University in Montreal found that Pilates improves shoulder stability, strengthens the lower abdominals and improves posture.

Let’s hear it for Pilates!

Pilates ProvenMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:11-04:00

Helpful Cues

Are you having trouble connecting with your core muscles? Here are some cues that might help you pull your navel to your spine. Let us know if one helps you understand your body better.

Scoop your belly button to the spine
Imagine zipping up tight jeans
Imagine I just stuck an ice cube against your belly button
Feel your stomach engage from your ribs to public bone

Have you heard others that helped you? Let us know…

Helpful CuesMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:35:24-04:00