pilates

18 Things Only Pilates Lovers Will Understand

Love to Move: Pilates Teaser

You’ve got your belly button pulled to your spine. And if you didn’t when you first read this you do now.
You know your butt is part of your core because you never get through a workout without feeling it.
When you hear someone say “100” even if it’s not pertaining to Pilates you want to run and hide. Since there is no escaping, you just pray your instructor counts fast.
Relax your shoulders…nuff said. You know you could do this more all the time.
That occasional foot cramp that comes out of nowhere. Ouch! Getting Longer!
You could always be reaching something longer.
The Full Roll Up is the bane of your existence.
You know how hard it is to breathe and move at the same time. In fact, you’re holding your breath right now.
Neutral vs Imprint. You know the difference, but at first you weren’t sure and just knew it had something to do with a teacup balancing on your pelvis. Why a teacup?
You’ve come to terms with the fact that none of the names for […]

18 Things Only Pilates Lovers Will UnderstandMaggie Downie2017-10-25T14:26:32-04:00

What is Pilates? What is my core?

You’ve probably heard of your core. It’s a common buzz word. In Pilates, our “core” refers to more than just our abdominal muscles. The Pilates “core” includes the abdominals, glutes (butt muscles), back muscles and muscles of the shoulder girdle. Basically, Pilates instructors are trying to train you to have a strong, solid, yet pliable (when it needs to be) trunk.

But it’s deeper than that. The goal of Pilates movement should be to help you understand how your body works to help you move from the right place and use the small stabilizing muscles we all take for granted. If we push from large, superficial muscles, we may feel strong, but we don’t have real strength. Knowing Pilates can help you improve any type of movement, exercise, or sport you like to enjoy. It can even make daily life better. The concepts teach you how to use your body more effectively and efficiently no matter what you are doing.

As an added bonus, if you ever get hurt doing something you love, it’s those small muscles that will help you get better. Those small muscles keep you balanced when you walk and do the simple daily tasks […]

What is Pilates? What is my core?Maggie Downie2017-10-25T15:49:51-04:00

Stabilize Without Tension

Stabilize Without TensionMaggie Downie2017-10-25T15:49:52-04:00

Inspiration

I have a friend who often tells me that my blogs or Facebook posts motivate her to be healthier or to get to the gym. That makes me happy. In my career, getting to hear that you motivate people is some of the best news you can get.

But it’s important to know that everyone I work with motivates me too.

On a very obvious level, as a Pilates instructor I generally think it’s important to stay healthy and active in order to physically be able to do my job and to stay fit. But when I have a client trying a new activity for the first time, they remind me everything there is to try and experience out there. When I have a client who eats healthier than I do (which is probably many), I feel like I should be more like them. They set a good example for me. When a client has been struggling with an exercise for a long time and they finally get […]

InspirationMaggie Downie2017-10-25T14:30:12-04:00

Better CT: Feet

If you didn’t get to see the segment on feet that I did on Better CT earlier this week, you can watch it here. Maggie on Better CT.

The show was a lot of fun and the segment went by so fast!

Personal Euphoria

Better CT: FeetMaggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:20-04:00