My Favorite Things to Pack For a Retreat

Ever walked into a Pilates studio and seen something too tall to be a coat rack? Well, then you were probably looking at a Pedi Pole! I used to skip using the Pedi Pole. And, now I love to spend a minute or five on it whenever a client is running late. The Pedi Pole may look wobbly and even like it would be one of the easier pieces of equipment but it is truly one of the hardest

In this week’s class, LL wants you to feel your body go in two different directions. Normally in life, we prefer not to be pulled all over the place but in this case, on your Pilates mat, you will love how this tug of war feels inside your body. Plus, connecting your body to Pilates and your mind on your mat will allow the outside world to disappear. So, what are you waiting for? Put those people vying for your attention on hold. Snag some floor space and enjoy the work of Pilates in your body.

I used to absolutely be obsessed with the Cadillac! Now, don’t get me wrong, I still love the Cadillac but…

Crazy times is the understatement of the year. Living life in this “new normal” somehow is starting to feel more normal. And, honestly, I find I am truly enjoying my new routines. Especially when I don’t listen to the news. Not that I am not staying informed. But, tbh, this time can be one that causes us to live in fear, and wait, hunker down and let time pass. Or, it can be a time we thrive. And, it’s all in how you look at it. Because, if you look back at your life there have been times where “bad things” have happened. Or, at least things that you felt were bad. And while this virus is more than “bad.” It is downright scary. How do we know this disruption in our daily lives is “bad?”

What is your favorite Wunda Chair exercise?

I would love to know! You can tell me below or in a comment on my Youtube video here.

Now more than ever it’s easy to feel alone. Isn’t that crazy? We are more connected than ever to our friends, family, our friends’ friends, and random people from around the world who have the same interests as we do. And yet, we feel alone and like we could be embarrassed or more alone if we say the wrong thing or do something uncool. 

Do you manifest, goal set or vision board? I do all of them! And, while I know that not everything will go exactly as I plan I love writing down my goal for the next year/s and trying them all on for size.

I used to hate doing Side Bend on the Mat. My body would twist and turn and I just never could find “straight” from head to toe before going up into a bend! But, the more I started connecting my other Mat exercises to each other the more Side Bend became accessible. 

When doing Pilates it’s easy to get obsessed with your core or keeping your shoulders out of your ears. But, the more connected you are to your seat the stronger your entire body will feel. Some of those notorious hip grippy exercises like Spine stretch forward teaser will become more tolerable and you may even find you enjoy them a little bit!

I’ll never forget the day I took my dad with me to a Pilates mat class and the teacher had…

I always knew my knees hyper-extended. I hated that about my legs. But, I didn’t know how to stop. And, who doesn’t want to be flexible?! But the truth is that hyper-mobility was the reason I broke my leg back in 2014.

I cannot believe that Jeni Del Pozo and I have now led four Pilates Day Retreats since our launch! It’s pretty crazy how a little idea (we should be doing Pilates Retreats) and a couple of almond milk latte’s birthed what is now Pilates Day Retreats. We have toured all of Los Angeles and all over the Pilates studio, and we are now taking our Pilates Retreats to Your Neighborhood Studio in Culver City, CA.

One of the things I hear when teaching Pilates mat exercises that require sitting is that people feel they cannot get tall or get out of their quads. So, I had to share how I love to use the Magic Circle on the Roll Up, Spine Stretch Forward and Spine Twist to help my seat to work more.

You’ve got goals! You have fitness goals that maybe you set a new years resolution or maybe an event is coming up and you just want to look or feel a certain way. Or, maybe you just want to start taking time for yourself. Perhaps you want to start putting your overall health first! All of these reasons are good and valid. And, your Pilates instructor while not a magician is someone you can articulate how you want to look and feel. The beauty of finding a Pilates instructor that is right for you is that they become your partner in crime. They become accountability and help you reach your personal health goals.

One of the common misconceptions of Pilates is that its an ab workout. But, then when I say, no it’s not just an hour of ab workout and explain how thorough Pilates truly is for our body it’s easy to see why people might think it is all about the abs. I mean, if everything begins in the center and moves out how is Pilates it not an ab workout?