It all began with Joseph Pilates. Born in 1880s Germany, Joseph was a frail, sickly child, suffering from rickets, asthma, and rheumatic fever. At the time, there weren’t many health resources available to the general population. But Joseph was also enterprising and imaginative; he developed his own exercise program to gain strength, improve his physical alignment, and overcome his natural tendency to weakness. In the beginning, his activities included boxing, gymnastics, self-defense, and skiing.

In his 30s, Pilates moved to England where he continued to train and teach boxing and self-defense. But during the first world war, because of his German nationality, Joseph was placed into a British internment camp. There, he taught physical fitness to other inmates and helped them develop practices for rehabilitation from injuries caused during the war. It was also there that he started inventing equipment to hasten the rehabilitation process, using readily accessible materials—bed frames and mattress springs—in order to provide spring resistance and movement assistance for those who were bedridden.

When the war ended, Pilates returned to Germany. In Hamburg he trained Military Police in self-defense. He also began collaborating with Rudolph Laban, a renowned movement analyst who designed programs for the growing fitness industry and worked with professional dancers. When Pilates was asked to work with the German army, however, he decided to move to the United States. On the voyage over in 1926, he met his soon-to-be wife. Together they founded a fitness studio on 8th avenue in New York City, close to a number of dance studios. This proximity to dance and dancers influenced Pilates’ work as he continue refining his methods.

Pilates initially dubbed his revolutionary method—which focuses on training the whole body through precise, controlled movements, breath control, flexibility, core strength, joint stabilization and full range of motion—”Contrology.” He published two books about his training methods: Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education (1934) and Return to Life through Contrology (1945).

Today Joseph Pilates’ program is known simply as the Pilates Method or The Method and includes literally hundreds of exercises. Though The Method was originally taught only to apprentices and practiced in only in studios, you can now find Pilates’ method taught in a variety of venues—such as here at Archer’s Pilates—utilizing a full range of Pilates mat and machine-assisted exercises.

Sandy Hauser

Sandy Hauser has been an Archer’s Pilates client for—in her words—”maybe twenty years.” She originally started taking Pilates classes from another teacher in the old Hat building downtown, and loved  how it made her feel. Then I took over the classes, and when I moved studios to Walnut St., she came along with me.

Sandy attends classes twice a week: the Friday 8:15 am Pilates Mat class and the Tuesday 8:30 am Open Studio.

Of the benefits of her Pilates she has this to say:

“I love my twice weekly sessions!  If I do miss a Pilates class, I can always tell because my body is so stiff. The two classes give me the advantage of one class on the machines and one class on the mats which I believe is the perfect balance for my body.”

Sandy, owner of “Not Yo’ Momma’s Cheesecakes,” is a busy woman, creating and baking thirty (30!) varieties of individual serving-sized cheesecakes. When I asked her what her favorite was she said, “Right now, I’d have to say it’s ‘Tongue-Tickling Tangerine.” That does sound good!

Sandy’s cheesecakes are always part of the Crossroads Chicken truck menu, but she told me that she—and her cheesecakes—will be at Napa Farmer’s Market starting May 1st, the Chef’s Market beginning on Thursday May 17th, and this weekend at Veteran’s Park for the Earth Day celebration.

Sandy keeps her fitness level high through you commitment to her Pilates classes and by walking regularly.

If you’re thinking about starting Pilates for the first time, Sandy recommends:

“Start with a mat class and see how you like it, before moving on to the machines. I love how the stretches feel.”

I agree. If you don’t see something on the class schedule that works for you, bring a friend and together we’ll design a customized class just for you. It only takes two!

 Please Note:

Archer’s Pilates will be closed for vacation
April 23-April 30, 2012

Recently I have taken up three activities that make me so grateful for the strong core foundation that I have as a result of Pilates.

At the ripe old age of 51 I am now taking Dressage lessons, Shooting my bow and taking nourishing,  long walks at our local hillside wilderness park, Skyline, enjoying the benefits of being in nature.  The sun, the sounds of the wind in the trees, the birds, the lovely green hills with the little wildflowers. All activities that nourish my soul.

Archery for Archer

Enjoying new challenges...

What is it for you?  What does doing your requisite workout allow you to do?
Cultivating good health habits allows us to more fully enjoy the good times and gracefully negotiate the difficult times.

I am here to remind you, get out!  Move your body, fill your lungs, your eyes, your ears with the healing sounds of nature!

Thank you to all my clients and associates for your loyalty, love and support.

Watching old friends move on and new ones enter the studio is testimony to the bit of magic that is behind the running of any business.  

  The new face you may see in the studio is Julie Weinberg. She is  a teacher of Pilates teachers and has generously agreed to contribute her insights and expertise.  Who knows? maybe she will be offering classes or seeing clients in the New Year.

After Julie attended our Open Studio class on Monday she observed how independent and involved my clients are in designing their own sessions.  I am proud of my students as they appreciate how important the role that the mind plays in staying fit!

For example, Janice (not her real name) a busy, 52-year-old mother of two boys, 8 and 12 suffered a whiplash seven years ago. Up until her 50th birthday, she believed that it had been treated and corrected.

She was a regular member of the local gym and decided to try the new Pilates mat class as she had heard it could tone her abdominals. Though the Pilates mat teacher was earnest and tried her best to address all the different needs of the 13 students in her class, she could not. As a result, Janice aggravated her old injury.

After her initial visit to my studio she learned that there was a lot more to Pilates than what one session could show her. On her second visit, we went over her medical history and did a postural evaluation. I found that she had a tendency to a forward head position and rounded shoulders that aggravated the muscles in her cervical spine. I showed her some simple neck and jaw stretches/releases that she could do at home.

Over the course of the next ten weeks, we used the Reformer and the Cadillac to strengthen and connect her upper body to her core, thus releasing the muscles in her neck.

Today, Janice attends her private session once a week and supplements it with her original mat class. She is becoming more confident with the machines (Reformer and Cadillac) and is talking about moving into the open studio class on Tuesday morning.

Through the Pilates system postural evaluation Janice and I were able to first identify and then tone those muscles that had been taking a back seat, helping her to recover from her injury, while strengthening core muscles and building balance throughout her body.

bring your naval to your spine

keep your heart lifted,  

grow tall through the tips of your ears,

lengthening your lovely neck -

don’t collapse!

 trust.

The importance of the EXHALE to  facilitate  toning of the Core.

 Notice as you forcibly exhale your waist narrows and your belly moves towards your spine. ( as when you cough and sneeze).

This is the beginning  of toning and the  setting up for core strengthening exercises.

With the Pilates system the ability to maintaining the “naval to spine during the exhalation and inhalation is essential.

Next week: Thoracic breathing 

Remember?  Keep your heart lifted!

Notice how your rib cage narrows, sinks and settles like a birds wings.

Keep your heart lifted as you breath out three times completely emptying your lungs.

Inhale fully each time.

TRUST

Stayed tuned for more Anatomy of the Breath Tips.

These two new class are being offered at the request of two  Pilates students.  Thank you Julie and Catherine!  

Fundamentals of Pilates Mat 

Tuesdays 3:00-4:00

Beginning/ Intermediate Pilates Mat

   Saturdays 8:30- 9:30

 Please join us or create your own class!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Please call before attending your first class.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              For schedule and rates please see schedule page