What to Look for in a Pilates Instructor
Learning Pilates is a rewarding journey that requires the dedication of both the student and the instructor. Learning Pilates is challenging, but it is a challenge that pays off in more ways than anyone can count. It can give you stamina, strength, flexibility, confidence, and equanimity.
Making Pilates a part of your life should always begin with proper instruction. Learning the method correctly will prevent injury and help you reap its benefits sooner, so that you do not get discouraged in your practice. You and your instructor should be open with one another about your fitness goals and about the things that get in your way. At Mongoose Bodyworks, our instructors approach each student as an individual with a unique body and mind. We’re not here to judge you. We’re here to help you to find the health and strength within your body and mind.
Knowledge, Integrity and Dedication
Since Pilates is a comprehensive fitness regime that has elements of yoga, martial arts and gymnastics, it’s important that you choose an instructor who has extensive knowledge and experience of the method. Your instructor should seek continuing education and stay up-to-date with the latest developments and research in the field.
Pilates instructors also need to know how to work with different types of people and should have a sense of humor is a great plus. You may try an exercise and be unable to do it at first, winding up in some awkward position. Instead of getting discouraged, that just means it’s time for a few laughs. But this shouldn’t mean that you and your instructor are giving up. Instructors should challenge you, while considering your unique limitations and difficulties.
Call to Make an Appointment with a Certified Pilates Instructor Today
If you are thinking about learning to do Pilates and want a great instructor, call to make an appointment with a certified Pilates instructor today. All of the instructors at Mongoose Bodyworks are certified in the Pilates method and are dedicated to helping you learn this amazing fitness technique. Give us a call at (212) 431-8377 and let us introduce you to the remarkable benefits of Pilates. We serve New York City and its surrounding areas.
What Makes Pilates Unique Among Movement Systems?
When you think about it, it’s no wonder that so many Americans are unfit. A lot of advertising touts the perfect body and we’re always seeing fit models prancing about on the screen, implying that we should all look like them. We may want to work hard for a little while in the hope that maybe one day we can, but that’s not very good long-term motivation. We also work long hours and sit for long periods of time, settling on fast food and other nutritional compromises. We get disconnected from who we are and how our bodies work.
Pilates can make us remember what being healthy really means and teach us what the real motivations are, the ones that last a lifetime: knowing that you’ll feel good, be able to do what you need to do more easily and effectively, and be there for the ones you love for many years to come. At Mongoose Bodyworks, we understand the importance of true physical fitness and can help you get there.
More Than Just a Bikini Body
When we’re young and looking for a mate, we often think that a bikini body is the key to getting what we want. We may pop diet supplements or starve ourselves in the hope of making that happen. But Pilates can teach us that health and happiness are about a lot more than that. Pilates doesn’t just give you flat abs. It works the body as a whole, complex mechanism, one in which a dysfunction in one area affects the function of everything else.
No matter how beautiful and slim we are, all of us are going to get old. Aging often teaches us many lessons that youth does not, and one of them is that if you take care of your body, it will take care of you. To care for your body properly, you need to use your mind. Pilates teaches you to do both, by focusing on breathing and concentration. Doing Pilates regularly helps you build strength, coordination, flexibility and balance. As you age, these things become more and more important.
Call to Schedule an Appointment with a Qualified Pilates Instructor Today
If you want to discover the unique benefits of Pilates, call to schedule an appointment with a qualified Pilates instructor today. All of the instructors at Mongoose Bodyworks are certified in the Pilates Method and will see you as a unique individual whose goal is to become healthy and fit. Give us a call at (212) 431-8377 and let us guide you on your journey to good health and fitness. We serve New York City and its surrounding areas.
What Does Pilates Do to Your Body?
If you’re looking for a method of exercise that is both challenging and rewarding and will improve your overall physical fitness, Pilates is the method for you. Pilates can help you develop a more toned and lean appearance and become both stronger and more flexible.
To move more efficiently, we need to strengthen our core, which includes the muscles of the abdomen, the back, and the pelvic floor. These muscles help balance and support the entire body and also improve posture. Poor posture and weak core muscles lead to back pain, pressure on the discs of the spine, and impediment of lung expansion during a natural breath cycle. Doing Pilates exercises regularly will prevent this from happening. A professional Pilates instructor from Mongoose Bodyworks can show you the way.
The Changes That Occur as We Age
As people age, parts of their body begin to wear out. Degeneration of the spine can lead to a hunched back and back pain, and wear and tear on cartilage can lead to malfunctioning knees and hips. This can affect balance and mobility, and can even make people more prone to injury as they age.
Loss of balance and mobility can lead to more inactivity and reluctance to exercise, which in turn leads to more loss of balance and mobility, creating a vicious cycle. You can stop this downward spiral by learning how to do Pilates. Pilates exercises will stimulate both your body and brain, enhancing your total well-being in a way you can truly feel.
Call to Schedule an Appointment with a Professional Pilates Instructor Today
If you want to stay ahead of the aging process, look better, and become stronger, call to schedule an appointment with a professional Pilates instructor today at Mongoose Body Works. Our instructors are certified in the Pilates Method and will give you the individualized attention you deserve. Give us a call at (212) 431-8377 and let us show you how to stay young. We serve New York City and its surrounding areas.
Things to Know Before You Take Pilates Classes
The Girl Scout Motto, “Be Prepared,” definitely applies to those taking a Pilates class for the first time. If you’ve got some idea what you’ll be doing in class and what to expect afterwards, you’ll be ready to reap the benefits that Pilates exercise has for you.
The instructors at Mongoose Bodyworks will start by evaluating your alignment, and your personal goals, whether they involve recovering from an injury or just trying to feel better in general. When you come to class, wearing leggings, tights or capris with a stretch top will enable the instructor to see if you’re doing things right.
After Effects and Needed Recovery Time
During a Pilates class, you will be focusing on proper alignment as you work and breathe. This will sometimes burn and be somewhat challenging, and that is to be expected. However, you should never be in pain and should know that exercises will be modified to fit your needs. Never work to the point of severe pain!
The day after class, you may be sore, especially at first. Chances are, the muscles you’ve worked are ones you forgot you have and are protesting at all the new attention! But it won’t be long before you start to notice that it’s easier to climb those stairs, heft that bag of laundry or groceries, or walk that ornery dog.
Call to Schedule an Appointment with a Qualified Pilates Instructor Today
If you want to make some positive changes in your life and improve your general level of fitness, call to schedule an appointment with a qualified Pilates instructor today. At Mongoose Bodyworks, you’ll get individualized attention that’s geared to your fitness goals. Give us a call at (212) 431-8377 and let us show you how to become a healthier, stronger you. We serve New York City and its surrounding areas.
Pilates Reformer Machine – a Low-Impact Workout
Many people who are seeking a new fitness regime are concerned about the potential damage high-impact exercises, such as running, can have on the joints. At the same time, they may also be concerned that a low-impact workout may not really do the job. If you’re looking for an effective low-impact workout, you may want to consider the Pilates reformer machine.
If you are worried that the Pilates reformer machine won’t give you a tough enough workout, worry no more. Reformer machines are used by the world’s toughest athletes, including NFL and baseball players and members of the New York City Ballet. The reformer machine allows you to learn control while you build strength and flexibility. If you’ve never seen one before, stop by Mongoose Bodyworks and we’ll show you how it works.
History of the Reformer Machine
The reformer was developed by the inventor of Pilates himself, Joseph Pilates. During World War I, Joseph Pilates was interned as a prisoner or war . In order to keep himself and his fellow prisoners heathy he rigged springs to the hospital beds so they could do resistance exercises. This was the first primitive reformer machine.
In 1918 the influenza epidemic struck and Pilates couldn’t help but notice that his mates who were using the new exercise springs were among those who did not die of the flu. Exercise boosted their immune system and improved body function. Pilates can do this for you as well as slow the aging process.
Call to Schedule an Appointment with a Qualified Pilates Instructor Today
If you’re looking for a low-impact workout that is both challenging and rewarding, call to schedule an appointment with a qualified Pilates instructor today. All of the instructors at Mongoose Bodyworks are certified in the Pilates Method and have extensive training in other related disciplines. We’re dedicated to helping you achieve your highest level of fitness and know that you’re one-of-a-kind. Email us at info@mongoosebw.com. We serve the New York City area.
Is Pilates Good for Anxiety?
The modern world is fast-moving and filled with technology, unrealistic demands, and conflict. Everyone feels some anxiety from time to time, but when we let anxiety take charge, our sense of reality gets distorted and we cannot function well. Our thoughts can become like a speeding and derailed train, and it can take effort on our part to get it under control again. With its focus on breathing, concentrating, and staying in the present moment, Pilates takes us off of the speeding train. At Mongoose Bodyworks, our skilled Pilates instructors can help you reclaim your mental focus.
Anxiety Affects Your Whole Body
The effects of chronic anxiety on the body are insidious. Anxiety may be harming you and you may not even be aware of it. Anxiety interferes with the functioning of the body on almost every level. It interferes with your ability to sleep, digest food, and oxygenate your body. Anxiety also creates tension in various muscles and causes your endocrine system to secrete stress hormones that can result in weight gain, craving unhealthy foods, and jumping at the slightest noise. Part of your practice in learning Pilates will be to reconnect with your body and recognize when anxiety is taking over to intervene before too much damage is done.
Call to Schedule an Appointment with a Qualified Pilates Instructor Today
If you are tired of letting anxiety run your life, call to schedule an appointment with a qualified Pilates instructor today. All of the instructors at Mongoose Bodyworks are certified in the Pilates method and are experienced in helping people like you. Don’t let this world have you dancing in circles. Taking back your life is a revolutionary act. Email us at info@mongoosebw.com and join our fitness revolution. We serve New York City and its surrounding areas.
Is Pilates Better Than Yoga?
Many people who want to choose an exercise regime may ask the question: is Pilates better than yoga? The answer is that it depends on what your goals are and that either may be of benefit. In any case, however, professional instruction makes a difference.
Suppose, for example, that you’re having trouble with your knees and lost a great deal of cartilage, to the point where you may even be considering knee surgery or stem cell therapy. Your knee issues are probably going to make it difficult for you to do yoga, with its many extreme range poses that are held for a period of time. In this case, you are probably better off doing Pilates, which involves more therapeutic exercises and core strengthening and re-education. Having a comprehensively certified Pilates instructor can help you to do the exercises safely and rebuild strength so that you can more easily regain the use of your knees, whatever therapy you end up choosing.
Comparing Pilates and Yoga
If you have taken both Pilates and yoga before you probably noticed that Pilates classes are focused on the quality of movement, the “how” of moving and correct muscle recruitment. This has a functional translation into everyday movement. In most yoga classes the instructor has you going into a pose and remaining very still while you focus on your breathing. A Pilates instructor is less likely to ask you to hold a position for a few minutes at a time.
However, Pilates and yoga are both very similar in that they require your total concentration. Both are focused on conscious breathing, and in both methods, proper alignment is crucial. You can injure yourself doing either form of exercise if it is done improperly. This is why it’s important to have skilled instruction that enables you to work within your own physical limitations.
Email to Make an Appointment with a Certified Pilates Instructor Today
If you want to find an exercise regime that suits your unique body and mind, call to make an appointment with a certified Pilates instructor today. Our professional Pilates instructors at Mongoose Bodyworks are all certified in the Pilates Method and understand that you’re an individual with a one-of-a-kind body. Email us at info@mongoosebw.com and let us guide you on your fitness journey. We serve New York City and its surrounding areas.
Is Pilates a Good Way to Lose Weight?
Those who want to lose weight quickly may decide to use methods like low-carb diets, weight loss supplements, or even prescription medications. Pilates is about much more than simply losing weight. Pilates helps you condition, tone, and strengthen your entire body so that anything you do – from simple everyday activities to rigorous exercise routines – is done more efficiently and bears more fruit.
Pilates is a general physical fitness system developed by Joseph Pilates during the early 20th century. Pilates emphasizes the use of the body’s core, or abdomen, lower back and deep gluteal muscles. Learning Pilates requires focus and concentration, and to learn it correctly, it’s wise to begin by meeting with an experienced instructor. The instructors at Mongoose Bodyworks of New York City are professionals who can work with you at your level.
Making Exercise Easier
Losing weight in a healthy way almost always means increasing your level of activity. Pilates helps you accomplish this by making any form of exercise easier to do. The time and effort that you put into learning Pilates will pay off in many different ways.
When you do Pilates, your strength and coordination will begin to increase day by day. As your core muscles become stronger, you will walk better, sit better, climb stairs more easily, and do just about anything with less effort. You’ll probably feel better, too, and have more energy. Pilates can also alleviate back pain, and even make you feel more optimistic and less inclined to crave unhealthy foods.
Call to Make an Appointment with a Qualified Pilates Instructor Today
If you’d like to lose some weight and make an investment in your overall health and well-being, call to make an appointment with one of our qualified Pilates instructors today. All of the instructors at Mongoose Bodyworks are certified in the Pilates Method and have knowledge in many related disciplines. Email us at info@mongoosebw.com and let us show you how you can become the best you can be. We serve New York City and surrounding areas.
How Pilates can boost running performance
Outdoor running is a great way to stay fit, especially when the weather is nice and the scenery is enjoyable. Running can calm the mind, strengthen the lungs, and help with weight loss and maintenance. It also boosts the metabolism and aids in circulation, strengthening the heart.
Pilates can boost running performance by working the core muscles that are needed for both walking and running. It aids in body alignment, making each step you take more effective and less likely to injure you. The certified instructors at Mongoose Bodyworks understand how the body’s muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia interact to produce movement and can help you meet your unique fitness goals.
Demands of Running
The act of running places many demands on your body and subjects it to many forces it is usually not exposed to during routine activities. As a result, running often results in injury and degenerative conditions like the loss of knee cartilage. For running to be a successful way of getting fit, the runner’s body must be prepared for the demands.
Pilates exercises enable you to strengthen the muscles of the hips, knees, and legs in a way that does not strain them, as many of the exercises are done in a low impact way. It also keeps muscles and joints in correct alignment while you exercise, ensuring that forces are not distributed in such a way that they injure your joints. When the hip, leg and core muscles are strong, you’re less likely to hurt a joint while running.
Call to Make an Appointment with a Certified Pilates Instructor Today
If you enjoy running as a way to stay fit but want to improve your running performance, make an appointment with a certified Pilates instructor at Mongoose Bodyworks today. Whether it’s your first Pilates class or you’re a seasoned student of Pilates, we’re here for you. Give us a call at (212) 431-8377 and check out our professional Pilates studio. We serve New York City and surrounding areas.
Achieving a Happier Body and Mind with Pilates
Pilates is a comprehensive form of exercise that combines the knowledge of several disciplines, including martial arts, yoga, and gymnastics. It also develops mental focus and concentration, as it demands that you isolate the various areas you are working and that movements are precise and controlled.
Everyone has their own reasons for exercising, from simply wanting to look and feel better to relieving chronic pain. During your first visit, the skilled instructors at the Mongoose Bodyworks Pilates studio can evaluate you to determine your areas of need and discuss your exercise and fitness goals with you. At Mongoose Bodyworks Pilates, we will show you how to achieve a happier body and mind.
Developing Body Awareness
Unfortunately, in today’s demanding and chaotic world, many of us get so wrapped up in our work and our lives that we drag ourselves around without realizing what is happening to our bodies. This increases the wear and tear of aging and makes us feel disconnected with ourselves, and even with others.
With Pilates, you can develop awareness of your body, how it functions, and what its true needs are. Additionally, in order to be healthy, the body needs to move. Chronic immobility is actually hazardous to your health. In Pilates, you will learn how to breathe correctly and how to connect with your core muscles, which are the foundation of all movement. If these muscles are weak, it will make everything you do more difficult. Educating the muscles of the abdomen, back and pelvic floor will make everyday activities seem effortless.
Email to Make an Appointment with a Certified Pilates Instructor Today
If you are interested in achieving a happier body and mind, make an appointment with a certified Pilates instructor today. The instructors at Mongoose Bodyworks will work with you as a unique individual, guiding you to your best exercise routine in a way that is open and non-judgmental. Email us at info@mongoosebw.com and explore the world of Pilates with us. We serve New York City and its surrounding areas.
