Interview with one of our Clients - her Pilates Reformer Experience

Elizabeth Stanbridge first tried Pilates at the gym and really liked it. She was training with a personal trainer at the gym, trying to get back in shape  after years of not exercising.  At the time, her kids were at Redline Athletics and that's how she first heard about Body in Balance Yoga (back then it was still Studio J). She started Pilates and Yoga classes and hasn't looked back since! Elizabeth shares with us how Pilates has changed her confidence in her body exercise awareness.

Q: On a scale of 1 - 10 how did you feel when you first started taking classes at the studio?
A: I felt fairly strong (from the gym) but not balanced. Maybe 5,6/10.

Q: Results: where are you now and how do you feel?
A: Probably 8/10 - I have more work to do. I am more flexible. I feel like I am not as prone to injury, because my core and stabilizer muscles are stronger. I feel more confident because of the relationship I've developed with Jordan as a Pilates instructor. I trust that she will push me, but knows my limits. I am learning to analyse aches and pains and plateaus, and am learning to figure out what to do with them. The instructors have helped a lot with that learning (mainly Jordan and Rose). 

Q: What's next?
A: Keep going, keep learning, keep getting stronger and more flexible. The inclusive environment here makes it feel like I'm missing something in my life when I can't/ don't come to class. 

Free Reformer Session for First-Timers

Never tried out the Pilates Reformer Machines before? Curious? Well then, now is your chance!

Jordan Kaplow from Body in Balance Yoga in Chandler will be offering 5 new reformer students a FREE half hour session on Thursday, August 3rd at 6.30pm. Sign up now - first 5 people to sign up are in!  

Benefits of Reformer: Core & Posture

This is a unique opportunity to experience the benefits of the Pilates Reformer apparatus, specifically designed for better body health, flexibility and body awareness. Unlike Mat Pilates, reformer has special core-building benefits. Using the resistance of the pulley and spring system more resistance is created than what you get with just your body weight on a mat. This system allows for  better posture and coordination than you would with a Mat or classic fitness core routine.

Pilates reformer is an excellent overall workout for your body’s core: abs, lower back, hips and gluts. It is heavily focused on alignment and accurate muscle engagement, which can lead to improved posture, better balance and more stability, especially when in motion. Combining regular reformer sessions with other forms of exercise creates an integrated, stable body that moves well and is at less at risk to injury. Focusing on how your mind and body relate as you work through the movements helps bolster overall concentration and improves body awareness. The fluid, rhythmic movements performed on the reformer make you feel as though you’re almost gliding through water. The calming motions of the reformer exercises can be a tremendous stress-reliever. 

Jordan Kaplow Pilates Reformer Instructor

Jordan graduated from Arizona State University in 2014 with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise and Wellness, with a minor in Strength, Nutrition, and Personal Training.  Since 2011, Jordan has been certified as a Pilates mat and equipment instructor, and has been dabbling in other modalities of exercise on the side, along with increasing her level of education in the art of Pilates. 

History of the Pilates Reformer Machine

The system of lying on a platform using springs, ropes, handles and foot bars goes bak to the 1900s when bed ridden patients had to exercise in bed. The inventor of the reformer machine, Joseph Pilates, intended to help people recover by relearning how it the body was meant to move. Creating an intricate piece of machinery with a sliding platform, helps the body flow and move against resistance to gain strength, stability and fluidity.