Flips, Flight and Freedom

Tara Scalesi Blog

When I was a kid, I used to love watching the Olympics with my family and marveling at the girls (and boys) who would run at full speed onto a padded mat and begin a series of seemingly impossible, continuous flips. They were incredible and I was enamored with all the crazy things they could do with their bodies. I …

Monthly Focus – July

Body Balance Institute Blog

Precision Precision, or exactness of movement is what sets Pilates apart from other exercise systems. Precision requires focus, awareness and controlled action. Every movement has a purpose and every cue or instruction is important to the success of the movement. In Pilates, we use fewer repetitions that are executed with control and precision, performing one or a few perfect movement …

Monthly Focus – May

Body Balance Institute Blog

All movement radiates from the center outward in Pilates. The center refers to the abdomen, lower back and pelvis. It is often called the “powerhouse” or “core”. The center is where power is generated within the body and it is also the source of stability and support for every kind of movement we make. In our every day lives, the …

GYROTONIC® Training

Kristen Sullivan Blog

I began my GYROTONIC® journey in 2007 during my MFA program at Florida State University with Anjali Austin. After years of Pilates training through my BFA and MFA programs, I was completely enlightened by the experience of the GYROTONIC® method. It was a totally different way of moving. Where Pilates was more linear and centering, GYROTONIC® was 3 dimensional and …

Tabata Meets Pilates

Carrie Walters Blog

Nothing out-burns Tabata, and nothing out-firms Pilates. What is Tabata? Founded in Japan, Tabata is four minutes of pure, high-intensity-interval-training. Each set utilizes well-known cardio exercises and organizes them into shorter, more intense intervals followed by brief periods of rest. Tabata sets are comprised of alternating 20 seconds of intense work with 10 seconds of rest repeated for 8 rounds, …

Monthly Focus – April

Body Balance Institute Blog

Breathing is the very first (and the very last) thing we do in this life. It is our life force, and yet many people have become accustomed to patterns of short and shallow breath. For many, connecting inward and breathing consciously and deeply can be very challenging. There is also a tendency to “forget” to breathe, or to intentionally hold …

How Sweet Is It?

Eleanor Baker Blog

Did you know the average American eats 22 teaspoons (~88 grams) of sugar per day?? The main sources of added sugar in the Typical American Diet are from sugar-sweetened beverages (soda, alcoholic drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks), syrup, candies, cakes,… the usual culprits. It can also be found in some not so obvious sources as well, such as: sweetened yogurts, …

Pilates for a Lifetime

Ann Middleton Blog

Joseph Pilates was a man before his time. A visionary, he realized the importance of mind-body fitness and wished to introduce it to the world. It took years for the idea to catch on, but today, a growing number of people realize the benefits of practicing Pilates and have become dedicated followers of the Pilates principles. I am fortunate to …