Session 5

I really like the atmosphere at Body Mind Balance. There is one large room that has the majority of the equipment and plenty of floor space for mat work. The large windows on three sides of the room let in a lot of natural light and the beautiful hardwood floors and exposed brick add to the studio’s charm. When I am in the studio for my Tuesday and Thursday evening sessions it is typically pretty quiet, with only a few other people doing private sessions as well. It is nice to have that quiet time and focus on my practice and relax after a long day of work. On Saturdays mornings there is a different atmosphere when I attend mat class. There are usually 6-8 of us participating in a mat class, a group using the Gyrotonic equipment and sometimes a session or two of personal training going on as well. There seems to be more energy in the studio on Saturday mornings and it is a great way to start the day.

There is so much value in practicing Pilates at a studio. I was recently speaking with someone about my blog and she mentioned that she wants to start doing Pilates too. She is going to buy a DVD. I am sure there are a lot of great Pilates DVDs available, but nothing makes up for having someone in person coach you through your workout. When there is an instructor working with you, they can insure that you are doing the exercise properly. Sometimes just a small tweak to the placement of your foot or hip can make a difference. The instructor will also encourage you to take your exercise a bit further and personalize the workout to meet your needs.

Not only are the verbal cues from the instructor important, but it also helps to see other students practicing as well. Tonight I saw a more advanced student doing the crisscross while balanced on the chair. I thought to myself, “I want to be at that level, I want to be able to do that!” Watching other students gives helps me set new goals for myself