Vital Pilates

Pilates was designed from the start to be a complete physical fitness discipline. Once mastered, Pilates trains, strengthens, tones and realigns the entire body.

Pilates largely avoids high impact, high power output, and heavy muscular and skeletal loading. That's how Pilates prevents injury. The emphasis is not simply on building muscle mass.  Its focus is unique in its emphasis on lengthening and alignment, and the method can successfully train muscles which bodybuilding and conventional gym aerobics often miss.

Mat Classes

Pilates is the collective name for a set of exercises or techniques that condition the body to acquire greater flexibility, strength, greater endurance, and improved coordination without addition of bulk of muscle to the body.  Also, Pilates increases circulation and shapes the body in a more balanced form.  Essentially, these exercises are mat exercises that focus on the body’s torso.

The body’s own weight is used as resistance against which the exercises work.  These are very easy to begin with since these do not require any specialized equipment but only a floor mat.

What makes the method successful is the proper movement of these simple exercises.  Complete, controlled motion is the objective, and Mara's observation, coaching, and encouragement see you though to success.  Our classes are kept small so a strong bond is formed with each client.

Equipment Classes

Joseph Pilates' method of total body conditioning emphasizes proper alignment, centering, concentration, control, precision, breathing, and flowing movement that results in increased flexibility, strength, muscle tone, body awareness, energy, and improved mental concentration.  Pilates also designed five major pieces of unique exercise equipment.  Although the two components are often taught separately now, the method was always meant to combine both matwork and equipment exercises.

Pilates equipment uses the resistance of springs to create effort.  The principle piece of equipment is called the Reformer and consists of a sliding platform anchored at one end of its frame with springs.  The platform can be moved by either pulling on ropes or pushing off from a stationary bar.  Reformer exercises include the challenge of moving the platform while maintaining balance on the moving surface.