Return to Life with March MATness! “Pilates has been the perfect solution to maintaining strength and vitality in my life”. ~ Trudie Styler (Sting’s wife) Let’s review the 5 spine shapes: flexion/round back, tall back, extension/arched back, lateral flexion/side bend, and twist/rotation. With each of these spine shapes, there are challenges to each because there […]
upper back
Toola, my Pilates Ped-o-Pul
Toola, my Pilates Ped-o-Pul I couldn’t help myself, and so we have a bonus apparatus to cover with the “Movement Heals” blog series. The Contrology Ped-o-Pul I have is a recreation of Joe’s original Ped-o-Pul you would find at his Gym circa 1970. This is near reproduction of the same resistance and geometry. I’ve talked […]
Simone, my Pilates Wunda Chair
The “Movement Heals” series ends with this month’s blog with my final apparatus. I saved this G.O.A.T. for last. The Contrology Wunda Chair I have is a recreation of Joe’s original Wunda chairs you would find at his Gym circa 1970. This is a near reproduction of the same resistance and geometry of the original […]
Kinsey, my Pilates Ladder Barrel
As I mentioned last 2 months, there are 3 different barrel sizes in Pilates apparatuses. Think of the curves of the barrels being identical, just different sizes. Think of them as small, medium, and large. Or I like a royalty size theme of princess, queen, and king. With that, these blogs will be tied closely […]
Queen Bee, my Pilates Spine Corrector
Queen Bee, my Spine Corrector This month I’m here to introduce you to the queen size barrel, and appropriately named Queen Bee. Yep, a little Beyonce inspiration in my home studio. The Gratz spine corrector is designed to meet Joseph Pilates’ specifications. Notice there are two curves available from this apparatus – a steeper curve […]
Xena, my Pilates Small Barrel
Xena, my Small Barrel There are 3 different barrel sizes in Pilates apparatuses. Think of the curves of the barrels being identical, just different sizes. Think of them as small, medium, and large. Or I like a royalty size theme of princess, queen, and king. With that, these blogs will be tied closely together as […]
Frances, my Pilates Arm Chair
The Arm Chair is an apparatus that I’ve been introduced to through one of my mentorships in 2022. My very first time on this apparatus, and I was taught by the one and only MeJo Wiggin! What an incredible lifetime experience that I didn’t know I had to have in my life! The Contrology Arm […]
Eve, my Pilates C-Shaper
The C-Shaper is a tool that I’ve been introduced to through one of my mentorships in 2022. I intentionally use the word tool (not prop) because it teaches spine support in a round shape/flexion without slouching, slumping, sinking, or collapsing. When used correctly, this helps to build the abdominals to find and deepen the C […]
Sol-Luna, my Pilates Cadillac
The Contrology Cadillac is a beast in the most beautiful way possible. This apparatus is truly the full spectrum in terms of getting the most support (look at that big, long mat with springs attached from the top, bottom, AND sides, AND they can be hooked at different heights, and things at one end of […]
Delta, my Pilates Reformer
The next apparatus I named was inspired by the quote above. I felt and saw the biggest changes in my body from the reformer. I guess that’s why Joseph Pilates called it the reformer. It’s most likely the most well-known Pilates apparatus simply in terms of what the general public has seen. By definition, to […]