1615 Foothill Dr. Suite C. Salt Lake City, Utah

801.232.8626

Isis was an Egyptian goddess of magic and the giver of life.  She was a friend to all and worked with her people to build a strong community.  Isis Pilates is a neighborhood studio.  We strive to enhance the health and well-being of our community.

At Isis Pilates, every client begins with 3 one-on-one sessions where an initial kinetic assessment is performed.  We address any injuries, weaknesses, chronic pain or tightness and any aesthetic improvements you may desire.  We offer private and group sessions.  Whether you decide to continue with private sessions or choose to go into a group setting, you will still receive personal attention as our groups range from 3-5 people.

Isis Pilates will give you the workout that’s best for you now, and will increase the intensity as your body progresses and improves. Try It!-Cher Jolley-Parkes

Jesse:  “Dear Diary…”

December 28, 2009

Today I was able to focus on the very basic moves that I have been learning over my experience with Isis and have repeated each session.  One move that I really love and feel like I can do well is the Elephant stretch.  The most flexible part of my body is probably my hamstrings (bending down and flat palming the floor while keeping my legs straight? No big deal.)  The Elephant stretch requires you to grip the foot bar with both hands and place your heels flat on the reformer with the back of your feet up against the shoulder rests.  While keeping your upper body in place, you then push the reformer away from you and then slowly bring it in.  By doing this, the body is able to actively stretch the muscles.  In other words, you can gain a greater stretch because you are warming up the muscle, focusing on your breathing, and pushing yourself deeper each time you bring the reformer back in.

Cher handed me a stretchy band to wrap around my ankles.  She then told me to walk sideways up and down the room; all while paying attention to my spine.  This band worked my hip flexors and iliotibial band (I.T. band) more than I ever thought possible.

Another cool move I love on the reformer is the front lunge stretch.  You place one foot on the foot bar and the other up against the shoulder rest.  You then proceed to push back on the reformer into the deepest lunge possible.  I would imagine that Pilates experts just go straight into the splits.  Since I was able to gradually warm up my muscle with gentle movements, I was able to go into the stretch rather easily. I loved doing this move.

December 30, 2009

The first time I attended Pilates, Cher told me that Isis is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA).  If you ever go looking for a legitimate Pilates studio make sure that it is a member of the PMA.  From their website I learned, “The Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) is the international not-for-profit professional association for the Pilates method. The PMA’s mission is to protect the public by establishing certification and continuing education standards for Pilates professionals.  The PMA made history in 2005 by launching the first industry wide certification exam for the Pilates method in the United States.  The PMA has established recommended industry performance parameters guiding the practice of all PMA Certified and non-certified Pilates teachers. The PMA has established these standards to further bring professionalism to Pilates.”  So, what this means is if you go to a studio where the instructors are PMA certified, you know you are experiencing qualified instructors and appropriate Pilates techniques.

January 8, 2010

After I attended my last class with Cher I decided that I wanted to sum up the benefits of my entire experience.  I found this quote from the man who started it all:

“I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They’d be happier.” -Joseph Hubertus Pilates, in 1965, age 86.

The following is what I have gained and learned from my experience with Isis Pilates:

-greater body awareness by training the mind and body to build symmetry and control;

-working core muscles which so often get neglected in everyday life.  One Pilates expert said, “Think of a tree. Does it have all its strength in its limbs? No. The tree is only as strong as its trunk and roots. Without a strong trunk, the tree would topple over.” (Said much better than I ever could);

-greater flexibility throughout the entire body;

-increased range of motion;

-strengthens stabilizer muscles;

-can prevent future injuries;

-safe and effective exercise for elderly people;

-promotes long, lean muscles, much like a ballerina;

-creates a stronger and more flexible spine;

-improves circulation.

For those of you who feel this drive may be out of the way, I encourage you to take the trip to try this out.  I have already recruited a family member to start taking Pilates from Cher.  My family member is very active and has started to experience pain throughout different parts of her body.  I’m excited for her to try Pilates.  I know that it will help reduce the pain she is feeling and help to strengthen core muscles that will help aid in her continued physical activity.  I am so thankful that I experienced Pilates and I am excited to continue my attendance with Isis Pilates.

Noel:  “Dear Diary…”

Back to work.  Getting personally trained by an experienced and knowledgeable fitness guru is tough; no getting away with slacking; “Keep your back broad.  Elongate your neck.  Slowly.  Remember to breath.”

Having Cher teach me Pilates was challenging as well as fascinating.  Pilates was challenging because I was moving with mindful intention.  I had to concentrate on what I was doing to keep proper form, technique, and movement to sync into the best workout using optimum use of my body.  Don’t get me wrong; this wasn’t like a math test but it certainly wasn’t mindless.  Over time I’m confident I’ll be able to master the proper form and movement just like a kung fu student eventually masters the specific form, movement, and technique-“Skidoosh.”

Pilates was fascinating because I was able to discuss and learn from Cher.  She is a wellspring of knowledge.  I’m just learning how important it is to not only do a certain movement, but to do it well.  Cher, on the other hand, seems to have not only known this for years but has practiced it for years.  It may seem like I’m boasting about Cher-well maybe I am-but I’ve never had a personal trainer before who was so competent when it came to proficiently exercising the majestic complexity that is the human body.

So I thought I would ask the world the most important question … URKEL OR MR. Belvedere?

Urkel won with 73% of the votes and Mr. Belvedere received 23% of the votes and wtf received 4% of the votes.

This dude was hilarious!! He is a cat!!!

click read the rest of this story for more screen shots.

HA!!! WTF is Urkel!!! Seriously! Where was this guy when TGIF was on?

This guy enjoyed the question and/or thought of Mr Belvedere way too much!

I actually felt bad for this dude ... because he looks like Urkel! And no not all black dudes look a like. Maybe all black dudes with glasses look a like though! You tell me.

]]> http://volitionmag.com/2010/03/02/chatroullette-poll-urkel-or-mr-belvedere/feed/ 0 volitionmag Picture 22 Picture 29 Picture 38 Picture 5 http://volitionmag.com/2010/02/18/dear-diary-isis-pilates-week-3/ http://volitionmag.com/2010/02/18/dear-diary-isis-pilates-week-3/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:07:57 +0000 volitionmag http://volitionmag.com/?p=1637 ]]> Isis Pilates

1615 Foothill Dr. Suite C. Salt Lake City, Utah

801.232.8626

Benefits of Pilates

Pilates enhances the everyday activities of our lives, whether it’s bending over to pick something up or running a 26 mile marathon.  It’s a refreshing mind-body workout.  By breathing deeply and concentrating on flowing movement you can maximize your workout.  Breathing deeply carries oxygen to the muscles and can reduce stress.

Pilates strengthens and elongates muscles improving elasticity and joint mobility.  A body conditioned with balance, strength and flexibility is less likely to be injured.

Pilates doesn’t over train or under train muscles.  It focuses on the body as a whole.  Each exercise works on developing a strong core – your abdominals and back.

Pilates is a safe exercise.  It teaches good posture, body awareness and can help you look and feel your best.–Cher Jolley-Parkes

Jesse.  “Dear Diary…”

December 21, 2009

Today I attended another group class with Cher.  Both of the group classes I attended had five or less people.  I have increasingly come to love group classes at ISIS because of how personal they are and because of how much attention each participant receives.

We did two series of push-ups on the reformer.  For each set of push-ups in the series we shifted the foot bar up and down.  There are four different settings (or heights) on the foot bar.  When doing pushups, you kneel on the reformer and place your hands on the foot bar (if you are stronger, you go into plank position by raising your knees off the reformer and balancing on your feet).  The difference between Pilates pushups and regular pushups is your lower body is required to stabilize the reformer all while the arms are doing the pushup exercise.

Another cool exercise that we did involved one of the many ab exercises we performed.  We laid on our back on the reformer, with our legs at a 90 degree angle (the stronger your abs get, the farther away you can hold your legs).  We pulled both the right and left strap and looped them together and placed one hand over the other in the combined loop.  We then proceeded to pull the straps down and up, with our elbows locked, from our forehead to our waist, over and over.  We then would tilt our legs to the right and left and do a set for each side.  Yes… they are incredibly hard.  I think they are so hard because Cher keeps a vigilant watch on whether or not I am keeping my lower spine in line against the reformer.

Probably the hardest exercise we did tonight involved the Pilates ring.  We placed our legs on the outside of the ring and squeezed the ring in and out slowly for 30 pulses and then 75 quick tiny pulses.  We then did the same thing but with our legs inside of the ring and pushed out.  Wow…  I felt crazy muscles working that I didn’t even know I had. The muscles around my sacrum (tail bone) were dead.

December 23, 2009

Today at Pilates we spent a lot of time on the Pilates chair.  I’m pretty amazed at all of the many exercises that we can do on such an unassuming box.  We did these pushups where we placed one are on the ground and the other on the foot bar.  You then hold plank position and do a pushup with only the one arm on the foot bar.  Once again I was working stabilizer muscles that I don’t usually work, which is awesome.

We focused a lot on the abs while working on the box.  We placed our feet on the foot bar and gripped the edge of the Pilates box and then proceeded to pull our bums up to the ceiling.  I’m pretty sure it’s called a reverse curl.  This move involved engaging my entire core as well as my abs.  The springs inside of the box are adjustable so that the user can increase the resistance.  The stronger the resistance, the less work the user has to do and the weaker the resistance the harder the user has to work to get your  bum in the air.  So it is opposite than traditional exercise machines in that aspect.  To change this exercise up a bit, we twisted our body to one side and crossed one leg over the other and worked the obliques.  We then proceeded to repeat the exercise of lifting our bums in the air.

Tonight I learned something amazing.  The Pilates ring…  the one you repeatedly squeeze between your knees over and over…. there are people who can do 1300 pulses in one sitting… uh…. I think I did 200 tonight and I am dead… I can only imagine how immaculate my behind would look if I could do 1300 pulses in one sitting.

Noel.  “Dear Diary…”

How do you take criticism?

In most cases I love criticism.  I do dumb, nonsensical things quite a bit-sometimes without even knowing it-so I like to have someone I trust keep me in check; “What are you doing man?!  Maybe you shouldn’t hockey-check the biggest and meanest dude on the soccer field.”  “Oh yeah, probably a good idea.  Thanks dude.”

So going into Isis Pilates and getting assessed-critiqued if you will-on form, balance, flexibility, and so on was ultra exciting for me.  Through a series of seemingly simple tests (walk back and forth, do 12 squats, touch your toes, stand on one leg, even just standing there) Cher was able to tell me things about myself that were formerly under my radar.  Such as:

-Hip shifts slightly to the right.

-Left arm swings more than my right when I walk.

-Right shoulder is higher than my left.

-Good spinal posture-no forward head.

The list is longer but you get the picture.  So my hip shifts slightly to the right for a reason.  With better form, mindfulness, and some minor tweaking, that can be corrected.  And when it’s corrected it will enable me to be more balanced, to move more efficiently, and to avoid pain in the future.  The point of the assessment is so you and Cher can focus and individualize the workouts.  An adolescent female’s Pilates workouts will not be the same as an 88 year old male’s.  Individualized.  Tailored.  Proper form, proper technique, mindfulness.  Make sense?  And thank goodness I don’t have the forward-head syndrome.

Too Much Memory by Keith Reddin and Meg Gibson

168 West 500 North
Salt Lake City, Utah
801.363.7522

It is always interesting to think about the relevance of current political situations through the retelling of classic stories. I guess that’s what keeps theatre alive. If it wasn’t for retelling we would have stopped telling stories back in the stone-age. Right now, Salt Lake Acting Company is revisiting the story of Antigone, the tragic continuation of the story of Oedipus. Remember he’s the one who marries his own mother then gouges his eyes out once he figures out what he’s done? The one Freud was obsessed with. Well before his self-inflicted punishment, his mother/wife kills herself, they had 4 children: Eteokles, Polyneices, Ismene, and Antigone. A bunch of Greek drama ensues which would rival any recent episode of Jersey Shore. Seriously. Brother fights brother over the crown of Thebes, and both end up dead. Before Polyneices’ death Antigone—his sister/aunt promises that she will bury him properly which apparently is a big deal, family honor and all that jazz, so she agrees. Problems occur though when her uncle/brother-in-law Creon, the current king of Thebes, prohibits by law, capital punishment in fact, for anyone to bury Polyneices as he’s considered a first class enemy of the state. Antigone does it anyway and gets in major trouble. To make matters worse she’s in love with and betrothed to marry Creon’s son, Haemon (her cousin/nephew?). How does it end? Well let’s just say they don’t call it a Greek tragedy for nothing…

Which brings us to SLAC’s Too Much Memory “an adaptation of an adaptation of a translation” of this classic story by Sophocles written by Keith Reddin and Meg Gibson. This version is a modern telling of this same twisted story littered with quotes from contemporary politicians and poets. The point? The best answers lie in compromise not in unbending rigidity of opinion. The two main characters, Antigone played by the upcoming young actress Nikki Nixon, and Creon played by veteran actor Morgan Lund, are extreme in opinion and unyielding to understanding. Gibson (writer/director) guided her actors down a road where we see the tragedy of a polarized world. Nixon played Antigone with relentless passion and there were moments when Antigone seemed obviously in the right.  However, her passion also paved way for the times when she seemed more tyrannical than her right winged, ultra conservative uncle. On the other hand, despite Creon’s striking resemblance in appearance and demeanor to Richard Nixon, he had extremely sympathetic moments of understanding. The dilemma clearly was raised that maybe neither one was right or wrong. The supporting cast also brought enhanced texture and intensity to the piece. Whether it was the yes-man type soldiers or the painfully silent wife of Creon, the entire cast brought a heightened sense of awareness to the theatre. Watching them watch each scene helped me feel the importance of each word.

Gibson also created an interesting theatrical space where the actors watched the play alongside the audience. As an audience we were kept removed from the story almost in a Brecht sort of way by having the stage very minimal and specifically defined by strike tape and chalk. The audience and players were on the outside of the story. We were meant to observe and learn from this play. It was never intended for us to “lose ourselves” in the characters or pathos of the story. The events unfolding were entirely speculatory which I found completely effective. I enjoyed the use of the space as a small box perhaps representing the boxes society or authority encroaches upon us.

SLAC describes this play as “a fast and furious tale about speaking out” which is exactly how I felt leaving the theatre. I felt exhausted from the whirlwind of emotions experienced, frustrated with my own boxes, but mostly excited to do my own screaming out. All that after only an hour and a half. That’s like Antigone with ADD and that seems about right for our generation. My cry then is, may the retellings continue. Even if it is an adaptation of an adaptation of an adaptation… Whatever it takes to help us learn these vital lessons despite the changing times.

Article by Meggan Steffenson

1615 Foothill Dr. Suite C. Salt Lake City, Utah.

801.232.8626

My name is Cher, and pardon the pun, but let me share my personal experience with Pilates and how it’s changed my life.  Nearly 10 years ago, I started running for exercise and to relieve stress.  After about 3 months, my knee started to hurt, which lead to ankle and foot injuries.  Dr.’s took x-rays and finally came up with a diagnosis that my patella (knee cap) didn’t track straight and unless I wanted to have surgery, I should find a different form of exercise.  I thought for sure I would never run again.

Today, I’m training for a marathon!  Wait, how can this be?  One word: Pilates.  Over time, Pilates has strengthened my stabilizing muscles around my knee and hip, increased my flexibility and range of motion and put me back into balance.  My patella tracking problem resolved itself without surgery, and I’m able to pursue my passion of running.  I am forever indebted to Pilates for this gift.

Another device that helped me is a foam roller.  What’s a foam roller?  A foam roller is round and made of a hard Styrofoam-like material that comes in various lengths.  It acts as a deep tissue massage; it hurts, but after you’re finished your body feels so much better.  It basically releases tension in the muscles and helps train them to release faster.  Pilates has improved my quality of life; I believe it can improve yours too.

foam roller

Jesse. Week 2.  “Dear Diary…”

December 15, 2009

Today I experienced another private session with Cher.  One thing I love that Isis Pilates does differently than many Pilates studios is the required stretching that is performed at the beginning and at the end of the workout.  Joseph Pilates (the man who invented Pilates in the early 1900’s) did not incorporate stretching or cooling down at the end of the workout, but modern research has stressed the importance of incorporating stretching into every workout.  By stretching the muscles, one can reduce the chance of injury both during the workout and in his/her daily life.

Another thing that I love about how the way Cher teaches is how she explains exactly what I am about to do before I do it.  If you don’t know what you are doing you can definitely hurt yourself on the Pilates reformer.  Another thing I found very beneficial was how she explained why I was doing the workouts I was doing.  She described the benefits I would be receiving, or what muscle groups I should be working, all while constantly assuring me that I wasn’t feeling strain in the wrong places of my body.  Awesome!  I never really have had a personal class catered just for me, and of course I love it.

One thing I notice we do in every class is the “Pilates 100.”  This involves laying on your back on the reformer and pulling the straps down till they are by your sides.  While keeping the lower back on the reformer you extend your legs at a 45° angel.  You then pulse your arms up and down in tiny little motions, breathing in for a count of 5 and then out for a count of 5. I think this is to prepare your spine and body for the exercises that you are about to do.

Let me finish this entry by stating that Cher made me do the hardest butt workout ever.  I lay on my side… on a box… on the reformer…. with my knees at a 90° angle.  I had one of the straps on one foot and was required to lift my leg off of my other leg, while keeping my knees and ankles parallel to each other.  The Pilates reformer has a series of varying spring resistances that can be adjusted according to what part of the body you are tying to work out.  The movement of this exercise (my butt muscle) moved the reformer as well as pulled against the resistance of the springs.  Wow! I had to take a mini stretching break after I did this workout.  I have never felt the muscles in my butt so isolated and worked.  Now I just need to do those more often and I should be ready for swimsuit season in no time. J

December 19, 2009

Today was not only my first group class but also my first morning workout with Cher.  I have always dreaded morning workouts, not only because I love sleeping in, but also because I usually just feel terrible while I am doing it.  I feel sick, weak, and tired when I try to workout in the morning. So I try to avoid it even though I know I could get a lot more done in the day if I exercised in the morning. The goal to do so will probably always be a New Year’s resolution.  My point in mentioning all of this is because I felt great both during and after the workout.  I definitely knew I was working hard but felt the method of Pilates exercises afforded me the pleasure of the absence of the usual “sick, weak, and tiredness.”  Yes!

This group class had a total of five people and involved four different sessions of circuit training.  We first focused on the legs, then abs, then arms, and finally a circuit of stretching, which I doubt you will find many other places.  One thing I noticed was that one of the participants had an injury in her foot.  I was interested to see how she would do in comparison to everybody else.  What I realized is that Pilates is the workout to do if you have an injury.  Cher knows exactly how to modify the move so as to gain the best workout and also to avoid causing greater strain to the existing injury.

For the entire duration of my time at Isis, I have noticed how much emphasis is placed on making sure you are feeling the workout in the right places in your body.  I believe that Pilates is truly about feeling better all around.  I think that sometimes people workout believing that the only way to get a good workout is to be in physical pain the whole time and to push themselves over her personal limits.  While I do believe that people need to be constantly improving by taking on more reps, weights, or cardio time, I do believe that some people can take it to an unhealthy extreme.  Pilates focuses, I would say, about 50% on making sure your spine and body are in the correct place and 50% on achieving the exercise.  I have never worked out this way. And what a change it has been!

Like my last entry, let me finish this one by mentioning that I did the hardest lunges that I have ever done.  They were performed on the Wunda chair (a seat with a spring board attached underneath that moves up and down according to the spring resistance).  The exercise involved standing and balancing on one leg on top of Wunda, while lunging and pushing down the spring board with the opposite leg.  I was only required to do 15 per leg.  Doesn’t seem like I should be such a ninny about this right?  But oh… my… gosh… I was dying!  I think they were so hard because you had to balance (so I was using my stabilizer muscles) while pushing down on the spring board and then resisting the resistance of the spring board as I was returning to the full standing position.

The final day of open water testing had arrived and I was approaching the accomplishment of being a licensed Open Water Diver.  This is a fantastic achievement for me!  Far more important than that wretched formal education I got.  After finishing day 3 of the open water dive testing just the day before I was primed for excitement to finish the testing today, day 4, so we’d be released by the instructor for our free-dive exploration of murky Blue Lake.

So on with it! We all agreed the night before at our Pizza Hut pow wow to meet at Blue Lake at 8:00 a.m. as to get it all finished early that morning before the other dive groups arrived.  That turned out to be a great idea indeed.  So we met up, went through the process of getting suited up,

Oh the great Blue Lake of Scuba.

and walked the dreaded wooden plank the distance to the sweet, sweet relief of the weightlessness of the water.  Once we all gathered in, the instructor, John Boynton, did his cannon ball entry into the lake with us. We all swam out to the dive-buoy to begin the dive and test for the day.  We all took our turn descending down the rope, 20 feet, to the underwater platform to play with the fishes and wait patiently for our noble instructor to join us to test our skills.  First he came to us one by one and asked us to do an “out of air emergency accent” where you each simulate as if you are out of air and, in a controlled, safe manner, ascend to the surface with the instructor.  Once the surface is breached you manually fill the BCD (Buoyancy Compensation Device) for easy flotation. John gives you the thumbs up and says “wait here” then descends back down to each of the others. Simple test. And sure would be important to know in an emergency.

The next dive test is to try out the snorkel gear and simply do some snorkeling around the lake. Of course this does not require an actual dive; simple surface stuff.  The challenging  part of this test was we had to learn to use the compass to navigate back to a given point. After that was finished, we had accomplished that part of that days testing.  Next up, FREE DIVE!!!

The free dive, oh boy, was the part I’d been waiting for.  So exciting! John sent us all out to explore the lake with our dive buddy’s. My dive buddy and I began our dive. I checked my dive computer. It read: 10 feet then 20 feet, 25, 30, 40, and finally 48 feet! I hit the silty and murky bottom.  Since the visibility of the lake is quite poor, I found just the idea of being much deeper then I had ever been under water very amusing. Eat your heart out Arial. You can have the legs. Fins are just fine for me.  So we swam around awhile but it was so murky I ended up holding hands with my buddy so I wouldn’t lose her.  Luckily she is my wife so it wasn’t awkward. Eventually we ran into a missile that had been welded into a shark-looking thing. That was pretty cool.  But time was about up and air was getting low so we ended our first ever free-dive after safely returning to the surface.

Back at the cars, we gathered together as a group to have John sign off our accomplishments and hit the road as open water dive champions. I jumped for joy and passed the written test a few days later. Now I am officially a certified, licensed Open Water Diver. I had agreat time doing it.

Special thanks to Bob and John with The Dive Shop.  I really enjoyed it and hope to continue diving around

John our noble Dive Master

Oh boy

the world.

Noel:

Bright and early and back in the water.  Good thing it’s warm-the water that is.  The wetsuit and excitement helps too.  Today’s the last day of testing in the water.  “Well what have we got John?”  Back to the underwater platform to hang out and observe some fish.  Then back to business; John gives the Out-of-air signal.  When thishappens and you’re buddy-less we’ve been instructed to sprint to the surface.  Everyday concerns go out the window when you don’t have air to breath.  Ever heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?  Yeah, breathing is on the bottom, most essential.  But out here in the middle of Blue Lake, 20 feet down, we’re just testing.  So I kept my regulator (breathing device hooked to the oxygen tank) in my mouth as  I bolted to the surface, kicking my legs like my life depended on it.  I was exhaling the entire ascent because the first rule of scuba is:  Never hold your breath!  After getting to the surface my job wasn’t done.  I had to manually inflate my vest so I could relax and float there.  Check and check.  Mission accomplished.

After the out-of-air-emergency ascent we’d completed all the necessary requirements.  It’s still early and we’ve got plenty of air.  So let’s dive!  John let us roam around the bottom of that murky lake.  As far as diving goes, I’m fairly sure Blue Lake is not on the top 10 list for best dive spots in the country.  Heck, it’s probably not on the top 1,000.  Visibility is almost nada, it’s fairly small, and not very deep.  Yet it was thrilling being down there.  20, 30, 40, nearly 50 feet under water.  I was breathing fine and I had cleared my ears so there wasn’t pressure.  The biggest problem was keeping track of my dive buddy and eventually running a little low on oxygen.  I didn’t want to go back up.

Honestly, I didn’t really want to take a diving certification class.  I’ve explained my fear of open water.  I was pressured into taking this class and reluctantly signed up.  But quickly, on that first day in the water, my fear evaporated.  My instructor, Bob, had confidence in me.  Why didn’t I have confidence in myself.  I stared my fear in the face and my fear retreated.  Either scuba-diving is far easier than I expected or I’m far better in the water than I imagined.  I kind of  suspect it’s both.  Either way, I’m incredible happy I took this class and got certified.  I’m now a certified Open Water Scuba Diver.  Yahoo!  Thanks Dive Shop.

Celebration jump for joy at the near by salt flats.

.

1615 Foothill Dr. Suite C. Salt Lake City, Utah.

801.232.8626

A Background of Pilates

Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born in Germany in 1880 and had many ailments as a child: asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever.  His drive (or obsession) to overcome his frailties led him to explore bodybuilding and many other physical pursuits.  During WWI, Joseph was stationed in an internment camp.  While there, he practiced and taught his exercises, which he originally called Contrology.  He also began devising apparatuses to aid in the rehabilitation of the disabled and sick.

In 1923 Joseph Pilates immigrated to the United States where he opened a studio in Manhattan and began rehabilitating and training professional dancers.  He developed over 20 contraptions and over 500 exercises.  Joseph Pilates was a man ahead of his time.  His approach to health and well-being was holistic.  He believed that achieving good health meant the body, mind, and spirit must be addressed as a whole.

Pilates Method, as it is now called, works to strengthen the core (abdominals and back), build muscle tone, increase body awareness, correct posture, and gain flexibility bringing the body back into balance.  It is a progression of safe exercises that create a workout for the entire body and mind that tone muscles and uplift the spirit.-Cher Jolley Parkes

Let me just preface this “Dear Diary…” with a little information of how I became acquainted with Cher.  A dear friend of mine invited me to take a Body Combat class and also a Spin class.  Experiencing these classes taught me, not only of the vast expertise, but also of the aura (for lack of a better word) that follows Cher around wherever she goes, no matter what fitness class she is teaching.  Cher literally has followers.  Wherever she goes, people pay to take classes from her.  You can feel the instant sense of belonging whenever you attend one of her classes.  The anxiety and discomfort that sometimes can manifest when one tries a new fitness regimen are instantly melted away when you are taught by Cher.  Her followers, most likely, have been to many group fitness classes and have realized that she possesses that extra quality that make teachers truly great.  She has the knowledge, certifications, and know-how necessary to instruct others.  But her best quality is her people skills and friendliness.  Warning: If you learn from Cher, every other group fitness teacher will pale in comparison and you will most likely join the ranks of her followers!

PRICING

Private Sessions            $55.00

Duet Sessions               $60.00

Intro Sessions               $99.00 (involves 3 mandatory one on one sessions)

Group Sessions (offered in 6 week packages)

1 session a week                      $108.00 for 6 weeks

2 sessions a week                     $216.00 for 6 weeks

3 sessions a week                     $324.00 for 6 weeks

4 sessions a week                     $432.00 for 6 weeks

Pilates Mat Classes (Thursday at 6:00am and Friday at 8:00am)

Punch pass of 10 classes           $70.00

Pay per class                            $10.00

Jesse. Week 1. “Dear Diary…”

December 8, 2009, Physical Assessment with Cher

My first session with Cher was a physical assessment of my strength and flexibility.   I didn’t know what to expect but I sure learned a lot.  She started me out by doing squats while holding a huge foam roller over my head.  Simple enough right?  No straining involved, she just took notes of how I was moving my body.  She continued to watch my range of motion, to watch me walk in a straight line, march in place, balance on one leg, and touch my toes.

Here is what she found out:

- My hamstrings are good because I can place my palms on the floor without bending my legs.

- While squatting she noticed that I push up from a squat position more with my right leg; perhaps I am favoring my left hip or the muscles on my left side are tight.  But Cher told me we will find out what it is in the course of our future sessions.

- While squatting and holding the foam roller, I started to gradually drop the foam roller more in front of my face.  This indicates either weakness or tightness in my latissimus dorsi.  Again, we will find out.

- I don’t walk unevenly or turn my feet out weirdly.  Yay!  I’m strangely glad to hear that.

- I tend to slump over when I walk.  (I blame sitting at a desk all day.  I need to pay attention to this A.S.A.P.)

Cher emphasized how Pilates is a beneficial workout that focuses entirely on the spine.  Everything I am about to do will reinforce my tiny stabilizer muscles (muscles that don’t usually get worked in conventional workouts), increase my flexibility, and increase my strength.  While most people realize the need to maintain strength and get in a decent amount of cardio, many don’t realize that the lack of focusing on flexibility and stabilizer muscles can attribute to painful and unhealthy aging.

I am so excited to try Pilates with Cher.  Especially since I have only ever done mat Pilates, and this will be my first time on a Reformer.

December 10, 2009 Pilates with Cher Jolley

Today I began my first beginner session of Pilates.  Like Yoga, Pilates emphasizes the importance of breathing.  When we exercise or exert force, such as lifting weights, our natural reaction is to hold our breath.  If you are consistently aware of what your lungs are doing, your circulation can be consistently moving and you will have more energy.  Unlike Yoga where you hold poses in a stationary position, Pilates is one fluid motion.  Ideally you should always be moving.  For example, when you lift weights you may pause for a second when the weight comes down to a relaxed position; whereas in Pilates you never stop.  Pilates is a combination of reps performed on a Pilates reformer.  Most of your body weight is stationed on the Reformer while you use the special gadgets and handles that are attached to the frame.

Cher focused primarily on my abs today.  She kept reminding me to watch my lower spine and to close up my rib cage.  This is called “neutral position.”  What she was describing to me was exactly what I was taught in ballet when instructors are trying to teach one how to balance.  I am willing to bet that most active or inactive dancers will love Pilates (if they haven’t already tried it) because of how similar the movements are to dance.  Let’s just say that I have been neglecting my abs as of late. Wow!!  I can’t believe how hard it was for me.  Sure I have been doing crunches but I have not been doing them the right way.  It is all about how you hold your spine and rib cage.  I would recommend everyone re-evaluate the way you are doing ab exercises, because you are most likely doing more harm to your spine, rather than good to your abs.

Cher reminded me of two rules that they have at Isis Pilates:

1.  Of course they don’t mind if you say, shit, damn, or hell, but you cannot say CAN’T!!

2.  If at any point during the exercise you say anything bad about yourself or start to tear yourself down, the whole class gets to do push-ups with you!

Ha!  I would for sure be busted if I was in a class setting.  We will see next week when I try a group lesson.

2005 E. 2700 S.

Salt Lake City, Utah

801.486.1122

Their website explains exactly what DASH stands for: Determination, Attitude, Strength and Heart.  DASH Fitness Studios came to fruition by the hard work of Lacey Bruschske and Erin Wathen.  DASH is a studio entirely devoted to group fitness.  This gym is perfect for people who find greater motivation in group settings and incur the benefits of an instructor encouraging them for the entire workout.

I first became acquainted with DASH Fitness Studios when I was invited to attend the launch of a new fitness workout being introduced called Zumba.  Taught by Emily Green, this class was one of the most fun workouts I have had in a long time.  The entire class involves high-paced, upbeat, Latin music, and it’s all about shakin’ it.  My heart rate was up the entire time.  The class involves relatively easy dance moves repeatedly performed throughout each dance track.  The teacher was very encouraging and positive.  One of the things which I loved was how they would dim the lights for different music tracks to change up the ambiance.  Probably my favorite thing, which loved, was how much fun everybody was having.  Many people may be initially intimidated to attend a class like this, knowing it is based primarily around easy dance choreography, but every person there–regardless of their skills–was lowering their inhibitions and not worrying about what they looked like next to the person standing next to them.  It was more like going to a Latin club and dancing with your friends, all while getting a great work out.  After that class I knew Dash Fitness Studios would be a great candidate for “Dear Diary.”  The foyer of the studio is decorated in young modern colors and furniture and the actual workout space is wide open, with clear views of the instructors from all angles.  I look forward to my adventure with DASH Fitness Studios.

Jesse.  Week 4.  “Dear Diary…”

November 23, 2009, Body Combat with April and Jose

I attended a Body Combat class with April and Jose.  If you have ever wondered what it would be like to get exercise by pretend fighting, you should definitely try a Body Combat class.  Out of all of the classes I have taken, I am probably out of my comfort zone the most with this class.  Maybe it’s because in the middle of kicking…. yelling “HA”…. and then throwing a right hook, I look at myself in the mirror….. and instead of seeing Bruce Lee… I see me.  I instantly start laughing at myself and feel my face getting even redder than it already was.  I guess I just feel like this weak, un-coordinated girl pretending to be tough.  Once you get past the initial feeling of chagrin, you can start to focus on the moves and on memorizing the sequences.  April was kind enough to complement me on my bootie shakin’ skills, once she instructed the entire class to shake it in the middle of a sequence… yeah… that’s right… Even if I do look pretty stupid at least I can work it out with my butt.  In all seriousness, my arms were dead! by the time class was over.  Who knew punching that many times and in that many different ways could make your arm muscles that sore.  Maybe it’s because I am OCD or something, but I wish I had known the proper hip placement for my side kicks.  Like whether or not I’m supposed to open up my hips (in dance, most of your kicks require you to open your hips) or turn in my leg and kick with my I.T. band on top.  I also was unsure if I was punching correctly.  But at least I had a really great time.  Both April and Jose were very relatable and energetic.

Foam2 F.I.T.

A class that DASH recently added to its repertoire is called Foam2 F.I.T.  It focuses primarily on active recovery.  Since recovery is a limiting factor in pursuing physical fitness, (all that workin’ out results in some pretty sore body parts) I think this class is hugely beneficial.  Class participants use an SMR Roll (Self-Myofascial Release), which is a self-massaging technique used to decrease muscle imbalances.  It literally is a giant foam cylinder that is stiff enough to dig deep into your muscles.  Your stretch is accomplished by the weight of your own body.  After doing some light internet research, I discovered that muscle imbalances are commonly caused by repetitive movement patterns such as lifting packages all day at work, sitting for long periods of time or poor posture. Performing the same exercises over and over again when “working out” can also cause muscle imbalances. When muscle imbalances are not corrected with activities like SMR or static stretching the result is often muscle injury, joint and or back pain. Basically, this class helps to maximize your results if you are attempting to reach peak physical fitness.

I just glanced over at my bookshelf. I think my cookbooks have collected more dust than my textbooks I couldn’t sell back from my freshman year in college.  I actually did open one cookbook recently; looking for a delicious butternut squash recipe I made a long time ago.  I couldn’t remember where I found that recipe but it turned out it wasn’t in the cookbook I thought it was in.  Stumped, I decided to wing it.  Shopping on Christmas Eve isn’t ideal but I did it because I was desperate to make this soup for the rendezvous with my family on Christmas day.

Long story short, I’m certainly not a chef, I didn’t follow a recipe, yet the soup was fantastic (my opinion as well as others)! Here’s the secret: I’ve been studying and training…kind of.  A couple months ago I acquired a copy of The First Timer’s Cookbook by Chef Shawn Bucher.  Unlike the books filled with recipes, this is a legitimate cookbook. The First Timer’s Cookbook teaches you how to cook, not what to cook.  The reason it’s called “First Timer’s” is because it’s filled with basics such as:

• How to plan a Menu and Set a Table. “Most dining experiences will follow the order and format of appetizer, soup and/or salad, entrée, and dessert.”
• How to safely and efficiently use a knife. “No matter what knife you use, knife skills are basically the same and come down to this-don’t cut yourself!”
• The differences between Poach, Simmer, Boil, Steam, Braise, Grill, Broil, Roast, Bake, Sauté, Fry, and how to use each one to make a tasty meal. “It’s sometimes beneficial to use multiple cooking methods for just one item.”
• How to cook different Meats; Fish, Poultry, Beef, Lamb, Pork. “The secret to cooking great meats is starting with a great product.  This goes for everything you cook but especially with meat.”
• Preparing and cooking Vegetables. “Most vegetables are perfectly done when they are bright in color and still somewhat firm.”
• How to cook Pasta, Potatoes, or Rice. “Homemade noodles cook in about half the time of packaged noodles, although you follow the same procedure.”
• How to cook Soups and Sauces. “Soups and sauces require a certain amount of knowledge and skill, but they aren’t rocket science.”
• How to use Spices. “It’s a good idea to know what the spices taste like before you start cooking.”

Remember, The First Timer’s Cookbook is not a book of recipes! This book is your in-home copy of Cooking 101.  This book has full-color photos, from cover to cover, to illustrate the process from start to “Dinner’s ready!”

The author, Chef Shawn Bucher, currently teaches at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute. He’s been working in the food service industry for more than 12 years.  He wrote this book because people ask him cooking questions all the time and he didn’t have something he could refer them to for a handy guide to cooking.  There wasn’t a legitimate cookbook on the market that Shawn felt comfortable telling his friends to go look at.  All the books on market were basically an elitist collection of esoteric concoctions and symbols the Free Masons would be impressed with.  Not to mention, these books were so enormous you could easily smash a housecat with them.

The First Timer’s Cookbook is simple, easy, and for beginners. It certainly helped me cook a delightful soup, without a recipe, for Christmas Day.