Photo taken at Studio 26.
December centers around holiday parties, Christmas dinners, New Year’s Eve and taking a look back at the prior year. January, on the other hand, focuses on resolutions and hitting the RESET button. We decided to kick off January with a pilates session taught by our friend, Yera, at Studio 26.
It’s pretty obvious from our blog that we LOVE to host parties and feast on savory bites, sample yummy desserts, sip on refreshing cocktails all while in the presence of great company. We wanted to start January with renewed focus on clean eating and working out. Our friend Yera is an experienced pilates instructor at Studio 26, and we had the pleasure of starting our first workout of 2017 with her.
Pilates originated with the legendary Joseph Pilates, who was born in 1883 in Germany. In 1912, he moved to England and earned a living as a boxer. With the outbreak of World War I, British authorities interned Mr. Pilates along with other German citizens. Mr. Pilates created a program based on gymnastics, yoga, and martial arts like boxing for his fellow internees in order to maintain their fitness levels during confinement. He rigged springs to hospital beds so that bedridden patients could also exercise against resistance (these mechanized beds were the forerunners for the Reformer and Cadillac equipment used today). After the war, he returned to Germany. He emigrated to United States and launched his first studio in New York in 1926. His workouts focused on building strength, balancing strength with flexibility and achieving harmony between mind and body. Pilates today is taught in several forms, reflecting the legacy of Joseph Pilates.
Photo taken at Studio 26.
Studio 26 is a private fitness and wellness boutique in Chelsea that offers guests a variety of services, including Pilates, Personal Training, Physical Therapy, Massage, Bodywork and Yoga.
Photo taken at Studio 26.
Yera received her pilates certifications through Balanced Body in South Korea and the US. After her first Pilates experience in NYC, she developed a passion for learning about movement and the increased strength, stability, flexibility and full body control that comes with it. Yera studied both classical and contemporary Pilates methods. Her sessions are effective and easily digestible to both beginner and experienced clients. Her clients refer to her as the Pilates General. Yera is a former Speed Skater and is currently working to help special needs children with Pilates, and volunteering to help the wider community.
Photo taken at Studio 26.
We began our sessions by explaining our fitness goal: develop long, lean muscles. Our weekly gym routines consist of rigorous bootcamp, cardio boxing, rebounding and barre classes. We both have some experience with pilates on the mat, but minimal experience on the pilates equipment. Yera broke down the exercises, corrected our form and pushed us to our limits. After all, her nickname is the Pilates General.
Photo taken at Studio 26.
Reformer: is the most well known piece of Pilates equipment. The Reformer is bed-like frame that moves along a carriage track with wheels. Springs, leverage and body weight are used as resistance. The Reformer can be customized to accommodate various body sizes and skill levels. Yera showed us how versatile this equipment can be by training us lying down, sitting, pulling the straps, and stepping on the footbar. Trust us, you will definitely feel this workout in your arms, legs and core.
Photo taken at Studio 26.
Cadillac / Trapeze Table: Joseph Pilates named this piece of equipment after the luxury automobile convertible. The Cadillac earned its name from all of its bells and whistles: leg springs, arm springs, hanging fuzzy loops, a push-through bar and a trapeze. The Cadillac is excellent for isolating different muscle groups. Yera also had us use many of these different parts of the trapeze table while incorporating pilates roll up/downs and teasers to focus on core muscle development.
Photo taken at Studio 26.
Pilates Chair: is another versatile equipment designed to stretch and strengthen the entire body. It has wheels for easy moving, handle grips for arm work and pedal to focus on core, leg, arm and back muscles. Archana worked on the hand grips, while Kanchana trained on the pedal.
Photo taken at Studio 26.
Yera, thanks again for a wonderful workout. We loved how much these exercises promoted strength, flexibility, coordination and balance. We concluded our pilates session with some refreshing mocktails and gluten free cranberry orange muffins. We love infusing water with fresh fruit and mint. Simply muddle your favorite berry and mint, and then fill the glass with sparkling water. Don’t forget the berry garnish. Archana baked cranberry orange cupcakes for New Year’s Eve last year, but today she made a delicious healthy version from Delicious Meets Healthy.
Photo taken at Studio 26.
We highly recommend training with Yera at Studio 26. Yera is offering Twinspirational readers a 30% discount off their first session with her. Yera can be contacted at info@yeraspilates.com.
“Pilates is gaining the mastery of your mind over the complete control over your body.” ––Joseph Pilates
Getting motivated to work out is tuff stuff! I'm not sure what would get me to do pilates more… cupcakes or mocktails?
Oh, I love pilates! Wish I could go more often! Great post. 🙂
Pilates will kick you buns! I absolutely love it. One of my favorite types of exercise.
I’m obsessed with Pilates! It’s such a great workout, but also do calming and refreshing
I love pilates! Are these machines similar to a reformer? I love seeing the different equipment and how it's used.
I love pilates! Are these machines similar to a reformer? I love seeing the different equipment and how it's used.
Pilates is one of my favorite workouts. You don't think it is going to be that tough but man does it kick your butt! I really need to get back to the gym. Maybe if they served cupcakes I would go more often, lol.