Pilates Archives

Photo: Yoga Journal

Between work, family, friends and other miscellaneous responsibilities, I know first hand how hard it can be to schedule in a workout, let alone a workshop, class or something special for yourself. But these five health and fitness events are only offered for a limited time, so you'll want to make time for one -- or all- of them. Your body, energy levels and mood will thank you for it!

Magazine covers, locker room chat and group fitness instructors looking to give you that extra bit of motivation seemingly have one thing to say: bikini season is just around the corner! As if you needed any reminder that summer is less than two months away.

Since Earth Day is this Thursday, April 22, I thought it'd be cool to dedicate all my blogs this week to healthy eco-friendly living, eating and socializing all around Chicago. Last week I started by highlighting upcoming Earth-friendly workouts and fitness events taking place this week.

Women's networking and lifestyle company, Crave Chicago, hosts their first annual Bloom + Tone party this Sunday, March 28 from 1-6pm at Architectural Artifacts. This event, five hours of health, wellness and fitness, will be the kick-off to get Chicago ladies excited to get in shape this season. 

For Spring 2010, fitness and yoga apparel is more colorful and functional than ever, with vibrant hues, moisture-wicking technology, slimming silhouettes and comfortable fabrics you'll want to wear around town, not just to the gym or yoga studio. Here's a gallery of some of the best gym, pilates and yoga apparel looks for the season. Use the arrows at the top of the gallery to see all 9 images.

I love SmartPhones. I love twitter. I love technology! I'm not one of those people that can't function without checking their email every two minutes, but I am grateful for how much easier technology has made my life. I've already dedicated a blog to the great websites that make having a regular yoga practice easier and here are my picks for great fitness tech tools that make staying in shape easier.

On Valentine's Day, it's great to give your sweetie something special or get all dressed up for a decadent dinner, but with the earthquake in Haiti and economic woes preventing many from giving to deserving non-profit charity organizations, this Valentine's Day presents a great opportunity to spread love in a different kind of way by participating in a charity/donation class events.

Okay, so gyrotonics isn't really pilates in 3-D. It's actually not pilates at all, but when else am I going to have a chance to write that sentence? Gyrotonic is a method created by former gymnast Juliu Horvath that combines elements of dance, tai chi, swimming, yoga and other exercise forms to develop core strength, stimulate blood flow, recondition the nervous system, increase spinal mobility, develop muscular strength and flexibility and strengthen joints. 

Eco-friendly wellness center Soulistic Studio Spa gives you not one, but two opportunities to break a sweat for free this weekend.

Photo: Chris Markos

I'm not sure why I had to make getting back into pilates a New Year's Goal, because I'm not sure why I ever stopped doing pilates in the first place. From the breathwork, to the movements to the cueing of the instructors, there really is nothing like pilates for truly connecting to your core and becoming aware of tiny, deep muscles you never knew you had (and also improving your yoga practice).

Screw the magazine plans, the TV-doctor approved workouts and all that other mumbo jumbo. Social Workout, a site for fitness enthusiasts, gym rates and urban yogis, will definitely motivate you to get out and get active. You'll find out about the hottest classes (for now, in New York, but they're planning to expand to Chicago), the latest health news, workout trends, gear reviews, yoga news, inspiring quotes, reviews and blogs from other members and my personal favorite, the Magazine Summarizer. But hands down, Social Workout is known for their free workout challenges (and the sweet prizes that go along with successful completion).

Photo: www.localfitness.com.au

I've read countless top 10 lists, 2009 year in review lists and fitness predictions for 2010. I love a good list, but with the exception of Gaiam's "Ten Yoga Trends" article, they lack a focus for the mind-body fitness set. So, based on the Gaiam article, the American Council on Exercise's 2010 predictions, Pilates Pro articles and my own experience running around Chicago to try different classes, I comprised a list of trends for mind body fitness in 2010.

This weekend, head to Spring Wellness Center in the Southport Cooridor for two unique, challenging and cheap workouts.

When the weather gets frightful, it's hard to muster up the energy to leave the house, let alone workout. That's why it's important to not only make your winter workouts effective, but also fun, calorie-burning bonanzas that will leave you craving for more, seeing results and treading through the snow to get to class on time. Here are the top 4 best holiday workouts to keep you slim, happy and fit into 2010 and beyond. 

Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is just a few days away. The 2009 holiday season is practically here and 2010 is creeping in. 

I've been missing pilates lately and I'm excited to try all the new cardio, bootcamp, jumpboard and variation classes popping up in studios around town. But as much as I love inventive fusion workouts, I've got mad respect for pilates mat classes. Getting the floorwork down and having an understanding of proper core activation and breathwork is the fastest way to see results and really get an effective workout on the reformer and in other classes. So, that's why the free class of the week is a community pilates mat class at Pilates Chicago on Sunday, November 15.

I spent a lot of time this summer bussing it from Wicker Park to Lincoln Park for free fitness events, so I'm happy to announce that lululemon Bucktown is bringing five of the hottest workouts for fall (including one for kids) to the neighborhood for Bucktown Fitness Fest.

Walking shoes? Check. Fall fitness gear? Check. VIP access to Lincoln Park's best health and wellness establishments? Check.

My poor natural rubber and jute yoga mat has seen better days. For the past few months, I leave a trail of rubber bits and pieces at every studio I've set foot in because my mat is literally falling apart. It's gotten so bad that it nearly ruined my favorite pair of Lululemon Wunder Under tights. The rubber embeds in the fabric and is nearly impossible to get out, so it must go.

My new mat must be green, pretty thick and durable. It must stand up to a variety of styles and it can't be too heavy or thick to cart around on the bus. I also wouldn't mind if it came in a cool color. 

Not only does Pilates give you a rockin' core and lean muscles, it's also a great activity for people with injuries and the focus on the abdominals really helped improve my core awareness in yoga.

However, it took me awhile to warm up to Pilates. In my first group class, the movements all seemed weird, useless or too small. I remember thinking, "I missed yoga for this?" It wasn't until I had the opportunity to do private sessions that I got it.

First there was doggie yoga, now local fitness personality Andrea Metcalf brings us pawsilates, pilates for you and your four-legged friend. Each 30-minute class allows you to spend time with your dog, get a strong core and support the Anti-Cruelty Society, an organization that finds homes for over 5000 potential pets a year! What's not to love?  

Most of the time, doing yoga and pilates at the gym can be a drag. The loud clang of weights being tossed around and the booming bass of high energy dance music doesn't support the kind of focus and energy most people need to "go within" during mind body exercise.

In case you missed it, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Dean Richards on the WGN Morning News on Friday. This was a dream come true, as I watch WGN news every day and love Robin and Ana more than you'll ever know!

Get fit for free at this year's Women's Health Are you Game? event.

Contact your workout buddies and fitness friends and tell them to cancel their plans on Saturday. With all the free, fun and healthy activities going on, you won't have time for (nor will you want to do) anything else.

Photo: Millennium Park

This week's free class of the week is for the early birds. Fellow ChicagoNow blogger, the Local Tourist posted about the free workouts on the Great Lawn in Millennium Park weeks ago and now that the weather isn't as rainy, I second that notion.

Classes start at 7 with Tai Chi, then it's on to Yoga at 8, Pilates at 9 and the workouts come to a close with a high energy Body Combat/Body Jam class at 10 a.m (in July it switches to capoeira with Gingarte Chicago).

I don't get to Millennium Park enough, but when I do, I'm always so proud to have this beautiful park in Chicago. Now that there's a three-hour block of mind body fitness classes, I like it even more.

Visit the Millennium Park website for more information and be sure to check the Facebook page for cancellations and schedule updates.

Many of my friends are young artists and professionals who can't afford a gym or yoga studio membership, so I'm always on the look out for free and cheap ways for them to stay active and healthy. Thankfully, Chicago's got plenty of fun fitness freebies for all of us, regardless of age or profession.

My free class pick of the week is Lululemon Bucktown's Pilates & Stretch, a yoga and pilates fusion class with certified pilates instructor Lindsay Stryffeler at 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 11.

Lindsay is a Lululemon ambassador, a local fitness profession who "embodies the Lululemon lifestyle and culture."

A photo from an acroyoga demo at the Bucktown store. This won't be happening in pilates class!

 I mentioned in a previous post that all Chicago-area Lululemon locations host weekly free classes and workshops and I can't recommend these workouts enough. The store provides mats, there's no pressure to buy anything (although I usually find it hard not to) and no one will give you the side-eye if you show up wearing something that isn't from the store.

If Thursdays don't work for you, the Bucktown store also has a weekly Sunday morning yoga class.