As you all know, I started doing pilates and love it! I still do yoga at home, but since pilates is a new workout, I need the extra attention from an instructor to guide my body towards the correct movements. Sarah Graves, the instructor, gave The Conscious Snob a personal interview about herself and how all of us can be fit and fabulous. She’s taught for the past two years as a personal trainer and wellness coach for studios, one-on-one, and with companies such as Google and Cisco. Here are her words.
How did you come about choosing pilates? Why pilates for you?
It took me a long time to try pilates, let alone become a pilates instructor! I was much more comfortable riding my bike, running, skiing, swimming, doing aerobics and step, and lifting weights. My body was not flexible and it was so hard to sit up straight, open my chest, hold neutral spine! Every time I tried a mind/body class like yoga or pilates I vowed I would never go again, because my body just couldn’t do the movements!
About 7 years ago I was working with a personal trainer who was really pro-pilates. Many of the exercises I did with her were based on pilates principles, and before long I started feeling more comfortable with doing pilates exercises. It really made a difference learning how to do the moves with her one-on-one, as she worked with me to get the right form, both on the mat and on the reformer.
About two years after this I began teaching group exercise classes for fun in my spare time. My mindset was more traditional fitness rather than mind/body, but with my instructor’s encouragement, I decided to go for it and teach pilates! I spent many hours taking courses through Balanced Body University and fulfilling the student teaching requirements necessary to receive certifications in both mat and reformer pilates. I also received my personal trainer certification through AFAA, which allows me to work one-on-one with people needing more personalized workouts.
It has turned out to be the most satisfying for me to teach pilates to other people now, probably because it was so hard for me at first. I really listened to the cueing, worked really hard to get the movements right, and because it is so ingrained in me now, I find it delightful when I can get someone else to stay motivated and happy when they can get a difficult move done correctly, or see results from their continued practice! I really enjoy this form of exercise and have recently decided to pursue teaching pilates as a career because I believe in it so much and really know that it works!
What is your health routine?
I indoor cycle and do step aerobics three times a week, walk the dog everyday or hike in the hills at Rancho San Antonio and do mat pilates 6-8 times per week. I also try to practice on the reformer.
What advice do you have for people who are new to pilates and want to get healthy?
Pilates is a shift in mindset from the traditional methods of exercise, and it takes a commitment of time and energy. There are a lot of things to remember at first, so try not to get discouraged if something seems hard, or you can’t get the breathing right. It will all come with time. To experience the optimal benefits of pilates, it’s important to practice regularly. I recommend a minimum of 3 times per week, more if you can make the time. Whether in class or at home, practicing pilates on a consistent basis will accelerate your learning and greatly enhance your overall health.
What pointers would you give to people to stay motivated to be healthy?
The most important advice to living healthier is to make a commitment to an exercise and diet regimen and stick with it! The trick is finding a motivating factor that works for you. Doing anything is better than doing nothing. Setting realistic positive goals and working towards achieving them will work. There is so much information about proper diet and exercise, it is hard to miss it. Finding a friend to do things with you, getting a personal trainer, talking to a nutritionist, are all first steps in the right direction.
So many of us have desk jobs that pull our bodies out of alignment; giving us shoulders that are hunched forward, back problems, tight hip flexors and hamstrings. The more you move around the better you’ll feel. The more pilates you do, the stronger and more flexible you’ll become. You won’t want to eat poorly, you’ll sleep better at night! It snowballs into a healthy lifestyle.
What aspects of your lifestyle are you most happy and proud about?
I am happy that I have been able to take what I know and pass it on to others interested in maintaining some level of fitness. It makes me happy and proud to think that I may have influenced or motivated someone to live healthier. I am also happy to see that I have been able to influence my children’s health choices by living healthy and showing them by example.
Check out Sarah-Graves.com for more information on her services and schedule of classes, based northern California.
We hear all about it in magazines, television ads, everywhere. Take this pill and you will lose weight! Drink only lemon water for a week for a beach body! Eat only cabbage for a thinner you! Please. Keep doing diets and you will go up and down in weight like a yo-yo.
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