1. ABSolute Pilates offers one-on-one personal attention, something you won’t get at a big gym.
2. Many gyms offer only mat classes that often have 20 or more people in the class which doesn’t provide the same type of workout as a smaller, more personal class.
3. Many instructors at gyms are new to the Method of Pilates and do not know the order of Pilates exercises, how to teach it safely, or how to connect the mind to control the whole body while performing the exercise. Pilates teachers at most gyms have experience as an aerobic teacher, or they are certified as a personal trainer with little or no experience in Pilates. Teachers at ABsolute Pilates are all certified in Pilates and have extensive experience, which ensures your safety and increases your results.
4. You are not on dirty old yoga mats on a gym floor (especially following a sweaty aerobics class). Aside from the cleanliness factor, professional equipment is much more comfortable than the floor.
5. In gyms, the instructors turn their back and do the exercises with the class, without even looking at the clients. Here at ABSolute Pilates, instructors teach moving around the room while clients exercise, even during Mat class. Toss in the occasional demonstration but our eyes are on you!

What if my gym offers Pilates mat classes – would I benefit from learning Pilates at ABSolute Pilates and then doing the classes at my gym?

Although the widespread availability of Pilates classes is a tribute to its effectiveness as a workout system, Pilates classes are not necessarily comparable between studios and gyms. Each of our teachers are comprehensively trained which means that in general the classes offered at our studio will be superior to those offered at gyms or general fitness centers. The most noticeable difference between the two typically is seen in teaching style, skill and experience of the instructors. ABSolute Pilates also offers classes on Pilates equipment whereas the Pilates classes at gyms may only involve mats.

Allison was named runner up for Fitness Trainer.

Thank you to all the voted for us!

The “Mommy and Me Pilates” class is designed for mothers and their babies ages three to nine months old. 
Pilates, may seem like the latest fad, but the unique combination of stretches, flow of movements and relaxation techniques get right to the core of strengthening abdominal muscles and key into the pelvic floor muscles of a new mom’s body.  These are the fundamentals of pilates. In each class we work on building core support, building that core strength and back strength. While using the work out to encourage quality time with your baby.

Plus, as an added bonus  moms and babies embracing Pilates together t it can introduce baby movements that stimulate learning new motor skills.

The gentle movements Mom’s do can benefit babies as they take on learning new motor skills, like when a baby begins to coordinate different parts of the body. Also, the breathing rhythms in Pilates are very natural and can calm babies too!

Come on in and check out the group class Thursdays at 12pm or schedule your own private session.

Beginners, perform 1 set of each strength exercise for 8-16 reps. Stretches can be done as many times as you like.

Int/Advanced, perform 2-3 sets of 10-16 reps of each exercise with a short rest in between

Pushup On Roller
In pushup position (on knees or toes) place hands on roller a bit wider than shoulder-width apart.  Lower into a pushup, keeping back straight and abs in.  Push up and repeat.  Placing just one hand on the roller and one on the floor makes this move

Back Extension on Roller
Lie face down on floor with arms stretched out in front, wrists resting on roller.  Squeeze the shoulder blades together and down and
keep the abs contracted as you press into the roller, lifting the chest off the floor.  Lower and repeat.

Download the other exercises

There will be a fall cleanse program starting on September 21st. Stay tuned for more information.

The Pink Ribbon Program, founded by Doreen Puglisi, MS, was created to help meet the goals of the breast cancer survivor.  These major areas of concern typically include body image, frozen shoulder, and/or range of motion, depression and anxiety. Allison the is a certified pink ribbon program instructor.

Thankfully, due to early prevention awareness, breast cancers, as well as other cancers, are no longer being viewed as an automatic death sentence, but instead as a chronic illness.  Recent studies indicate a link between moderate physical exercise and improved quality of life for all cancer survivors.  Exercise protocols like The Pink Ribbon Program are needed more than ever as the population of cancer survivors grow.

This post-rehabilitation class is open to all breast cancer survivors whether their surgery was eight weeks ago or ten years ago.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call. Times for the class will be set closer to the start and class size will remain small.

Not to worry, Pilates is a very professional, client centered practice. “So what really happens here?” you wonder.

Mat Work and/or Equipment

Pilates workouts are based either on the Pilates mat work, which is done on the floor with a minimum of equipment, or on Pilates apparatus i.e. those weird looking contraptions.

The reformer is a great place to begin. All of the fundamental movements and Pilates exercise principles are incorporated in the exercises. The reformer exercises are adaptable to any fitness level. The mat exercises will help you quickly gain a lot of core strength and confidence in the Pilates method.

What to Bring to a Pilates Class:

You won’t need to bring much with you to the Pilates studio. The studio provides any equipment that might be needed for the workout. Though you probably won’t be guzzling water, as some do during aerobic workouts, you will still want to have a water bottle (they are available in the studio) and make sure that you are well hydrated before you start.

Pilates was a sickly child and he suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever. He dedicated his life to improving his physical strength. He studied body-building, yoga, and gymnastics. As a teenager he was fit enough to pose for anatomical charts.

Pilates was a gymnast, diver, and bodybuilder in German, but when he moved to England he worked as a professional boxer, circus-performer, and trainer at police schools and Scotland Yard. The British authorities interned him during World War I along with other German citizens in a camp on the Isle of Man. He put together a series of exercises and engineered all the equipment. That lead to what we know today as Pilates, which he called “Contrology”. Story has it is that many fellow inmates survived the great pandemic of 1918 due to their good physical shape.

Around 1925, Pilates immigrated to the USA. On the ship to US he met his future wife Clara. They founded a studio in New York City and taught their method into the 1960s. Joseph Pilates wrote several books, including Return to Life through Contrology and invented numerous pieces of equipment. He has over 26 patents cited. Joe believed that the “modern” life-style, bad posture, and inefficient breathing were the cause of poor health. Joe died in 1967 at the age of 87 in New York.

Joe and Clara had a number of students who continued to teach variations of the original method to future teachers today. These original students are know as the pilates elders or 1st generation pilates instructors.