Inspiring Life from the Core

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Inspiring Life from the Core

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A Well-Balanced Movement Routine

written by Carol Crincoli, Pure Pilates Director

Autumn in New Jersey is the perfect time to head outside for a hike and a great way to add variety to your aerobic workouts. Getting our heart rate up can increase our energy, improve our sleep and aid in weight loss if that is your goal. Strengthening the heart is vital to health, but increasing muscle mass, improving flexibility and quieting our brains need to be considered when creating a well-balanced movement routine for life.

Let’s start with resistance training.  It’s easier than ever to get stronger and build lean muscle mass.  Resistance training (strength training) simply means overloading your muscles to increase your lean muscle mass and build strength.  Using your own bodyweight, dumbbells and resistance bands/tubing are all great options for this. You can improve your balance, avoid injuries and manage your weight by adding this to your routine 2 to 3 times per week.

Stretching and flexibility training is often missing from our workouts or the first thing to skip when we “just don’t have enough time”. Stretching is the perfect compliment to our aerobic and strength routines.  Stretching will improve all other physical activities as well as decrease stiffness, improve your posture and manage stress.

Quiet down the “noise” with meditation comes with actual health benefits. Studies have shown that a regular meditation practice helps decrease chronic pain and lower blood pressure. Taking the time to clear your brain promotes emotional health, controls anxiety and reduces stress. You can meditate anywhere, no fancy equipment needed and there are so many styles with different strengths and benefits to choose from.  Meditation can improve the quality of life and that will be reflected in whatever workout you participate in.

Each week, Pure Pilates offers a free Featured OnDemand workout to the community. This month, we focus on offering a well-balanced movement sampler.  Today and all weekend long, no equipment is needed to strengthen your abdominals and glutes in this 30-minute class.

The week of November 15, focus on your flexibility with our Stretch and Release class.  You will need a stretch strap or just a towel as an extender to stretch your body.

And just in time for Thanksgiving, the Gratitude Meditation starts on Monday, November 22nd and is available until Sunday the 28th at noon. This 15-minute meditation is an ideal way to reset or introduce yourself to the practice of the art of quieting the brain.

Click here to enjoy all the classes.

All these classes are part of our larger virtual library, offering over 100 workouts with the teachers of Pure Pilates.

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Katie is a passionate mover who was brought to Pilates through dance. After a professional dance career, Katie discovered her love of teaching-connecting the mind and body, and working with students of all ages and levels. Her appreciation and understanding of everyone’s ever changing body and needs only became greater as her own body went through pre and post natal stages, an experience which has helped Katie navigate problem solving, and bring a freshness to each session making them feel personal and specific to each body’s needs. Her sessions are full of flow and aim to challenge clients with a sense of comfort, and often a little humor, all of which she has brought to Pure Pilates since 2016. Katie thinks the gift of movement and self care is one of the best things one can do for overall wellness, and is thrilled to seek and fulfill milestones and goals with each of her clients. When she’s not at the studio, Katie is taking care of her three little humans- another job that also makes her smile, laugh, and challenges her on the daily.
Eighteen years ago I discovered my love for Pilates. After having my two children, I felt the need to move my body again. At the time I was living in North Carolina, and worked through many different exercise and training programs. I discovered Pilates, and instantly knew it was right for me. Forteen years later, and a move to New Jersey, I decided to share my love of Pilates with other people looking for some way to move their bodies. Pilates has also been a way for me to keep me strong and flexible to continue many activities. My family loves to be active, and I often find when we are all together (mostly vacations) our days consist of activity and movement such as hiking, kayaking, or skiing(more on this later). As I have gotten older I find it even more imperative now that I keep my body strong. Recently I was in a skiing accident that left me with many knee injuries and ultimately having to go into surgery. I found being able to do light Pilates a few weeks after surgery kept me sane and ultimately helped with recovery time. Pilates has not only helped me be able to keep up with my children, but has also provided me with a body that is able to function at peak performance. My approach to Pilates can be described in one, simple word: movement. Movement can help you, both physically and mentally. Movement, and Pilates, is ultimately about self care. Having a built in time to focus on your body and movement can help relieve yourself of feeling tired, anxious, and stressed. Movement awakens you. Even after one session you can leave feeling calmer and energized.
Enjoyment of life through movement is a vital part of Kathy’s philosophy. When not in the studio she leads an active lifestyle trail running, cycling, skiing and hiking. She also loves connecting with people while traveling with family and friends. One of her favorite cycling trips was riding along the coast of northern California. Learning new things and sharing knowledge is also important to Kathy. She has a passion for food, likes to cook for her family and experiment with new recipes. She is currently trying to achieve the perfect pizza. She is also an avid reader of historical fiction and biographies. Her latest endeavor is learning to play golf.
Carol M. Crincoli, owner Pure Pilates studio, has been in the fitness industry since 1990, with experience in corporate and commercial fitness, recreational programming and teaching as an adjunct professor. She began practicing Pilates in 2003 and received Pilates training through the PhysicalMind Institute in New York, NY. She holds certifications from the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a group exercise instructor, personal trainer and lifestyle and weight management consultant. She was also accepted into the IDEA-PFT Recognition System as an Elite Level Personal Fitness Trainer. She is the only trainer in the NY-metro area for Trent McEntire’s Arcus equipment. Carol graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music with a BFA in musical theater and a minor in dance. Opening Pure Pilates is the culmination of a lifetime dream, and her mission to "inspire life from the core" is a holistic approach to health and wellness—from exercise and nutrition, to stress management and self-care. Carol is also the inventor of 8th Avenue Rail, an organizing solution for Tower springs.