Inspiring Life from the Core

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Inspiring Life from the Core

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I Move My Body to Lift My Spirit

written by Carol Crincoli, Pure Pilates Director

If I had to rate the four seasons, New Jersey winter’s are my least favorite. I wish I enjoyed skiing, sledding or any outdoor activities that the cold weather offered me. I much prefer the comfort of a warm blanket and hot chocolate than playing in the snow. I have named this “hibernation syndrome” and with this “condition”, I struggle to find the motivation to exercise.

Depending on the person or a person’s mood, the word exercise can spark a wide range of emotions.  In the warmer months, I jump out of bed on a Saturday morning (well, maybe not jump), sip my coffee and plan for a couple hours of cycling through the nearby Watchung reservation. Currently, I am grateful for my Peloton and the ability to walk down into my basement to exercise (there’s that word again), but procrastination and inner debating became the norm in the early days of winter.

When I came across a quote from writer Paul Theroux a while back, “Winter is a season of recovery and preparation” it stuck with me. What could happen if I changed the word exercise to movement? Could I marry a successful movement routine and my hibernation syndrome? Yes!

We could all use this winter to recover from what was handed to us in 2020.  All bets were off last year and I had no rules or norms to find comfort in. And so I say, let’s approach this winter a bit differently. There’s still time! My goal is simple: Everyday I will move my body to lift my spirit. Movement that feels good, sparks joy and frankly might be silly and fun.

I still jump on my Peloton, because there are days when I like to connect with my favorite teachers, but instead of arguing with myself about “getting a workout in”, I ask myself what do I need to feel good. And here’s the surprising twist: I am working out longer, sometimes for shorter durations, multiple times a day (thank you virtual teaching!) and sometimes for a few hours on the weekends (thank you covid I have nowhere to go!). I am trying new exercises, experiencing movement with my peers, dancing more, smiling more and sometimes just allowing myself to breathe. 

I still relish in afternoon teas, warming up under my favorite blanket or disappearing with the latest People magazine with a Friday night cocktail. Hibernation syndrome didn’t go away because I re-framed how I approach exercise. Let’s just say my movement and martini’s are cohabitating joyfully.

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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.