written by Carol Crincoli, Pure Pilates Director
What is your name?
Jennifer Thomas
How long have you been practicing Pilates?
Eight years.
What inspired you to step into the Pure Pilates studio?
I needed to build strength and commit to an exercise routine in a place that would motivate and hold me accountable, and I found that place!
What aspects of Pilates, your instructor, or the studio do you find particularly enjoyable?
I love that Carol challenges me both physically and mentally. Her ability to pivot during a session when she has calibrated my state of mind is amazing. Whether my shoulder hurts or my mind is elsewhere, Carol can redirect my brain and body to ensure that I am focused and have worked hard to challenge myself.
Do you have a preferred Pilates exercise, or one that you find particularly challenging?
Most pilates students are afraid to tell their instructors what is truly challenging because they both know that it means you need to work harder at whatever makes you dislike those particular exercises. So, I won’t say for now! My pilates practice challenges me. Over time, the exercises get easier because you learn how to engage your muscles for each exercise. However, after eight years, I know nothing in Pilates will ever be easy in my sessions; I will always leave feeling accomplished and smiling.
Do you have a perfect Pilates moment or triumph you’ve experienced?
The most significant triumph I can share from Pilates is that when I slip or lose my footing, my core strength keeps me upright. The overall strength and stability that I have built from Pilates has kept me from falling countless times, whether it be slipping on the stairs, on a pile of leaves while walking the dog, or on ice or in the bathroom. In the instant of unsteadiness, my core engages, and I am thankful to be strong enough to ground myself.
Can you share a humorous, captivating, or uplifting anecdote about your experience at Pure Pilates?
My partner sessions at the studio bring me amazing amounts of happiness. They helped me to survive Covid over Zoom and still continue to be the highlight of my week; there is a lot of laughing, smiling and even more incredibly hard physical work. The bonus of partner sessions is that you have someone to commiserate with when your body is sore the next day.
