Pilates for Everybody

I have been thinking a lot about self esteem and positive self image lately.  Of course, as someone who has spent a great deal of my life focused on being fit and helping others get and stay fit, I believe that exercise can be a key component to increasing one’s positive body image and self esteem.  My tagline, “Adore your body” comes from the heart.  I really want to encourage my clients, regardless of age or gender or physical fitness to adore and appreciate the body they have and to love it just a little bit more by giving it a bit of exercise.

I also realize that many people associate Pilates with women who are young, and fit to begin with.  People often think of ballet dancers when they think about Pilates.  I am here to tell you that Pilates can be so much more for so many more people!  For instance, Pilates can be a great workout for teenagers as well as senior citizens!  I currently have clients who range in age from 15 years old up to 80 years old.  I find Pilates can be great for my younger clients because while they may have a young body, they often don’t take the time to focus on their breathing and its correlation to exercise.  Also, learning good posture habits at this age can make a world of difference for the rest of their lives.  As for my older clients, it helps keep them from feeling frail and one of my oldest clients often tells me how much it has benefitted her and how strong she feels.  In fact, she is on her way to visit her adult Grandchildren and tour Washington D.C. by foot.  One of my 40 year old clients recently told me that she plans on maintaining her strength and balance with Pilates for the rest of her life to prevent those broken hips and falls that seem to happen so often as people get older.

Also, I often find that men tend to think of Pilates as a women’s exercise.  Did you know that approximately 25% of my clients are male and many come from sports backgrounds?  All of them have been quite surprised at how intense a Pilates workout can be.  One of my male clients recently mentioned how much he appreciates the deep muscle workout in Pilates.  He regularly works out with weights, but found it lacking somehow.  Now he has started working on muscles he could never quite get to with traditional workouts. 

Finally, don’t be discouraged to try Pilates because you feel you are overweight.  A lot of people hear about dancers or actresses who practice Pilates and assume you have to be already somewhat physically fit to start Pilates.  This is not true.  My clients come in all sizes and fitness levels.  No matter what your size, you can benefit from the strength and flexibility training of Pilates. 

Honestly, we strive to be exceptionally welcoming to all our clients at Indianapolis Pilates by 15 to Fit.  However I know how starting a new exercise routine can be intimidating if you don’t know what to expect.  I still feel awkward in aerobics classes because I don’t know all the moves.  In order to let you give it a try without feeling like you don’t know what you are doing, I do offer special introductory sessions for new clients at reduced rates, so if you would like to come in a try a private session to see what Pilates is all about, you can do so without making a huge financial commitment.  However, my male and female clients who participate in the classes at my studio come in all shapes, sizes, and ages.  The one thing we all have in common is we usually have a really great time during our workout.

For more information on setting up a private session or to join a class, contact the studio at http://www.15tofit.com/  or contact our Marketing Coordinator, Christina at cmorog@15tofit.com.  

$5.00 Teaser Class!

Been wanting to try Pilates but worried about the cost?  Give one a try for $5.00! See details below:

Sign Up Today
ONLY $5.00
November 2nd Teaser Tuesday!


Greetings Pilates Fans,
November 2nd is the second $5 Pilates Class! This is a beginner class and it is limited to new and former 15 to Fit clients only , so if you are a current client invite someone you know that has been wanting to try Pilates. Please check out website for specific dates. Space will fill up quickly so sign up today at http://www.15tofit.com/ under "webscheduler", if you have problems email our Marketing Coordinator, Christina at cmorog@15tofit.com. We hope you come and see what Pilates is all about!

See you soon!
Patrea Aeschliman, Owner 15 to Fit Pilates

(limit two $5 classes per person)

Meet the "Ballet Barre!"

I am excited to have recently added Ballet Barre fusion classes to our studio.  I have a little addiction to new equipment and this is one of the newest things we have so I am really pumped about it (and I am already plotting my next pieces of equipment to add, so keep your eyes on my blog—as soon as we get the new stuff, I will be sure and introduce you to it here!)  We installed a Ballet Barre around the studio and it is amazing how great a workout you can get just using your body and the Barre!  While there are certain aspects from ballet that are infused throughout the class, don’t think of it is a ballet class by any stretch!  You may recognize some plies and other ballet moves, but you will be surprised at the way we can use the Barre to give your entire body a great workout.  And if you have never taken a single ballet class in your life, it doesn’t matter.  There is no special skill or knowledge needed (and don’t worry if you can’t dance—it isn’t a dance class either).  The classes that are focused solely on the Ballet Barre are taught by one of my awesome trainers, Carmen Snider.

The Ballet Barre fusion workout is a great all over muscle workout.  Of course, we integrate a lot of Pilates principals into the class, so not only do your glutes and legs get a good workout, but so does your core.  This is a great class for increasing body awareness, as we focus a great deal on form and posture.  This is a tough workout, but one that most skill levels can enjoy and see great benefit from.  And we have a lot of fun doing it!

We also utilize the Ballet Barre in other Pilates classes and sessions as one piece of equipment in a workout integrating the other pieces of equipment in our studio.  I have had long time clients tell me how much adding the Ballet Barre has greatly increased the intensity of their workout.   If this sounds good to you, and you would like to try something a little new and different, check out one of our great Ballet Barre classes.  We are one of the few studios in Indianapolis offering such classes!  Check it out at http://www.15tofit.com/barrefusion.php.

Why Pilates is So Great for New Moms

Pilates is such a great way for a new mom to get herself back into shape, whether she had a vaginal delivery or a C-section.  Any mom out there knows the toll a pregnancy takes on your abs (not to mention the rest of you!).  Pilates targets those core muscles in your abdomen and focuses on getting them back to where they were before becoming pregnant (and even better in most cases).

As a Mom myself, and as someone who has designed workouts (including my DVDs on the subject) specifically aimed at mothers, I take great pride in working with new moms.  I have studied what exercises work to mend the diastasis (or separation) of the abdominal muscles that occurs in every pregnancy.  There are certain exercises new moms should focus on to get these muscles back together, and there are certain exercises that a new mom should absolutely not do until the muscles are healed.  Some exercises can actually do further damage to the diastasis.  That is why I am so passionate about helping new Moms get their figures back in the right way.

Pilates is also awesome for helping your upper body and arm strength, which of course we find ourselves using so much more carrying car seats, diaper bags and babies around with us everywhere we go.  When we constantly carry things on one side (which most people tend to do) we can harm our posture as well.  Pilates well help keep your body evened out and strong.  It will also help your posture tremendously.

Finally, I truly believe that Pilates is beneficial for the mental health of a new mom as well.  Not only do you take the time to focus on your breath and its connection to your body, but you are just taking time for you.  As a new mom it is so easy to get overwhelmed and overtired when caring for a new baby that many forget to care for themselves.  By spending a little time on yourself, I believe mental outlook is greatly improved.  And a healthy mama means a happier baby.

Of course, all new moms should check with their doctors before starting any exercise program, but once you do, and you feel ready, order one of our amazing videos aimed at moms to do at home at www.gomomfitness.com or if you are in the Indianapolis area, contact my studio to set an appointment or join a class at www.15tofit.com .  We would love to have you. 

Adore your body!

Meet "The Chair!"

One of my favorite pieces of Pilates equipment is the “chair”—I always tell my clients how much this piece of equipment can help your butt!  Again, the resistance is built around spring tightness, and can be adjusted for different strength levels.  It was originally called the “Wunda Chair” and was actually a piece of furniture (a chair) when flipped onto one side and then when moved upside down, became a piece of exercise equipment.  Originally the chairs were made of wood and padded seats and foot pedals (and some brands still are), but many exercise equipment companies (such as Peak Pilates, which is the brand we utilize most at Indianapolis Pilates by 15 to Fit) have developed more streamlined looking models that look less like furniture and more like classic exercise equipment.

The chair may look less complicated than the other machines, but is also really great at working your core and glutes as well as your arms and legs.  Exercises can be done sitting forward and backward on the chair, standing upright on your feet on the foot bars, lying across the seat or even sitting on the floor with hands and/or feet on the chair.  For as simple as it looks, this chair is amazingly diverse in its uses.  And I still think it is the best piece of machinery for tightening up your glutes to get a great tight rear end!

In both private sessions and group classes at Indianapolis Pilates by 15 to Fit, we almost always utilize the chairs as part of the workout.  One of the things I like about the chair with people who have never done Pilates is how quickly you can begin to see improvement here.  Exercises that seem very difficult at first quickly become more fluid and graceful.  These exercises work wonders at strengthening which ultimately not only tightens muscles, but helps to maintain great balance and flexibility.  And once you begin to see the results you can start achieving from the chair, it will quickly become one of your favorite pieces of equipment as well!

Contact me to learn more and get your butt in shape at http://www.15tofit.com/.