Meet the Instructor Monday – Shara Power

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2014-03-22 14.53.07In today’s Meet the Instructor Monday, we’d like to introduce you to Shara Power, who began teaching yoga classes at Rivercity Pilates this summer.   If you haven’t tried one of Shara’s classes, I guarantee she will make you feel terrific, as she leads you in moves that will work every muscle in your body! We asked Shara some questions, and here are her answers!

Compare yoga to your full time job!!  During the day for my “real” job, I am an Informatics Specialist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. This is a fancy way of saying I work with the hospital’s computer charting system. I was a Bone Marrow Transplant nurse for the first 7 years of my career and transitioned to the information technology side of health care in 2012. It was at this time that I started my first teacher training at Jane’s House of Yoga in St. Louis, Mo in the Dynamic Yoga Method. I learned a lot about change in that time frame and yoga was the grounding force that helped me deal with it. I use yoga everyday in my daily life, not just in the physical adjustment of my body but more so in how I deal with others, stress and challenging situations. Yoga has taught me to accept what I can not change and to be open to the exploration of new ideas and complex problems.

Favorite food to prepare?  I am not an incredible cook but I am learning! I try at every holiday to learn how to make a family recipe. My husband, Zach, and I like to share the wealth when it comes to cooking at home. We try to cook and clean up together whenever possible. It is great being able to spend time together by doing something so simple.

We heard you were a dancer, can you elaborate?  I started dancing when I was 4 years old and danced all the way through college. I have done just about every style of dance out there but jazz and lyrical were always my favorites. In fact, it was my love of movement that brought me to yoga after college. I have yet to try ballroom or belly dancing but hopefully I can get Zach to ballroom with me at some point in our lives!!

Why did you choose to practice Yoga?   As I mentioned, I was an avid dancer and have always had a need for movement in my life. I have never been a sports person or a runner so when I graduated from college and went from dancing 4-6 hours a day to nothing, I felt like there was a huge void in my life.  My Mom started practicing yoga in 2007 and encouraged me try it out. I started practicing in 2008 at The Studio on South Dubuque St in Iowa City. I remember being so sore for the first 2 months of practice!! But underneath all the sore muscles something was happening deep in my heart. I was falling in love with this practice! It was liberating, life affiriming and emotionally challenging all in one. I knew I was hooked from that moment on.

Why did you become an instructor?  I had been considering becoming a teacher for about a year but the turning point for me was when a teacher of mine asked me if I would be interested in teaching a class at the studio. I have been on the teaching journey ever since.

catsHow do you de-stress  outside of yoga?  Lots of time with my husband, Zach, and 2 cats, Bailey & Duncan. I also LOVE to travel and am gone as often as I can be.

What is your favorite song / favorite group?  My favorite artist since I was about 14 is Tori Amos. Don’t get to play her music much in class but I listen to it constantly and have seen her in concert about 6 times.

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Something that would surprise the students who have been in your classes so far?  I am a HUGE Harry Potter Fan. I have my own wand from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and have been sorted into the Ravenclaw House. Zach and I plan to go on a Harry Potter themed England vacation in the summer of 2016.

I’ve attended Shara’s classes, and her excitement and energy inspire all her students!   Try a yoga class with Shara soon — I am certain that you will be glad you did!   We are excited to welcome Shara to Rivercity Pilates!

Carey

How my Pilates practice taught me to love Yoga!

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I’ve have to admit that before I started doing Pilates I “tried” Yoga and didn’t really love it.  And by try I mean I took a couple of classes and decided it wasn’t for me.  15 years later I love Yoga and I owe it all to my Pilates practice!

When I found Pilates I immediately knew it was a good fit for me.  It was something that I enjoyed, I felt like it was something I could do fairly well (unlike Yoga where I felt pretty incompetent because I was soo tight and inflexible that many poses seemed impossible for me), and I had instructors who were amazing and inspired me to keep at it.  I am forever grateful that all these pieces fell together, as teaching Pilates and movement has become a lifelong passion and love for me.

DSCN7362Last night after taking a Yoga class I was reflecting on:  1. How much I really enjoy Yoga now and 2. How this love really came from me learning about my body and how to move it through Pilates.

After practicing Pilates for 10 years on a regular basis I tried Yoga again and found that I really enjoyed it!  I was able to use the knowledge of my body that I learned in Pilates to do new different movements that challenged my body in different ways. Since then I have tried to incorporate Yoga and other mind-body movements and exercises into my life along with my Pilates practice so that I can continue to grow and learn!

I’m telling you this story today to inspire you to try different mind-body exercises and find one that gels with you.  Not everyone instantly loves Pilates, Yoga, Thai Chi or any other mind-body movement program.  Unfortunately many people try a class once or twice and decide it’s not for them and never try anything else ever.  They have one experience that they didn’t love and then they group all that stuff (Yoga, Pilates,etc.) together and never explore it’s possibilities again.

Different teachers and different styles of the same discipline have different things to offer students and you may be surprised to find that when you find a teacher and style of movement you connect with you may also find a movement practice perfect for your body!

At Rivercity Pilates we encourage clients to try lots of different instructors and classes and find those that connect with you.  Learn more about all the different movement classes and sessions we offer by clicking here!

 

A quick instructional video to help you start(or fine tune) your Yoga practice!

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Are you intimidated by attending a Yoga class because you’re worried that you won’t know what you’re doing?  Do you believe you are not flexible enough to even take a class?  These common misconceptions often keep people from starting a mind body practice of Yoga or Pilates that could have a profound effect on their lives.

In the video below, Yoga instructor Meghann Foster breaks down the common Yoga sequence called Sun Salutation A.  She breaks down the movements so you can find a version of the exercise that works best for you.

Not ready to try a Yoga class yet or maybe looking to try Yoga out in a one-on-one situation before joining a class?  Rivercity Pilates offers private and semi-private Yoga instruction that allows you to create an individualized Yoga practice at your own pace.   Try a complimentary session today!

 

 

 

Inspiration of the Month Amber O’Rourke

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When did you start coming to Rivercity Pilates and what inspired you to start?

I started coming to Rivercity about a year ago, shortly after the birth of my third child. Though I lost the baby weight rather quickly, I definitely didn’t feel in shape and had heard many great things about Pilates. Specifically, I knew Carey from when my son attended preschool with her daughter so it felt less intimidating to start Pilates having known her outside of the studio.

How often do you take classes and what type of classes have you been doing?

It’s not easy getting to class on a regular schedule with three young children and a physician husband who works long hours, but I grab any chance I can to get to the studio! You’ll often find me at a Sunday evening Yoga or Barre class, but I also try to get to Tower and Mat classes once a week.

What benefits or improvements have you noticed in your body and life from doing Yoga and Pilates?

The biggest benefit for me has been the mental release of being a stay at home mom. For that hour I am in class my only job is to focus on myself. It’s often a challenge to leave “it” at the door, but Pilates and Yoga both require a physical and mental presence that force me to be in the moment. I’ve noticed a desire to take better care of myself all around since starting Pilates and getting back in to Yoga. I’m eating better and am slowly getting back in to running.

Do you have a favorite exercise or piece of equipment (or both)?

I really enjoy the Tower. Though it’s an intimidating piece of equipment to those new to Pilates, I quickly discovered that after each Tower class I felt as refreshed and rejuvenated as I do after a massage! I also like the challenge of doing “Seal” correctly. It appears easy but it’s actually quite difficult to rely more on the strength of your core rather than the momentum of the movement. Not to mention, it’s hard to take myself too seriously when moving like a seal!

What would you say to someone who is thinking about coming to Rivercity Pilates?

I would encourage anyone to try out a few private sessions at Rivercity. I was very intimidated to start Pilates but the individual attention at my initial private sessions gave me all the confidence I needed to start taking classes. The atmosphere at Rivercity is unique, I think, in that the instructors and members are very welcoming and helpful toward “newbies” and they do a great job of challenging you as an individual while also recognizing that each body has its own limits and capabilities that may even change from class to class.

Inspiration of the Month

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 Barb Rechkemmer

January 2015

When did you start Pilates and what inspired you to start?

 I started Pilates a little over a year ago.  A friend of mine who was familiar with my injuries and subsequent surgeries suggested giving Pilates a try.  She had also been practicing Pilates and thought it might help with over all health.

How often do you practice Pilates and what type of sessions or classes have you been doing?

When I began I did 2 private lessons per week for several months.  I then started a group tower class along with the occasional private session.  Now I do one group Pilates class per week as well as attending Barre and Yoga classes.

What benefits have you seen by committing to a regular Pilates practice?  

The benefits of Pilates are numerous.  My spine health and flexibility has increased to a point that I have been able to start other disciplines.  I now attend Barre and Yoga, also taught at Rivercity Pilates.  In doing so I also am enjoying a great deal more over-all strength.

What is your favorite exercise?

I like the Cadillac.  Also I tend to like anything using the leg springs.  It feels wonderful to be able to feel your body lengthening against resistance.

What would you say to someone thinking about starting Pilates?

I would recommend Pilates to anyone looking for a gain in flexibility, better posture, strength and improvement in general well being.

How to perfect your Downward Dog

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In this video, yoga instructor Meghann Foster breaks down the traditional yoga pose Downward Facing Dog. Meghann explains what yoga instructors look for in the pose and offers several modifications to make the pose comfortable for different bodies.

Not ready to try a Yoga class yet or maybe looking to try Yoga out in a one-on-one situation before joining a class?  Rivercity Pilates offers private and semi-private Yoga instruction that allows you to create an individualized Yoga practice at your own pace.   Try a complimentary session today!