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“In ten sessions you will feel the difference, in twenty sessions you will see the difference, and in thirty you will have a whole new body"
Joseph Pilates
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a systematic form of exercise comprised of a series of effective movements that will uniformly condition your body. The instructors at GATC follow the principles of Pilates when delivering workouts so that your mind and body will be sure to improve. Whether your goal is to alleviate chronic back pain or to train for an athletic event, Pilates is the form of exercise for you. Who does Pilates?
Pilates is for "real men"
Pilates is for Athletes
Pilates is for Kids
You are never too old. Pilates is a program for a lifetime
Why do Pilates?
BALANCED mind-body workout
Pilates gets your mind in tune with your body. By emphasizing proper breathing, correct spinal and pelvic alignment, and complete concentration on smooth, flowing movement, you become acutely aware of how your body feels, where it is in space, and how to control its movement. The quality of movement is valued over quantity of repetitions. Proper breathing is essential helping you execute movements with maximum power and efficiency while reducing stress. Pilates should be practiced two to three times per week.
Build Strength with Flexibility
Conventional workouts may build short, bulky muscles - the type most prone to injury. Pilates elongates and strengthens, improving muscle elasticity and joint mobility. A body with balanced strength and flexibility is less likely to be injured.
Uniformly develop the body and prevent sports injuries
Muscular imbalance is a primary cause of injury and chronic back pain. Pilates conditions the whole body, even the ankles and feet. No muscle group is over trained or under trained. Your entire musculature is evenly balanced and conditioned, helping you enjoy daily activities and sports with greater
ease and less chance of injury.
Learn efficient patterns of motion
Pilates exercises train several muscle groups at once in smooth, continuous movements. By developing proper technique, you can actually re-train your body to move in safer, more efficient patterns of motion - invaluable for injury recovery, sports performance, good posture and optimal health.
Stress RELEASE
Pilates will take your mind off of the stress of your day and provide you with tools to cope with future stress by becoming more in tune with your body and your breathing. By doing Pilates, your attitude will improve and so will your energy!
Build confidence in a safe environment
No other exercise system is gentle to your body while giving it such a challenging workout. Many of the exercises are performed in reclining or sitting positions, and most are low impact and partially weight bearing. Pilates is so safe, it is used in physical therapy facilities to
rehabilitate injuries.
Challenge YOUR BODY
Pilates is also an extremely flexible exercise system. Modifications to the exercises allow for a range of difficulty from beginning to advanced. Get the workout that best suits you now, and increase the intensity as your body conditioning improves.
What is the difference between mat classes and equipment classes?
Joseph Pilates was a pioneer in America’s fitness movement and the creator of the Pilates method, which he originally called Contrology. Mat was the first part of the method that Joe created. It is sometimes said “the mat is the method”. Mat work makes you strong. It is primarily open chain, which allows for more velocity and therefore more mistakes. The mat is more difficult to get a hold of and do well. It is challenging because it is you against gravity. The mat work helps build strength and teaches you how to stabilize and initiate movement from the core. Many of the exercises on the mat are performed on the reformer, as the equipment was developed after the floor work was created. Mat classes at GATC are complimentary with membership. Guest may participate in our mat program with purchase of a guest pass.
The rest of the equipment evolved to supplement the mat. The springs on the reformer are fundamentally support for the mat method. Spring assistance, found on the equipment, allows greater range of motion then mat. The support promotes the development of new movement patterns and re-educates the body. Primarily closed chain, the equipment allows for more tension. Feedback from the equipment is informing; it creates awareness in programming movement patterns otherwise unavailable.
Joseph Pilates observed animals and incorporated their stretching, graceful and playful movements as well. We see this in the names of the exercises such as Elephant, Squirrel, Seal and so forth in both the mat and equipment work. The reformer and mat anchor the entire body of work. Many students who just do reformer are weak in mat and students who do just mat get weak in reformer. The two support one another and have a symbiotic relationship.
Both the mat and reformer work have a beginning, middle, and ending that gets progressively more difficult towards the end of the sequence when taught traditionally. In both the mat and equipment work, the sequences stimulates the nervous system through multi-planar movements and positions of the spine for example, forward flexion, extension, side bending and rotation patterns are repeated throughout. When learning mat and reformer, the instructors at GATC ask that you focus first on the beginner series, or what is sometimes called the heart and soul exercises. These primary exercises lay down essential skills from which you can progress. They help you build strength in your core and teach you how to stabilize and initiate movement from the Powerhouse.
What distinguishes Greenwood Athletic and Tennis Club’s Pilates studio from other studios?
Our instructors’ teaching experience and expertise
Our level of certification (both classically and non-traditionally trained)
Our fully equipped studio and hours of operation (5:00am to 8:00pm)
Our teacher trainer and continued education offerings
Our class offerings, including every type of Pilates class available
Our specialty workshops
Our introductory package
What is the experience level of the GATC Instructors?
All of our instructors have completed or are working towards an elaborate comprehensive Pilates certification, which covers all of the Pilates equipment and takes several years of study, practice, and observation. Our studio continues to offer many levels of advanced training for our instructors who wish to specialize in the sport-specific or rehabilitative aspects of Pilates. All of our instructors are currently required to have completed at least a year of Pilates study, including a number of private lessons prior to beginning their education. All of our instructors have education in anatomy and physiology, the history of Joseph Pilates and the evolution of the Pilates Method, as well as in-depth instruction on the exercises for all of the Pilates equipment, and their modifications.
Getting started:
We ask that you begin with a minimum of five private lessons to familiarize yourself with the equipment and Pilates principles. At that point, you may stick with the private lessons or try our equipment classes. Our mat classes are complimentary with your membership. Therefore, you may join any mat class without any prior Pilate’s experience. If you are new to Pilates (for both mat and equipment classes), begin with level one classes and with time and experience you will progress through the levels.
I’m not a member, can I still take Pilates at the Greenwood Athletic and Tennis Club?
Our studio is open to non-members under the following regulations:
Limited to eight visits per month
Need to purchase GATC guest pass to use the club outside of the Pilates studio and to participate in the Pilates mat class program
$10 more per private lesson ($85)
$5 more per equipment based class ($26/reformer $32/combo/chair/tower)
Not eligible to purchase equipment based class packages
Non-members are required to sign in prior to the Pilates session and sign out within 70 minutes of entering the club.
If visit is longer than 70 minutes, guest pass ($25) charges will apply
Is there a cost for members?
Pilates mat classes are complimentary with a membership. Fees are associated with equipment based classes.
What else should I Know?
If you have never done Pilates in our studio you are eligible to purchase our intro pack at a special rate. Please stop by the studio for information or contact your instructor. If you do not have a specific instructor in mind, read our bios or call the Pilates Director, Sara Talbert, at 303-770-2582 Ext. 375.
We recommend that you practice Pilates 2-3 times a week to see and feel results. It is the repetition that changes your body and creates lasting effects!
If you are new to the Pilates studio at Greenwood Athletic Club, please inquire about our introductory packages (303) 770-2582 ext. 375.
