Today is the first vacation day I’ve taken this year! And I’m fully booked in my usual fashion. I started off my day with my first ever visit to The Pilates Loft in the Ivanhoe Village (but actually off Alden Road). My good friend Alia, whom I met at both of our first jobs out of college, decided to leave the PR industry to pursue her passion for becoming a pilates instructor after she started going to The Pilates Loft regularly.
Alia’s always been fit (she’s a marathon runner!), but I’ve seen her really tone up and become extremely lean and strong since she started pilates.
The Pilates Loft offers traditional pilates classes and instruction using both mats and pilates equipment. Alia is currently a pilates apprentice and working toward her official pilates certification. I met up with her this morning for a private session.
I was a little nervous before heading out the door. I have seen the equipment before, and it can look very intimidating.
The class was awesome. A private session is great for first-timers because I learned how to use the equipment, the proper form and the terminology. I’ve done mat pilates before, but it made the workout more impactful to have Alia tell me what muscles I needed to be engaging and what I shouldn’t be engaging during certain moves. I think I would need a few more private sessions to get fully comfortable before jumping into a group class.
All of the moves engage your core, and I was surprised by what a sweat I worked up.
The classes are a little pricey, so I would need to figure out how it would supplement my gym membership.
I left feeling like I got a great workout, and I would definitely recommend it for lengthening and building up core strength.
Alia and Chelsea, The Pilates Loft’s two apprentices
Alia and I after my private session
Have you ever used pilates equipment?
Today I have plans to go shopping with my sister then out to dinner with my girlfriends, and tomorrow Kevin and I are headed off for a mini beach getaway! I’m very excited to head to the coast and relax with my man.
I’ve never used pilates equipment but I’ve always wanted to do a reformer’s class! It seems like so much fun and such a good workout.
I LOVE mat based pilates so I can only imagine how cool a reformer class would be!
I’ve never done mat pilates OR used pilates equipment. Sounds like fun though!
I’ve never used Pilates equipment — besides the rings — but I’ve always wanted to give it a shot. Looks like a great workout!
I take a yoga/pilates inspired class but I have never used pilates equipment. I would love to try it!
have fun at your beach getaway!! That sounds amazing.
I’ve always wanted to use one of those pilates reformers! JEALOUS!
I am so curious about Pilates! Did the pilates loft recently move?
Yes! They are still in the same area but off Alden instead of Orange. It’s a huge space with its own parking lot now. It’s awesome!