Foundations Class
Our Foundations classes are meant to be universally beneficial and supportive for every body. The slower, more methodical pace of these classes makes them helpful whether you are a beginner or a more advanced practitioner. Everyone can benefit from fine-tuning their core and focusing on the foundation of their practice!
The Foundations classes have an almost meditative quality and as you become hyper-focused on the specific muscle groups that each exercise is designed to target.
Your instructor will correct and address your asymmetries, giving you a stable foundation for more fast-paced and advanced classes and their maneuvers.
Pilates practice provides nourishment for the soul, as well as the body. Our mission is to make sure that everyone can reap benefits from Pilates. We want you to live well, feel well and thrive while developing deeper and more meaningful connections with your body.
Principles of Pilates
Pilates is founded on the following principles:
- Breath: Exercises coordinate with inhalation and exhalation during the practice. You will learn posterior and lateral breathing, which keeps your abdomen activated during all parts of the exercise.
- Concentration: Performing Pilates movements correctly requires deep concentration. You will be tested mentally as you deepen your knowledge of your body and how it moves.
- Centering: Dial into what your body is telling you, let time stand still and feel grounded. Every movement emanates from your center or your core.
- Control: Movements are practiced in a controlled, intentional manner. This control is maintained throughout your entire practice.
- Precision: To reap the benefits of Pilates practice, the maneuvers must be performed with careful precision. A good Pilates instructor will carefully and patiently guide you.
- Flow: Pilates movements are designed to flow together seamlessly, with smooth transitions to keep your heart rate steady and your muscles warm throughout your session.
The History of Pilates
Pilates beginnings began forming in the mind of founder Joseph Pilates at the turn of the century. He saw the benefits of Pilates movements while working on the Isle of Man, rehabilitating English soldiers who were injured during World War I. In the 1920s, Joseph and his wife Clara emigrated to New York City and opened their first body conditioning studio. The studio became popular with celebrities and dancers who were looking for faster injury recovery, and more effective ways to stay limber while operating at peak performance. Though today the majority of Pilates practitioners are women, initially 60% were men. Modern Pilates is developed from the teachings of the Pilates Elders, who were the original apprentices of Joseph Pilates, organized by his wife, Clara.
The Pilates Reformer
Probably the most well-known piece of equipment is the Pilates reformer. All Pilates equipment is highly versatile, and the reformer is no different. The upper section glides on a carriage track and uses adjustable springs to provide tension according to specific exercises being performed. During the Foundations class, you will use the reformer at a slower, methodical pace to allow you enough time to adjust the tension and your body, especially if you are only beginning your Pilates journey.
The Pilates Trapeze Table aka Cadillac
The largest Pilates apparatus is the Pilates Cadillac. This is the first piece of Pilates equipment invented. Cadillacs allow you to do more advanced inversions that stretch your spine. The Cadillac resembles a four-poster bed and the steel canopy above it allows for the incorporation of trapeze movement.
The Pilates’s Chair or Wunda Chair
There are many Pilates chairs on the market today. Reforming Foundation uses Balanced Body’s Combo and Exo Chair™. Joseph originally called his Pilates chair a “Wunda Chair.” It takes up a smaller footprint than the Pilates Reformer or the Cadillac. Its small size makes it a rather efficient and convenient apparatus. Older models blended nicely into the mid-century homes of some of Joseph’s first clients. Dubbed the world’s smallest exercise mat, the Pilates chair is a highly versatile piece of equipment. In the Foundations class, you will learn many ways that it can be put to use to both assist movement and to challenge it.
Pilates Mat Exercises
Pilates mat exercises are popular because they are easy to practice at home and the only equipment needed is a mat.
Who Are Foundations Classes Good For?
Those practicing Pilates can expect to achieve more upright posture, and a sense of length throughout the whole body. Pilates focus on the slow movement and the eccentric lengthening of the muscles. Pilates has a tendency to develop long muscle tone in your arms and legs and a tight and supportive core. It also corrects asymmetries, realigns posture, and fine-tunes your mind/body awareness.
Your core is your base in Pilates and the Foundations class is the place to build it.
Benefits of Pilates Practice
Pilates offers a host of benefits for young and the actively aging, strong and recovering alike. Everyday movements and activities will become easier and more comfortable as you begin to further your education of your body and develop a conversation with your muscles.
Pilates is particularly restorative for those recovering from surgery. We have highly trained and experienced instructors who specialize in adapting exercises and programs for those recovering from things like diastasis recti, ACL surgery, knee or hip replacement surgery, mastectomy, and amputation. Pilates is equally powerful for ailments of the mind as it is for the body, and is a proven method of combating chronic fatigue syndrome and alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety.
What to Wear to a Pilates Class
It is most important that you wear something you are comfortable in and that keeps you safe. Avoid overly baggy clothing or very loose-fitting tops, as they could become caught on the equipment. Some inverted moves will cause your baggy shirt to fall over your head, accidentally exposing more than you may have intended or temporarily blinding you. Male clients will want to wear supportive underwear to preserve modesty. Please refrain from wearing anything with zippers or buttons as this can damage the vinyl equipment. It is most important that you are comfortable and have freedom of movement in your choice of attire.
What to Bring to a Foundations Class
Reforming Foundations wants to make sure you feel at home and comfortable while at the studio, so we take our hosting duties seriously! All you need to bring to class is a water bottle, which you can refill with our RO filter. We provide towels, mats, all equipment, as well as the camaraderie and positivity to keep you going. Every new client receives a complimentary pair of grippy socks, which we require for your safety in most of our classes.
In your quest for finding greater wellness, you will come across people who share similar experiences and motivations. The connections people develop at the Reforming Foundations Pilates are truly something special. Many members say that their RF tribe feels like a second family to them.
Book a class today and start your journey to a more fulfilling lifestyle today!
