Mybod Wellness: Live Online Pilates

Tagging onto the theme of recovery...sometimes this means taking a day off and sitting in bed with a book. And/or your little one Cuddling up in your PJs and giving yourself time to just be. How can you be brave and take this time for you this week?

Join us next Saturday, May 22nd at 9:30am ET for a Pilates class to raise money for MyBOD client, Kelley Raleigh. On May 5th, Kelley lost her husband unexpectedly. As he was the main provider for Kelley and her 5 yr old son, we are raising funds to help her with memorial costs and transitioning into this new phase of life. Class will be taught by me and MyBOD teacher Sarah Doherty. Sign up through link in bio.

Let’s talk about recovery. This month, I learned a LOT about not listening to my body and not spending enough time in recovery. I was obsessed with playing tennis and getting better as quickly as possible, so much so that I overdid it and tore my calf muscle. And then I was on crutches for 2 weeks. I was shocked that this could happen to me, as I pride myself on being able to listen to my body and make the right decisions when it comes to physical activity. However, ...I clearly didn’t listen well enough and it took me out. This decision to NOT spend time in recovery forced me into a much longer recovery period than I had wanted (I’m not allowed to play tennis for 6 weeks or more ), and it’s very depressing! The same thing comes up in our daily lives. If we don’t listen to our bodies when we’re run down, our bodies end up ‘quitting’ and getting really sick. What could have been a day of taking it easy turns into 2 weeks of lying in bed recovering from the flu. I see so many clients (and I am guilty of the same thing) prioritizing spin class or hard core workouts over movement practices that help with recovery. It’s so hard for my clients (and myself!) to take the time to lie down, roll out on a foam roller or pay for a restorative yoga class. But, without these practices, our bodies will break down and we will be exhausted and in pain. What is your recovery practice? Do you have one in your routine? Let us know!!

Pilates Ed Wednesday Every Wednesday get a Pilates education tip/thought on our social pages. Feel free to add to the conversation below! Socks or No Socks? ... This is a question I get with every studio client who walks in the door. And sometimes they ask ‘should I get those grippy socks?’ So, here’s the deal on the socks I was a modern dancer. Bare feet were the norm in the studio. It’s the only way to really sense your feet on the ground and connect to the dance floor. And when I do Pilates, on the reformer or during mat exercises, I feel much more connected to and aware of my feet if I’m NOT wearing socks. I can see the bones of my feet, how my toes are stretching, how my arches are aligning. And that helps me be fully present. And, when I’m on the reformer, I feel much safer with bare feet - as I don’t feel as likely to slip off the foot bar or carriage. However, many studios REQUIRE socks. This is for safety reasons. In our school (#romanaspilates) there was a story about a staph infection (eeek!) , and the default rule became SOCKS at all times. If you have to wear socks, or you choose to wear socks, make sure they are either 1) thin cotton so you can grip better (synthetic materials or thick socks are too slippery) OR 2) grippy socks - the ones with rubber grips on the bottom so you, again, can grip better My rule of thumb on this - the less sock, the better - so again, thin socks that help you feel the ground are much better than thick socks that put a bigger barrier between your feet and the floor or equipment. And, if you have equipment at home - I say NO SOCKS! See and feel your feet! We generally ignore our poor feet and stuff them in shoes so it’s vital to give them focused attention! Do you have a sock/no sock opinion? Let us know below!

48 hours left to get our Spring Special (or #mothersday gift cert)! 4 Online Group Pilates classes for $35!! Go to #linkinbio now!! *Offer is for new clients only. Current clients can purchase gift certificate for mom or a friend who isn't a MyBOD client.

If you're a woman, you're a mother. Whether or not you have children. Whether or not you have pets.... As a woman, you're mothering someone (or some creature) somehow. You're giving out more than you're getting, and it's tiring. You (and all mothers) need more self-care. Can you take a little time this weekend to slow down, receive and take care of you? I wish for EVERYONE a Mother's Day of gratitude, celebration and honoring of those who have mothered you and the way you have mothered others.

Only 2 days left to sign up for our Unlimited January Class Package! If you don’t know where to start, start here trust in yourself click that link in bio and commit to your CORE! $147 offer expires on Monday, January 4th!

On this LAST DAY of 2020, I want to take some time to reflect on this challenging year we’ve endured together. I’m grateful for all of the beautiful relationships that have come out of this the deepening of relationships with my immediate family, the new relationships I’ve built through new members of the MyBOD community, and new neighbors and friends in our new home town of Maplewood, NJ. A lot happened this year my new baby took his first circle around the sun ,... my family moved from NYC to Maplewood , I transitioned my business to an online-only business , my daughter turned 4 , and I turned 45 ! I look back on how MyBOD made the transition from in-person and online to entirely online, and I’m grateful for the ease of that transition. I’m grateful that I’ve had a LOT of work this year and I acknowledge that I’m VERY lucky to have had that. I know that a lot of loss was suffered this year significant losses of friends and family, jobs, and freedoms, and I am very privileged to have had the comfort I had this year. And so much of that has come from YOUR support. Thank you! I hope you can reflect on the beauty of 2020 and see some joy today! @_levelwork @eddiewunderlich @greyghostagency See more

2021 is almost here! Most of us are hoping that it’s going to be a better year, but you can MAKE SURE it’s going to be a better year by prioritizing yourself and your connection to your CORE. That’s why we’re making it easy to amp up your wellness routine by offering a package of unlimited classes in January for only $147. This offer expires Monday, Jan 4 so make sure to grab it now by going to the link in bio.

When I first launched my online business, I got this question all the time: how do I do Pilates without equipment? The answer: you don’t need equipment to do Pilates! Joseph Pilates created a system of mat exercises before designing equipment and only designed equipment to help people who were limited and couldn’t do the mat exercises correctly. As someone who ‘grew up’ on the equipment, I used to believe students couldn’t understand the work well unless they were on th...e reformer or cadillac or chair. However, as I’ve taught countless of clients online and in their homes without equipment, I’ve seen similar results and have learned that it’s definitely not necessary. In fact, I’ve had a number of clients tell me they PREFER Pilates without equipment because it’s harder! They’ve found themselves get stronger without equipment, and I’ve seen the same. If you want to learn more about joining our online Pilates classes now that you know you don’t need equipment, sign up for a 20-min consult with me. Link in bio. See more

As we roll into 2021, let’s connect online for some centering and strengthening together. Detox the sugar and alcohol and get on a mat with us!! Sign up through the link in bio.

Happy Holidays from MyBOD Wellness! May the gift of health and happiness be yours this year and beyond.

If you haven’t already voted, stop everything and get out there today! YOU matter and your voice matters.

The body is most vulnerable during transitions. When all of the pieces are shifting around us, there’s instability and uncertainty. When moving through transitions, the most important thing to do is connect to CORE. Yet, it’s the first thing we seem to forget because we’re concentrating on moving to the next place. When in transition, we tend to externally focus and forget about the inner support we have and need. As we’re experiencing transition this week, I want to share with you the physical tactics that work to keep the body protected and thriving during transition and apply them to real life. Join me on Instagram Live (@mybodpilates) this Thursday, 11/5 at 3pm ET for my CORE Talk: Staying Connected During Transition, and find some ways to help you transition with grace this week.

Join one of our Zoom classes this week for the deep connection you need to stay steady when life is uncertain. Sign up via the link in bio on IG or www.mybodwellness.com. Then, make sure to join Denise on Thursday at 3pm ET on Instagram Live (@mybodpilates) for a CORE Talk on Staying Connected During Transition. This week brings a big transition - whichever way things go - and we need to stay tethered to our CORE-selves to find peace. Get inspiration on how to do this in a conscious way in Thursday’s CORE Talk!

Yes, you can. Yes, you can find time for yourself even if you have little kids. Yes, you can use your baby as your weights if you don’t own dumbbells. Yes, you can connect to yourself while connecting with your little one (or husband or friend). This video was taken a few months back when life was a bit more restrictive and Will was a bit younger (and LIGHTER!), but he was a great replacement for the 5 lb weights I couldn’t order because they were out of stock everywhere. I wanted to do my workout with @readysetmonique but I didn’t have any help, so I decided to do it anyway and make the best of it. It turned out to be a lot of fun for both mommy and baby! I encourage you to examine your reasons (aka excuses) as to why you CAN’T connect to your CORE. And then get creative in finding SOLUTIONS! Yes, you can.

1-min Tutorial - #Pilates101: The Dos and Don’ts of Bird Dog This common core stabilizing exercise is often done without a lot of thought or attention to form. Learn these dos and don’ts when it comes to Bird Dog.

Join us this week! IG live on Thursday at 11am ET and/or join a Zoom class on our site: link below! www.mybodwellness.com

How does Pilates integrate with a traditional workout? I often say Pilates is a perfect compliment to all forms of fitness. As someone who also does HIIT training, spin, yoga and tennis, I know very well how Pilates helps with ALL types of exercise. If you’re the person who says ‘I prefer running’ or ‘I’m already doing weight training,’ then I encourage you to check out Pilates and see how it can improve your other workouts. Most of my clients cross train! It’s the best way to achieve an aligned, resilient, super strong body!

Working out with a community, even if they’re on a screen, makes all the difference. When you show up to a class where other people are showing up, at the same time, doing the same thing, the connection goes beyond the physical. If you feel lost because you’ve not been motivated to workout or get back to your body, come join us! We do this together. Live. You’ll be seen, heard and supported.

Join one of our Zoom classes this week for accountability and support (you can sign up via link in bio on IG or www.mybodwellness.com). Then, for the month of October, my Instagram Live Pilates sessions are on Thursdays at 11am ET. Join me this Thursday on @mybodpilates!

Endurance. Balance. Stability. Right now, we need these qualities more than ever. We’re being asked to endure some of the most challenging times and finding balance and stability in the chaos is key to mental sanity. When we challenge our bodies in these ways, we prove to ourselves that we’re capable of handling anything that comes our way. Find a stability and balance building exercise (like this one-legged plank above) to endure for an extended period of time, and work on your inner strength so it will be there for you when you need it.