Embrace your pain!

By: Basma Musmar

“Look Mom!”, my 12-year old yelled, pointing outside the window of my bedroom. “Look at this old man, how fit he looks running”. He paused for a second, then said as if thinking out-loud: “Why do people stop exercising as they get older; isn’t that when they need it most?”.

We’ve all been there; life gets busy and steers us away from taking care of ourselves, and we forget, or ignore, that we are aging in the process. I used to think I’m mighty, pushing heavy furniture with just my knee, ripping grass off with my bare hands and carrying heavy boxes up and down the stairs on one shoulder. Boy, how I started feeling these effects on my body as I approached my forties. Still, what did I do about it? I went to see my doctor to get anti-inflammatory and pain-relief meds, got myself hooked on a long-term relationship with my physio and almost went for a yearly membership with a Chiropractor.

Truth is, we are all afraid of pain! Once we have pain, we’re afraid to move so we don’t feel more pain. When we don’t move, our muscles get weaker and our joints get stiffer. When this happens, we feel more pain, and the cycle continues, and with it we continue to age, and not just age, but age even faster. So what should we do about this? Supress the pain with more meds, or take control of our body and health? I say: Embrace your pain! After all, it’s your body’s way of telling you that you need to do something different; you need to take control!

When Joseph Pilates created the Pilates method in the 1920s for the purpose of rehabilitation of injured soldiers after World War I, he called it Contrology. It’s the control of each movement as you move, the control of your mind and body, the control of your breath, your balance and coordination. The practice he created develops core strength and realigns the body into the correct posture to bring balance back to the muscles and joints, which in turn releases the pain created by such imbalances. When you move free of pain, and feel stronger, centered and balanced, you feel younger and full of vigor for life.

When considering doing Pilates, it is essential that you find a fully-equipped Pilates Studio with comprehensively certified teachers. LiveBy Pilates is the oldest Pilates Studio in the Ottawa region, whose main purpose is to help others live by a higher quality of life.

Here’s what to expect when doing Pilates at LiveBy Pilates:

A workout like no other

Pilates is a unique form of exercise that emphasizes control, proper alignment, core strength and flexibility. Where many conventional exercise programs fail to work the body and mind as a whole, or either over-work or over-stretch the body, leaving it prone to injuries, each class at LiveBy Pilates delivers a balanced full-body workout based on the fundamentals and repertoire Joseph Pilates created.

Meditation in motion

Mindfulness is emphasized at LiveBy Pilates, focus on breath and awareness of your body is key. With mindfulness comes concentration, and with proper breathing comes energy and improved cognitive abilities.

Therapeutic

Pilates’ rehabilitation foundation is integrated into each session, be it slow and gentle or fast-paced and athletic. Comprehensively certified teachers are trained to work with the many pathologies and injuries, and understand the contraindications to each movement and the modifications required to make each session safe and effective for all.

Anti-aging

Joseph Pilates used to say: “You are as young as your spine”. You could be 60 and have a flexible spine and you’d feel like you’re 20, and vice versa. Joseph Pilates’ innovative apparatus, like the Reformer, Wunda Chair and Cadillac, use springs for strength training which work to lubricate the joints as they move without stress or impact. This promotes full range of motion and preserves joint health necessary for remaining active and mobile as we age. With correct posture and strong core, you feel centered and balanced and you’ll be able to engage in more activities without the fear of injury or pain.

Long lean muscles

Resistance training using the Pilates apparatus works to strengthen and elongate the muscle fibers creating long lean muscles, versus creating bulk when working with weights. Lean muscles burn fat more efficiently hours after your session is done. Combined with a healthy living style, Pilates will help you with your weight loss goals and give you that appearance of a toned body supported by a beautiful posture.

Adaptable

Not every form of exercise is fit for everyone. At LiveBy Pilates, our clients are as young as 9 years old and as old as 90. We have the competitive athlete and those with chronic pain. Pilates is for everyone; but please be cautioned that I’m not talking about the Pilates you find at the gym. I’m talking about the Pilates taught at a specialized Studio by comprehensively certified teachers.

Small classes

At LiveBy Pilates, our classes are limited to no more than six. Our teachers pay close attention to form and proper execution of each exercise. We are able to modify the exercises per each client’s individual needs.

Flexible schedule

Clients have full online control of their schedules and can book or cancel any time. With two studio locations, downtown and Kanata, clients can book at any location using the same class passes. Complimentary Guided Stretch classes and any-time access to the Stretch & Release corner are offered.

Beautiful space

The new LiveBy Pilates downtown Studio is a 2500 sqft, bright, spacious and beautifully decorated open space. This centrally located space is easily accessible to those in the east or the west. Free allocated parking spots are available right in front of the Studio, so expect no stress or tension of trying to find parking spots in the downtown area.

A foundation to Live By

When you start Pilates at LiveBy Pilates, you start on a learning journey - learning about your body and how to improve your mind and body connection. You will find that Pilates becomes a foundation that influences the way you sit, stand or move in your every day life. That’s why we say “Don’t just do it.. Live-By Pilates”.