7 Reasons to Love Pilates

I tried Pilates for the first time during college and took a semester long course. We were supposed to do the mat abdominal series every day (I didn’t…because college!), but I distinctly remember leaving class and feeling sooooo good and so different than I did after the gym, biking or running.

When a few years after college, I was suffering from pretty painful and persistent lower back pain and I had the opportunity to take Pilates reformer classes, I tried it, loved it, and it helped my pain immensely. I almost immediately started training to be an instructor.

Pilates has kept me strong and flexible and feeling good in my body for years. When I don’t do as much Pilates, my body doesn’t feel as good, and that’s a pretty good reminder to be consistent.

Here are a few reasons why I love Pilates and what my clients tell me they love about it.

1. It’s challenging and engaging for the mind and the body.

2. Moving in a way that feels good is so great in a fitness world that often tells us to “just push through” pain and discomfort.

3. It’s like a reset that supports and balances the other things you’re doing (Crossfit, running, golf, horseback riding, etc.).

4. Through Pilates, we can learn about ourselves—from imbalances and ways we feel different from side to side, to noticing our breath to cultivating a deeper understanding of ourselves.

5. It is time just for you every week. This is incredibly valuable and, in fact, I think should be a non-negotiable for everyone.

6. It’s great to come in for a session and not have to think. I’ll tell you what to do :) In a world of many decisions and choices, it can feel really nice to not need to think about what you should do for an hour.

7. You’ll almost certainly feel better when you’re finished than when you started!

What are your favorite things about Pilates?

I hope to see you in the studio soon! Schedule a private session for 55 minutes or 30 minutes here.

Tangy Chickpea, Broccoli and Sundried Tomato Salad

This salad from Cookie and Kate is a regular around our house in the summer. It’s simple, fresh and is great on a wrap or pita bread with smashed avocado. It would also be delicious on a bed or arugula. The dressing adds tons of flavor with ingredients many of you will have laying around the house.

Ingredients:

1 bunch broccoli. florets removed and sliced thin

1 can (15 oz) of chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rinsed and chopped

1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (or chopped kalamata olives for vegans)

2 medium avocados

Salt, to taste

4 whole grain pita breads, or 4 large, thick slices of hearty whole grain bread, or other gluten free wraps.

Lemon dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice, to taste

1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 ½ teaspoons honey or maple syrup, to taste

1 clove garlic, pressed or minced

1/4 teaspoon salt, to taste

Pinch red pepper flakes

Instructions:

Prepare the chickpea salad by combining broccoli, chickpeas, red onions, feta cheese and sundried tomatoes

In a small bowl combine the dressing ingredients and whisk until emulsified. Taste and add additional salt, if necessary

Pour the dressing over the broccoli chickpea salad and toss to combine

Mash avocados and spread on your pitas, bread or wraps and top with chickpea salad.

Serves 2 with enough leftover for a lunch. My personal tip: Make a double batch of this yummy salad so you have enough for a couple of meals.

Sneak Peak: New Rooted Wellness & Pilates Studio!

It’s an exciting new chapter in my professional life! After more than 15 years at tru Pilates, I’m opening my own studio at 270 S. Pantops Dr. in Charlottesville, Virginia. I can’t wait to start working with clients in the space (you can book as session here), but I wanted to give everyone a quick virtual tour of the new Rooted Wellness & Pilates home. So I’ve shared a few (very) short videos to give you a sneak peak!

Welcome!

Here’s a look around the new studio. There’s room for private Pilates sessions on the reformer and mat, an area for Somatic and Health Coaching, and an area where I’ll film live virtual mat classes.

I’m so excited to celebrate this new adventure!

It’s such a peaceful, positive space to do Pilates! Mature forest sloping down to the Rivanna River makes for a leafy, calming view out of the studio. Rooted Wellness shares the small building with a chiropractor, an art therapist, an acupuncturist and a massage therapist, so it’s quite the little hub of wellness. I love the energy and can’t wait to start working with clients in the studio.

Summer’s Spectacular Watermelon, Feta & Mint Salad

Nothing says summer quite like watermelon. I naturally feel myself wanting to eat more raw and cool foods this time of year, and the balance of the sweet watermelon, salty feta and cooling mint is oh-so refreshing. Use this basic recipe but play with it by adding in extras like lemon juice or lemon zest, olive oil, cucumbers, arugula and red onion.

Ingredients:

3 pounds seedless watermelon (about 1 small or 1/4 large), cut into 1-inch chunks

1/4 cup roughly chopped mint leaves

4 ounces feta cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Combine in a bowl and enjoy! Serves 4-6. It usually keeps well in the fridge for a couple of days.

Try This So-Good Nicoise Salad With Salmon

There are lots of variations of the classic nicoise salad, and one of my favorite alterations is to use salmon instead of tuna (though it is a very good salad with tuna, canned or fresh, or with grilled chicken or without meat). The classic nicoise also calls for olives, which I sometimes use but didn’t include in this recipe. For me, the must-have nicoise staples are boiled eggs, red onion, new potatoes and lightly cooked green beans. From there, you can’t go wrong no matter how you tinker with the rest.

I enjoy that this salad has a combination of cooked and raw ingredients. It’s a very satisfying and nutritious meal and a favorite around our house.

Ingredients:

Mixed greens

1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced

4 hard boiled eggs, thinly sliced

1/2 lb green beans

2 cups small golden potatoes

Olive oil

Avocado

8-9 oz filet of salmon

Dressing of your choosing. I like green goddess dressing or olive oil and balsamic. Vinaigrettes of many kinds work well.

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400.

Season salmon with salt and pepper and bake for about 12 minutes, until salmon is cooked to your liking. Set aside.

Boil potatoes whole until potatoes start to soften but are not fully cooked. Drain and slice potatoes. Heat olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat and saute potates until they are cooked through and are nicely browned on the outside.

Steam or parboil the green beans until cooked but still crisp.

Assemble your salad with greens, thin sliced red onion, sliced hard boiled eggs, avocado, potatoes, green beans and salmon. Dress with a dressing of your choosing and enjoy :)

Serves 3

*Use this recipe as a guide, and use more or less of an ingredient you like.