 In Pilates, we often talk about mind-body connection.
But what does this actually mean when you are practicing Pilates? To break it down, let’s start by feeling a specific area or muscle in your body. Think about that area and allow yourself to become aware of it through connecting with what it feels like, how it is functioning and activating. The mental awareness of what that area is feeling when you activate it is connecting your mind to your physical body, and it brings you one step closer to being able to develop the know-how as to what your body needs. Therefore, the mind-body connection happens in Pilates (or any workout) when you integrate your entire body and mind simultaneously, targeting a specific group of muscles while performing exercises. The connection allows you to exercise not only your body, but also your mind as you learn new movements and master old ones. This is important for firing the brain and creating new learning pathways, as well. The mind-body connection is a mindset that is all about alignment, focus and control. It helps strengthen, stretch and deepen the relationship you have with your own body. And it really is the optimal sensation when you know how to train your body from the inside, out. Knowing the ideal feeling of proper form and posture in the Pilates method can take a lifetime to achieve, but oh… is the journey so rewarding and we are all on it together. It’s just as much a mind game as it is a physical workout, which keeps things interesting. With dedication, you start to see results, self-confidence blossoms, and the love of movement continues to grow. At some point, what was once a commitment turns into a lifestyle—one that brings you closer to physical and mental health and overall wellness.
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 This summer, we’re launching a brand new (and totally free!) personalized coaching experience at Studio Be. We take your fitness seriously and want nothing more than to see you achieve your goals and enjoy every step of your Pilates journey.
To get to know your needs and personalize your experience, we put together a survey that will help us better understand your fitness goals, any injuries you may be working to heal, and really anything we can do to help you get the most out of your classes. This survey is for those who have been working out with us for years and those who have recently joined our community. It only takes about five minutes to fill out. You will come across questions about:
We will be inputting your answers into your Mindbody client profile so our instructors can get to know your body and mind in order to better customize your workouts. We are so excited to get to know you better and get you closer to your goals. Your instructors are always thinking about ways to improve your class experience. Now, with your input, we can’t wait to see what we can do together. At the end of the day, we want to make sure you get the most out of your time and investment with us. We strongly believe that group classes function like a team—everyone is in it together, no matter how much or little Pilates experience you have. Let’s keep working together to achieve our fitness and overall health and wellness goals! Click here to take the survey.  Studio Be Policies
Late Cancellation + No-Show Policy: We ask that you are courteous to your Studio Be community by making cancellations early and avoiding no-shows, especially for classes that are full or waitlisted. Our studio-wide cancellation policy states that you must cancel a class at least 12 hours prior to the scheduled start-time. If you cancel within the 12-hour window, or no-show, you will lose the class. We offer one exception for emergencies. For unlimited members, canceling a class that is full or waitlisted within 12 hours of the class start-time, or not showing up, will result in a $20 fee. Waitlist Policy: You are responsible for taking yourself off a class waitlist if you know you aren’t going to make it. If you are added to a class from the waitlist and don’t show up, you will lose the class. Additionally, our waitlist communication depends on you being opted-in to our email or text marketing communication through Mindbody (we suggest opting into both email and text for the fastest and most reliable communication). If you are not opted-in, you may not receive a message about whether you make it into a class. Learn how to change your opt-in settings here. Pilates Grip Socks Policy: Pilates grip socks are required in the studio for a couple reasons: 1. They’re safe: The grippy bottoms give extra stability as you practice Pilates on different surfaces. Once you try the Reformer with grip socks, you won’t want to go back. 2. They’re hygienic: Socks create an extra barrier between your feet and the equipment. Enough said. We have Pilates grip socks available for purchase in the studio. There are many styles, colors and sizes to choose from. Friendly Studio Reminders Housekeeping: We can’t stress enough the importance of cleaning and putting away all the equipment at the end of class—for reasons like safety, hygiene and respect. Please wipe down any equipment you have touched thoroughly with the spray bottles and grey towels provided. PLEASE SPRAY THE TOWEL DIRECTLY, NOT THE EQUIPMENT. TOO MUCH SOLUTION DIRECTLY ON THE EQUIPMENT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE. During the cleaning process, please put the Reformer back with everything exactly how you found it (or better) so it’s ready for the next class. This includes returning balls to the basket and leaving the correct number of springs attached. Please ask your instructor for assistance if you aren’t sure where to place things. What (Not) To Wear: Please avoid wearing clothing with zippers and remove any sharp jewelry that could scratch or tear equipment. Water Bottles & Towels: Please keep water bottles off the workout floor in the Reformer and Tower rooms. Instead, leave them in the waiting area or leave them in the car and opt to use the provided filtered water station instead. Water bottles are necessary for Barre class in the Ocean room. We provide workout towels for your convenience, but please feel free to bring your own if preferred.  The first official day of Spring is coming up on Monday, March 20, 2023, also known as the Spring Equinox for us here in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Spring Equinox marks the point in time when the sun is directly over the Earth’s equator as it moves northward. It’s the day when the sun and the moon have an even amount of light and darkness—meaning, both day and night are roughly the same in length. Why should we take note of this astronomical date? We only have two equinoxes per year, Spring and Autumn, and living life in accordance with our planet and the seasons allows us to live in harmony with nature. Spring is a wonderful time to shed the layers of winter and reset our bodies with seasonal fruits and vegetables, light to moderate detoxes, and plenty of fresh water and exercise. The ancient Indian medical system known as Ayurveda is based on a natural and holistic approach to preventive medicine. It cleanses with the four seasons to reset and align with mother nature for better health and balance. I try to follow this rhythm naturally; I create my own custom program and have been cleansing and detoxing over the years. It’s important to figure out what works for you as an individual, as we are all very different. My advice is to do your research and talk to your doctor, naturopath or acupuncturist. So many natural medicine doctors have their favorite “safe” programs you can try. If you’re looking for a place to start, my recommendation is to try cutting out the top food groups that, when omitted, can naturally cleanse and reset your body.
Try to eliminate one of the above items per week, or two or three or ALL if you're feeling “all-in.” If there’s something you can’t give up, try cutting back instead. For example, I rarely give up caffeine. I just cut back to one cup and give up the sweeteners. Life is about balance, after all. As you omit foods, also think about what foods to add in. Load up on whole foods (meaning non-processed foods) and add in as many colors of the rainbow as you can as you eat with the Spring season… Some Springtime foods include strawberries, asparagus, carrots, avocados, artichokes, cherries, tomatoes, broccoli, blueberries, cabbage, cucumbers, grapefruit… and the lists goes on, especially for us Southern Californians. Visit your local farmers market for an array of locally grown produce! A Spring cleanse is great for you and your whole family, or whomever you share your meals with. Cutting back on sugar and animal meat can be very beneficial and replacing them with extra fresh fruits and vegetables can boost your radiance and create a highly vibrational body. Remember: You get to customize your program to fit your lifestyle. Happy Spring and happy cleansing!  It's normal to get first-time jitters at a new studio, especially if you're new to Pilates.
You might be thinking... What do I wear? What should I bring? Where do I park? We want you to feel confident and excited about your first visit with us, so we put together a list of how to prepare and what to expect for your first class at Studio Be. What To Wear Think close-fitting, comfortable exercise clothes of lightweight cotton or breathable fabric. You’ll spend a lot of the session on your back, so wear a loose, comfortable ponytail or bun in your hair. We suggest you practice Pilates in grip socks, which can be purchased in the studio. If you choose to go barefoot, we ask that you use the provided baby wipes to wipe your feet. Please remove large or dangling jewelry and avoid clothing with zippers for safety and comfort. What To Bring We provide water and towels. Please leave your water bottle with your personal items in the lobby area in the cubbies provided. (Water bottles are necessary for Barre class in the Ocean room only.) The less you bring, the better! When Your Arrive Please arrive at least five minutes early. You can park in the parking lot, and street parking is available when lot is full. When you arrive, make sure to sign in on the iPad and put your personal items in the cubbies. Choose any reformer and let your instructor know if you have any injuries so they can help you make modifications if necessary. Your instructor is there to help guide you through your first class and answer any questions you may have, so please don't hesitate to ask any questions. Most importantly, relax and have fun. We're looking forward to having your radiant energy in the studio! Questions? Reach Out! If you have any questions prior to class, please contact us. Visit our FAQ page for more information. Get familiar with our studio policies, such as late cancellation/no-show and waitlist policies.  Pilates and weight training may seem like they are two different worlds of fitness, but Joseph Pilates, the creator of Pilates himself, lifted weights.
In fact, there are archival photographs of him using dumbbells on the Wunda Chair. There are major benefits to both Pilates and weight training. When combined, you get a total body workout that promotes proper posture, balance and strength for improved health and quality of life. Benefits Of Pilates & Weight Training Pilates Pilates is a unique, systematic and integrative approach to body conditioning made up of over 600 exercises and variations. The Pilates method utilizes body weight and resistant springs to strengthen, stretch and realign ones’ body. It’s a compressive program that progresses a person from simple fundamental movements to very advanced skills on multiple Pilates apparatuses. The Pilates practice is widely considered therapeutic as it brings you back to balance, proper posture and grounds you in your center. It’s often recommended by doctors for overall health and rehabilitative purposes as well as injury prevention. Pilates itself is a full-body workout—it improves fitness, endurance and increases longevity. Studio Be is a one-stop-shop for the average person looking to save time and improve their overall wellbeing. We love to mix it up and use various types of resistance to tone and sculpt the body, so we use a lot of props in our classical Pilates classes, including weights like dumbbells and ankle or wrist weights. Weight Training Weight training, on the other hand, uses free weights or weight machines to build muscle mass, strength and endurance. It can help reduce body fat, increase lean muscle mass and burn calories more efficiently than other workouts, such as cardio-based workouts. Weight training is great for the development of stronger bones since it increases bone density and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. It’s also helpful for weight loss or management since it increases your metabolism and burns calories efficiently. At the end of the day, weight training can help you become stronger, which allows you to perform daily tasks much easier—whether it be carrying bags of groceries or running around with your children or grandchildren. All of this to say we still need some weight training in our fitness repertoire. Combining Pilates & Weights I believe using weights in Pilates can be easier on the body than tradition weightlifting, which often occurs standing vertically holding the weight. In this case, you must adapt to the external weight by positioning your body to align and adjust the weight into your center. In other words: it’s easy to fall into poor form. Pilates itself is rooted in proper posture and balance, so as you lift the weights, you are already focused on excellent form and thinking about your overall body alignment. Not to mention, when you incorporate weights into Pilates, you get it all in one place—you don’t have to go to gym or lift weights at home to get your weight training in. Joseph Pilates intended Pilates to be a one-stop-shop. If performed correctly, you shouldn’t need any additional fitness activities. This is especially true when we add weights to our classical Pilates classes. TRY OUR NEW PILATES & WEIGHTS CLASS ON WEDNESDAYS AT 8 AM—SIGN UP IN MINDBODY TODAY!  Pilates is more than just a workout... it's a lifestyle (in and out of the studio) that raises your vibration and contributes to a happy and healthy life. It makes you feel good from the inside out!
In this series, we’re sitting down with our very own instructors and students. We're asking them why they choose to live the Pilates lifestyle, what their overall fitness routine looks like and what motivates them to stay healthy and fit. About Kylee Q: Tell us a little about yourself. A: I'm 19 years old and currently live in Ventura County. I’m signed to a modeling agency in LA where I do lifestyle, beauty and print work. I’m also a health optimizing freak and very passionate about learning about the human body and what it takes to optimize at a full level. Health is my top priority, so my mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being always come first. One of my other passions is curating beautiful charcuterie boards—I have a small business selling these boards locally in Ventura County. In my free time, I enjoy brain soothing activities, like long walks on the beach, journaling at different cafes, doing yoga classes and reading. When I'm not occupied with work, I make sure I fill that time with lots and lots of traveling! Fitness Routine Q: What does your personal daily or weekly fitness routine look like? A: My daily fitness routine is pretty simple. I make sure I get at least 10,000-12,000 steps a day. I like to start off most of my days with yoga and some simple breathwork/meditation. I do Pilates about 2 to 3 times a week on top of my walking and yoga. Why Pilates? Q: How long have you been doing Pilates & why do you choose Pilates as a part of your fitness repertoire? A: I have been doing Pilates for just over a month. I chose to add Pilates to my fitness repertoire because of all the great things I have heard about it. I'm a very active person and wanted to find a routine I actually enjoyed; Pilates has helped me reach that. What Motivates You? Q: What motivates you the most to stay healthy & fit? A: The quality of my day-to-day life motivates me to stay healthy and fit. I don't believe in waiting until you are weak or sick to take action in your health. I believe in living in the moment and living life to the highest quality possible.  “Concentrate on the correct movement each time you exercise, lest you do them improperly and thus lose all vital benefits." – Joseph Pilates
When you’ve been doing Pilates for a long time, it’s easy to get caught up in rushing the exercises and just "going through the motions." We often call this “muscling it,” as opposed to moving with control and precision. In Pilates, we play with tempo to increase aerobic capacity and develop endurance, and as a challenge to see if we can maintain posture, stability and alignment. It’s part of advancing your Pilates practice. That said, it’s important to slow things down every once in a while—and get back to the basics—to ensure proper and efficient movement, and to remember our foundation. The Importance Of A Strong Foundation In Pilates Like in any pure art form, a solid foundation is of utmost importance to the Pilates practice. If there are any holes or gaps of strength, connection or understanding in one's body, the preceding exercises will be ineffective and counterproductive. It takes using and controlling one's entire body—we call this full-body integration—to properly perform the exercises in the Pilates method. Three reasons why a strong foundation is so crucial:
Getting “Back To The Basics” (As A Seasoned Veteran) Like I mentioned above, once you have a strong Pilates foundation, you never forget it, like riding a bike. But that doesn’t mean we don’t get lazy every now and again as we speed things up and start performing more powerful movements. This is why I encourage you to slow down and remember your foundation. Rather, let your body remember your foundation. One can continue to practice the foundation and basic level of Pilates without getting bored or being too redundant. Pilates has so many valuable principles that allow us to shift our focus on precision, imagination, concentration, breath, intuition, fluidity, centering, control, integration. Be "OK" with doing repetitive footwork, hundreds and other exercises that strengthen your foundation. Be "OK" with slowing things down occasionally and bringing it back to the basics.  Pilates is more than just a workout... it's a lifestyle (in and out of the studio) that raises your vibration and contributes to a happy and healthy life. It makes you feel good from the inside out!
In this series, we’re sitting down with our very own instructors and students. We're asking them why they choose to live the Pilates lifestyle, what their overall fitness routine looks like and what motivates them to stay healthy and fit. This week, we interviewed classical Pilates instructor Roger to celebrate his one-year anniversary at Studio Be! About Roger Before he found Pilates more than 25 years ago, Roger danced professionally and toured all over North America, Mexico and Europe. In 1985, he got his BFA in Dance from The University of Texas at Austin. In addition to dance, he has always been a swimmer—an athlete at his core. Roger came to Studio Be with immense knowledge about the Pilates method. He has ample training and experience and is authentic to the work. Those who have taken his classes know how much there is to learn from Roger. Read on to learn how Roger found Pilates, what inspires him, and what advice he would give to anyone looking to improve their practice. Finding Pilates Q: How did you find Pilates & how long have you been teaching? A: I first came across Pilates while dancing in New York City. I remember thinking to myself, ‘but I don't need any more crunches!' and left it there. Five years later, as an unemployed dancer, I had the opportunity to work at Winsor Pilates in Los Angeles. Soon after I started working there, Romana Kryzanowzka (a Pilates instructor who trained under Joseph Pilates himself) began flying in from New York City to train us over long weekend periods, every 3 to 4 months or so. It took me witnessing a 'teaching moment' by Romana to say I truly found Pilates. After several of those weekends, I was still not appreciative of any “magic” of Pilates in my personal practice. And my attitude was full of conceit—I was skeptical that Romana, in her 70s at the time, had much to teach young dancers about keeping in shape. This particular day we were learning the short box series on the high barrel, and she was unimpressed with several of our attempts to model her teaching (she had us demonstrating the exercises she was teaching). She shushed us all away from the barrel and announced she will show us herself what she is trying to teach us. And she did. She performed the full series through with ease, grace, lightness, joy. She was beaming and proud, a kid in her playground. All I could think was, ‘Better pay attention! I want to move like that at her age!’ My jaw was on the floor. I had found Pilates. Inspiration Q: Who inspires you most when it comes to Pilates or life in general? A: In the over 25 years I’ve been involved in Pilates, there are many people I admire. There are those who teach and those who help others teach. So many of the clients I get to work with, who work so hard, also inspire me. And so many of my colleagues who change lives in front of my eyes every day. Pilates takes dedication, discipline, humility, curiosity, practice. I admire those humans who take it on. Words Of Advice Q: Now that you’ve been working with students at Studio Be for a year, if you could give them 3 pro-tips on how to approach, deepen and develop their practice, what would they be? A:
 Sharing my favorite books having to do with Pilates, health & wellness, nutrition, and personal development.
My top three reads for September: 1. "LIGHT ON LIFE" BY B.K.S. IYENGAR Authored by the hailed "Michelangelo of Yoga,” this book teaches how yoga can transform our lives and help us live in harmony with the world around us. Click here to buy. 2. "THE EARTH DIET" BY LIANA WERNER-GRAY Over 100 nutrient-dense, gluten-free recipes, tips for shifting out of toxic habits and lifestyle recipes for household, and personal-care products to help you heal in all areas of your life. Click here to buy. 3. "THE HORMONE RESET DIET" BY SARA GOTTFRIED, M.D. A good read for anyone over the age of 30 and based on leading scientific research, this book teaches you how to heal your metabolism and lose up to 15 pounds in 21 days—and just feel great! Click here to buy. What books are you loving right now? Let us know in the comments below! |
About The AuthorFitness has always been a guiding force for Kathy Lopez, owner of Studio Be. Her inherent drive for health has naturally translated into helping others achieve strength, balance and wellness. Kathy has been voted Ventura's best Pilates instructor nine years in a row. Learn more... Categories
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