What is Pilates?
Alignment
“Through Pilates this unique trinity of a balanced body, mind, and spirit can ever be attained. Self-confidence follows.”
The benefits of Pilates are infinite. Beyond the visible physical benefits, the whole body working in tandem with mind and spirit can improve more than just strength and mobility, but ones overall sense of wellbeing. Striving for alignment goes beyond your physical self.
Portland, Oregon, United States
Balance
“Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.”
Striving for equilibrium in both movement and life, I encourage people to embrace Pilates as a cornerstone of your fitness regimen. Emotional well-being and happiness are inextricably tied to physical health.
Control
“Not only is health a normal condition, but it is our duty to not only to attain it but to maintain it.”
Joseph Pilates believed that we start life in good physical and emotional shape and that modern life gradually erodes our health. It is vital that we focus on controlling our movements and breath to halt that decline
Precision
“Concentrate on the correct movement each time you exercise, lest you do them improperly and thus lose all vital benefits.”
I view Pilates as a form of pre-habilitation, emphasizing the importance of precision in our movements. By meticulously articulating every muscle, bone, and joint with deliberate care, we ensure their optimal function, thereby embodying the essence of precision in maintaining our body's health and performance.
Flow
“Contrology is not a system of haphazard exercises designed to produce only bulging muscles.”
The Pilates method is about health, not bodybuilding. It was created to "limber and stretch muscles and ligaments so that your body will be as supple as that of a cat, not muscular like a brewery-truck horse". Finding flow in your movements requires more finesse than "muscling through" exercises.
Coordination
“Pilates is complete coordination of body, mind and spirit.”
Pilates is not just about great posture and a strong "powerhouse". By incorporation coordination, which requires immense concentration, we start to re-wire muscle memory.
Jan Crary
"Deanna is a fantastic Pilates instructor! With her expert knowledge of the Pilates method, she provides super clear instruction and she radiates warmth.
I’ve been a Pilates student for over 20 years and I find Deanna to be one of the best teachers I’ve ever had the privilege to learn from!"
Margaret Edmonson
"Deanna is a fantastic Pilates teacher- clear, caring, exacting and great at accommodating all my various injuries. She’s always cheerful and upbeat as she takes me through a workout that is thorough and demanding. My strength, flexibility and awareness of body mechanics have all grown exponentially through my work with Deanna."
Toby Tannenbaum
“In the sessions I’ve had with Deanna, she is consistently focused, provides clear instructions, and, even on Zoom, pays extraordinary attention to how I’m using my body to do the exercises. She encourages rather than criticizes. I highly recommend her as an instructor”