Center For Movement featured in AM New York Newspaper

Yesterday was an exciting day! My business partner, Elle, was featured in AM New York's Health Section. The segment focused on Pilates exercises that are sure to get your legs in great shape for the summer. Amongst them were the scissors exercise, and bent knees leg lift. Though the names aren't traditional Pilates jargon, the exercises are authentic and sure to tone and shape your legs. If you weren't able to pick up the paper and don't have a tangible source for referring to these exercises, we encourage you to look online at AM New York's website. Click Here to view the article!

The photoshoot for this segment was a blast. Kristen ( another instructor at CFM) and I also took part in it. My segment was called Straight To The Core, where I demonstrated five exercises which I've passed on in earlier postings. Kristen's segment focused on how to tone your upper body. State tuned for those exercise tips next week.

CFM in the news,
Donna

Memorial Day Weekend Workout

In an honor of the Memorial holiday weekend, Center For Movement will be closed on Sunday May 25th, and Monday May 26th at all three of its locations. So, as we've said in the past, the beauty of Pilates is that once you build on a foundation, you don't necessarily need a studio to reap the benefits of the Pilates method.We suggest doing a few floor exercises on your own.

Start the routine and warm your body up with The Hundred:
1) Lie on your back with your arms stretched alongside your body, palms down. Bring the knees into a tabletop position. Lift your head, neck, and shoulders off the floor while reaching the arms hip height. Begin pumping the arms up and down as you extend the legs to a 45* degree angle and squeeze your legs together. Inhale for 5 counts and exhale for 5, pulling your abdominals in. Repeat 10 times

And then move on to the Roll-Up:
2) Lay flat on your back with your legs straight, heels together, toes slightly apart, inner thighs and buttox engaged. Pull your abdominals in and up and inhale as you lift your arms up, chin to the chest, and begin to roll up. Exhale as you stretch forward over your legs. Keeping the abdominals engaged, inhale and slowly begin to roll down one vertebrae at a time. Maintain the arms at shoulder height. Exhale as you lift your arms to the ceiling and then back over your head, stretching and lengthening your arms. Repeat 5 times.

2) Teaser: Lie on your back with your knees bent into your chest, and the arms straight over your head in line with ears. Extend the legs out on a 45 degree angle. Using the powerhouse, slowly roll up. Hold the legs at the 45 degree angle and begin to slowly roll down. Repeat 5 times.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! We're commited to helping you take your Pilates sessions on the road this summer.

Stay tuned for more weekend workouts,
Donna

Our New Website

We are pleased to announce that our new and more user friendly website is currently up and running. Thanks to your feedback, we were able to make changes that allow viewers to make their searches more specific and faster. Prices and class schedules are more readily available, and we have made it easier to navigate the website as well. Please feel free to comment on our new design and layout, as we are always open to suggestions.
Ifyou haven't yet, be sure to vote for us on " Best of " at http://www.citysearch.com/

Happy Viewing!
-Donna

Straight To the Core : A few exercises we recommend that will tone and strengthen your powerhouse

The photoshoot went really well and amongst some of the exercises that we shot for in the magazine are ones that I want to share. The beauty of Pilates is that it can be done anywhere.

1) The Pilates March: Lie flat on your back with arms reaching long by your side, palms down. Bring the knees into a tabletop position. Sink your navel into your spine and think of knitting your ribs together. Without arching your back, slowly tap one foot to the floor and keep your abdominals engaged. Alternate legs in a continuous marching motion. Repeat 20 times – 10 times for each leg.

2) The Hundred: Lie on your back with your arms stretched alongside your body, palms down. Bring the knees into a tabletop position. Lift your head, neck, and shoulders off the floor while reaching the arms hip height. Begin pumping the arms up and down as you extend the legs to a 45* degree angle and squeeze your legs together. Inhale for 5 counts and exhale for 5, pulling your abdominals in. Repeat 10 times

3) Double Leg Stretch: Lie flat with knees together and bent into the chest. Place your hands on your ankles and lift the head and shoulders up. Inhale and, letting your ankles go, reach the arms overhead as you extend the legs out long and forward (45 degree angle). Keep your abdominals pressing towards the spine. Exhale and bring both the arms and legs back into the starting position. Repeat 5 times

4) Double Leg Lift: Lie flat on your back, extend both legs straight towards the ceiling. Place your hands behind your head (or under your tailbone for extra support) and then curl your head, neck and shoulders off the floor. Maintaining a flat back, inhale as you lower the legs toward the floor and exhale as the legs reach back up. Repeat 5 times.

5) Crisscross: Lie flat on your back and place your hands behind your head. Bring the knees into tabletop position and then curl your head, neck and shoulders off the floor. Keeping the chest open, twist the torso and bring the left shoulder towards the right knee while extending the opposite leg out on a diagonal. Hold this position, then twist to the other side, working the abdominals diagonally. Repeat 5 times.

I hope you find these helpful when you don't have the time to make it to a class.

Wishing you good health, always,
Donna Singer

In The News

We are so excited to share a recent write up that we received in Metrosource New York Magazine. They wrote a very complimentary article raving about our unique Tower Mat classes and beautiful space. If anyone is interested in seeing the full article, please ask for it at the front desk.

On the PR front, a photographer from AM New York Newspaper is coming in tommorow, Tuesday, May 6th, to photograph myself, Elle, and Kristen for their special segment on trainers. We will keep you posted when that article is released.

Don't forget to take advantage of our special offers going on through Memorial Day. It's a great time of the year to spring into shape and kickstart your summer. As always, we want to be your source for motivation and fitness!

Best in health,

Donna