Pilates Strength & Stamina

Hadn't planned to hit a fitness studio today but was visiting a friend Bayswater and happened to drive past the WA Pilates Studio. Parked the car to take a better look and realised they had a Strength & Stamina pilates class starting at 5:45pm. Was an opportunity too good to pass up!

Really pleased to have the chance to check out studios on the 'far side' of town. Living up in Sorrento has meant I often visit studios in the northern suburbs. But obviously this is a blog about Perth and I'm keen to get out and hit classes across the city. And want to keep my readers happy! If you know any cool classes, anywhere in Perth, that you think I should visit let me know and I'll join you for a workout :)

Phil led this 45 minute session at a steady and consistent pace. It was really great to attend a pilates class led by a male instructor. There was a lot of initial focus on stretching and moving your body through the postures which gradually built up into stronger and longer exercises. The title of this class 'Strength and Stamina' was spot on and definitely a great way to end a Monday!

• DETAILS: Monday evening, 5:45-6:30pm. The WA Pilates Studio, 1070 Beaufort Street, Bedford.
• COST: $15.00 per casual class
• TEACHER: Phil
• BEST BITS: This studio doesn't look like much from the outside but indoors it is lovely, fresh and clean with nice mats, large mirrors and decent equipment.
• THE WA PILATES STUDIO: www.pilateswa.com.au

Ginny's Finding Fitness Rating: ★ ★ ★ 

Pilates for a Healthy Life

Revisited Healthy Life Fitness Centre to use their great facilities and massive upstairs group fitness room. This time decided to check out a pilates class. The teacher, Lisa, was very patient and dedicated effort to explaining and demonstrating each exercise and showing us what not to do. Sounds simple but very important to know because it's often easy to take a shortcut option which will not only minimize the benefit of the exercise but sometimes add additional strain or stress to weak points in the body like your neck and lower back.

Noticed a few familiar faces from the Yoga class I took at this gym a few weeks back. Great to see a few regulars who clearly love this gym and come back time and time again. Based on my experiences I'm happy to say that I'll be back again soon too!

Check below for more info...

• DETAILS: Thursday morning, 8:15am-9:15pm. Healthy Life Fitness Centre.
• COST: $17.00 per casual class
• TEACHER: Lisa
• BRING: You need to bring along your own mat, a towel to support your head, neck or knees and a water bottle.
• BEST BITS: Liked that Lisa spent time explaining the postures for the benefit of everyone in the class.
• HEALTHY LIFE FITNESS CENTRE TIMETABLE: www.healthylifefitness.com.au

Ginny's Finding Fitness Rating: ★ ★ ★

LIVe in store session

Remember how I've told you it's hard to keep up with myself sometimes? Haha I suppose that's what happens when a person goes a million miles an hour. But as a close friend recently told me "Ginny going at any other speed just wouldn't be the real Ginny!" ;)

Fortunately I was able to attend a few exercise classes at my work this week. That's the beauty of working at a store that transforms into a fitness studio after hours. I attended a pilates class with Pippa Hutchinson, Director of LIVe Pilates. Pippa is an incredible teacher, highly motivated and has an awesome sense of humour. If you have a million dollar check she'll make sure you never let it go! Her classes are physically challenging but massively rewarding. You'll walk away sore the next day if you're not careful so be sure to stretch.

Read below for more info on this particular class and to learn more above LIVe Pilates check out my post from 26th September.

• DETAILS: Currently Wednesday evening, 6:00-7:00pm. Inside the lululemon athletica Perth City store. Shop H127, enex100. (*Please note: class schedule changes weekly. For details about future in-store class timetables check out the website link below.)
• COST: Complimentary! lululemon athletica Perth city offers a range of complimentary in-store classes each week. We love offering a venue where we can witness first-hand the Perth city community getting active and living long, healthy and fun lives.
• TODAY'S TEACHER: Pippa
• BRING: No sneakers or mat are required for Pilates since lululemon athletica provides mats. Makes it super easy for you to come along straight after work.
• BEST BITS: Pilates is a fantastic way to tone and activate deep core muscles. It builds strength and flexibility, what more could you ask for?!
• LULULEMON ATHLETICA PERTH CITY WEBSITE: www.lululemon.com/perth/perthcity

Ginny's Finding Fitness Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The World's Largest Pilates Class!

So great to see the Perth community getting
 active outdoors for a good cause.

On Sunday 23rd October at 9:00am I attended an awesome outdoor event: The World's Largest Pilates Class presented by LIVe Pilates at Langley Park.

The event was an amazing day with the intention of breaking the world record for the World's Largest Pilates class. Although the record wasn't broken the turnout was phenomenal and the weather held up its end of the bargain and stayed sunny. Such a great day!

Say hello to the lululemon athletica
colour coordinated team!

Funds raised from tickets sold at $35 were donated to the Sarah Gapp Cause. Sarah is a Brisbane Law Student who suffered a severe stroke weeks after her 21st birthday and had to have 60% of her cerebellum removed. Since her stroke she has been left with a condition where her mind is perfectly aware but unable to communicate with her body. She has already defied the odds and regained some speech and movement and funds will help her get the medical care she needs to hopefully learn to swallow and walk.

All participants received a gift bag and, obviously, the enjoyment of participating in an outdoor workout while supporting a worthy cause.

Our staff from lululemon athletica perth city teamed up with representatives from our Karrinyup and Cottesloe stores wearing surge colour coordinated clothes while participating in the event. We were so happy to get outside, get active and make a difference in our community.

Congratulations to Pippa and Owen Hutchinson from LIVe Pilates for putting together such a successful event. Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed the workout!

Pilates treasure trove at The Cove

Found myself with a bit of time to kill downtown this evening after work and before an event I was scheduled to attend in the Perth CBD. What better to fill the hours productively and boost my energy levels than a quick workout?!

I didn't want to get all hot and sweaty but did want to move, stretch, tone and strengthen.  Headed over to The Cove Fitness Club and joined in a 45 minute pilates class lead by Christiane in the upstairs workout room. For my needs today this was the perfect solution!

The pilates class was slow and rhythmic compared to other classes I have take. In fact it almost felt like hypnolates with the music, drawn out movements and repetition. Christiane led the small class through the movements with good guidance and many explanations on how to hold postures correctly. She focused on very small movements to activate deep core muscles, and led a seemingly gentle but effective class.

Read my post from September 26th to learn more about pilates in general, and check below for more info on this specific class at The Cove Fitness Club.

• DETAILS: Tuesday afternoon, 5:15-6:00pm. The Cove Fitness Club. Perth CBD, 6000.
• COST: $15.00 per casual class
• TEACHER: Christiane
• BRING: Nothing required but a smile!
• BEST BITS: Found this class relaxing and would recommend it as a way to activate your core and muscle movement after a long day of sitting behind your desk at an office.
• THE COVE FITNESS CLUB TIMETABLE: www.covehealthfirst.com

Ginny's Finding Fitness Rating: ★ ★ 

Livin' it up at LIVe Pilates

Great start to my week with a Monday morning matwork pilates class at LIVe Pilates.

The class incorporated a lot of balancing on rollers, stretching with elastics, roll ups and (of course) mat work. Our teacher Nicole was very positive and encouraging, since there were only five ladies in our class today she was able to give each of us feedback and individual attention. Also because the class was small we were able to face our mats towards the teacher and mirror wall. I really liked that Nicole joined in many of the exercises with us, it was great to have a demonstration of how the movements should be done correctly.

The entrance to Liv Pilates Hillaries

I find pilates incredible for my posture and core strength. My love of pilates can be accredited to my awesome teacher Anna Harris at Moksha Yoga Uptown in Toronto, Canada. For my Toronto buddies be SURE to check out one of Anna's pilates classes or booty camps ASAP! www.annaharris.ca Love your work Anna, continue to build that empire lady!

PILATES is a physical fitness system and body conditioning routine that builds flexibility, strength, coordination and endurance in the abdominals, arms, legs and back. Joseph Pilates developed a system of mat exercises in first half of the 20th century with the intention of developing controlled movement from a strong core. Today, in addition to mat work, pilates can also use a range of apparatuses for progressive resistance training.

Check below for more info...

• DETAILS: Monday morning, 9:30-10:30am. Liv Pilates Hillaries. Ste C4, 32 Endeavour Road, Hillaries 6025.
• COST: $22.00 per class on a casual basis (cheaper if purchased as set of 10 classes or more, see website below for more details)
• TEACHER: Nicole
• BRING: Nothing required as Liv Pilates supplies mats and all props such as rollers, elastics and fitballs. I recommend wearing tight-fitting crops (lululemon athletica wunder under crops or astro crops are ideal) in preference to long pants as there was a number of balancing on roller exercises. You don't want to have to continuously hitch up your trouser legs or risk getting your feet caught up and tripping on them.
• BEST BITS: I liked that we faced the teacher and mirror so we didn't have to strain our necks to check our postures were correct. Was fun to practice stability on the roller, was my first time ever using a roller and was surprised and delighted at the focus required to stay upright. Something new to conquer!
• LIVe PILATES WEBSITE: www.livepilates.com.au

Ginny's Finding Fitness Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (I've always loved pilates!)