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2. PILATES
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At the end of the 19th century, Joseph Pilates was born with a variety of ailments, suffering from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. As he grew up, he became determined to improve his physique.
He did it using a combination of bodybuilding, gymnastics and yoga. Pilates believed his remarkable health and physical transformation was due to proper breathing and posture. Those elements became essential tenets of his “Pilates Method,” which focuses on slow, controlled movements designed to build flexibility and core strength.
Pilates workouts range from simple (mat exercises with no equipment) to highly sophisticated (Pilates equipment names include the Reformer, Trapeze Table, Ladder Barrel and Guillotine Tower). The low-impact exercises concentrate on specific small areas of the body while stretching and lengthening the body for long, lean muscles. Exercises are quite adaptable, depending on skill level and desired results, which could include toning up your abs, increasing your flexibility for dancing or just becoming a more well-rounded athlete.
Where to Find It: Studio Soma (630 La Cienega Blvd., at Croft) provides a variety of Pilates classes. The first class is always free, so you can test out a mat exercise class or the calorie-burning cardio Somasculpt class that studio founder Thalia Caruana-Thomas and her staff designed. The classes run 50 to 55 minutes and are available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Prenatal Pilates and classes with the “Reformer” equipment machine are also available. For $150 a month, you can sign up for unlimited mat, cardio dance and Somasculpt classes or you can sign up for individual classes, which are as little as $15. Students and professional dancers receive 20 percent off certain packages.
If you are looking for a higher intensity, full-body Pilates workout check out Pilates Plus West Hollywood on Melrose Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard. Owner Sebastian Lagree has developed the “Megaformer” Pilates machine as part of his Lagree Fitness program. It “combines strength, endurance, cardio, flexibility, core and balance training … in each and every move.” Classes at Pilates Plus are $29 per session, but can be purchased for as little as $10 if you buy a 30-class, 30-day pass. Classes are available from 6 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Other places that offer Pilates classes include Harmony Studio (8440 Santa Monica Blvd. at Croft), Melrose Pilates (7901 Melrose Ave. at Fairfax), Fitness and Fuel (9089 Santa Monica Blvd. at Doheny), Pilates by Terri (630 N La Cienega Blvd., just north of Melrose Ave.), Movement Studio (7409 Beverly Blvd. at Martel), Train (624 N La Cienega Blvd., just north of Melrose Ave.), Equinox (8590 Sunset Blvd. at Londonderry), Fit Club LA (8182 Sunset Blvd.), Elevation Fitness (8920 Sunset Blvd. at Selma)and Fitness Factory (652 N La Peer Dr. at Santa Monica).
What You’ll Work: Core (abdomen, hips and lower back muscles) strength is the foundation block of Pilates. Almost every exercise focuses on the pelvic and spinal regions. By strengthening the abs and back muscles, essential in nearly every body movement, you will develop stability that helps with balance and posture. The exercise is said to help with back pain.
