Move Well: Mindfulness
People of all ages and backgrounds can be affected by anxiety, stress and depression. In fact, the World Health Organization predicts that these issues will be … Read more
Heal Well: Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are often overlooked as minor injuries and are frequently left unreported when we first see a client at Pacific Northwest Pilates. Nevertheless an … Read more
Home Tip: Glute Progressions
Is it difficult for you to find your gluteals? Try this great progression: 1. Heel squeeze prone with a fitness circle helps to open the front … Read more
Home Tip: Four reasons for the Flex-Band®
Like salt in soup, the flexband is essential to any studio or home-based Pilates routine. It’s light, easy to pack on a trip, versatile and effective for … Read more
Raise the Barre
Instructors who know and love STOTT PILATES® will find Total Barre® to be a refreshing way to integrate functional, dynamic movement in every plane—at varied speeds and … Read more
Pilates for Life | Running
The month of March in Portland—whether sunny or soaked—heralds clouds of pink-blossomed trees, flowering bulbs and budding runners. Portlanders ready to meet their annual fitness resolutions have … Read more
Spot the Difference | Hip Rolls
Hip Rolls on the Pilates Reformer is a favorite for promoting fluid, articulated movement of the spine, opening up the front of the hips and targeting the … Read more
What Melanie Loves: Spinal Rotation
Love it BUT don’t leave it. Spinal rotation in all its forms is one of Melanie’s most useful movement tools to restoring client movement. In a side-lying … Read more
Spot the Difference | Spine Twist Sitting
Spine Twist Sitting is an essential STOTT PILATES exercise. It teaches a client how to rotate well through the thoracic and cervical spine. Spinal rotation is a … Read more
Spot the Difference | Standing Thigh Stretch
Standing Thigh Stretch is a modification frequently used for clients to reduce pressure on the knees. This starting position—with the front foot on the floor instead of … Read more
What’s Pulling You Down?
What’s pulling you down? In clients with head forward posture, Melanie identifies three key areas in the body that contribute to this downward pull and gives … Read more
Ski Conditioning on Reformer
Fresh powder means it’s time to hit the slopes. Melanie Byford-Young and studio guest star, Jacquelyn Dokke demonstrate a ski conditioning series on reformer that adds challenge … Read more