About Me
Welcome to Smart Moves
A Little About Me
Personal trainer, Nutritional advisor, Pilates Instructor, mat and equipment, Thai Yoga practitioner discovered her love for fitness years ago when she got certified as a Personal Trainer and Nutritional Counselor. At that time, she realized that working different muscle groups did not reflect the real dynamic of the human body.
She studied Pilates at the Kane School of Core Integration in NYC and Thai Yoga bodywork with Jonas Wresting in 2000 – 2002. Combining both techniques, she reached an integrated knowledge of the Mind and Body connection. It is exciting and motivating to explore the human body’s movement efficiency and to see how gaining body awareness and observing people’s breathing patterns can make a huge difference in their quality of life.
A Little More....
After a serious accident that left her with several herniated discs in the neck, and chronic pain, in addition to being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, she turned to movement as the only option to work through the pain and keep her body functional.
The Pilates approach brought some relieve to stiffness and pain, plus the added benefit of the breathing techniques that helped with the stress and anxiety of a chronic condition. Through personal experience, Mary believes that Pilates is a great tool in the treatment of many condition.
It is her hope that the popularity of the method outgrows the fitness fad and is brought into the clinical practice as an aid in rehabilitation.
My Philosophy
After 20 + years in the fitness and health field my fascination with the human experience, the body and brain complex connections and how the whole of all this seemingly “separate parts” come together in a particular way that determines how each one of us present ourselves to the world and process an integrate everything in our environment
From the way we emote to the way we love the suit we live in, the way we care and maintain function in the best way we can, taking into consideration all our compensations and not so perfect habits.
My life has become a never ending learning process, that only gets more complex as I understand more everyday.
FAQ
If you have other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Pilates is pronounced “puh-lat-eze”. It is a system of exercise created by Joseph H. Pilates in the early part of the 1920’s. In 1923, German-born Joseph H. Pilates brought his unique method of physical and mental conditioning to the United States. His study of yoga and martial arts led to the development of Pilates.
- longer, leaner muscles (less bulk, more freedom of movement)
- improves postural problems
- ncreases core strength/stability and peripheral mobility
- helps prevent injury
- enhances functional fitness, ease of movement
- balances strength & flexibility
- heightens body awareness
- no-impact – easy on the joints
- can be customized for everyone from rehab patients to elite athletes
- complements other methods of exercise
- mproves performance in sports (golf, skiing, skating, dance, etc.)
- improves balance, coordination & circulation
In some respects pilates conditioning is like yoga. Both are considered mind-body type methods of movement; both emphasize deep breathing and smooth, long movements that encourage your muscles to relax and lengthen. The difference is that while yoga requires moving from one static posture to the next without repetitions, pilates flows through a series of movements that are more dynamic, systematic and anatomically based. The goal with pilates exercises is to achieve optimal functional fitness.
- pilates is three-dimensional (i.e. exercises can be performed using all movement planes)
- emphasis on concentric/eccentric contraction for injury prevention
- pilates can be customized for special needs
- emphasis is placed on rebalancing muscles around the joints
- pilates corrects over-training and muscle imbalance that leads to injury
- pilates emphasizes balancing strength with flexibility
- pilates leads to an improvement in posture and body awareness.
You can expect an increase in flexibility, mobility, balance, and body awareness, as well as a decrease in back pain and other general pains. Also, certain types of pilates are very effective for weight loss and weight maintenance.
The average active person, doing 2-3 classes per week should see some results within 10-12 classes. This will vary depending on each individual and things such as the number of classes a person takes each week, whether they participate in other physical activities, and whether they have any existing injuries.
Although you should always consult your physician before starting any fitness routine, a pilates workout is gentle and controlled with no sudden jarring actions. It is important to learn the variation of the exercise that will be of the most benefit to you.
The available information on pregnancy and exercise can be very confusing – even conflicting. No two women’s bodies are the same, and this is especially true during pregnancy. There are workouts that are quite appropriate for some people during pregnancy and not for others. During a normal, healthy pregnancy, moderate exercise is safe for the fetus. Exercise is also said to prevent varicose veins, hemorrhoids and low back pain – not to mention boosting self esteem. The guidelines stated by the American Council on Exercise are not as hard-and-fast as they used to be. However, research suggests that no new exercise routine should be started during your first trimester. As well, you should be careful of over-exerting the abdominal muscles.