East Street Pilates

Pilates Spotlight for January 2011 is on ... Donn DuMouchelle

In November 2009, Donn suffered a massive stroke.  After physical and occupational therapy, Donn and his wife Linda looked to Pilates to take Donn's progress to the next level.  Here is what Linda has to say about their experience with training at East Street Pilates.....

"East Street Pilates has taken Donn's stroke recovery significantly beyond what traditional physical therapy did for him.  Cara and Staci have taken exceptional care in mapping out different sessions that have proven to be remarkable in Donn's stroke recovery.  He has greater use of his arm and leg.  With continued sessions, we are convinced he will return to full use."

Pilates Spotlight for December 2008 on...Jerrilynn K. Pearson

"For over 20 years, I devoted my 'free' time to sedentary activities - work and academic pursuits.  A chronic arthritic condition helped me justify putting off serious involvement in an exercise regimen.  I convinced myself I was either too busy or experiencing too much physical discomfort to exercise.  The jogging and yoga I pursued in the past was now painful.  Four years ago, I arranged a consultation with Cara to determine if Pilates might work for me.  I was feeling embarassed and anxious about my lack of coordination and physical strength.  Cara worked privately with me for a couple of months, and then I became confident enough to join a class.  I knew immediately Pilates was working for me - I could feel the benefit without any shock to my joints.  My flexibility, coordination, and core body strength improved.  Another positive benefit was the decreased need for arthritic pain medication.  Pilates has been an amazing catalyst for change in my body and my life."

Pilates Spotlight for February 2010 is on ... Jessica Hughes

While I have always been very involved with exercise and fitness, nothing has challenged and improved my body like Pilates has. Since I was in my early 20’s, I have loved running and any form of cardiovascular exercise. For several years, I even invested a lot of time and money into hiring a personal trainer who helped me focus on weight lifting alone. Over those years, I noticed a difference in my body, but I was not happy with what I saw. I felt bulky, overly muscular, and much larger than I was before. Needless to say, I eventually dropped the trainer, weights and all, and went back to doing straight cardio. While I lost a lot of the bulk, I began to feel less toned. When I moved to Rochester, I noticed the studio on my way home and thought it looked extremely inviting. I had taken a few Pilates classes here and there in the past so I thought I would give East Street a try, knowing that it might be just what I was looking for to shape up.

From the very moment I met Cara, I knew this was the place where I would start to achieve the body I had always wanted. Within the first few mat and reformer sessions, I was completely hooked! Cara, Vanessa, and all the instructors were extremely welcoming, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. Immediately, their teaching styles made me feel at ease and I knew if I dedicated myself to the studio, I would see and feel a difference in no time. After several months of attending 2-3 classes per week, I started feeling leaner, more toned, and my old ballet days of flexibility returned! Many of the aches and pains I developed through all my years of running did not seem so pronounced, and my overall opinion of my body became more positive than it had in years.

I am now taking 4 classes a week and look forward to working out more than I ever have before. I honestly love everyone that I have met through the classes and again, the instructors are simply outstanding! I highly recommend everyone trying a session or two at East Street Pilates because I know you will become addicted to the way it makes you feel…just like me! Pilates has really changed my body and mind in more ways than one, and I cannot imagine my life without it! I absolutely love it!

The Pilates Spotlight for November 2008 is on Rebecca Barry!

Pilates Spotlight for January 2010 is on...Jody Mattinson

Approximately 18 months ago I was shopping in downtown Rochester when I saw the East Street Pilates studio.  I knew right away that I needed to check it out.  I had always tried to stay active and exercise on a regular basis but never found anything that I enjoyed enough to stick with for any length of time.  I called the studio and made an appointment with Cara for a private lesson.    She was very friendly and knowledgeable.  During my first private session on the reformer I felt awkward, uncoordinated and unsure of myself.  With Cara’s support and encouragement I surprised myself with what I was able to do.   By the end of the session I was hooked on pilates.  I started taking one mat class per week.  Within a few months I noticed that I was getting stronger.  I added a second mat class and shortly thereafter I added a reformer class.  I now take three classes a week.  Pilates appeals to be because I like the mind/body connection, the slow controlled movements and the focused yet relaxed atmosphere of the studio.  It is so rewarding to see the changes to my body.  I am in the best shape I have ever been in my life and that is not an easy thing to accomplish at 51 years young.   There are times when I’m tired and just don’t feel like exercising but those are the times that I know I need it the most.  After every class I leave the studio feeling less stress and more energetic. 

I would recommend East Street Pilates studio to anyone who wants to gain strength, improve muscle tone and balance and would like to share their journey with like minded people.

Pilates Spotlight for October 2008 on...Debi Lynett

After a laminectomy sidelined my cycling hobby, I was looking for an exercise that would allow me to improve my posture and to strengthen my back with a minimum amount of jolting.  After the surgery, I had developed an unnatural "tuck" position to protect my lower back area and I had a hard time breaking myself of the habit.   A friend suggested I look into Pilates classes. I talked to Cara at East Street Pilates about my problems and about my anxiety that I would never be able to move as comfortably as I once did.  She developed a routine of part floor work and part reformer that has made such an improvement in the strength of my back and in my posture, I can hardly believe it.  I no longer have to run home at the end of every day to put the heating pad on my back or to sleep with it at night.  It's made a world of difference!

Pilates Spotlight for September 2009 is on ... Wendy Barthelemy

My name is Wendy Barthelemy.  I started Pilates in 2005 to cross-train and to improve my tennis game by strengthening my body.  For the first three years, I focused mainly on training with the PEAK Pilates system, using the reformer.  in my opinion, PEAK is basically the classical version of Pilates; kind of like ballet is to dance - focusing on form.  However, once I moved across the three-levels that PEAK offers, I grew bored with the same old routine.  I re-evaluated whether or not I needed Pilates in my life.  One of my issues was that I was battling overdominant muscle groups.  Thinking that Pilates wasn’t doing what I needed anymore, I thought I would try a new place in town as my last effort.  This is when I moved to East Street Pilates with Cara, where I was introduced to STOTT Pilates, which is a more contemporary form of Pilates; kind of like hip-hop is to dance.  Through Cara’s innovation and ability to choreograph exceptional routines using predominantly STOTT while incorporating PEAK and various other Pilates disciplines – I am enjoying Pilates once again and the results speak for themselves.  I would definitely consider East Street Pilates if you are where I was in my Pilates routine and need to advance your practice.  If you are considering starting Pilates – start here – it will save you the challenges I faced. 

Pilates is a BIG part of my life and my tennis game is stronger yet still graceful!  So if you are finding it difficult to find an exercise method that you can’t live without and that shows incredible results – check out East Street Pilates with Cara – you will be glad that you did!  Hope to see you soon!

Pilates Spotlight for September 2008 on...Fredericka Williams

Freddie began Pilates with Cara about 2 years ago because she was looking for a workout that felt relaxing, like yoga.  What she found was more of a workout than she originally anticipated - one that produced results she has seen and felt.  Pilates has given Freddie a straighter, taller, lengthened posture which is great for her at a mere 4 ft, 11 inches tall.  Freddie says she feels leaner and more toned.  She practices Pilates at East Street three times a week - one private session where she works on both the mat and reformer, a ball class and another mat class.  Freddie says she enjoys all three classes because they give such a great workout and keep it mixed up so she never gets bored.

Pilates Spotlight for August 2009 on ... Betsy Stender

I got interested in Pilates by chance after seeing a flyer up at a gym while I was working out one day about 5 years ago.  I decided to try something new because I felt like I was doing the same things over and over again.  Once I started doing Pilates, I was hooked because I never had a chance bored.  Every class is different and challenging in its own way and has helped me to get stronger, leaner, and more flexible.

The most important benefit to me, though, has been that I always feel like my stress level goes down significantly from the time that I walk into a Pilates class to the time I walk back out.  With a busy schedule involving a demanding job, going back to graduate school, and making sure that I am spending enough time with my husband, Pilates has been a great way for me to consolidate my workouts and deal with stress so that I can take more time to enjoy all of the good things going on in my life.

Pilates Spotlight for August 2008 on...Jane Wismans

Jane in the studio

How long have you taken Pilates?
Three months.  In April of this year, I took 3 "Intro to Pilates classes" at OPC, enjoyed them, but knew they weren't enough. I wanted to experience a true Pilates workout.  I had my first private with Cara on April 29th and have been taking 3 classes per week at the East Street studio since.

What first interested you in Pilates?
People who practice Pilates regularly have a long, lean, healthy look I find pleasing.   Being 51 and having experienced wear and tear on my body from other athletic endeavors, I was looking for a way to get in shape that would improve my strength and balance while being easy on the joints.  Pilates is a great fit for me.

What benefits have you seen and felt from your Pilates practice?
Though I've only been practicing Pilates for a short time, there has been a marked improvement in my strength, posture, balance and endurance.  It's exciting to feel my muscles develop and respond.  I feel energetic!  My 6'4" husband had always set the pace when we walked.  Now he has to keep up with me!  Though there's certainly more room to improve, my jeans and pants are fitting better too.

How often do you practice Pilates?
I take 2 reformer and 1 mat class each week from East Street Pilates.  I supplement that with one session a week at OPC with friends.  Additionally, I  find myself doing crunches during television commercials, practicing balance moves when drying my hair, etc. - it has just crept into my everyday life!

What are your favorite classes or exercises?
The reformer classes are my favorite.  It's small, only four students, so we have gotten to know one another a bit.  Our ages and stages of life differ dramatically, yet the practice of Pilates and the desire to better ourselves gives us common ground.  The apparatus aids with resistance and range of motion without putting pressure on the joints.  The smaller class size allows Cara to watch and guide our movements very closely.  It's awesome!

What would you tell someone who has never taken Pilates?
Try it!!  Do you homework of course - find a studio you feel comfortable in and a certified instructor you can trust and believe in.  Then take a chance.  Initially I was nervous and overwhelmed, but I put my trust in Cara, did the work and now I can say I've never felt better.  I'm hooked!

Pilates Spotlight for June 2009 on ... Linda Nieman

I first started Pilates in April of 2008.  I have always been pretty good at getting my cardio workout in, but hated doing weight training.  Although I know that weight training is really important for many reasons, I avoided it.  I have always felt so intimidated going to the gym’s free weight area and seeing all these guys lifting.  I felt really insecure working out with my wimpy 5 or 10 lb dumbbells and wondered if I was even doing the right exercises.  I had invested in a personal trainer here and there and, frankly, at  $70 an hour it was hard to get a routine going that I could benefit from and that I actually enjoyed.

Over the years, I had always heard about Pilates and I participated in some group mat classes at the gym.  But I really hadn’t heard much about the Pilates workout on the reformer.  After researching it a bit, I learned that the reformer was good at developing longer leaner muscle through resistance and weight bearing exercise.  Now knowing this, I could add the weight training element I was sorely lacking into my workout routine.  As spring came around, I was so excited to see East Street Pilates Studio had opened in down town Rochester.  I was so impressed with the convenient location and easy access parking.  This would mean getting in & out of the workout in seconds vs. minutes at the gym.  After meeting with Cara, I was immediately impressed with her credentials and her easy-going personality.

Cara and I scheduled a private reformer session so she could assess my fitness level and find out about my workout goals.  Afterwards she recommended a suitable program.  I actually had fun on the reformer and didn’t find it intimidating at all.  I also loved the fact that the maximum class size was 4 clients for the reformer class so I was guaranteed strong personalized attention in a class setting vs. my prior experience with the group mat class at the gym.  Since I was committed to the reformer, I started with a couple sessions a week (reformer) to get results more quickly and was pleased to find that I started seeing results in 6 weeks.  This encouraged me to keep it going and today I can say I honestly feel younger.  The constant stress in my neck and shoulders from hunching over a computer is gone.  My strength, flexibility and muscle tone has changed significantly and I definitely can see and feel how the reformer has changed my body.  Before joining Pilates,  I had been on a weight loss program and had lost over 20 lbs and after 1 year it has stayed off.  In addition, even after the weight loss, I lost one size in my clothes from Pilates in just firming and toning up. 

Who knows??  Maybe I’ll add mat into my routine, but right now I really love the reformer and feel like the cost is well worth the results.  At East Street Pilates there are a variety of more affordable options to establish a routine and a workout that is more fun and easier on my joints.  Since I like the workout, chances are stronger I’ll stick to it!  I would strongly encourage anyone to look into Pilates. If you live in the area, I would highly recommend adding East Street Pilates into your workout routine!

Challenged by my Pilates workouts...

"People think that Pilates is just for women. Men can enjoy the benefits too - I'm an athlete: I play hockey, I run, I swim, I spent years in the military, and I definitely feel challenged by my Pilates workouts."

Pilates Spotlight for May 2009 on...Vicki Walker

I started with Pilates a couple of years after the birth of my first child, based on a recommendation from a friend.  I just couldn’t lose the last 20lbs of pregnancy weight (I had gained about 55lbs with my first pregnancy) and I was having chronic back problems. 

I tried a couple of Pilates instructors and found Cara to be the best around!  I was just beginning to notice results (I was definitely gaining muscle, losing weight, and my back was feeling better) when I became pregnant with my second child.  My second pregnancy was challenging - I had to stop exercising by the end of my first trimester and was put on complete bed rest for almost my entire third trimester.  When I left the hospital after my second child was born, I weighed 60lbs above my ideal weight - and I’m only 5’3” tall!

A few months after my second child was born, I started back with Pilates.  Gradually, I worked my way up to a regular routine (being a Mom and working full time, it’s not easy to find “free time”), but I set a goal of doing Pilates 3 times per week and made it a priority.  Each week I could feel myself getting stronger, I was losing weight, and my back was continuously improving.  Within 10 months, I had noticed dramatic improvement in strength and muscle tone, had lost approximately 65lbs (I now weigh less than I did before I was pregnant with my first child), and have significantly less back trouble.  I recently bought “skinny jeans” and actually feel good wearing them!  When I receive compliments now, I smile and say “thanks” and think... body by Cara!

Increased my flexibility...

"I have studied Pilates with Cara for a year and a half.  My body is so much stronger from head to toe.  Despite my affinity for very high heels, I have increased my flexibility.  Most importantly for me, my coordination is vastly improved and that allows me to work harder and deeper with each class."

Pilates Spotlight for April 2009 on...Andrea Kaczocha

I began taking Pilates in 2006 after the birth of my first son.  I was looking for something to get me back into shape without taking too much time out of my busy schedule.  Right away, I began to see and feel my body tightening back into place.  My waist came back; I was smaller and weighed less than before I got pregnant.  I took four classes each week through my second pregnancy, and soon after delivery was right back in shape and in my Pilates classes.  I continue to take four classes a week at East Street Pilates.  It is the only exercise I do and it keeps me strong, flexible and lean.  I am in better shape now than before my boys were born.  Yay, Pilates!!

Strengthens...without feeling bulky

"After years of weight lifting, I have finally found a workout that strengthens my body without feeling bulky.  Pilates has been great for my back, giving me greater flexibility and balance. It really has been an overall amazing workout for my whole being!   Not to mention tons of fun and laughs!"

Pilates Spotlight for March 2009 on...Elaine Ohno

A Pilates class is the very best way to begin your day.  I have more stamina, I have more strength.  My blood pressure is much improved.  I have leaner legs, better shape to my arms, my core muscles are strong.  It works.  Thank you, Cara.

My body took to (Pilates) right away...

"I have been taking Pilates from Cara for four years.  My posture has improved, and my husband definitely enjoys my limberness.  I like it because it is a form of exercise that my body took to right away and I feel so good doing it."

Pilates Spotlight for February 2009 on...Lisa Ward

Hi! My name is Lisa Ward and I am a pilates addict. My addiction began 6 years ago. After months of grueling exercises trying to tone my whole body, but specifically my abs, I was not seeing much the results I wanted. I was growing discouraged when I came upon an advertisement that read: “Pilates…no pain, all gain.” I signed up for a consultation immediately.

The moment I met Cara she made me feel comfortable and at ease about trying a form of exercise that I was completely unfamiliar with, and on a machine that resembled some type of torture mechanism. (I quickly learned that the machine is a work of art!) Within a few weeks of class I noticed my entire body was changing – my core and back were stronger and I felt leaner all over.

Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to work on the Mat using fitness circles, foam rollers and toning balls along with the Reformer machine and the new Stability Chair. I’ve made some wonderful new friends at the studio over the years. It’s nice to look forward to my workout and the people I get to see. And let’s face it - There is nothing like the feeling of longer, leaner muscles, improved balance, a stronger core, and a clear mind.

Significant impact on my life...

I have been a client of Cara’s for the last 3 years and with her help Pilates has made a significant impact in my life.  It has helped me eliminate my lower back pain that I had been dealing with for some time prior to starting classes.  Pilates has also made a major impact on my total body appearance, strength and tone as well as improving my posture.  From the time I began classes with Cara I was amazed with how quickly I saw results, muscle tone in my arms and abs was apparent after just a few classes.

Cara is a knowledgeable instructor who motivates you to push yourself in a positive way.  She helps you achieve the results you want while continually building strength and flexibility.   I currently am 7 months pregnant with my first child and have been taking Pilates twice a week from Cara throughout my entire pregnancy.  It has helped me keep in shape and I am looking forward to it helping during the birthing process as well as with a quicker recovery after delivery.  Taking class from Cara and staying involved in Pilates during this process has really helped me feel like I still have some control over my changing body.  I highly recommend Cara and East Street Pilates to everyone.

Pilates Spotlight for January 2009 on...Donna Degennero

About 20 years ago I began working out doing cardio and weight training.  As I worked out, I often felt that I could benefit from a good instructor, but never found one that was not only trained and experienced, but was also interested in “me.”  Additionally, the last 3-4 years I also felt that I had reached a plateau and was not getting the benefits I once had.  Enter Pilates.  I started with some individual lessons at a studio by my office and immediately felt and saw a difference in my body.    Again, however, the issue with the instructor reared its ugly head.  A friend of mine, Deb Atwell, suggested we try East Street Pilates by taking Duets.  I not only feel challenged each and every time I go (currently twice a week), but Cara actually watches me and makes corrections rather then letting me do the exercises incorrectly.  I recently joined the Monday morning Ball Class which has been the ultimate challenge. I’m not sure what Cara will come up with once I conquer the Ball.

I strongly encourage anyone who is ready to be challenged and wants expert instruction to join East Street Pilates.