Victoria Schneider instructs Mona Jones-Romansic
on the “Cadillac,” a Pilates machine.
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BIKRAM’S YOGA
C O L L E G E
Pilates
So, most people know at least one great
Pilates exercise that will totally tone your
abs. But the full story behind what exactly
these exercises are and what they are sup-
posed to do to my body has always been a
mystery. So I met up with Victoria
Schneider, one of Eugene’s top Pilates
instructors and owner of Bodies By Pilates.
Turns out Joseph Pilates brought his com-
bination of Eastern and Western physical
therapies to the U.S. from Europe in the
1920’s where it was discovered by the lean
and flexible world of dancers. Pilates exer-
cises focus on strengthening the abdominal
muscles while lengthening all muscles and
joints for ease of movement. While the prac-
tice does not have the spiritual base of yoga,
an active mind is important. “You have to be
in your body,” explains Schneider.
After showing me neutral position where
my spine, shoulders, neck, and hips were all
in alignement, Schneider had me lie on my
back on “The Reformer” — a spring-loaded
padded bed that was designed to create
resistance and support for several exercises.
The resistance is adjustable, making Pilates a
great option for physical therapy and rehabil-
itation. Paying special attention to the posi-
tion of my spine, I slowly pushed back and
forth from my knees in what I might call a
recumbent leg press while breathing in
through my nose and out through pursed lips.
I began to feel a constant burn in several
weaker parts of my body and in my lower
abs, which I kept active. Schneider explained
that I was working the smaller deep muscles
that keep me upright and the parts of my
body that needed to be strengthened the
most, which explained the slight ache in my
right ankle.
While Pilates machines are fun and effec-
tive, they can be expensive and hard to come
by. According to Mona Jones-Romansic, mat
classes focus even more on strengthening the
lower abs and uses imagery about length to
create multi-directional stretches. Jones-
Romansic teaches mat classes Tuesday
evenings with Bodies By Pilate.
When deciding whether Pilates or yoga is
the right workout for you, it is most impor-
tant to determine what you want out of your
practice. Although they both work the same
muscle groups, yoga is a very mental and
emotional experience. Most classes refer-
ence spiritual teachings and practices. Pilates
focuses purely on conditioning the body to
be more fluid and aligned.
ew
Yoga Centers
• Bikram Yoga College of India 820 Charnelton, 349-9642
• Four Winds Yoga 3575 Donald, 484-6100
• The Yoga Studio 126 Elkay Dr., 461-8044
• Yoga West 3635 Hilyard., 686-0432
• Dharmalaya 356 Horn Lane, 344-0553 dharmalaya.org
Pilates Centers
• Carpe Diem Pilates and Personal Training Center 436 Charnelton, 684-0577
• Bodies By Pilates 260 E 15th, 434-8406
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AUGUST 26, 2004 13