Classical Pilates in Asheville

Pilates workouts at Clasique are dynamic, challenging, energizing, and create the perfect blend of stretch and strength for each client.

Pilates is intelligent exercise that will change the shape of your body and how you feel in it. Authentic Pilates instruction improves posture, balance and body awareness, while increasing strength, flexibility and spine motility. The workouts are adapted to suit the client, whether injured, athletic, young or aging. Regardless of ability level, every workout is productive and challenging. Pilates is all about the core-strength of the abdominal muscles, and with strength in the center, anything is possible.

Classical Pilates Method
There are over 500 different exercises performed on five unique pieces of apparatus. Each exercise is done in a particular sequence, with a minimum number of repetitions and a high degree of precision and mental focus. The movements are continuous from one exercise to the next, and as the client progresses, the workout becomes increasingly more challenging and aerobic. The true Pilates method, referred to as Classical or Authentic, captures the benefits of Eastern exercise philosophies, such as yoga or qi gong, by emphasizing mental focus, breathing, and flexibility. Pilates also maximizes strength, endurance and cardio, which is the focus of traditional forms of many Western exercise methods. By blending the best of these approaches, the Pilates method trains the mind and body to work together toward the goal of overall fitness. Pilates benefits all ages, injuries, and athletic abilities. Pregnancy Pilates is especially beneficial for women as the body shifts and changes throughout pregnancy, and then post-partum Pilates for recovery and regaining strength.

Pilates Powerhouse
The core, or in Pilates terminology, the “powerhouse,” is comprised of the upper and lower abdominal muscles, the lower back and the buttocks. Conventional forms of exercise and athletic activities develop strength in the arms and legs, but largely ignore this area because these muscles are difficult to isolate and strengthen. This is the same set of muscles that support good posture and, if not used properly, will deteriorate with time. Pilates exercises are designed to stabilize the torso and work the muscles of the powerhouse lower, deeper, and more intensely. All movements are initiated from the powerhouse, which in turn results in incredible stability and flexibility for the spine.

Joseph Pilates
Pilates is not a new phenomenon. Joseph Pilates started developing his exercise method while serving in hospitals during the First World War. In 1926, Pilates moved to New York City where he opened his studio and since that time has maintained a steady and devoted following. After his death in 1967, his work has been carried on by Romana Kryzanowska, master teacher and protégé of Joseph Pilates. Early advocates of Pilates came from the arts and entertainment community, particularly dancers and schools of ballet. In recent years, many celebrities and professional athletes say they attribute their strong toned bodies to the Pilates method.

Classically Trained Pilates Instructors
Not all Pilates methods are the same. Classical Pilates, synonymous with Authentic or Romana’s Pilates, requires extensive training for Pilates instructor certification with over 700 hours of studio internship and three tiers of testing with practical evaluation. This Pilates method uses the best equipment available and follows Joseph Pilates’ vision of teacher instruction and client workouts. Clasique is proud to offer only Classically trained Pilates instructors, and the studio is fully equipped with the highest quality equipment on the market made by Gratz Industries. Pilates workouts at Clasique are dynamic, challenging, energizing, and create the perfect blend of stretch and strength for each client.

Pilates is for Everyone - A note from studio owner Brooke Tyler

A consistent Pilates workout (4x/week) makes me feel AWESOME. Awesome qualifies as feeling strong, limber, confident, clear minded, and completely inspired. Pilates is much more than exercise… let me tell you all about it.

Joseph Pilates was a genius when it comes to intelligent, effective, corrective, long-term exercise. I’ve been doing Pilates as a student for 10 years now, and teaching for 8 years. And still… every workout is still extremely challenging, and every single hour I teach is unique and inspiring.

Whether on the mat or the equipment, the Pilates work requires the attention of the mind. Like anything, the quality of the result is determined by the quality of the effort. With such focus, the Pilates work never gets easy… in fact, as you advance in your workout, it only becomes more challenging as the work deepens, the core strengthens, the mind sharpens, and the form gets perfected. Joseph said, “The mind, when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power.”

Personally, I do Pilates at least 4x/week. I am spoiled because I have my “private jungle gym” at the studio, and I truly love to play! But listen closely… a workout is sometimes only 15 minutes of mat exercises. Sometimes a workout is just the ‘100’ and the arm weight series. Often I simply do the ‘stomach series’ and the standing ‘2x4’ work for my core, alignment, and posture. Of course, nothing makes me happier than an advanced Reformer routine, and if you know me well, you know the Wunda Chair is my first love (don’t tell my husband).

Pilates is the foundation that makes me better in everything else I do. When I ride, run, swim, ski, practice yoga, dance at weddings, and toss my daughter in the air… Pilates is my core (pun intended). I want to feel this strong, limber, capable, and balanced, for a long, long time. In addition I have to add, that by continuing with my Pilates post-partum, my body felt as strong as it did pre-baby... only 7 months after baby.

For our entire lives, we must do some sort of physical activity or exercise. Pilates is the foundation that allows me to play and perform in all other venues and arenas. I am passionate about my Pilates workout, and very passionate about yours.

Pilates can be part of your weekly routine, and you will feel awesome. Learn the mat exercises and practice at home, come to our intimate mat classes at the studio, sprinkle in a group equipment class or two for a workout with the resistance of the springs. Dare to try Pilates Chisel classes, which I think of as ‘hardcore playground Pilates.’ Ask me how to incorporate Pilates into your routine… often & affordably. This is the heart of Clasique :: nourishing and inspiring you to feel like your best self.

So this week, maybe try the ‘stomach series’ at home… you might like it!
Look forward to seeing you soon, with “spontaneous zest and pleasure.”