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Mari Winsor
Returns to Real Pilates!
Private Sessions and Group Classes, July 26thrd through the 28th. |
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Notes from Pilates History |
Greetings!

In 1926 Joseph Pilates came to New York City. Despite the reports that he settled here at that time and opened a studio, I have it on good authority that this trip was reserved for meetings with lawyers and the filing of his patents. Several years later he arrived to plant roots and established his studio but if the dates are correct, the exercise system he had created was well into its development by a few decades. Joe had visions. Big plans. And though nearly 11 million people practiced Pilates this last year, in his lifetime, Pilates was not the exercise system du jour. It had some high points, a few devotees, some press hits, but the method and the studios never really made any money. After his death a studio was established inside the famous Bendel's department store, the modest proceeds of which were funneled to his widow, Clara in order to sustain her cost of living. At the time of his death, Pilates was disgruntled with the medical community that failed to embrace his method and a lifetime of work that had not achieved nearly the success he had hoped for. Despite Joe's absence, his method carried on. The people who taught continued to teach. The students continued to learn and the method spread, seemingly in spite of itself. In the early 80's when I took my first lesson, Joe was long gone but the teachers running that studio were completely devoted to the method as though Joe had never left. In the early 90's when I decided to become a teacher, Pilates was finally coming into its own as the media and the medical community finally realized what Joe had been saying all along - his system works! In today's fitness culture, new systems have a shelf life of perhaps 5 years before the next new Cycling, Barre, or Dance Fitness craze comes along and ousts the former one out of the spotlight. But despite almost 80 years of consistency, Pilates popularity never seems to wane. It was slower on the uptake perhaps, built solely on reputations and results rather than marketing and hype. But at the end of the day, the system has proved itself utterly sustainable - the hallmark of integrity in the fitness world. I'm so proud to be a part of Pilates culture and to continue move the method forward so that it can improve, benefit and truly sustain the lives of those around me. I do wish Joe could have been here to see the fruits of his labor. What a joy that would have given him. Warmly, Alycea
For Lilly's Recipe, Stretches for your neck and special visitor Mari Winsor, keep reading! |
Relieve Tight Neck Muscles |
Alycea recently filmed a series of videos for eHow. In the interest of this month's topic on sustainability, here is a short video on how you can stretch out tight neck muscles. Neck tension can be a source of long term pain and alignment issues so use these moves to keep you working out longer.
| How to Relieve Tight Neck Muscles with Alycea Ungaro |
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Reminder! Mari Winsor at Real Pilates |
 We are privilged to welcome Mari Winsor back to Real Pilates. Mari will be teaching class, a workshop, and available for privates, duets, and trios.
Thursday July 26th
3pm-5pm - Private, Duets, and Trios
Friday July 27th
Saturday July 28th
1pm - 4pm - Privates, Duets, and Trios
Grab a Pilates buddy and sign up for your session with Mari now. Call the desk at 212-625-0777 to book. |
No-Flour Almond Banana Muffins |
Alycea and I have an office tradition of trading our experiments in healthy baking (ok, healthy baking about half the time--there have been quite a few "healthy" cookies on that list, but let's be honest-- they're still cookies). My newest muffin recipe, however, does make the cut. Rich in protein using eggs and almonds, but low in sugar and no flour, this recipe sticks with you all morning. The original recipe found here makes a loaf, but lacking a loaf pan I made mine into muffins and was delighted with the result. Enjoy!
-Lilly
No-Flour Almond Banana Muffins Ingredients - 3 very ripe bananas (about 1 ½ cups) mashed
- 3 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1 tablespoon honey (agave or maple would work too)
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
- 2 cups almond meal
- 2 tblsp ground flax seed (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a muffin tin or loaf pan. Add the bananas, eggs, vanilla, honey and coconut oil in a food processor and pulse until the ingredients are combined. Add in almond flour, salt and baking soda and pulse a few times. Poor or spoon into pan of your choice. The eggs will mean these muffins will puff up a bit, but not too much, so fill each muffin cup about 3/4 full. Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan. Remove from the pan or muffin tin, and serve warm.
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"With body, mind, and spirit functioning perfectly as a coordinated whole, what else could reasonably be expected other than an active, alert, disciplined person."
- Joseph Pilates, Return to Life Through Contrology |
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