Thinking Body

 

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What is Pilates

       Pilates is a series of exercises developed more than 70 years ago by Joseph H. Pilates. These exercises use spring resistance to strengthen the core muscles of the body’s center (abdominal and postural muscles), lengthen the spine, build muscle tone, enhance flexibility, and increase body awareness. Pilates teaches balance and control of the body, and that capacity spills over into other areas of one's life.

Who Benefits

       Because Pilates equipment and exercises are designed to isolate the muscles being worked, control the workload, and eliminate stress on joints, Pilates is ideal for individuals who are injury-prone or currently recovering from injury.

       Make no mistake—this is a vigorous and strenuous workout, but one that leaves you energized, not tired and sore. Even if you are already healthy, if you like the idea of being guided to a higher level of fitness and body awareness by an expert who will keep you on track and help you avoid injury along the way, Pilates is for you!

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Company Profile

What We are About

Thinking Body specializes in promoting health and fitness using a system invented in the 1920's by Joseph H. Pilates. This system uses spring resistance to strengthen muscle groups in a way that minimizes the risk of injury or re-injury.

Combined with stretching and strengthening exercises performed on a floor mat using props where needed, such as flex rings and balls, or using Joseph Pilates' spring-resistance exercise machines promote physical and emotional well-being by reducing stress, increasing strength, and improving posture and body mechanics.

A growing number of doctors are recognizing the usefulness of these techniques for physical rehabilitation in cases of traumatic injury or long-term chronic muscle abuse.

About the Owner

Thinking Body is owned and operated by Cynthia Clark.

Cynthia is a certified trainer in The Method® (based on the teachings of Joseph Pilates and taught by the Physicalmind Institute of New York City, New York). Cynthia Clark, holds an M. A. in clinical psychology with a specialization in dance movement therapy. For over 18 years, she has been teaching exercise and educating people how to move without strain or pain.

Cynthia is certified in Pilates, Yamuna® Body Rolling, and Pilates for Golf. She conducts certifications in Yamuna® Body Rolling and in The Method® Pilates for the Physicalmind Institute. She is also certified as a personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and as a Post Rehabilitation Specialist with the American Academy of Health & Fitness Professionals. All trainers are certified either through the Physicalmind Institute or Stott. Cynthia works closely with her trainers to assure the quality of training received by each client.

Our Mission

I created Thinking Body to be, not just another sweat shop to 'pump you up', but a comfortable, low-stress environment in which to strengthen your body while revitalizing your mind and spirit.

Many fitness studios help you build physical strength and endurance. Some also emphasize muscle flexibility. But few places do these things within a context of structural integration and body balance.

If your exercise program is not properly designed, if the initial instruction in performing the exercises is at all careless, or if a knowledgeable trainer does not monitor your performance on a regular basis to ensure that exercises continue to be properly performed, there is a risk that, over time, your exercise program will actually create physical problems for you -- even while you feel yourself getting stronger!

The techniques taught at Thinking Body, while promoting strength and muscle tone, also emphasize relaxation, balance, and proper body mechanics to prevent the development of the kind of bad exercise habits that can result in chronic muscle pain or injury. Rather than mindlessly pumping iron while zoning out to the music, we encourage you to exercise consciously (hence, our name) so that each movement is correct and the benefits to you are maximized.

Because Pilates equipment and exercises are specifically designed to isolate the muscles being worked, control the workload, and minimize secondary muscle stress, our approach makes an ideal exercise program for individuals who are injury-prone or currently recovering from injury.

Our philosophy is to offer a high quality learning experience in the original work of Joseph H. Pilates. We offer a supportive learning environment to help you focus and enjoy the learning process as you find new ways to move in your body and make lifelong connections to movement in your every day life. Your Pilates trainer will help you develop a workout program customized to your individual needs. Your trainer will continue to work with you in one-on-one sessions, correcting your technique when it starts to drift, pacing each session, monitoring progress, and revising your program as progress is made.

Our primary goal is to introduce proper biomechanics through visual and verbal cues, educate you toward understanding how the body functions, and correct poor postural or movement habits. By teaching muscle release and proper mechanics, the trainer will help maximize your progress toward strength and muscle tone while minimizing the risk of injury (or re-injury).

-- Cynthia Clark, Owner

Contact Information

Telephone
(434) 975-0336
FAX
(434) 975-0338
Postal address
335 West Rio Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22901
Electronic mail
       Owner: cynthia@thinkingbody.com
       Webmaster: compcab@wisr.edu
 
For more information about Pilates:
       Physicalmind Institute: www.the-method.com
Yamuna Body Rolling:  www.yamunabodyrolling.com

 

 

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