Align Pilates® Minneapolis

At first, the client was skeptical. “Barre class?” she asked. “I took ballet as a kid.” You could tell she was imagining a few slow plies set to some classical piano.

Not to knock ballet–in fact, the barre method was developed by a ballet dancer–but this isn’t your niece’s ballet class. At Align’s incredibly popular Barre classes, high-energy music blares from the speakers while students stretch, chat and assemble their props–playground balls, free weights and Magic Circles all regularly make an appearance during the intense one-hour workout. And once class starts, you can tell right away that the instructor isn’t messing around as she challenges you up to releve five…okay, ten more times.

And our clients keep coming back for more. “I think Barre is so popular because it gives you an amazing total body workout,” said Barre instructor Danielle DeRemer. “It offers the grace of ballet, the precision and control of Pilates and the fluidity of yoga. The class is meant to work the secondary muscles by making small, yet significant, adjustments to alignment and movement–building endurance and strength faster and more efficiently than just doing regular cardio and weight lifting.”

Barre has been popular for awhile on the east and west coasts, and its roots extend further back than many people might realize. The method is actually based on the technique of Lotte Berk–a German dancer who fled the Nazis in the late 1930s and moved to London with her British husband. After Lotte injured her back, she developed the barre method by combing her ballet barre routines with her rehabilitative therapy for her injury. She opened a studio in her London basement in 1959, where the method eventually gained great popularity.

The Barre method made its way to America in the early 1970s when one of her students opened the Lotte Berk Method studio in Manhattan. As previously mentioned, it’s been an established exercise program on the coasts for quite some time, but the Barre buzz that’s currently underway is taking its popularity to a new level–clearly, it’s meeting a need for something that was missing from many people’s monotonous cardio workouts. “The best thing about barre class at Align is that it’s a high-intensity class that challenges your body, but also focuses on correct alignment,” said Adrienne Fitzmaurice, co-owner of Align Pilates and a Barre instructor herself. ” Therefore, I can see all my students not only becoming stronger, but also developing better posture and balance.”

Indeed, the Barre method has taken the Twin Cities exercise scene by storm, with classes regularly filling up well in advance. Although a variety of studios are now featuring versions of the workout, Align’s classes have received special recognition, being awarded the “best new workout” designation from Minnesota Monthly magazine. Align also offers Barre teaching training–a comprehensive 18-hour program that focuses on anatomy and movement physiology, safe choreography and the art of effective verbal cueing, among other topics. ”The Align Barre Teacher Training is definitely one of a kind,” said Adrienne. “We give teachers the tools to change someone’s body–not just kick their butt. There is a difference!”

Align offers many Barre classes throughout the week–advance registration is recommended, since classes regularly fill up. Hardcore Barre fans might also want to consider the Barre teacher training program, taking place this summer from July 27-29, 2012. Visit www.alignpilates.com for more information.

The Pilates teacher training program at Align is the most comprehensive program in the upper Midwest. Unlike some other programs that attempt to “cram it all in” during a weekend or two, Align’s year-long program is designed to truly immerse students in the classic Pilates method, developing them into confident and creative teachers.

This month we spoke with Ellis Rausch, class of 2012, about what made her decide to become a Pilates teacher, her experience with the program so far and the Pilates exercises that challenge her the most.

Tell us a bit about your life before joining the Align Pilates teacher training program.

Before joining the program, I felt like my life was racing by—and it continued to become more and more imbalanced.  I had a demanding career in a corporate environment, in addition to the responsibilities of two young children and my spouse at home.  It was hard to prioritize my well-being.  I would find time to exercise, but I did it out of obligation. After the birth of my second child, I recovered by practicing Pilates.  It brought me renewed strength, flexibility, fulfillment and results like no other form of exercise I had tried before. I’ve been a devotee ever since.

So you decided you wanted to teach. What made you choose the teacher training program at Align?

I wanted to have the experience of being classically trained—to experience the closest understanding possible of Joseph Pilates’ original work. The directors of the program are trained through the Romana Kryzanowska teaching lineage (Joseph’s long-time prodigy). This was appealing to me—knowing I was starting my journey in Pilates with strong fundamentals and a connection to the method’s origin.

Tell me a bit about your experience with the program so far. Have there been any challenges you didn’t expect?

This has been one of the most transformative years I’ve experienced, both physically and personally. The program is very demanding physically, but I’ve always felt supported to excel in a safe way by the experienced instructors.  There is also a lot of personal growth that goes along with this—you are constantly challenging yourself to achieve more from your practice and teaching. About mid-way through the program I realized that part of the learning process is overcoming roadblocks that hold you back. Having a staff of incredibly talented and experienced teachers as a constant source of inspiration has been a key driver in my overall feelings of achievement.

Do you have a favorite Pilates exercise? Is there one that particularly challenges you?

It’s hard to say, because I can see the benefit in all the exercises—this is why I like to move in a sequence. Finding a flow that coordinates with the breath can be quite beautiful, like a dance. The exercises are all challenging, but there are two in particular that serve as reminders of where I started in my Pilates journey and where my muscular imbalances lie: Big Swan and Tendon Stretch.

What do you plan to do with your training?

I would like to work with clients from all different backgrounds, tailoring fitness plans to each unique individual’s needs and abilities, thriving on challenging them to work hard and feel amazing!  I would love to be able to pass on my knowledge of Pilates and how profoundly the mind and body can benefit from it.

Is there anything else we should know about you? Any notable interests outside of the studio?

A personal tidbit: I love everything about the Italian culture and people. I lived in Italy for 10 years and I speak fluent Italian.

Although resolutions to get active and eat better are traditionally made after the new year, we at Align think spring is a more forgiving time to make a healthy change. The days are getting longer, and with this often comes a welcome burst of energy. In other words, the perfect time to end your winter hibernation with a recommitment to your health!

Align is here to help you ease the transition with all kinds of offerings in March. Consider signing up for our spring cleanse—a week-long program featuring our challenging barre workout, yoga classes to rejuvenate and center you and a delicious prana stretch class to the close the week. The cleanse starts on Monday, March 19, with classes running every day, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. End your weekdays feeling warm and detoxified and get a jump start on spring!

Then visit the studio for Align’s yoga and mindful eating workshop. Winter in Minnesota can be tough—setting the stage for comfort eating and overindulgence. But when we allow ourselves to slow down we can bring a new, transformative focus to our relationship with food. In this two-hour workshop, you’ll learn yogic tools that will help you cultivate mindfulness when it comes to your eating rituals. You’ll also practice yoga asanas that aid in digestion and cleansing.  On Sunday, March 25 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.

Touch is one of the most powerful ways we can express our love and affection. “It is the first language we learn,” said Dacher Keltner, author of “Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life.” And touch remains, he said, “our richest means of emotional expression” throughout our lives.

Indeed, touch is one of the most essential ways we express our feelings to our partners. And it becomes ever more important during these cold winter months when we spend so much time bundled up against the elements. So this year for Valentine’s Day, treat yourself and your loved ones to the healing power of touch, breath and stretch at Align’s Valentine’s Day Prana Stretch class. Taught by Adrienne Fitzmaurice on Wednesday, February 15 (the day after Valentine’s, so you don’t have to cancel those dinner reservations!) from 7:30 to 8:45, this class will help get you in touch with your breath, your mind and your body through guided stretching with hands on assistance and massage. You will leave class relaxed, warm and calm–the perfect conditions to help you better connect with your partner. Exclusive to Align, a Prana Stretch class is a gift to yourself any day–but promises to be particularly powerful during this year’s celebration of love.

After the excesses of the holiday season, many of us want nothing more than a healthy start to the new year. However, we all know that motivation can be an issue during the dark, cold days of January. But here at Align, we get it! And we’ve designed a two-week winter cleanse that will snap you out of your malaise and get you focused on balancing your body, mind and spirit. Starting on January 20, join a group of like-minded people who are committed to a healthy shift in priorities. Align’s second annual winter cleanse will kick off on Friday evening with a two-hour nutrition workshop, where you’ll learn about healthy and safe ways to detoxify the body through food. Superfoods and meal planning will be discussed, and you’ll leave with a variety of recipes to help fuel you through the program. The Align cleanse has been designed to help you reset your metabolism, build your immune system, create flexibility and increase your circulatory system and heart rate. Through yoga, barre class and Align’s exclusive Prana Stretch technique, you’ll emerge from the program feeling centered, strong and healthy. Sign up now–only a few spots left!