Traditional Pilates= Tight, Toned Abs

Who doest want to tighten up that annoying muffin top area? Classic Pilates does wonders for the core/obliques/abs. My girlfriend, Simone and I take private Pilates lessons from the amazingly toned, Cindy Jansen. I have done group classes, however taking private lessons makes all the difference in the world. Cindy is constantly reminding us to pull our abs in, squeeze our legs tighter, & contract our butt muscles. Afterwards, we’re sore in all the right places. Since working out with Cindy has transformed the way I view Pilates, I had to interview her ASAP:

+ Describe yourself:

Authentic, passionate, positive, caring, & recently I became a wife [ marriage is the best! ]. I also run & operate a fully-equipped Pilates studio in our home. I have been teaching for twelve years. I feel extremely passionate about teaching Pilates & feel one of my strengths is giving each of my clients the personal attention they deserve. Pilates has become such a rewarding part of my life, & I love seeing it make a positive impact on my clients’ lives as well.

+ Tell us all about Classical Pilates.

‘Pilates’ can be divided into two fundamental schools of thought, Classical Pilates & Modern/Contemporary Pilates. Classical Pilates is the purest form of Pilates, as it strictly adheres to the original methods of exercises developed & taught by Joseph Pilates. Classically trained instructors, like myself, are able to trace our training back to Joseph Pilates through one of his first generation students. I received my training in NYC under the world-renowned protege of Joseph Pilates, Romana Kryzanowska. Romana was one of Joseph Pilates’ closest students & took over as director of his studio a few years after his death. Romana’s Pilates is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious, comprehensive, & rigorous instructor training programs existing today.

Pilates is intended to be a complete philosophy of training the body & mind to achieve uniform precision & control of one’s body in the most efficient, healthy way possible. The non-impact, balanced series of movement emphasize complete concentration, body alignment, correct breathing, making the torso or ‘powerhouse’ work, allowing the rest of the body to move freely. The result is a restoration of muscular balance, better posture, increased flexibility, & better support of the bones and joints.

+ Quick skinny tip?

I rely on this energy packed smoothie to get me through my busy day and it only takes about 5 minutes to make. It includes: protein powder, 1 tablespoon of Green Vibrance, 1 tablespoon bee pollen for energy, blueberries, raspberries, 1 cup of Almond milk, & a handful of pumpkin seeds

+ Skinny cocktail of choice?

Diet Stevia soda & Vanilla Stoli. I have been drinking this since college and still love it!

+ Quick, easy go-to snack that is healthy?

Gluten-free pumpkin zucchini muffins from Jimbo’s; I love them!

+ What else should people mix in with Pilates?

Cardio, cardio, cardio which helps burn fat & maintains weight, while Pilates reshapes and tones the body. Oh, and of course a healthy diet!

+ How many times a week should one do Pilates to see changes?

Two to three times a week & you will definitely see results. “In ten sessions you will feel the difference, in twenty sessions you will see the difference, and in thirty sessions you will have a different body.” That’s a quote from Joseph Pilates.

+ One word to describe Pilates?

EMPOWERING.

++ To practice Pilates with Cindy ( she’s based out of Del Mar, CA. ) contract her through e-mail at: Pilates.Cindy@gmail.com.