Better Skiing, Less Pain!
Louisville psychiatrist Dr. David Easley won first place in our “Toast to '23” holiday contest in which we asked students to share their transformation stories from 2023. David started working twice a week with Pilates Teacher Dawn Adcock last June, and he found not only the pain relief he was seeking but also greater strength and stability that carried through to his first winter ski trip.
"Before coming to Holly's Pilates Village, I had experienced months of pain in my right hip, so much that I couldn't walk more than 50 yards without it becoming so uncomfortable that I'd have to stop. The stretching that I had been doing wasn't helping. Nothing I had been doing was helping. I came to the studio because I believed Pilates was going to help me feel better.
"And it worked. I worked. Dawn has taken me through every type of exercise on every piece of equipment, getting my body to move better. She keeps me focused and works me hard. I do each exercise exactly as she says.
"Two weeks before the ski trip, I went on a hike that was 22,000 steps, and I did the whole hike without having recurrence of that hip pain.
"On the ski trip, I was doing the Black Diamond mogul field and no problems at all – and I'm 67 year old! I skied from 9 in the morning until 3:30 in the afternoon and didn't get fatigued. One thing that stood out is that I was finally able to coordinate both sides of my body, getting each side to do what it needed to, and in skiing like this, each side needs to be doing something different.
“I realize now that all of those simple, simple, simple maneuvers that I'd done in Pilates lessons thousands of times had paid off. That's it. And that was just the first six months. I feel better. I move better. And I want to keep moving better.”
David's success and story earned a free private lesson with Studio Owner Holly Holland.
Harriette Friedlander, a retired non-profit executive, won second place (a free group class) in our “Toast to '23” holiday contest with her transformation story.
"I took my first Pilates class when I was in my mid-60s as part of an effort to improve my posture. After starting with restorative Pilates, I graduated to regular classes. As much as I loved them, I knew that the sessions weren't doing what I needed to deal with osteoporosis.
"Then I discovered Holly's Pilates Village. I was so encouraged by the Buff Bones program (now Bone Strong Pilates & Yoga) at the studio. I got the guidance and direction I needed to focus on my health. Then I discovered CoreAlign. Doing it made me feel so free. Unfortunately a trapped nerve in my back and arthritis in my knees made CoreAlign too painful for me to continue. I needed a knee replacement. I started working privately with Teresa Willis who got me ready for the surgery. The training helped me ace the surgery and walk out of the rehab facility without a walker two weeks after the operation.
"I started back with Pilates slowly. I met with Jessica Goldstein several times to learn how to adapt the workouts to my scoliosis curves. I started back with the Bone Strong classes, but I also wanted to get back to the balance and posture work that I had enjoyed so much on the CoreAlign. I started working with Tiffany Clayton to get ready. She is wonderful at finding what works for my body each day. We have been working steadily on CoreAlign exercises. My pain level is so much less, and now I feel ready to go into a CoreAlign class again.
“What I have observed is how all the teachers at the studio work as a real team. I don't feel I would have gotten this level of help anywhere else. My bone density has increased 20% in the last two years. I call that a win!”
Pilates Apprentice Teacher Sheila Heller has earned Level 1 Instructor status in the Pilates for Neurological Conditions methods. Sheila recently completed course work through the Neuro Studio, which helps Pilates teachers, physical therapists, and other health professionals gain skills to assist people with neurological disorders, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. The Neuro Studio integrates brain science with exercise to enhance performance and improve neurological function.
Sheila's achievement expands the outreach potential of this important work at Holly's Pilates Village. Studio Owner Holly Holland, the only Level 2 (Advanced) Pilates for Neurological Conditions Instructor in Kentucky, was recently accepted into the Level 3 (Mentorship) program offered through the Neuro Studio. Only 7 teachers from around the world were invited to participate in the year-long certification program.
