Pilates “Has Become Part of Who I Am”
Nina Wardrip
Shelley Shaughnessy
Pilates "Has Become Part of Who I Am Now”: Why Pilates Veterans Keep Practicing Year After Year!
Developing a Pilates practice takes persistence as you learn how to engage the correct muscle groups for each exercise in harmony with your breath. But continuing a Pilates practice for more than a decade? That's when you know you've made Pilates a habit of a lifetime.
Two veterans of Holly's Pilates Village recently shared their insights after marking milestone anniversaries this year. Nina Wardrip, a retired healthcare executive, now in her 15th year of practice, first started working at Studio Owner Holly Holland's home and has continued at the studio locations.
“My friend Janet was the one who convinced me to start taking Pilates lessons,” Nina says. "I was so apprehensive, and I told her that I don’t think I’m a good candidate for it since I’m not that flexible like her. However, she told me to give it a try and I did.
"I met Holly at her home studio and she made me feel at ease right away. She made sure that we are doing the exercises the right way so as not to hurt ourselves. I always tease her that she must have eyes on the back of her head because she can see everything we are doing wrong and correcting us the right away. Since that first day, I felt that I was doing the right thing to take care of myself and my overall health.
Nina says she used to see a chiropractor monthly for chronic low back pain. Since she started Pilates, she has not found a need to return. Over the years, Nina has worked with a series of partners and has enjoyed the camaraderie and motivation they provide. Whereas Pilates once helped her deal with work-life stresses, her practice now helps her keep up with an active puppy and grandchildren who play sports on traveling teams.
“My friends ask me how I stay active with my age,” Nina says. "And I always tell them, ‘It’s Pilates and Holly that enable me to live the lifestyle I have today.'”
Healthcare executive Shelley Shaughnessy considers starting her regular Pilates practice 10 years ago the “best decision ever.” Over the years, she has worked with a series of partners and now has solo sessions virtually.
“I love my hour a week with Holly,” she says. "It truly has become part of who I am and how I focus on my physical and mental well-being. Several years back I invested in home equipment, so even when I am not practicing with Holly, I am able to incorporate Pilates into my daily activity."
Shelley credits Pilates for improving her core strength, muscle tone, and flexibility. But she's also been amazed at how Pilates has guided her to better coordination, concentration, and stress reduction.
“As I have become more proficient in my practice, I have advanced to more challenging exercises that I honestly never thought I could do. This gives me a sense of accomplishment,” she says. “You don’t have to work out hard or lift heavy to see the benefits with Pilates. Small, precise movements are powerful.”
For someone beginning a Pilates practice, Shelley encourages people to consider working with a partner. “Early on,” she says, “having a Pilates buddy provided me both the social support and accountability that I needed.”
New Classes and Time Changes!
We've been making some changes to our classes this month! Here is the new lineup:
Jessica Goldstein has taken over CoreAlign at 10 a.m. on Mondays.
Reformer, Level 1-1.5, with Chrissy Leake has moved to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays.
Pilates Equipment, All Levels, with Tiffany Clayton is now at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays
Strengthen & Stretch, All Levels, with Tiffany Clayton is now at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Pilates Teacher Tiffany Clayton has earned Level 1 Instructor status in the Pilates for Neurological Conditions methods. Tiffany 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.
Tiffany and Pilates Apprentice Teacher Sheila Heller now are both enrolled in Level 2 (Advanced) Instructor training with the Neuro Studio. They aim to join Studio Owner Holly Holland, the only Level 2 (Advanced) Pilates for Neurological Conditions Instructor in Kentucky. Holly who is one of only 7 teachers worldwide who were invited to participate in the year-long Level 3 (Mentorship) program offered through the Neuro Studio.
Holly Holland Achieves Scar Treatment Certification
Studio Owner Holly Holland is now a certified MSTR® practitioner, providing innovative and effective therapeutic treatments of scar tissue. Developed by Alistair McLoughlin, the McLoughlin Scar Treatment Release system is a research-based method of releasing pain and restriction caused by scars from surgical intervention or trauma wounds. It can be extremely effective for long- or short-term scarring such as Caesarean section scars, hysterectomy scars, spinal surgery scars, and underlying scar tissue from surgery. There are additional applications for MSTR® for problems such as plantar fasciitis, restricted shoulder movement, Dupuytren’s contraction, and Axillary Web Syndrome.
Ellen Galbraith, a retired nurse, broke her left wrist in 2017 and had surgery to stabilize it. However, the hardware that doctors inserted tore a tendon in her wrist, requiring additional surgery to repair it in 2022. Ellen experienced numbness, pain, and restricted movement afterward and was eager to try the MSTR® system. Although it usually takes at least three treatments to experience changes – and more treatments might be necessary for large scars – Ellen felt relief after just one session.
“The tight area of the palm was looser and not as tight,” she reports. “My ring finger was 100% more mobile after treatment. The finger would not curl into my palm before treatment; now it does.”
After the third MSTR® treatment, Ellen continued to improve with better grip strength, more flexibility, and less numbness.
“I'm so glad that I took advantage of this process,” she says.
For more information about MSTR® treatment, contact Holly or Barry at the studio.
