a little over a year ago, i was training for a half marathon when i got my first-ever stress fracture and damage to multiple tendons and ligaments in my ankle.  ouch!  (but not so bad for over 25 years of running!)…  it took a loooong time for the tendons to heal, and i was very impatient.  while i wasn’t running, i spent a lot of time being grouchy reading articles about running form and injury prevention. i kept coming across runners talking about how pilates helped their running.  so i called cheryl from pure pilates studio in shrewsbury and signed up for my one-on-one introduction to pilates sessions.  i got hooked and i’ve been going ever since. now, if i skip a week, i can tell a difference in my running form.

i talked to cheryl about doing a group run followed by an intro-to-pilates session and she thought it was a great idea.  so, we are inviting you to hartshorne woods park on june 5, 2010 at 9 am for a run followed by a short pilates stretching and ab session specifially tailored to runners.  i hope you will join us – click here for more info

:: read on to find out more about pilates and cheryl frain ::

What is Pilates?

Pilates is a system of exercises created by its namesake founder, Joseph Hubertus Pilates.  Born 1880 in Germany, Joseph Pilates was a sickly child plagued with asthma, rheumatic fever and rickets.  Fascinated by muscle function and its connection with well-being, Joseph Pilates created an exercise program that involved the use of the entire body and promoted both flexibility and strength.  The entire system focuses on the core postural muscles which help keep the body balanced and which are essential to providing support for the spine.  Based on six core principles:  Concentration, Control, Centering, Precision, Breath, and Flow of Movement.  The Pilates Method of body conditioning has proven effective with injury prevention and recovery, improved alignment, enhanced breathing and circulation, increased strength, flexibility and balance, improved muscle tone, energy and mental concentration.

Cheryl Frain is owner of Pure Pilates Studio in Shrewsbury.  Cheryl has been studying and teaching The Pilates Method for over 10 years.  She was certified by the New York Pilates Studio Teacher Certification Program under First Generation Master Teacher Romana Kryzanowska.  Romana is one of a few still living who worked with Joseph Pilates himself.  Cheryl has also studied with Master teachers Ton Voogt and Michael Fritzke, and Director of Power Pilates, Bob Liekens.  She has attended workshops held by Ron Fletcher, Lolita San Miguel, Brooke Siler, Mari Winsor, and Colleen Glen.  Cheryl does most of her continuing education at Power Pilates in NY.  What Cheryl loves most about Pilates is the principles behind it, the emphasis on quality versus quantity, and the awareness that it gives people of their bodies.