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Healing Through Movement: How Pilates Carried Me Through Cancer
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What is a Pilates Body? A Deeper Look at the Practice and Its Purpose
“In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference. In 20 sessions you’ll see the difference. And in 30 sessions, you’ll have a whole new body.”
Pilates Tips from a Master Trainer
What is a Pilates Body? A Deeper Look at the Practice and Its Purpose
Joseph Pilates believed that his method—originally called Contrology—was a marathon, not a sprint. Pilates is not a quick-fix solution for weight loss. Rather, it’s a practice designed to connect the mind and body through intentional, mindful movement.
You may have heard the saying: “In 10 sessions, you’ll feel the difference; in 20, you’ll see the difference; and in 30, you’ll have a whole new body.” This idea reflects the power of consistency. Over time, Pilates transforms not only how you feel, but also how your entire body functions and moves.
There are countless exercises that support this mind-body connection, but here are a few foundational movements from your regular classes that highlight the guiding principles of Pilates: Whole Body Health, Whole Body Commitment, and Breath.
Breathing
Breath is the foundation of everything we do in Pilates. It should be three-dimensional—you should feel it expand not just in your chest, but also into the sides and back of your lungs (posterolaterally). This type of breath activates the transversus abdominis, the deep abdominal muscle that supports pelvic stability and core engagement.
Roll Up
The Roll Up is a fundamental flexion-based movement found throughout intermediate and advanced Pilates. It encourages full articulation of the spine, promoting mobility and agility, while also targeting the rectus abdominis, a key muscle in supporting spinal health.
Swimming
Swimming targets the multifidus and erector spinae—muscles essential for posture. In our modern world, rounded shoulders and poor alignment, especially in the thoracic spine, are all too common. Strengthening the muscles along the back of the body is crucial for achieving and maintaining a neutral spine. Prone exercises like Swimming help isolate and strengthen these muscles without compensation from others.
Pilates Push-Up
While isolating muscle groups is important, integrating the whole body is just as vital. The Pilates Push-Up combines spinal articulation, upper-body strength, and lower-body stabilization. It challenges proprioception (your sense of body awareness) and encourages self-correction while coordinating multiple elements of movement.
So, What Is a “Pilates Body”?
A Pilates body isn’t defined by how it looks—but by how it functions. It’s a body that moves with intention, maintains neutral alignment, demonstrates proprioception, and has the ability to dissociate (move one part independently of another) as well as integrate movement as a whole. It's a body that strives for health, balance and resilience, and supports you through all of life's joys and challenges.
Written By
Laressa Mems
Club Pilates Master Trainer
Laressa was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. She later moved to Detroit, where she attended Wayne State University and graduated cum laude in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Dance. She became a Certified STOTT Pilates Instructor in March 2012 and has since built a strong career in the field. Mentoring other Pilates instructors and teacher training participants is both a strength and a passion for Laressa. She believes that truly great instructors not only teach exercises effectively but also understand how to observe and adapt to each unique body that they teach.
Member Success Story
Healing Through Movement: How Pilates Carried Me Through Cancer
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- Joseph Pilates
Our Pilates Body Challenge isn’t about aesthetics—it’s about how you feel. In a society that often emphasizes appearance, it’s easy to lose sight of the true foundation of Pilates. Yes, physical changes can occur, but the heart of the method lies in cultivating awareness, connection, and purpose in every movement—not just moving for movement's sake.
The real transformation lies not in what you see on the outside, but in what you feel on the inside.
When I was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer just nine short months after my very first Club Pilates class, I was heartbroken on many levels.
I joined Club Pilates Gramercy in early 2023, hoping it would give my rather stagnant fitness routine the boost it needed. And I was right! I instantly fell in love with the practice and studio, as if this workout was designed for me. I was making huge strides, quickly reaching 100+ classes, and seeing both physical and mental results.
Once I was diagnosed later in the year, I was propelled into long days of diagnostic tests, surgeries and chemotherapy. With so many life changes, I needed to focus on what would remain the same. For me, that was Pilates.
I made a promise to myself to remain an active member of the studio throughout my entire treatment, and with my doctor’s unwavering blessing, the incredible support from instructors, and my own inflexible perseverance, I have been able to keep that promise.
Moving my body every week in class has been a crucial part of my healing journey. I have been able to prove to myself that, yes, you can still do that full teaser and, yes, you can grab those five-pound weights today. The most important lesson, however, has been to breathe...that will always give you the strength to keep going.
How has your experience with Club Pilates supported you during your cancer journey?
Honestly, by not treating me like a cancer patient. It was the one place I could go (and still go!) where I was encouraged to challenge my body and experience my true strength, both physical and mental.
What do you love most about Club Pilates?
The instructors! Specifically Bella, Alex and Irina - they have been with the studio since I started, so they have witnessed my whole journey. They all have a way of making each movement feel intentional. Their guidance not only builds strength but also fosters confidence and, for me, pure joy (even when it hurts!).
Pilates Tips from a Master Trainer
What is Pilates Body? A Deeper Look at the Pratice and Its Purpose
Laressa was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. She later moved to Detroit, where she attended Wayne State University and graduated cum laude in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Dance. She became a Certified STOTT Pilates Instructor in March 2012 and has since built a strong career in the field. Mentoring other Pilates instructors and teacher training participants is both a strength and a passion for Laressa. She believes that truly great instructors not only teach exercises effectively but also understand how to observe and adapt to each unique body that they teach.
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