80s Week
Join Us for a Totally Tubular Pilates Party!
Wellness
Supporting Mind & Body in Peri/Menopause
Pilates Tips
Practice Your Pilates Breath for Stress Relief
Pilates Tips from a Master Trainer
Practice Your Pilates Breath for Stress Relief
Pilates is more than just physical exercise—it challenges both your body and your mind. Unlike a mindless workout where you can simply go through the motions, Pilates asks you to slow down, focus, and move with precision. That attention to detail is where the real work—and the real benefits—begin.
One of the most overlooked aspects of movement is breathing. Breath is not only a basic principle of Pilates, but also one of its guiding principles. Breathing initiates movement, engages muscles more deeply, and connects the body and mind. Without it, it’s difficult to find the proper alignment and flow.
When was the last time you paused for a full, intentional breath? Try it now—and notice how your body responds. Below are a few familiar Pilates movements you can practice at home, focusing on breath to encourage calm and relieve stress.
Mermaid
This movement promotes lateral flexion (side bending) of the spine—a range of motion we often skip in daily life. By practicing it, you gently lengthen the body, release stored tension, and restore balance. Side bending also creates space for deeper breathing, which naturally calms the nervous system.
Spine Stretch
This movement focuses on flexion (forward bending) of the spine. For those without injuries (such as herniations or osteoporosis), this is a wonderful way to awaken the middle back, where stress and stiffness often collect. Opening this area helps you feel lighter, less compressed, and more connected to your breath. If sitting on the floor feels tight, try this on a chair or other elevated surface for comfort.
Spine Twist
This movement encourages rotation of the spine, a motion we naturally use in daily life—like checking a blind spot while driving. When done with breath and control, twisting reduces stress held in the neck and shoulders by allowing the spine to take the work. The result: a feeling of release and freedom through the upper body.
Swan
This movement emphasizes extension (arching) of the spine, something we rarely do in our forward-leaning, screen-focused lives. Extension not only strengthens and stretches the spine but also opens the chest for deeper breathing, which is especially soothing when stress tightens the shoulders. Practicing Swan helps counteract slouching and invites both energy and calm.
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.
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80s Week at Participating Locations
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Stress often shows up in the body as tension—tight shoulders, headaches, muscle aches, even digestive discomfort. Something as simple as mindful breathing can help release that tension and bring us back into balance. In Pilates, we practice three-dimensional breath: expanding not just the chest and shoulders, but also the lower back and sides of the lungs (known as posteriolateral breathing). This kind of breath anchors you in the present moment and quiets the mental “to-do list” that often distracts us.
Hey, Pilates Posse!
We’ve been cranking up the boombox, pulling out the leg warmers, and turning the studio into a totally radical time machine… because we're celebrating 80s Week!
Cues: Inhale to grow taller through the spine. Exhale as you bend sideways, as if you’re sliding between two panes of glass. Pause here for a few deep breaths, feeling the stretch and length along the side of the body.
Cues: Inhale to sit tall and lengthen the spine. Exhale as you round forward, folding over the thighs as though resting over a ball. Keep the lower spine grounded to shift the focus to the upper back, where tension is most common.
Cues: Inhale to grow tall like a tree reaching toward the sky. Exhale as you rotate the spine, keeping the lower body stable. Try this seated or standing—especially if you spend much of your day sitting.
Cues: Inhale to lift the chest and lengthen the spine upward. Exhale as you slowly lower back down. Focus on breathing into the ribs and chest to release shoulder tension and create a sense of spaciousness.
Wellness
Hormonal changes in midlife impact every part of a woman’s body, from brain function and sleep to weight, bone health, mood, and vaginal health. In this webinar, Dr. Kathleen Jordan, Chief Medical Officer at Midi Health, will share how hormonal shifts affect the mind and body and the solutions that can help you feel balanced, strong, and symptom-free. At the end of the webinar, guests will be able to get their questions answered by an expert about all things menopause.
OctOBER 14th | 4pm pst
Join Midi Health for: Supporting Mind & Body in Peri/Menopause Virtual Webinar
You pulse, plank, and stretch to feel your strongest. But if you’re dealing with fatigue, brain fog, low mood, or sleep struggles, that strength can start to slip.
Strength isn’t just what you build in class—it’s how you care for what’s going on inside your body.
That’s where Midi comes in. They provide virtual, clinician-designed care for perimenopause and midlife symptoms—so you feel just as supported outside the studio as you do in it.
Here’s Why It Matters:
Starting around age 35, women naturally lose 1-2% of muscle each year– and the rate speeds up over time
Up to 71% of women in perimenopause experience joint discomfort.
In the first years after menopause, women can lose up to 20% of bone mass.
Club Pilates believes that living better for longevity, quality of life, and holistic health is key. That’s why we are so excited to announce our partnership with Midi Health and help you get the care you deserve.
Stripes, polka dots, zig-zags, leopard print — Saturday is all about mixing patterns like a total fashion rebel. The wilder the combo, the better the vibe.
Join us for a jammin’ Pilates sesh with mega 80s hits, our epic photo booth, and one last stash of 80s freebies before we wrap up this bodacious week.
Break out the studs, leather, black eyeliner, and denim jackets — Thursday is Punk Rock Day, baby!
Channel your inner Joan Jett or Billy Idol and bring that rebellious spirit to the Reformer. We’ve got the loud beats, the photo booth for your moody rockstar poses, and 80s freebies that’ll make you wanna start a (Pilates) mosh pit.
Calling all band babes and rock gods — Wednesday is Graphic Tee Day! Dust off that fave 80s band tee or anything with righteous throwback vibes.
We’re jamming to the gnarliest playlist, snapping pics in our radical photo booth, and passing out free 80s swag so good, you’ll wanna shout “Totally awesome!”
Leg warmers? Check. Sweatbands? Check. Bright, bodacious unitards? Double check. Tuesday is Aerobics Day, and we’re going full-on Jane Fonda fabulous.
Join us in your fiercest fitness gear for a totally radical Pilates class. We’ll pump up the jam with epic 80s tracks, snap some wicked pics in the photo booth, and hook you up with retro freebies that’ll make your workout even more gnarly.
The brighter, the better! This Friday is Neon Glow Day, and we’re lighting up the studio with highlighter hues and major retro flair.
Come dressed in your most electric colors — we’ll dim the lights, crank the synth beats, and snap glowing pics in the photo booth. Plus, grab some rad '80s goodies before you bounce.
"Change happens through movement and movement heals."
– Joseph Pilates
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.
Enter to Win
80s Week Member Sweepstakes
Share Your Favorite Pilates Power Move For The Chance To Win!
In honor of 80s Week, Club Pilates is throwing a Throwback Celebration and YOU’RE INVITED!
Share your favorite Pilates Power Move on Instagram or TikTok and be entered to win a trip to the exclusive 80s Week Celebration Weekend in Los Angeles - airfare and lodging included!
Follow @ClubPilates on IG or @ClubPilatesNational on TikTok
Post a Video or Photo of your favorite Pilates move
Use the hashtag #ClubPilates80sSweepstakes
Tag @ClubPilates on IG or @ClubPilatesNational on TikTok
How to Enter on Instagram or TikTok:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Odds of winning will depend on the total number of entries received. Void where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes only open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C. or Canada (excluding Quebec) and Puerto Rico, 18 years of age and older. ARV of each prize: $1,600. Grand Prize winners must travel to Los Angeles, California between October 24-26, 2025 or will otherwise forfeit his/her right to receive the grand prize.
Subject to full Official Rules (clubpilates.com/ClubPilates80sSweepstakes). Sponsor: Club Pilates Franchise SPV, LLC, 17877 Von Karman Ave., Ste. 100, Irvine, CA 92614.
Click here to view complete rules and eligibility requirements.
CHECK IT OUT!