Equipment Connections
Mary German

When people come to the studio for their free assessment, many ask how long they would have to work on the mat before starting to work on the equipment.

They are surprised to hear that the Cadillac was originally a hospital bed with the metal frame build around it and spring attachments to assist with the work.  The original clients were rehabilitating from wartime injuries. 

When I studied with Mary Bowen last spring, (an original student of Joseph Pilates and now a Pilates elder), she shared her story with me.  Constant back pain during her teens and early twenties, led her to travel into New York twice a week to Joseph's studio for Pilates.  Joseph had recommended three times a week; however, she had to commute into New York and could only come twice a week.

Mary Bowen started her Pilates practice on the Reformer.  Joseph Pilates didn't have mat classes at his studio.  Mat exercises were added gradually into routines as people gained strength and understanding.

We work the Equipment Connections as Joseph Pilates studio did, empowering people to use the equipment.  We find the results amazing.

Comments from Students of our Equipment Connections Class

After many years of mat classes, I am seeing faster and stronger results using the Pilates Equipment. They make me sweat and give me an intense workout.  Very encouraging and FUN!

Robin Leslie

You can feel the muscles working more in equipment classes.  ...the equipment classes have quickly advanced my mind/body connection with Pilates.

 Anne Hayes

What a great addition to the mat exercise!

Rita Novak

Class Dates and Times

Mat Work Foundations

Dates: October 26^th, 27^th, 28^th, 2007
Hours: Friday, 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Saturday, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm, Sunday, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Cost:  $430 CDN (course tuition), $50 CDN (manual and syllabus)

Anatomy Primer

Dates: November 16^th, 17^th, 2007

Hours: Friday, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Saturday, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Cost:  $345 CDN (course tuition)

Mat Work Intermediate & Advanced

Dates: February 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 2008

Hours:  Friday, 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Saturday, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm,

Sunday, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Cost:  $420 CDN (course tuition), $50 CDN (manual and syllabus)

Join LWP for Cancer  Walk

Registration for the Canadian Cancer Society Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer is now open!

Join us Sunday, November 4 at Oakville Place Mall as we unite in the fight against breast cancer.

The event will once again start at 7:30 a.m. with registration and a light breakfast provided by Tim Hortons. Opening ceremonies will begin at 8:45 a.m. where we will honour breast cancer survivors with the starting Victory Lap. Then at 9 a.m., participants will lace up their sneakers and take to Oakville Place’s indoor track for the 5-kilometre walk. A 1-kilometre Family Fun Walk will encourage young children to follow in their parents’ footsteps in helping to find a cure.

Providing musical entertainment once again this year is Oakville’s own The Last Minute Band. Also joining in the fun is Jazzercise for a pre-walk warm up and face painting by Sheridan College.

To register now, visit www.cancer.ca and at the Oakville Unit office 635 Fourth Line Unit 51  (Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or (905) 845-5231.

New this year: there is a $10 registration fee for each participant. This fee is payable upon registration. Children 12 years of age and younger and breast cancer survivors will not be required to cover the fee.  If registering online, the fee can only be paid using a credit card. Cash, cheque and debit registration fees can be made at the Oakville Unit office.

Participants aged 14 and younger that raise $35 or more will receive a special Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer prize!

Adults who raise $100 or more will receive the official Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer water bottle-perfect for staying hydrated on the track! 

If you have any questions about registration for the 2007 Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer, please feel free to call (905) 845-5231.  

Together. Strong. Let’s Make Cancer History.

Fall Blessings and Thanksgiving  from LWP Staff

In this beautiful fall season we have the gorgeous outdoor trails around the studio and the wonderful local produce from the area farmers to be thankful for. The Living Well Pilates staff has prepared a fall menu for you to enjoy with your  loved ones.  These soups are so satisfying and tasty that I prepared a large batch of each and froze individual servings for quick lunches. The coleslaw recipe also freezes well!

Our walks have now expanded to include a long 1/2 day hike every third Tuesday of the month. Hopefully you can join us on October 16th for our first hike and picnic at Kelso. Please let us know if you plan to attend.

The fall schedule has been very busy for everyone and a few of you have make ups to do. Keep in mind that the 6:30 AM Early Bird class on Tuesday will probably always have a few spots available for make ups and is multi-level. Master class is the only class not available for make up since it is advanced+; however, we are hoping your goal is to train to the next level and reach the Master class.

Blessings,
Mary German
Studio Director

 New Classes / New Times at LWP

New Classes

Pre-Natal Pilates - Exercise to improve posture, balance, co-ordination and body awareness during the anatomical changes of pregnancy, with emphasis on strengthening low back , abdominals and pelvic floor muscles. Combined with conditioning and toning for the whole body, prepares for the later months of pregnancy, child birth and the demands of motherhood after birth.

Pilates on the Ball - Balls add the element of play into this dynamic class which stimulates postural reflexes and conditions the deep supportive muscles of the spine while working through strengthening and flexibility movements to  condition the whole body.

Master Classes (Advanced+) - Full classical exercises. Instructor approval required.  If interested,  please inquire at the front desk or with a LWP instructor.

New Times

Early Bird Morning Pilates (Multi-level) - Wake up your muscles with Pilates at 6:30 AM.  You will be set for the day!

Noon Break Pilates (Multi-level) - Energize your body during the work day with Pilates at 12:15 PM (45 minute class).  Keep productive throughout the whole day and into the evening hours with a refreshing mid day session.

Body Harmonics Pilates Instructor Training at LWP

Pilates has steadily continued to grow since its conception by Joseph Pilates. Although these days it may seem more like a “fad” because of its present popularity, Pilates will always be a modality for health, empowering clients to live well physically, mentally, with spirit. 

Instructors who are committed to the health and well being of clients, are needed.  They will join a group of professional movement educators  who improve the health and well being of those they serve.

Living Well Pilates is a licensed affiliate of Body Harmonics, Toronto.  Body Harmonics Pilates Instruction Certification is scheduled to be held at the Living Well Pilates Oakville studio, October through November during 2007.

The courses and the cost to the participants are the same as those held at Body Harmonics, Toronto (see left panel for details). The instructor is Mary German, Living Well Pilates Studio Director.

For the full curriculum offering, view the Living Well Pilates and the Body Harmonics websites.  

Company Wellness Programmes and Benefits

Do you know if your company sponsors a Wellness Programme?  Having a healthy staff is financially rewarding for a company--absenteeism decreases, productivity increases, morale heightens, well being threads through staff’s work, home, family life. The greatest asset a business has is its staff.

As businesses become more aware of the benefits of Pilates, it is being incorporated into these Programmes. They generally include membership to gyms, fitness centres, clubs or allocating a space onsite if the company is large enough. Different health/healing modalities such as chiropractic and massage therapies, programmes for stress reduction, drug addiction, grieve counseling, etc., are usually also included.

Insurance companies will also approve Pilates when recommended by a physician, physical therapist, or chiropractor.  At LWP, we work with the  medical staff if there are existing issues that need to be addressed.

FALL MENU

Here is a bountiful fall menu to delight in the season’s fresh and locally grown produce. Multiple servings of vegetables and fruits is easy this season.

Protein from vegetable sources is healthy for you and good for the environment.  Here are two soup recipes--one with chick peas (garbanzo beans) and one with lentils for the base--which provide for your needed macronutrients of protein, carbohydrate and fat from vegetable sources. Each also provides five to six different vegetables within the stock, giving you a wide array of micronutrients within one dish.

Salad dressings are easy to make and taste the best when home made.  Many variations can be adapted from the Everyday Vinaigrette.  Use darker leaf and different coloured vegetables for more micronutrient content in your servings.

The cornbread recipe provides a change in our diet from wheat to corn. Rice or soy milk can be used instead of dairy. Another useful substitution for an egg—1 tblsp of ground flax seed with water to moisten.  It cooks the best to a crispy-crust when baked in a cast iron pan

This is the season for apples.  Picking your own is the best, with several local Milton farms to choose from.  The Baked Apples with Maple Yogurt Sauce is high in zinc and potassium, while low in fat.

Spiced Chickpeas and Vegetable Soup
Healthy Lentil Soup
Freezer Coleslaw
Everyday Vinaigrette
Baked Apples with Maple Yogurt Sauce
Basic Cornbread

Spiced Chickpeas and Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 large carrot, chopped

1 large potato, chopped

1 zucchini, chopped

5 knobs frozen spinach or 1 cup frozen peas

1 cup fresh or frozen corn

410 g canned chickpeas, drained

2 tsp curry powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tbs tomato paste

1 litre water

2 vegetable stock cubes

chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

3 to 4 tbs olive oil

In a pot, sauté onion, garlic until soft. Add carrot, potato and sauté for 2-3 min. Stir in curry powder, cumin and cook for 2 min. Stir in tomato paste, chickpeas, water and stock. Bring to the boil, lower the heat and simmer for 20 min or until vegetables are tender. Stir in spinach/peas, zucchini and corn and cook for 5 min.

Reduce 2/3 of the soup to a thick liquid in food processor and mix with chunky remainder. Serve garnished with fresh cilantro.

 (each serving provides 1 point WW)

Back to recipes

Healthy Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb dried lentils

1 large onion, chopped

2 to 3 carrots, chopped

2 ripe tomatoes, peeled and diced

2 stalks of celery, chopped

1 bunch fresh spinach, chopped

1 small can of tomato sauce or tomato juice

½ tsp dried oregano

Fresh chopped parsley

Grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

3 tbs olive oil

Wash lentils well and drain in a colander. In a large pot add 2 tbs olive oil and sauté onion, carrots, tomatoes, celery. Simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes, add lentils, tomato sauce and enough water to cover lentils and top it off with 2 inches.  Add seasoning and simmer for about 1 hour or until lentils are very tender. Add spinach and cook for another 10 minutes. Stir in remaining olive oil. Garnish with chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese. For a complete meal, serve with French or Italian crusty bread and a salad.

Back to recipes

Freezer Coleslaw

1 Med head cabbage

1 tsp salt (sprinkle over cabbage, let stand 1 hr)

Squeeze cabbage dry

Chop: 3 stalks celery

1/2 green pepper

1 small onion

1 carrot

Boil the following 1 min and cool (pour over chopped vegetables)

1/2 cup water

1 cup whit vinegar

2 cups sugar

1 tsp celery seed

Put in freezer container and freeze

Back to recipes

Everyday Vinaigrette

Salad dressings are very easy to make, taste much better and are less expensive than store bought. I often add variations, be creative and experiment - especially with fresh herbs.

 In small measuring cup, bowl or jar with screw top, combine oil, lemon juice, water, garlic, mustard, salt and pepper; mix well.

Back to recipes

Baked Apples with Maple Yogurt Sauce

When choosing apples for baking, look for a large, firm, tall apple such as the Idared or the Northern Spy. For a juicier apple, the Mutsu also makes an excellent baked apple. If choosing medium-sized apple, the tender sweet McIntoch requires a shorter cooking time and only 1/4 cup (50 mL) sugar.

Maple Yogurt Sauce:

Core apples; remove top inch (2.5 cm) of peel. Make a shallow cut through skin around centre of each apple to prevent skin from bursting. Place apples upright in baking dish or pie plate.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, raisins, cinnamon and nutmeg; spoon into centers of each apple. Add water to cover bottom of dish. Bake, uncovered, in 375 F (190 C) oven for 25 to 30 minutes for less firm apples, and up to 50 minutes for firm varieties, or until apples are tender when pierced with toothpick.

Maple yogurt sauce: In a bowl, combine yogurt and maple syrup. Pour over baked apples.

Back to recipes

Basic Cornbread

One cup of corn meal

One egg

Enough rice milk or soy milk to make batter very thin (about one cup)

½ tsp of baking soda

½ tsp of baking powder

Back to recipes

Living Well Pilates

Pilates For All Bodies - Studio: (905) 847-0707 Office: (905) 849-5764 - Call us today!