Welcome to the second newsletter of the year while summer just keeps going on and on. It is still very hot to exercise in the studios especially in the afternoons so please be sure to stay well hydrated. We always have plenty of cold water available for you. This is especially important if you are coming straight from work and may not have had a chance to drink enough.

There is a new timetable with a new Monday 10.45 am class on it and some classes have advanced (well done to you!).  The new look timetable is on the "Classes" page.

 
We have new classes because of such high demand and a large waiting list. Most classes are very busy so we would remind you all that we need 24 hours notice of cancellation to allow people on the waiting list into classes.

The new classes mean that both studios are in use on Monday mornings and Wednesday and Thursday evenings and the car park may get very full at these times. Be prepared to park on Hatea Drive or on the side streets close by at these times.

Some years ago, I offered an early morning class at 7.15 am which was eventually cancelled as not enough people were interested. Carla would be prepared to offer this again if there was enough interest. It would need a minimum of eight booked so please let us know if that would be for you. It would be a more intermediate level class.

Carla, Val and I can always offer a personal Pilates session if you want to refine your mat work. However, at the moment, I don’t have any time slots left to offer Pilates apparatus training but can put you down on a waiting list if you want.

We also all have skills other than as Pilates instructors !! I am a physiotherapist (no longer practising) Carla is a very busy dance teacher and Val is a massage therapist and naturopath. Val is offering both these services at Hatea Drive on Monday afternoons and Wednesdays. She has business cards in the studios if you wish to contact her regarding this.

Winsor Pilates is well known world wide for marketing Pilates and offers various Pilates DVDs teaching mat and using various small equipment as well. It is the DVD series that I recommend as closest to the classical Pilates we offer at Northland Pilates.

It’s founder, Mari Winsor has just completed an Australasian tour and I had a fabulous workshop in Auckland with her last weekend. She’s no spring chicken but looks great ( she attributes this to Pilates, take note ! ) She is very down to earth, totally inspiring and very, very funny. We had a great afternoon of mat and apparatus work with her and I have learned lots of new stuff that I will be bringing into your classes and sharing with Val and Carla so they can too. I have posted a group photo of Maree and the twenty five instructors who trained with her that day on the top of this page. You can also see this latest newsletter there.

All classes have been working with balls over the last three weeks and we can get the green balls for $20 each if you enjoy them and can see yourself working with them at home. Just let us know and I will place an order.

Easter is just three weeks away and the studio will be shut for the long weekend after classes on Thursday March 28th and reopening for business as usual on Tuesday April 2nd. I will remind you nearer the date.

Happy New Year to you all and I wish you all the best for 2013. This newsletter is a little late owing to the holidays, my apologies.

There are even more holidays coming up very soon. Monday January 28th is a holiday and the studio will be closed, the same for Wednesday February 6th, we will be closed for Waitangi Day. I am taking a couple of days off towards the end of February and will let you know the dates later.

This is the time of year when resolutions are made, the most common new year resolution is getting some weight off and taking up some form of exercise. Unfortunately, only 17 % of people stick with such resolutions!! Lucky for us that we are already on the journey with Pilates especially with all the medical evidence pointing towards how beneficial exercise is.

We know that Pilates improves strength and flexibility, improves stamina and improves the function of the core which helps prevent back problems. It enhances body composition, encourages good posture and proper breathing patterns. It is also good for the mind with the focus and concentration it requires.

The latest research I have come across is how exercise can help improve brain function by helping the nerves conduct messages more effectively.

Pilates may further help with that. Australian research has shown that Pilates helps improve balance and coordination. Using our balance sensors in the brain, muscles and joints, it is a way of helping prevent stumbles and falls and the injuries associated with them. Hence all that work in standing at the end of class to challenge you.

It is very hard to keep track of everyone over the school holidays and I really try to keep up with when everyone will return but I strongly recommend you let me know when you plan to start back if you haven’t contacted me for a while. Even with the extra classes on the timetable thanks to Val and Carla, space is limited and classes are very full. The latest timetable follows.

I hope all of you who made it to the Christmas party had a great time once the bar situation was sorted out! Several people enquired about John’s chocolate pavlova and he has agreed to share his recipe with you. Let me know if you want it and I will send it to you.

Reminders

There are a few do’s and don’ts, the latest being no zips please. There is no place for zips on any Pilates gear, they damage the mats and the paint on the walls. They can also be very uncomfortable to lie or roll on.
The cancellation policy is 24 hours notice or you pay for the class.
Please turn your phones off.
Classes start on time.
 If you arrive late, please enter the class as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the others who are trying to focus. Please don't chat once class has begun.
Please bring a small towel to put under your head on the mat for hygeine reasons.
If you are hurt, it is your responsibility to let us know before class.
 If you don't let us know, you run the risk of aggravating your injury
All concession cards have an expiry date.
  A 10 session card has an expiry date of 4 months from the first session and a 4 session card has an expiry date of 2 months from the first session. We can accommodate holidays & illness when fixing expiry dates.

All bookings and cancellations are made through me even if I don't take your class My phone numbers are, 438 8289 or text 021 036 0448 or e mail. niki@northlandpilates.co.nz