Certified Trainer Mary Lutes shares a quote by Joseph Pilates, ‘In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 sessions you’ll see the difference, and in 30 sessions you’ll be hooked for life!’
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Executive Director
LARSO
As we linger in a time of uncertainty and staying inside, the local senior centers are making an effort to engage those over 50 to take care of their health.
The team believes that having the blessing of your healthcare provider is important in new ventures. They also want to make sure as the months drone on, especially over the holidays, that clear eyes look ahead to health overall.
Local Certified Trainer Mary Lutes says that exercise is known to improve the immune system and believes one of the ways to get there is by Pilates. Pilates also is believed to lower stress. It seems that both goals may easily be accomplished during the pandemic with a little help.
“I love teaching Pilates because helping people is so important to me,” Lutes said. “The connection that is built between student and teacher is so rewarding.”
Prior to the pandemic, Lutes taught Pilates at both senior center locations. Now the team has joined once again and with the help of Jean Gindreau of PAC 8, have created “Pilates in a Pandemic”. The $15 DVD allows adults to undertake the task of improving one’s own health. The goal here is to generate the same positive feedback that took place before the pandemic began in our lives.
Comments heard from Pilates participants before the pandemic include “getting up from chairs having less pain”, “resuming gardening is easier” and “recovering from surgery is easier”.
“Pilates will give you your life back,” Lutes said. “Pilates relieves pain, improves flexibility, improves balanced muscle development, relieves stress and improves balance.”
After watching a DVD and trying Pilates for herself, Lutes said that she knew she wanted to become an instructor. She not only decided to teach but completed training in all forms of Pilates including Mat, Reformer, Chair, MOTR, Anatomy and Trapeze Table. She went on to complete more than 600 hours of training including in person classroom training, personal practice, student teaching and observation.
The completion of many hours of this training allowed her to test for PMA-CPT (Pilates Method Alliance Certified Pilates Teacher), the highest level of certification in Pilates. She is now a Master Instructor and had the pleasure of starting a Pilates studio and making the art available in our community. She has taught instructors who continue to teach the method and went on to design and continue to teach a gentle Pilates class to seniors at the centers in Los Alamos and White Rock until now.
The DVD is available for $15 and includes free delivery for those who live or work in Los Alamos and White Rock. Pandemic Pilates is the second DVD put out by the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization (LARSO). The first DVD Stay Home, Stay Safe, Stay Balanced by Loretta Stubbs also is available for $15. The fee covers the cost of printing and provides $5 for the instructor for each one sold. To reserve a copy, call 505.662.8920 and leave a message with your name and number.
