As a Pilates teacher, I spend my days helping clients build bodies that are resilient, balanced, and strong. Lately, I’ve noticed a common theme in our sessions: the "toddler toll." Whether I’m working with a new mom navigating the 24/7 demands of an infant or a devoted grandmother who spent the weekend chasing a whirlwind three-year-old, the physical complaints are often the same—aching lower backs, strained shoulders, and "mommy hip.

Modern life has us spending hours looking down at phones, hunching over laptops, and sitting for long stretches of time. Over time, these habits can lead to what’s commonly called tech neck  and rounded shoulders—patterns of poor posture that place the head forward of the body and allow the shoulders to collapse inward. While these changes may seem subtle at first, they can have a big impact on how your body feels and functions. The good news? Pilates is a powerful, gentle, a

If you’ve been told you have “degenerative” changes in your knees, it’s easy to feel discouraged. Words like arthritis , wear and tear , or bone-on-bone  can make it sound like your knees are fragile—or that movement is risky. The truth is far less scary. Degenerative changes in the knee are very common, especially as we age. They don’t automatically mean pain, and they don’t mean you need to stop moving. In fact, the right kind  of movement is often one of the best things yo

In spite of what you often hear about Pilates being the go-to  solution for back pain, it’s important to gently pause and say this: not all Pilates exercises are appropriate for every spine. If you’re dealing with back pain or new symptoms, the very first step should always be checking in with your doctor and getting a clear imaging and diagnosis for your  specific situation. I’ve been teaching Pilates for over 22 years, and I’m also someone who lives in a complicated spine e

Good posture isn’t about standing stiff or forcing yourself to “sit up straight” all day. It’s about awareness, balance, and creating habits that support your body rather than strain it. The good news? Improving posture doesn’t require perfection—just small, mindful adjustments practiced consistently. What Causes Bad Posture? Most posture challenges develop gradually through everyday habits. 1. Device use (“tech neck”). Looking down at phones, tablets, and laptops pulls the

As we celebrate World Pilates Day, I find myself reflecting on the profound impact this practice has had, not only on my own life but...

In a society bombarded with (filtered) social media images of youthful perfection and cultural standards of beauty, it's easy to feel...

Do you often have a performance mindset when you workout? Do you often feel discouraged if you didn’t “bring it’ or couldn’t perform all...

Addressing this issue is way overdue for me. As a fitness professional I have tried to stay consistent with my messaging and focus on...

Action for Happiness created a "Mindful March" calendar to help us experience various ways to be present and fully immersed in the moment....

July is here! As Independence Day approaches it's nice to reflect on how fortunate I am to have been born in a country, which has granted...

February’s calendar published by Action for Happiness offers daily practices to cultivate and nurture friendships.  For the time...