 If you know me, you know a high emphasis is placed on quality instruction in our studio. Which means we tend to have higher than average credential standards for our instructors.
What does this mean? It means that ALL the Pilates instructors at The Pilates Center have completed at least a 500+ hour, comprehensive and 3rd-party certified teacher training program. They are fully educated on all apparatus and repertoire fundamental to advanced level. Why is this important? In the Pilates industry, there are no governing requirements to call yourself a Pilates Instructor which results in varying degrees of quality instruction studio to studio. And working out on a reformer doesn't necessarily mean you are doing Pilates. For the client, working with a highly trained instructor translates to not only a SAFER experience, but a better experience. So, I’m particularly excited to announce a new face you’ll be seeing in the studio. Meet Grace O’Gara! Grace had a love for movement and fitness from a young age, and grew up taking karate and kickboxing classes, as well as dancing at Atlanta Ballet. However, it was not until she entered Texas Christian University School of Classical and Contemporary Dance and was required to take Pilates for her BFA that Grace found a love for Pilates and the functional understanding of her body and movement it offers. TCU’s School for Classical & Contemporary Dance is an extremely competitive program. It’s more than 650 hours long, limited to ten participants per cohort, and is by application only. The program's comprehensive training includes history, philosophy, ethics, functional anatomy, and physical practice. Grace is comprehensively trained in Mat, Reformer, Chair, Cadillac/Tower, Ladder Barrel, and various other props. She is well versed in both Contemporary and Classical systems, and has been highly trained in how to manage physical conditions or injuries that require modifications or deletions from practice. Grace is graduating in May of 2023 with her BFA in Ballet, BA in Political Science, and Pilates Teaching Certificate, and is so excited to be starting her professional Pilates journey with The Pilates Center.
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 Plant Powered Pilates
Whether you made a new year’s resolution to eat healthier or not, we could ALL do with adding more vegetables in our diet! In 2022, the CDC revealed that only 9% of Americans eat the recommended amount of vegetables per day–which is a measly 2.5 cups for women, and 3.5 cups for men. WOW. This means that 91% of Americans are missing out on the AMAZINGNESS that is the humble vegetable. Seriously. Check out the known benefits of eating vegetables:
Vegetables just don’t get enough good press these days. Farmers don’t exactly have budgets to market vegetables as superfoods, but honestly EVERY VEGETABLE is a superfood! And usually at a fraction of the cost of things marketed as superfoods (hello acai bowl, I’m looking at you). In my opinion, every vegetable in the produce section should have it's own advertisements! Okay okay, I’ll get off my soap box. I know it can be hard for people to incorporate vegetables, especially if you don’t know how to use them. Many of us grew up being fed boiled vegetables, which is one of the least tasty ways to enjoy them. But the preparation options are limitless! In my own nutrition journey, I aim to make vegetables the MAIN course of every meal, not just a side item. Try filling your plate with 70% vegetables with a side of protein and complex carbohydrate like quinoa or sweet potatoes. I promise, your body will thank you! So this month I’m sharing a recipe with you, based on the very tasty Mexican casserole, but in a veggie-full version that even the kids should enjoy. Check it out here, and let me know what you think! Do you have a favorite veggie-packed recipe? I’d like to hear it! |
Heather GradkeI'm BASI Faculty and Certified Pilates Instructor by day, somewhat competent mom by night. I am married to the love of my life and somewhat charismatic Rustin Gradke. I have 4 kids that are wonderful sometimes but mostly they just eat a lot. I'm a lover of God and movement and the occasional bowl of queso. Archives
May 2025
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