As we journey through life, each decade brings its own set of challenges on one end, as well as opportunities for growth on the other, both physically and mentally.
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March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Nurse-Midwife and AFLP Pilates teacher Melissa Mazzarino has written about her personal journey of suffering endometriosis and how Pilates helped throughout her journey to gaining...
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“I am just grateful for the blessing of being able to live pain-free in my daily life and work” Minju is a representation of many of our clients who begin...
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Can I exercise during my pregnancy? Exercise during pregnancy benefits maternal health by improving fitness and quality of life and lowering the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes or hypertension. Women...
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Here is Ben’s knee and ankle matwork sequence, which provides a great way to build knee and ankle motion and control in all planes and ranges of movement to...
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Dear Reader: It’s time to inhale. Remember to breathe. Do you forget to breathe? I do. Constantly. Stressful day? Not breathing. Getting stuck in your thoughts? Definitely not breathing. One...
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Here is Kath’s 3D matwork challenge which provides a fun and progressively challenging matwork series that addresses all planes and ranges of movement to promote full-body activation. Beginners can...
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“The teachers I have worked with at Aligned For Life are all well trained, knowledgeable, have a sense of humour and know how to deal with me. A wonderful team.”...
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Kim began her Pilates journey with Aligned For Life Pilates in 2012, but has been practicing Pilates since 1998. Kim began Pilates per her sister’s encouragement; as a dancer, Kim’s...
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Caterina began Pilates with Aligned For Life in 2023, as she was looking for some low impact exercise to do during her pregnancy and to help with her post-partum life....
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John Anderton is chief executive and founder of Butterfly, a website and tech development agency. He lives in Melbourne. How did you get into Pilates, and how long have you...
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Here are some facts: 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over 50yrs, will sustain an osteoporotic fracture. So, if you’re in that age bracket, your odds are...
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A handstand asks a lot from your mind and body. The learning process will work your whole body, so it’s important to first prepare your wrists and shoulders for the...
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With winter upon us, the flu running rampant, and COVID still lingering in the community, we’re all looking for ways to ward off the winter sniffles. One great way to...
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At Aligned for Life, we’ve noticed an interesting trend: a large number of our clients are somehow related to each other! In fact, a recent count found that more than...
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*Cue the theme song from Rocky* Now, I want to hear you say it: “I’m a desk athlete!” Not loud enough! “I’m a desk athlete!” Now like you believe it!...
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Pie-lates or Pe-lah-teas? How do you spell it and how do you say it? Regardless, I love it. It’s an addiction, in the best possible sense. The endorphin release, the...
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Women’s health week: Incontinence It might be an uncomfortable conversation, but let’s talk about incontinence. Women make up 80 per cent of people who report living with incontinence, with many...
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RUOK Day is coming up next week, and there’s probably never been a more important time to ask the question. And while we should all be checking in on family...
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We all had high hopes for 2021, that perhaps it wouldn’t be quite as bad as 2020 was. Sadly, we’ve been disappointed, with more lockdowns impacting everybody’s lives in countless...
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It’s been quite a while since we have been able to mix freely in society and this is certainly taking a toll on most of us, in a variety of...
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Spine Stretch This sounds simple, right? Well actually it’s pretty challenging but so rewarding for your everyday posture. Strong abdominal and deep back muscles and flexibility in your spine will...
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How do you take a break? I’ve got too much on. I’m too busy. I don’t have the time to do my desk exercises. Wow I feel like I achieved nothing...
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The right mentality to desk exercise *cue the theme song from Rocky Yeah I want to hear you say it… “I’m a desk athlete!”… nope not loud enough… “I’m a desk...
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Oxygen Levels, Persistent Cough and Incontinence Some of our clients would rather stay anonymous, but their Pilates stories are just as important. Please read about how the Pilates method assisted...
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Pilates to boost the immune system What a very unfortunate state the world is in right now and so it is of the utmost importance we look after our health...
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Breathe a sigh of relief with better posture “Breathing is the first act of life and our last, our very life depends on it” – Joseph Pilates, Return to life through...
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Control Balance This is an exercise from the Pilates repertoire that integrates movement from abdominals, torso and hip extensors (the muscles that move your leg away from your body). So,...
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Meet Cornel “I started pilates because I was interested in finding some other sort of form of movement. It was actually Aligned for Life that opened up next to my...
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Meet Rami & Jess Lina: “I chose Tower for Rami as when he started he could barely reach his fingers to his knees. This exercise shows that his strength...
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“Don’t shoot the messenger, maybe it’s time to listen instead.” The next time you suffer low back pain, rather than automatically grabbing your pain killer of choice, try...
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Shoulder Bridge Bongiorno! We are off to Venice to look at the Rialto Bridge as it crosses the Grand Canal. Run your eye along the top of this bridge as it slopes...
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Meet Daniel Sculli Daniel is a hairdresser and works in a high profile and very busy salon. His working days are long and intense as is probably common for successful...
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Leg Pull Back This is a variation on July’s Back Support. It’s significantly more challenge. Start in the Back Support position but this time have one leg lifted just off...
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Exercises for Stress & Anxiety It’s normal to feel stressed or anxious from time to time, but without effective management it can detrimentally affect one’s quality of life. We’ve put...
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Back Support In June we looked at Side Support through the shape of the Isosceles Triangle. For the next two months we will look at variations on this theme by...
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We’ve put together a little stream of matwork exercises to support your self-directed practice at home. You’ll have Chantel’s cues to guide you as the teaches Bec. Practice this series...
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Kind July – Self Care Kind July is an initiative run by staykind.org, which was founded by the Kelly family after their son Thomas was killed from a ‘one punch’...
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Kind July – Breathing Joseph Pilates is quoted as saying “Breathing is the first act of life, and the last. Our very life depends on it.” He referred to...
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Meet Wendy Find out why Pilates has been the start of a new life for Wendy and how she has turned her husband into a Pilates convert too. “My name...
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Side Support Do you remember the Isosceles Triangle, two long sides and one shorter side? This is Side Support, or the Side Bend as Joseph Pilates called it. The two...
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We’ve put together a little stream of matwork exercises to support your self-directed practice at home. You’ll have Chantel’s demonstration to guide you. Practice this series (along with Part 1)...
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Meet Christa Hear from a lovely client of the Richmond studio, Christa, about Pilates and what she loves about Pilates. How did you first come to Pilates? I came...
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We’ve put together a little stream of matwork exercises to support your self-directed practice at home. You’ll have Chantel’s video and cues to guide you. Practice this series with us...
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Experience the Moonee Ponds Studio At our Moonee Ponds studio, the Pilates Method is movement for life. With a focus on actively challenging all joints, through their full range...
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A Chat with Kath on the Cadi Kath Banks is one of our continuing education short course presenters. She is also the owner of Aligned for Life Pilates Moonee Ponds,...
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We’ve put together a little stream of matwork exercises to support your self-directed practice at home. You’ll have Chantel’s video and cues to guide you. Practice this series with us...
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We’ve put together a little stream of matwork exercises to support your self-directed practice at home. You’ll have Chantel’s video and cues to guide you. Practice this series with us...
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Visit National Pilates Training “We’ve been doing what we do, teaching the Pilates method to students, staff and colleagues within the industry for the last 15+ years. As a...
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Double Leg Kick How did you go last month doing Single leg kick? The more you worked on it and engaged your abdominal muscles, the less you would have felt...
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Meet Danielle My name is Danielle, I am a Pilates Instructor at Aligned for Life Pilates in Moonee Ponds and I’m also a registered nurse. I’ve been nursing for...
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Single Leg Kick It’s 2019 already and hopefully you’ve had a lovely break. I imagine you’ve spent time sitting with family and friends over some good food, wine and conversation....
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We’ve put together a little stream of matwork exercises to support your self-directed practice at home. You’ll have Chantel’s video as a visual to guide you. Practice this series with...
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Meet Sarah Sarah was doing Pilates at Aligned for Life before she fell pregnant in November last year, she kept up Pilates during her pregnancy and now 3 months after...
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We’ve put together a little stream of matwork exercises to support your self-directed practice at home. You’ll have Chantel’s video as a visual and my instruction to guide you. Practice...
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Merry Christmas! I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. To our current clients – to say thank you for another fabulous year....
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Holiday exercise To wish all a very Merry Christmas our gift to you is some videos of some exercises you can do with a theraband. This way you can keep...
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Meet Nikki “My name is Nikki Ciotola and I chose to work with Aligned for life, Pilates. Australia tax payers spend more than 60 Billion dollars a year on Mental Health....
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Meet Melissa Melissa, our long-term returning staff member, has shared about herself and her favourite warm-up exercise sequence. Melissa trained at the Australian Ballet School and finished her performing career...
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Open Leg Rocker In May we looked at Rolling. Open Leg Rocker is a sister to Rolling. Now with a lifted torso and open chest, while still maintaining the imprint (C...
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Who is Kristy? Tough question. Right now, I’m in a crazy season where I’m working full time, studying full time, and still working on strengthening my knee. Like most people,...
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Spine Stretch The exercise sounds simple, right? Well actually, it’s pretty challenging, but so rewarding for your everyday posture. Strong abdominal and deep back muscles and flexibility in your spine...
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Why the Pilates Method is an ideal choice Pregnancy is wonderful and exciting, but it also signifies a time of change, especially for the body. Many expectant mothers...
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Double Leg Stretch Last month we looked at Single Leg Stretch. Don’t be misled by the similarity in name, Double Leg Stretch is a significant step up in challenge. It’s...
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Meet Rebecca Hello, my name is Rebecca and I’m one of the instructors at the Moonee Ponds studio. I love the way that Pilates makes me feel, strong, flexible, capable...
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Single Leg Stretch Joseph Pilates referred to this exercise as the ‘One Leg Stretch’. However, don’t be misled into thinking this is about stretching without control and concentration. If you...
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Meet Royce Hello, my name is Royce. I’m coming up to 78 next month and I was telling Kath how good Pilates is for me. Particularly after I had been...
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Meet Marie Meet Marie, a determined woman putting goals into action in the Pilates studio! “I wanted to show my granddaughter that people get sick but they get better as...
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Hello again… As you would have learnt from the previous newsletter, I have multiple sclerosis – MS. This is an autoimmune condition where your own white blood cells (part of...
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This year I’ve decided to go back to study and start my Advanced Diploma of the Pilates Method! Having been inspired by my senior colleagues, I decided to take the...
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Leg Circles These series of exercises leading up to the Leg Circles exercise are a wonderful way to release the hips that today spend so much time in one position,...
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Meet Marion Meet Marion, our young client who still works at her family business ‘The Chocolate Box’ and comes to Pilates 3 times per week! Marion’s enthusiastic approach to life...
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What does this picture look like to you? Someone who had a big night out the night before? Someone with an allergic reaction? Someone with Bell’s Palsy? No. This is...
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Meet Ashlea Crupi As Pilates instructors, it is important to practice what we preach. When we are on the floor teaching for sometimes three or more hours at a time,...
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Pilates has been instrumental in allowing me to achieve this. I have been able to bring the core principles integral to the Pilates method into my daily life and yes...
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In 2012, 66% of people over 50 had osteoporosis or osteopenia. By 2022 this will increase by 31% to 6.2 million Australians with this condition, equating to 183,105 fracture each...
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Health and wellbeing has become even more important as people work longer hours in sometimes more stressful jobs. Making the most of leisure time is paramount and fitness is a...
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Proving age is not an impediment to strong bones and a flexible body At ninety years old, Coralie can hold a plank and a pike effortlessly. She’s been coming to...
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A few months ago this was impossible for me! Chantel Roulston has worked hard and keeps working hard to keep her ballerina body, her flexibility, strength, control and grace. Pilates helps...
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In todays modern society of iPads and video games, the health of our youth is more important than ever. Not only are we battling rising physical inactivity levels and childhood...
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Personal health is everything. I have learnt that I am fully responsible for my own happiness. I used to look outwards and expect others to create a feeling of happiness....
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Pilates lives in the realm of flow Flow is a state of being, a feeling of effortless ease that comes from being in complete alignment. When you are in the...
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When i started to write and prepare for the “is there a ted talk in you” program at slow school of business my self beliefs spoke loudly, my childhood and...
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Pilates holds me together and keeps me sane! Alex Andrews really loves seeing her clients develop and challenge themselves to improve each and every week. It’s due to the passion she gets...
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If we look at how our bodies are designed there are a series of joints starting from our feet to our spine which are all part of a sequence which...
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Pregnancy is wonderful and exciting, but it also signifies a time of change, especially for the body. Many expectant mothers embrace their new found curves and growing tummy,...
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At the age of 12 Lara was already doing pilates! Lara McFarlane has been participating in pilates since the age of 12 and earlier this year she qualified at National Pilates Training as...
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Oh my goodness I will never be able to do this…well now I can! Lauren Kempster has been practicing pilates since the age of 15 when she began mat classes to...
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Like the hip, the knee joint carries a large amount of the body’s load and, as such, any conditions or injuries need to be properly cared for and managed. Common...
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From the United Kingdom to Moonee Ponds Danielle is all about caring for people, as you would imagine from a nurse of over 10 years. Danielle first started participating in Pilates in 2003...
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From stressed out chef to stretched out instructor Accumulating years of 75-plus hour weeks being hunched over a bench, Ben Rashleigh developed chronic lower back pain and was forced to wear a...
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From knee reconstruction to skiing the slopes Kath Banks has firsthand experience of using the Pilates Method not only for body conditioning but through two pregnancies & post-natal recovery. If that...
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“I feel like superwoman” Wendy Turner has been participating in Pilates for over 14 years and in 2009 she decided it was time for a change in career. That lead her...
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I lived in fear of when my next episode would leave me on the floor! The Pilates Method has been life changing for Lonia Catalano as it was the one thing that...
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The spine fulfils a key role in the body, holding up our torso and allowing us to move. Injuries to the spine can therefore be debilitating and have a huge...
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The Pilates method is a very effective and compatible conditioning routine for a dancer’s body. Dance is a wonderful and powerful art form. There are a vast range of schools/methods/techniques...
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Why is cross training important and what is it? For each sport or activity the body performs certain actions or movements. Some sports are non-weight bearing, like cycling and swimming....
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