Andrea, Pilates Instructor | Gyrotonic Instructor at CORE Therapy & Pilates

[C] Hi, I'm Cheryl and today we're here with Andrea, our Pilates Instructor and GYROTONIC ® Instructor here at CORE Therapy & Pilates. Andrea tell us a little bit about your teaching and what all you teach here at CORE. 

[A] I’m Andrea. I teach GYROTONIC and Gyrokinesis. Also, I teach on the GYROTONIC Jump Stretch Board, Gyrotoner, and Leg Extension Unit. I teach Pilates, including the Reformer, Cadillac, and Pilates Chair. 

I've taught yoga and all types of movement, I love movement... 

[C] What brought you to Pilates? I know that's what you came to first.

[A] Great question, I was rehabbing a hip replacement with Pilates and I had done the PT (Physical Therapy) and started using the Pilates to find the strength, the length... 

[C] You’ve had one hip replacement? 

[A] I have had both of my hips replaced... 

[C] Both hips and one thing I want to point out here is that Andrea is 60 and super fit. I asked permission, she said I could. I want to put that out because of the testimony to the hard work you have put in. She's very active. You teach all day long. You have an active personal life and I think that's a testament to the work... 

[A] No question, I totally agree with you, yeah, absolutely the truth. 

[C] You love teaching, that's obvious. You can tell that when you work with Andrea, you can tell she loves it. Are there some stories that you have about teaching that are like, this is why I teach!

[A] That’s a great question. I look for small victories with my teaching. Everybody comes in and we all have stuff. The body absorbs the stuff and it shows in the body, whether you've been in an accident or not. You know, we all have compromises and trauma. So I work from where you are and I go for the small victories in terms of last week you couldn't hold the strap, this week you can. I like to build like that... 

[C] It’s very rewarding, to see that. There's a trust. A trust that comes with the authenticity of you... 

[A] Oh absolutely. I think it's CORE as well. I have a good teacher.

[C] Well, thank you… Tell me what have you learned about your own body through doing the work? I see her working out all the time, you know in a healthy manner. 

[A] You get a little in here and there. There's all the equipment here at the studio so we're here to move. With Gyrotonic and Pilates the way that your body starts to move just as you navigate space and how you move through your day. I feel like the work just helps to allow you to find a bigger expression or more safe movement.

[C] When somebody that’s never done Pilates asks you, What is Pilates? How do you answer?

[A] I say it's a movement modality that we use with a specialized machines that allows you to find more space in your body, that allows you to start to move in a way that you didn't know you could. However, the body is designed to move that way. Pilates counteracts the compression that we walk around with, that we all have. 

[C] Compression that we're getting from things that aren't going away like gravity, stress, and using phones in slouched posture. The modern lifestyle…

[A] It’s so true. All of that sort of stuff is not going away and so this work helps you counterbalance that.

[C] Okay, so another question? So you answered what Pilates is and I know that the answer you gave probably could fit for GYROTONIC  as well... 

[A] Absolutely… 

[C] Because we're working for that same thing, the space in the body that creates the stability and the suppleness but people often ask what's the difference between Pilates and GYROTONIC ? In your words?

[A] I think GYROTONIC allows you to move in more of a circular, organic fashion. Pilates has a lot of linear movement. GYROTONIC allows you to move in diagonal and circular motion, which is how we are supposed to move anyways. 

[C] Perfect, I think this is a great explanation about what you do here, what you teach, what you believe, and how you serve it up to people and really meet them where they're at. 

[A] It’s like I said, meet people where they're at and I think we're kind of a more low-key, without a lot of bells and whistles. We don't care about what you're wearing when you come to see us... 

[C] We’re not about crossfit Pilates... 

[A] No I mean we're about learning about your body…

[C] Awesome, well thank you for telling me your story today. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

Call 512-215-4227 to book your Intro to Pilates 3 Pack with Andrea!