pilates Archives - Mia Gordon

I know that it is time to kiss summer good-bye and say hello to PSL, cozy sweaters, Halloween candy, and everything fall but that doesn’t mean it is time to say good-bye to our summer bodies. How I look at it, this is my time to shine at the gym so that I can have that extra slice of Thanksgiving pie, am I right.

I get it though, as soon as you put those bathing suits in storage the couch potato comes out in full force. The good news, I have found some incredible gyms in Vancouver that will help you stay motivated and in shape. They are fun, intense, and will make sure those abs will survive the winter.

Here are my top five workouts and gyms in and around Vancouver

1) Soulcycle

I have absolutely fallen in love with Soulcycle recently. This isn’t your average spin class. It is a dance party on a bike but it is also a motivational and meditative workout that gets you sweating but also thinking about all the things to be grateful for in your life. The 45min spin class plays some amazing music, mixes different choreography, and has a weight track to make sure you work your entire body. It is also in a dim lit room so even if you cannot figure out the sexy corners, no one can see you so you can just have fun with it. While you will be dripping with sweat by the end of this class, you will also feeling motivated and inspired thanks to the amazing instructors that really make you think about the positivity in your life. While the amazing workout will have you feeling great about your body, the class will have you feeling gratitude all day.

2) Barre Fitness

This is Canada’s original barre class and by far my favourite barre class in the city. What I love about Barre Fitness is that even if you aren’t a professionally ballerina with amazing co-ordination like myself, you can still have an amazing workout. Don’t expect intense cardio, instead this class focuses on working every inch of your body through movement with light weights, a bar, and bands. You will honestly tone muscles you didn’t even know existed, and will be feeling amazing after an hour long class.

3)BOX at Studeo Vancouver

Every since I moved to Vancouver I have been trying to find a great boxing class and my prayers have officially been answered. This class is not for the faint of heart but it will get you moving and sweating instantly. The instructor will take you through a series of punches and then call out different combinations to target both strength and speed. In between your boxing sets you will do other cardio that targets legs, arms, and abs. It is a full body intense workout and I am officially obsessed.

4) Moksha Yoga

I must say I have never really been a fan of yoga. As a former professional athlete my coach used to make me take yoga for stretching, but I never really considered it a workout until now. I started taking the Moksha Power class and it has really changed my outlook on yoga as an exercises. The Moksha practice combines therapeutic and traditional yoga and the power class in particular really challenges you to keep you flowing with breath and observe your body and mind. The hot part helps your body detoxify. It is an amazing workout.

5) The Practice at the Practice Studio

I have talked about my love for The Practice Studio before. This gym really helped me change my life through their whole life practice. While they offer some amazing classes, The Practice is by far my favourite. This is their signature class and basically it consists of about 40 different stations of exercises that target your entire body. Everything from burpees to squat jumps will be covered. This truly is the perfect full body workout.

I hope that you will enjoy these classes as much as I do and be inspired to stay fit even during the winter. I would also love for you to share some of your favourite workouts with me. I am always looking to mix up my fitness routine.

Mia

Finding the time in a busy work day to get your butt to the gym can be a challenge, trust me I know. I am one of those people that will use every excuse in the book, “I am tired”, “I have too much work to do”, “I will just eat really healthy and then I don’t have to work out.” Literally every excuse.

Alas, the little countdown in my phone reminded me that my Yacht Week in Greece is less than 150 days away. I know that may seem like a long time, but as the old saying goes “summer bodies are made in the winter” and winter is over, we are now in spring and my summer body is not even close to being made.

That is why I was so excited to discover Keller Rose Fitness. A Pilates passed fitness where you don’t even have to leave the house. The workout comes straight to you in the form of a downloaded file on your computer. No more excuses!

So what is Keller Rose Curve Builder Workout? Well basically Katrina Brodsky and her Pilates teacher Katie Rayle joined dynamic forces to come up with a four different daily workouts that are designed to take Pilates out of the studio and on to a mat wherever you are. The workouts are designed to elongate muscles, improve tone, and enhance natural curves (and if you have seen Katrina’s Instagram page you know this is the truth).

Besides loving the fact that I could get these workouts done from home, I also loved the fact that they didn’t require a lot. All that was needed was a resistance band and a yoga mat. Another positive of this workout is the fact that it is so low impact. I love to run, but it is nice to mix up my running with a workout that is a little easier on my body so that I can avoid injuries

I am not going to lie, when I first downloaded this workout handbook I was a little skeptical. I was curious to how challenging the workouts would be, and if the handbook would give you enough direction to make sure you were doing the exercises correctly.

As soon as I finished the first workout the only question I had was why had I not discovered this work out sooner! Not only does the file give you a detailed explanation of how to do each exercises correctly (along with a picture for those who are extra coordinated like myself) but it was also super challenging and I definitely felt the burn through every muscle.

I have done a million squats and lunges in my life, but this workout is completely different. The added strain of the resistance band makes each lunge, each reach, each lift that much more of a work-out.

Workout #1: Standing Series

The first workout is the standing series. A heavy focus on exercises like lunges and squats, but with the added resistance band you are also working your arms, and with the movements you have to keep your abs tight for balance.

Workout #2 The Side Lying Series: These workouts stem from your hips, but with planks, arm raises, and leg swipes, once again your entire body is being put to work. My whole body was shaking after these exercises. You will definitely feel the burn in those abs. Hello incoming six pack!

Workout #3 Booty Series (Personal Fav): With hamstring curls and leg kicks, your butt is really being put to the test, but with the added resistance band your booty is working that much harder. My legs were shaking after just a few reps.

Workout #4 Power Series:

The last workout is the power series, where you are not only working your body but also your mind by adding various movements to the different exercises to make sure that you are constantly focused on your body. I really loved this one because it forced me to forget about any outside forces and just focus on my workout. It incorporates familiar moves like the downward dog but there is always a twist to it.

I highly recommend this workout for anyone who doesn’t have the time to get out to the gym, who is looking for a low impact workout, who enjoys pilates, and who is looking to tone the muscles but doesn’t want to use heavy weights.

I am obsessed with Keller Rose Fitness after just a few days and I cannot wait to share my results with you. Yacht Week I am coming for you in my itty bitty yellow polka dot bikini.

Fab fall workouts around Vancouver

Workout Wednesday: Keller Rose Fitness