Joseph Pilates once said, "You are only as strong as your spine."
After 35 years of teaching on his equipment, Sharon McSpedon, owner of the Pilates Barre, can attest to the truth in those words. "If I could only give one tip of fitness advice it would be to strengthen and lengthen the trunk to support the spine...focus on the full core from upper thigh to shoulders, front to back and side to side. Strengthen the musculature supporting the lumbar and cervical spine and develop the strength and length to stack your bones and stand up straight."
Early on in her career, while McSpedon was in New York, she learned Body Reading (how people move in space), along with a host of other methodologies that were unique, "all of which incorporated a lot of anatomy and a deep dive into the integration of the mental and physical body and the simultaneous exertion of each," and was "was hooked" from then on.
She was also a big runner and liked being competitive during that time. "But I realized that my Pilates practice challenged me more than any race I ever trained for, which I found fascinating," McSpedon says.
The Pilates Barre is a studio with Barre, Fusion and TRX classes. Utilizing weights, balls, gliders, arcs, resistance bands and more, clients can take Pilates Tower classes, Barre classes, TRX classes and Barre Fusion classes, all with the same package. This equipment not only allows for clients to mix things up in their workouts, but offers modifications where needed.
Benefits of Sharon's work include a complete full-body workout providing muscle definition and increased length, improvement in flexibility, coordination and balance, promotion of stress reduction, mental focus and clarity, stabilizing and strengthening of deep core muscles, and more.
"The work is challenging and our students work up a sweat," McSpedon says. "We focus [heavily] on interval training which has proven to be even more effective for weight loss and heart health in many cases [compared to running on the treadmill or attending a spin class]. We are dedicated to movement for longevity, spinal health and particularly, core stability," she adds.
Perhaps one of the biggest perks of McSpedon's studio is the renowned reformer equipment in-studio (in addition to the expert instruction of all 10 experienced instructors).
"Clients can often feel and see their strengths and weaknesses while using the equipment," McSpedon says, which is "especially helpful in connecting clients to their deep core muscles, the muscles closest to the spine that literally work to hold you upright."
She states "A good teacher develops a 'pilates eye'" and can see imbalances immediately as clients begin to move on the equipment. "I can help undo years of bad form by strengthening weak areas and lengthening tight ones," she says. "Clients often come in pain from overusing certain muscle groups and underusing others."
The Reformer is amazing at "waking up what has been sleeping in your body." The equipment gives clients the ability to strengthen the core safely under the guidance of each expert instructor. "Many have been working at it for years [on the equipment] and they have remarkable strength inside and out," McSpedon says of her clients. "It's a practice that takes time to master and it's a practice that you can always get better at."
WEBSITE: pilatesbarrecore.com
INSTAGRAM: @pilatesbarrect
“Game changer! Sharon’s knowledge, care and commitment to her clients are unparalleled. We are so lucky to have her here.” Stefanie K., client
I've taken Barre/Pilates classes across the country during all my travels and I have yet to find a studio that is superior to The Pilates Barre." Christa C., client