Yogalates Offers A Fun Perk-Me-Up
It’s just past five on a dark winter Wednesday, and a half-dozen women are shivering in the cold, dressed in tights, their coats wrapped tightly around them, exchanging small talk as they wait for the door to be unlocked.
With the clatter of keys, it opens, and, granted access, they rub their hands and shiver to adjust to the warmth, walking briskly and chatting amiably as they ascend the creaky wooden stairs. Once they reach the second floor, they’re invited into a colorful expanse of hard wood and soft light, floors cloaked by rectangles of carpet, as they’re greeted by a petite, perky woman who exchanges pleasantries and encouragement to each as they doff their coats and begin for this night’s ritual.
And as the workers scurry home and shoppers whip by on the streets below, in this second-floor expanse, soft music starts and they begin, with smooth smiles and soft movements, graceful and serene, a cocoon of calm in juxtaposition to the world outside.
This, this, is the world of weekly yogalates.
The classes combine pilates and yoga for a total body workout focused on toning. They develop core strength and stabilization through pilates and yoga poses to improve flexibility, muscular strength, posture and alignment while using breath and relaxation.
“We just started it and people have really been enjoying it,” said one of the founders and leaders of the class, Christina Kelly of Muscatine. “It’s good for people of all levels. It increases flexibility and muscle tone and we have a good variety of people of all ages and all athletic levels.”
“I like that it’s not one of those things that you do it and you’re aching and sore for days afterwards and you never come back,” Rachel Terry of Muscatine said, as she warmed up before class. “If you have any type of joint pain or whatever, it actually helps with it.”
Barb Woods, 70, enthusiastically agrees. She started the class three years ago, and from day one, she was hooked.
“I’ve loved it from the beginning,” she says. “They’re friendly, knowledgeable and give great instruction on what we can do to make things work for our lifestyles and what we can do to stay fit.”
Classes have been going on for the past year and have been growing in popularity, Kelly said.
The cost is $15 per class for walk-ins and $144 for 12 classes.
The classes are held downtown at 204 E. 2nd St. in the Mississippi Pearl Photography studio next to Guadalajara.
“We’ll keep doing it as long as people keep coming out and enjoying it,” Kelly said. “We’re loving it, and we’re happy to see it growing in popularity every week. It’s really fun and rewarding, and it’s great to have a place where people can come and enjoy themselves and get away from the stress of the week. It’s awesome!”
For questions or to sign up send a private message or call Christina Kelly (563) 316-0882.
For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/events/733989640132703/.
