MY MISSION
I serve clients with disabilities and expecting mothers. Iâm passionate about helping others to feel well and happy in their bodies, and to live pain-free.
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
My doctor recommended Pilates in 2007 as a way to manage my cerebral palsy. I didnât do it at first because I, like a lot of other people, thought Pilates was for people who were already strong and flexible. I was neither of those things.
In the summer of 2008, my massage therapist told me that massages were a waste of money if I wasnât exercising. I donât like the gym and didnât want to go. There happened to be a Pilates studio right up the road from the massage therapy clinic, so I went there and never looked back.
I used Pilates to manage my cerebral palsy. It helped my posture, balance, strength, and mobility. My pelvis untwisted, my feet stopped clunking, the huge curve in my spine diminished, and I carried myself differently. People who had known me for years often didnât recognize me because my body changed so much in a very short period of time.
Becoming an instructor
I did Pilates for almost eleven years before I became an instructor. After seven years of working in journalism and digital marketing, I lost a job Iâd barely started. I knew I wanted to change industries, but wasnât sure what to do. The next day, I went to my Pilates class. The studio owner asked me how the job was going. I told her it hadnât worked out and she said, âDo you want to be a Pilates teacher?â I said, âYes!â
Because I have a disability, I help other people with disabilities. I specialize in treating disability because there are so many people with disabilities who, like me, can be too intimidated to try Pilates. Working with a disabled instructor helps them to see that Pilates is within their capability.Â
I work with clients who have a variety of different disabilities and conditions: arthritis, Erbâs palsy, spinal stenosis, vertigo, stroke, cancer, bulimia, diabetes, ADHD, and COPD. Clients use Pilates to ease their aches and pains and manage their symptoms.
REHAB PILATES
Start on the reformer if youâre injured or have been in an accident. Equipment provides gentle support for your classes. It treats everything from whiplash to foot fractures (you can even do classes while you have a boot or cast on!) The weight of the equipment quickly helps you develop coordination, body control, balance, and strength.
REFORMER PILATES
Want to have better balance? Youâll need stronger abs, faster reflexes, and to ease your body out of fight or flight mode. The mat is one of the fastest places to build core strength, get a much stronger upper body, ease hip pain, and tone that tushy. If you canât access reformer classes â the mat works just as well, delivering a low-impact full body workout.
MAT PILATES
© Wellness By Norah
