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NYC Ballet Workout @ Sanctuary Pilates
Class Level: Open (Structured as a Pilates Mat class)
Instructor: Taylor Gordon
Class best suited for: Fitness enthusiast or dancer
Class is best for: Core, hip, and glutes strengthening
FE Reporter: Keeley Walsh
What is this class about?: The class focuses on the deep rotators of the hip, inner thigh, back, and abdominal muscles using a blend of ballet-esque vocabulary and Pilates fundamentals. This class will definitely tone and tighten your abdominals and wake up the hard-to-reach deep muscles of the hip, glutes, and back that conventional workouts might miss, thus giving you a longer, leaner, more flexible body.
NOTE: If you are bored with your gym’s conventional Pilates or fitness classes, this could be the perfect class for you. If you are new to the Pilates method, or completely out of shape, I would recommend starting with beginner mat and/or reformer Pilates classes and working your way up to this class.
What is this class like?: The NYC Ballet Workout class at Sanctuary Pilates was intimate and cozy with one other woman in class besides me. The instructor, Taylor, paid close attention to every detail, giving great cues for our imbalances as well as imagery to better focus our attention to the right initiation of muscle groups. I felt calm and steady as we were given plenty of opportunity to stretch after very intense bouts of inner thigh, abdominal and deep rotator work. Although Taylor did not provide hands-on feedback, her verbal cues were clear and effective, and her words of encouragement helped me to focus on my body as it was challenged.
Taylor was also great at giving modifications for easier or harder versions for most exercises so each student could work at the most appropriate pace for herself. The hardest and most interesting part of class was the seated series, where we used the inner thighs and rotators to lift one leg in front of our bodies while the other leg pressed straight down into the floor. Once the leg was lifted, we bent the knee and rotated our spine towards the lifted leg, extending the leg as we rotated our spine back to center – hard core! The easiest part of class included laying on our backs with our arms straight out to either side, floating our arms away from the floor by one inch to focus on our back muscles initiating the work instead of our neck and upper shoulders.
My recommendation: This class is best suited for intermediate/advanced fitness enthusiasts, Pilates students or dancers who are willing to work hard even if they are unfamiliar with the Pilates method. And, it's well worth the work! I feel that in one month’s time, you would be able to see and feel toning, strengthening, and increased range of motion.
NOTE: Because this is a rigorous workout, I would not recommend this class if you have a back or hip injury. You should be pain free and in good working condition to benefit from this type of workout.
NYCB workout description: The exercises combine stretching with strengthening and aim to improve body tone giving participants greater flexibility, cardiovascular stamina and better posture. In particular, the New York City Ballet Workout makes people think about how they use their bodies. Strength and flexibility is gained through the use of natural resistance with specific gains in the muscle tone of legs, hips and abdominals.
Address:Sanctuary Pilates 316 E 84th St. NYC 10028 (Bet 1st and 2nd Aves.) Phone: 212-427-6047
