New Year, Fresh Start

Happy New Year to every single one of you! I hope you embraced the holiday season and enjoyed special times with your families.

As we begin 2024, this is a fresh start for you and me, an opportunity every day to think about what you want out of the coming year. What do you want it to look like and feel like? What goals or intentions will you set to achieve your desired outcomes?

For me, this year is about more fun in my life, putting myself out there more and trying new things outside of my routine. So I tried a ballet class which I hadn’t done in over 40 years. All I can say is, humbling and hard, but it felt good to put myself in a new environment with new people and challenge my muscles and coordination in a very different way than I do in Pilates.

I think it’s important to continue to learn and be curious and do things completely out of our comfort zone, and that’s what all of you do every time you step into the studio whether it’s for the first time or the 100th time. Every lesson or class you take is an opportunity for growth, change and learning and I just want to applaud all of you for making that commitment to yourself, showing up so consistently even if you’re tired or don’t feel like coming. I see you and recognize this.

I am so inspired and amazed every single day by all of you and your willingness to push yourselves because we all know that Pilates isn’t easy. You inspire me to be a better teacher and to always be at the top of my game.

So as we begin 2024 I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m so excited to watch you tackle your goals for this year and see you progress even more. Here’s to an amazing year ahead filled with fun, success, learning and growth always!

Lots of Love,

Claudia and the Darien Pilates Team

Setting Intentions for 2023

It’s a cold Sunday morning in January and we’re already a few weeks into 2023. I’ve just come back from a really nice walk with a friend along the Long Island Sound. We had a chance to catch up about how we spent our holidays, but our conversation was also centered on looking back at the past year and what 2023 will be for each of us. Just as quickly as the phrase, "new year’s resolution" was mentioned, we both expressed some ambivalence about it. I don’t know how you feel about resolutions, but I much prefer to set an intention so I’ll share mine with you.

 My intention this year is to take better care of me in the following ways:

• I will notice all the incremental accomplishments every day.

• I will spend more time in nature and walk more even if it’s just 10-15 minutes a day (My nutrition coach says this is one thing I can do to help regulate my nervous system and my stress).

• I will play more, have more fun and laugh more, YES, We all need more of this.

• I will take the word “should” out of my vocabulary.

• I will really focus on my own Pilates practice, investing in weekly private lessons again because I know I need that extra attention to help me be accountable. I want to continue to move with ease and strength, defying this whole aging thing and Pilates is an important part of achieving that for me.

I know how lucky I am to not only love what I do, but to still be curious about what I do. I think our team here all feels that way. We’re grateful to share our passion and knowledge of Pilates with this wonderful community of clients who show up consistently every week to learn, progress, and get stronger. We applaud you for choosing YOU!

So as we ease into this new year, take a moment to think about what you want to focus on, what change you want to feel or see, no matter how small it is. What intention would you like to set for this year? We’re here, ready to make a plan with you and make it happen. 

Cheers to 2023

Lots of love,

Claudia and The Darien Pilates Team

What Can Pilates Help Me With?

Pilates has numerous benefits for the mind and body. Many know that Pilates helps build strength and flexibility with connection to the “powerhouse” aka the abdominals (upper an lower), lower back, buttocks and the hips). Here is a list of additional things Pilates can help you with!

1.) If you're finding that all the sitting and zoom meetings have you feeling stiff everywhere (more specifically your upper back). Pilates can help with stiffness in the body.

2.) If you've always been a very active person, but you're noticing that random aches and pains are showing up. Pilates can help with injury recovery and improve your sport (Tennis, Golf and Dancing to name a few).

3.) If you’re tired of doing the same workout and just going through the motions. Do you want the time/effort you put into your fitness to really count? Pilates is what you need to augment your routine. It's different than anything you've ever done and will give you a whole new perspective on your body.

4.) If you need an energy boost and that sense of empowerment with the discovery that your body is capable of so much more than you ever imagined, commit to Pilates!

Ready to give Pilates a try? Check our our New Client Special to schedule your intro session!

Darien Pilates Featured on New Canaan and Darien Moms!

Darien Pilates’ Instructor, Sarah Collins-Napier is highlighted in the Meet A Mom feature on New Canaan and Darien Moms. Check out the full article below from www.newcanaandarienmoms.com to learn more about Sarah, her Pilates journey and her classes!

MEET A MOM—Sarah Collins-Napier
Oct 4, 2022
This week’s Meet a Mom is Sarah Collins-Napier, a Darien mother of two who decided to move here for the family-friendly community. With her husband in the military, the family needed to be in “commuting distance of both NYC and Albany.” Sarah, who is a Pilates instructor at Darien Pilates, helps her clients become stronger and injury-free so they can pursue a healthy and pain-free life. A modern trained dancer, she received her MFA from Sarah Lawrence College and is a classically trained Pilates instructor from Simona Cipriani’s Art of Control. Read more to learn about Sarah, her words of wisdom and her go-to spots in town!

How many children do you have and what are their ages?
I have two kids; my son Nate is 8 and my daughter Meredith is 5.

What brought you and your family to town?
My husband is in the military, and we needed to be in a location that was within commuting distance of both NYC and Albany. My sister-in-law raved about Darien for being family-friendly with great schools and an amazing community.

What’s your favorite aspect about being part of the community?
The moms! Seriously, all the mothers here are really helpful in this community and are there for each other and our kids.

What’s your favorite family activity to do in the area?
We love going to Weed Beach and hiking at Selleck’s Woods Nature Preserve.

Can you please tell us a bit about your path to Pilates and fitness?
As a dancer, Pilates naturally became part of my fitness routine. I first got into Pilates to come back from an injury and prevent future injuries.

Tell us about Darien Pilates.
Darien Pilates is a boutique Pilates studio located at 28 Thorndal Circle that offers Private and Semi-Private sessions and small group classes. I teach group mat classes at Darien Pilates, both a beginner and intermediate/advanced class. I like to bring some humor to my classes and also tell you what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and what you should be feeling.

What I love most about the studio is that the Darien Pilates Community is very supportive. Every teacher here wants what is best for their clients. They won’t expect something out of you that you aren’t ready for, but they also won’t let you skimp on your workout. It’s a very calm environment (no loud music or people running in and out) You really get a purposeful one-on-one connection with your instructor and the most out of your Pilates session.

What can someone expect from practicing Pilates?
The Pilates technique trumps everything else. As Joseph Pilates stated, ‘You will feel better in ten sessions, look better in twenty sessions, and have a completely new body in thirty sessions.’

Do you have any advice for moms who are looking to get started with Pilates?
Start Now! Seriously, no matter what phase of life you are in… prenatal, postnatal, 25 or 85. Pilates is going to change your body and mind. Also, Stick with it! Make time for it because your physical health is important. You deserve to feel good in your body, to feel strong, and to feel healthy.

On a personal note, Pilates was essential to me during my second pregnancy. I was in better shape than when I was in with my first from having a consistent Pilates practice. I was put on bed rest due to complications and if I hadn’t taken the time to create a strong base, I would have been in a lot more pain and a lot more problems. After I gave birth, it was also easier to be physically active again. Many women feel very disconnected from their bodies, more specifically, their abdominals and pelvic floor, after giving birth. Pilates can be such a helpful and integral part of strengthening those muscles so that you feel good in your body again.

What’s the best advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
Sleep. Every decision you make, no matter what it’s about, will be significantly better if you are well-rested.

How do you unwind when you need some “me time?”
What me time?! Each week, I take a Pilates duet class instructed by the owner of Darien Pilates, Claudia King with my good friend Maggie. It’s the only time we both can catch up and get a great workout in!

Any words of wisdom?
You deserve to enjoy this life that you have been given. Start taking care of YOU, because you deserve it.

We love supporting local businesses. Favorite places in town or nearby to…
Have dinner with/without kids: Bronx House Pizza in Stamford
Grab a drink with friends: Louie’s
Have a date night: Bodega
Spend time together as a family indoors/outdoors: Weed Beach
Shop for yourself/shop for your kids: Everything Rosey, Darien Toy Box
Spa/salon (or anywhere you go to treat yourself): Dolce Nails
Grab coffee: The new crepe place in town, Crêpes Choupette.

Are Group Classes for you?

Reformer/Tower Class at Darien Pilates

Have you thought about taking a group fitness class and wondered if you would like it? At Darien Pilates, we offer private sessions as well as Pilates Mat and Pilates Reformer/Tower classes.

So how do you know which is for you, Private or Group?

GROUP CLASSES are for you if….

You feed off the energy of other people— YES
Camaraderie helps you work harder — YES
You DONT like focus to be just on you — YES

PRIVATE SESSIONS are for you if…

- You’re a newbie to Pilates, then Yes!
- You want the individual attention on you, then Yes!
- You have any kind of limitation or want to up-level in a sport, then yes!

Introductory Special: 3 Private Sessions for $289

Whether you’re new to Pilates or new to our studio, our Introductory package is the best way to get started. Focus is on giving our clients new skills and setting the foundation for a consistent Pilates practice. Included is a 30-minute complimentary wellness consultation.

Please call us or use link below to book.

Focusing on what we can control

Did you know that CONTROL is one of the 6 principles of Pilates?

Here I'm focusing on controlling the leg springs from a stable pelvis, strong inner thighs, glutes and a strong mind/body connection with the leg springs.
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Pilates is often a metaphor for life. We have to focus on what we can CONTROL and how we choose to experience life.
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Here are just a few things that come to mind that we can control and that can improve how we experience life every day:
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-Choose to move more.

-Choose to surround yourself with people who support and align with who you are.

-Choose to fill your body with food that nourishes + supports your health, giving you energy for a better life!