WE ARE SEAL BEACH PILATES

A challenging, low impact, total body workout that focuses on strengthening the core and elongating rather than bulking musculature. Pilates is a resistance-based exercise that uses tension to strengthen and stretch, allowing the body to develop a long, strong, lean form.

JOSEPH HUBERTUS PILATES

The Inventor of Pilates (1880-1967)

Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born in Germany in 1880. As a frail child, Pilates suffered from rickets, rheumatic fever and severe asthma however used these conditions as motivation to fuel his lifelong quest for optimum health and fitness. In his formative years, Pilates apprenticed with a physician, studied anatomy and practiced both Eastern and Western forms of exercise including yoga, martial arts, and Greco/Roman calisthenics.In Germany, Pilates achieved success as a boxer, gymnast and circus performer and was recognized for his athletic skills in skiing, diving, fencing and wrestling. At the outbreak of WWI in 1914, Pilates was interned in a prison camp in England. Mr. Pilates used this opportunity to help strengthen and train fellow internees and nurse them back to health. It was during this period that Pilates began to devise his method called “Contrology,” and created his first “bednasium,” a bed/exercise apparatus rigged with springs to help rehabilitate the bedridden, (commonly know today as the “Cadillac”).

After WWI, Pilates returned to Germany briefly and was soon on his way to the United States in 1926 as the political environment in Germany destabilized. Pilates opened his private studio in New York City and worked with many renowned dancers including George Balanchine, Martha Graham and Jerome Robbins, famous boxer Max Schmelling and other notable socialites including the VanderBuilts.

Pilates died in 1967 at the age of 87 due to complications from a studio fire; however his legacy of exercise lives on and continues to gain more recognition and popularity today. Pilates himself declared that his work was “50 years ahead of his time.”

Joseph Pilates believed that “the acquirement and enjoyment of physical well-being, mental calm and spiritual peace are priceless to their possessors…(and)…through Contrology this unique trinity of body, mind and spirit can be attained.” The method is intended to restore vitality, balance, natural movement and flow of energy.

MEET MARIKA

Marika Gregg

Owner and Instructor

Marika Gregg has been privileged to study extensively in the Hungarian National Opera Ballet School in Budapest. During this time, she gained much experience as a dancer. An unfortunate knee injury cut her dancing career short. Her teaching experience started with teaching children to learn the foundation of ballet. After immigrating to the United States, she further explored her interest in body sculpting, proper posture and alignment, specifically movement designed to slow down the aging of the body so that people can retain their youthful, movement and posture.
After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree at California State University, Fullerton, in Criminal Justice, she thought she could help young people who were struggling to find their path back to society. Nonetheless, her true passion for motion always drew her back to Pilates.
She believes that Pilates is the foundation for every day living and moving. It should be considered a lifestyle, not just an exercise. Pilates is a life altering workout. She currently holds five certifications from Balance Body.
Marika feels fortunate to be able to share her expertise and provide a warm environment for those to indulge in Pilates. Connection between mind and body can be effortlessly enhanced with Seal Beach Pilates unique core strengthening workouts.

WHY PILATES?

Pilates is suitable for a wide range of people, from beginners to professionals, including athletes, pregnant women and seniors. Rather than concentrating upon specific areas, Pilates treats the body as a whole. building up muscles without adding bulk and improving joint mobility and flexibility while boosting energy levels. Everyone benefits from Pilates in their own unique ways.

Pilates is ideal to assisting you in your recovery journey. Reformers allow you to specifically target muscles unlike any other workout. Our teachers work closely with you to cater each movement to maximize your return to optimal fitness.

Pilates is a perfect addition to your Yoga routine. You’ll find that mixing up your regiment will challenge your muscles in new ways and provide a stronger core to help you tackle some of the most difficult yoga positions. In addition, Pilates offers the added bonus of strengthening your knees and lower back which will protect you in those warrior poses.

Pilates combination of stretching and strengthening helps you relieve tension after a long day in the office leaving you feeling lean and strong. Pilates helps you build strength to undo the damage to posture and back health caused by sitting for many hours.

Runners can shave seconds off their times, baseball players and golfers hit the ball farther, and you can do this with less chance of injury. Elite athletes across multiple sports turn to pilates to up their game. Many of Balanced Body’s clients are teams from the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as gold-medal winning Olympic athletes. Core strength helps you bench more, proper alignment helps you run further, and stretching keeps you pain free and ready for more.

Enhance your skills with the precision and body awareness that comes from your Pilates practice. Pilates will aid you in not only refining your balance, but also strengthening and stretching your total body.

Pilates is a fantastic way to guide you through your changing body. Our exercises will help you create a strong foundation, focused on strengthening your pelvic floor and transverse abdominal muscles, thus alleviating pain in your lower back and encouraging a healthy delivery.