Barbara Progess
Competitive Equine
Dressage Rider
Retired Physics Teacher
Kaysville, Utah
"As a competitive
equestrian, I
always felt I was in the best shape possible. I was
riding three horses a day, mowing acres of pasture and
mucking stalls with gusto. But my first Pilates training
session with Kimberly revealed how my body had developed
in an unbalanced manner. Working only the outer, large
muscle groups had created a crooked riding "seat" and
was stressing my upper back and legs in ways not only
harmful to me, but also to my horse. After just two
sessions I was hooked. I could see an immediate
difference in the way my horses moved under my quickly
changing body. With every session and with weekly
practice, I can visibly see my body becoming lithe, with
smoother and stronger movement.
Pilates is the perfect training tool for any
equestrian. In dressage, the rider must move so
intimately with the horse the ride becomes a dance. For
this to happen, the rider must be able to feel every
muscle and be able to work them independently at
will. It is only fair if we ask our horses to be strong,
flexible and balanced that we should also have robust
muscle control to turn our own static weight into
a dynamic influence. As Pilates training builds the
foundation (or core muscles), the larger outer muscles
can relax and work in harmony, rather than overworking
and making movement strenuous.
The additional benefits aren't too bad, either. I've
lost inches around my waist and dropped eight pounds to
boot. I walk more gracefully, have more endurance, and I
can throw hay bales easier with my new postural
awareness and Pilates techniques.
Kimberly is the key to this success. Her focused
attention can quickly identify areas of concern and she
always has a series of movements to address problem
areas. Her excitement and encouraging cheers make the
sessions so enjoyable I can't wait for my next
lesson. Private sessions are a necessity if a person
wants to be assured of correct movements and immediate
results. The studio is exceptionally clean and makes for
an extremely comfortable workout. My only complaint is
Kimberly’s inability to clone herself so I can share her
with my out of town friends."