 Hi everyone, and welcome to Stay Young at Heart. I'm your host, Maria Mera, and I'm also a financial advisor with Edward Jones. And we always try to have ideas here of how to stay young at heart and how to be fit mentally and emotionally and mostly physically. And today I'm bringing the owner of Beyond Pilates Studio. And her name is Diana Rovel. So welcome Diana, thank you for joining us. Hi, thank you, Maria. Thank you so much for having me, I appreciate it. Oh, my pleasure. So, well, let's start. What is Pilates? Pilates is an amazing exercise system that truly can help everyone, no matter where you are in your fitness level, whether an athlete or a beginner. And it's amazing. It's meant to help strengthen your core, help with your flexibility, with your endurance, your coordination, your balance, and your strength, absolutely your core strength. Okay, so we have a winner, we have a winner here. Where does the name Pilates come from? There's a gentleman who created Pilates, his name was Joseph Pilates, so that is his last name. And he created this in the 1900s, early 1900s, and brought it to New York about the 1920s. Okay, and I never heard about it in the 90s. It was more like suddenly it took over the whole nation in the 2000s, no? Or am I very late in the game? No, no, no, absolutely. I think it was very understated, and there's a woman who should take a lot of the credit. Her name was Mari Windsor, and she did a lot of Pilates infomercials and really helped Pilates get on the map, and that's how we definitely learned about it more through her. So I'm grateful to her. And you have a really nice studio in Cacaaco, in Honolulu. Tell us a little more about the concept of your studio. Sure, it's a fully equipped Pilates studio. So Pilates has two kinds of options. One is MAT, which means exercises on the floor. And another option is equipment base. So we have a fully equipped Pilates studio with all the equipment to offer. So when you say equipment, you mean what we call reformer Pilates or more than just that? Yes, correct. So one part is called the reformer. Another piece is the Cadillac. We have stability chairs, a ladder barrel, and then we have a lot of fun props to work with along the way. Okay, well, let's do something. Let's watch a video where we can see your studio and then just have a visual. Come experience the wide range of benefits at Beyond Pilates Studio, strength, flexibility, balance, participate in one of our gyro tonic or Pilates group classes, or receive one-on-one instruction from our expert trainers. Our passion is to help people of all ages and fitness levels achieve their goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Call for your personal consultation or bring a friend and begin with our intro package today. Okay, so I think we can have a better idea now. You are also, we see you in the video. You're not only the owner, but you are an instructor there, right? Absolutely, my first love is teaching and sharing information and knowledge with my clients to help them with their body. So absolutely, I'm definitely their hands-on. So we see a lot of like, it's a lot of people like, is it only groups or can you do one-to-one or what do you recommend? So mostly we're a boutique studio and we offer, especially during COVID right now, a lot of one-on-one sessions, individual sessions. We have duets, which are two people together and we also have group or former classes. I also offer another type of modality, fitness modality. It's called the charatonic method as well. So not just Pilates. Okay, so tell us about the gyro tonic method. What's the difference? So very different than Pilates. It's another exercise system that can help definitely strengthen you, your core strength, of course, flexibility, just like Pilates has been a very different way. It definitely helps with a lot of spiraling motions of your spine to lots of articulation. It helps stimulate your nervous system, decompress your joints and your spine. So great for people with back issues. What brought you to Pilates was did you, did you have a back issue or what brought you? I am always interested in what makes someone find their passion. Yeah, sure. So I think a lot of people that start Pilates had their own issues in their body and they were trying to work through it themselves. However, I've always been someone in the gym. I used to personal train and teach group exercise and just reached out and did a workshop through my CECs that we're required to do every year to keep maintain our certifications. And so I did this beautiful Pilates workshop and fell in love with it because I used to dance as a child and then I used to ride horses professionally. So it's all about moving and flowing and dancing and all of it. So it was very... Well, those horses can be, riding horses are probably not the best exercise for your spine, right? I think if you know how to move your body and move with the horse, it's truly like dancing with one partner. So... Oh, okay. I guess I don't know how to ride my horses. Yeah. That's beautiful. At a professional level, you're one. Yeah. So when you do... When you decided to just take on Pilates, how... Who do you recommend it to or who were the clients that you were doing Pilates with versus just personal training? A lot of my clients are older. They have a lot of spinal issues, scoliosis, disc issues, sciatica issues, joint issues. So a lot of people that are interested in improving their posture and their alignment, helping rebalance their body, bringing it into the most shock-absorbing place it can possibly be. So you said older people and people with issues, we have the idea. It's almost like yoga, right? That seeing a guy in the class is like, oh, wow, he's just a very unique person. Is Pilates the same thing? Is it more women? Definitely more women, but I think as people are realizing what they need for their body, I think more men are starting to do more Pilates and being open to possibilities of what else they can accomplish, not only as an athlete, but if anyone that's interested in golf, especially for alignment and control and how to create a better game for themselves. So we have a lot of golfers too, interested. Okay, yeah, so anything that is just very repetitive and includes your bag seems like that this could be good for. Absolutely, it's truly for everyone because I can take anyone from wherever they are and meet them where they're at. So if you're a beginner, I can start you there. If you're more advanced athlete, I can help you in that area. So really, it's truly for everyone. So can you just do Pilates and be in good shape? No, absolutely not. That would be irresponsible. I wish I could say that you can only do Pilates, but no, you can definitely cross train. It's so important to lift weights and swim and hike and walk and bike. I mean, whatever you love to do physically, unless there's some reason why you can't do those other things, then definitely you definitely have to get your cardio in. There's no way around it. Yeah, so can you do, because I think I might have been in a class in your studio, maybe with another instructor, but it's more cardio than just elongate and so there are different ways to do Pilates, right? You can also bring your heart up a little bit. Yes, absolutely. There's definitely some cardio aspect to it. And I think everyone has a different style teaching and it depends on your reasons why you're taking Pilates. So obviously it would be appropriate for certain people and not appropriate for others. So it just depends on what's going on with your body, but there's little cardio in there. You can go at a little faster pace, make the springs a little bit heavier. You know, once you know what you're doing, you can move through transition much quicker. Oh, it just depends. Okay, and so what's the difference? And sorry, this is a stupid question and I assume more people than just me have asked it before. What is the difference between yoga and Pilates? Sure, I think they lump us together because they're not quite sure how to explain us and they're both definitely mind-body. Yoga, I believe, is more spiritual aspect to it where Pilates is definitely just exercise and it's about being in your body, having that mind-body experience, really thinking about where you're moving from, what body parts you're moving from. It's just a little different. We work with a lot of pre and post rehab, pre and post-natal. So a little different. So you mentioned a lot like for back posture, for pain, for rehab. Do you work with other professionals like physical therapies or doctors? So do you have a network that you refer each other? I do. I refer actually quite a lot to, you know, if something is out of character, something is going on. I definitely refer them to doctors to go see what's going on. I feel like it's beyond my scope and there's some red flags like, oh, that doesn't sound right. You really should go see either your doctor or I can refer you to someone. It's nice to have like a group of people where you can refer out to, whether it's masseuses or chiropractors or acupuncturists. I feel like the more we can work as a team together on one person, their journey is much more successful. So if they're having some pain issues, you know, if we can all work together to help that person, their recovery is so much faster. And yeah. Yeah, I completely agree. And even in every field that is important, I mean, in the finance field, definitely, you need your CPA and your state line attorney and your financial advisor, but even more in the medical field, right? That something eight eyes can see more than two eyes for sure. So how many instructors do you have in the studio? Currently, I have two instructors. One of them happens to be my sister. She teaches part-time and all I can say my sister's name is Julia and she's amazing. Another instructor, Lee, who is incredible. She's super high energy and I know a lot of my clients love her too. Okay, so tell us a little more or can we ask what are the prices of the classes or how much would this be? Sure, it ranges. It's kind of like buying a car. You know, you start from a lower end and can go quite a bit high, just depending on, you know, financial needs. That's one reason, you know, your time. How much time do you have? How flexible are you? Because our group classes are certain days and times. So if you feel like that's not an option for you, you know, maybe individual sessions or duet where you can schedule any day, any time that's available and it gives you more flexibility and freedom. And we also have packages for all of our sessions, five packages, 10 packs, 15 packs. So we try to help everyone's financial needs so that they can at least do Pilates at some place in their life where they feel like they're not left out. Awesome. Let's take a little break here. We're gonna do a recess for a minute and we will be back with Diana Robel from Beyond Pilates Studio. I'm Christine Linders, physical therapist and board certified orthopedic clinical specialist. And I am the host of Movement Matters, a show that is designed to bring you the best physical therapy tips and exercises so that you can have your best body and do all the things that you love. You can watch my show every other Tuesday at 11 a.m. on thinktechhoite.com where I show you instructional videos from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes to get your body feeling its best. Remember, life is better when you listen to your physical therapist. I'll see you on Tuesday. And we are back with Diana Robel from Beyond Pilates Studio. Diana, I wanted to ask you and I know this question is already, at least I'm trying to move on, right? But how did COVID-19 affect your business? You know, I'm so blessed. My clients are incredible. They've been with me. Some I've had clients for 15 years, 13 years. They're like family to me. And so they know me and they trust me and they know that whatever I'm doing is for them and to keep them safe during this questionable time, especially in the beginning, you know, having conversations about what we were doing in the studio as far as cleanliness and sanitizing and just keeping everything up to par so that they never felt like their health was in jeopardy. So I think when you have those personal conversations and those connections that they're felt comfortable coming into the studio even when things were not so great for everyone. Yeah, yeah, obviously they trust you already and trust this goes a long way. So how many people watch the maximum that you have in the class, in the group class right now? In our studio, it's no more than 10 gathering. So right now we're keeping our doors open so we have fresh air coming in and things are really spread out during the day. So it's pretty rare that we have even five or six people in there at one given time. It's mostly either two people or four people max. So it's very boutique, very small, very private, very individualized. And I think it allows people to feel comfortable working out. Okay, and is this your sport of preference for yourself? It is something that I do. I also like to lift weights and also like to spin and get my cardio in. I like walking, going to the beach park and at sunrise and sitting and meditating a little bit. So I do a little bit of everything. I have my own issues in my body after my background with my own spine and ankle. So my limitations are there as well and so I just manage it just like everyone else does with their issues in their body. Yeah, and the older we get, it doesn't seem like it's getting any easier, right? Absolutely. What's your vision for your business and your dream? And I'm looking at behind you that say follow your dream. So what's your vision for this dream of yours to in the next five to 10 years? I would love to expand my studio and also offer group exercise. I'd also love to have a second studio on the island as well and then maybe do something online. We did a little bit online during COVID. I'd love to expand that myself and start doing some more courses, offering courses online. Yeah, that's my vision for my business. Just growing, expanding, learning. Okay, so what other services do you do? Do you do any other services in the studio? So we talk about gyro tonics and pilates. Anything else or that's basically where you're concentrated now? Yeah, I definitely also offer Reiki and also which is a form of energy work, healing work and also some cupping as well. Okay, so are you, most people, when they want to book the classes or when they want to go to the studio, do you have a phone number or a website where they have to go or how do you book their reserve classes? Absolutely, so I have a scheduling system online through my website and then if people would like to do sessions privately or as duets, they would call the studio directly and make an appointment. Excellent, so the website is beyondpilateshawai.com, right? Yes, hi.com, correct. Okay, beyondpilateshi.com. Well, good, in case any of our audience are interested in trying. So what other recommendations do you have for someone who has never done pilateshawai? They go there for the first time. Sure, I definitely have a conversation first with them before they come to the studio so they understand the process but once they're in the studio, we offer intro sessions especially depending on what they're interested in doing, if they're interested in reformer classes and they've never experienced it before, we offer an intro package which is three individual sessions and that includes 10 reformer classes and so in those three sessions, we basically teach them basic principles of pilates, how to adjust their equipment and then make them do some exercises so they feel comfortable and they know kind of what to expect in the classes. Okay, so I'm gonna change gears a little bit here and I know because we're in Hawaii, right? And everything logistically here is so difficult, like now even more, where do you bring your reformers from? So I am certified through an international pilates certification called STOT, S-T-O-T-T and they are in Toronto, Canada so I have invested all of my equipment through them and it's sent directly from them. And so what does that require? They are having, I mean, you need to keep updating and learning and educating yourself or through them. Yeah, so my certification, I am fully certified through my pilates industry and they require CECs every year so that I'm constantly learning and being connected and being on top of my industry and what's happening in it. So how have these machines progressed from the 2000s to the 21st, the 2021? Sure, their prototype doesn't change all that much. They may tweak things here and there but they're not drastic changes in the equipment because they're truly so perfect already. There isn't much to be done to them other than maybe changing colors or maybe mechanically changing something to make it a little smoother but there aren't any major changes so that I don't have to keep purchasing equipment year after year. More, it's not like Apple that they require a different cable every time you buy a iPhone. Well, thank goodness, thank goodness. Okay, well, Diana, thank you so much and sorry for my questions because I'm trying to understand but I'm also trying to make the audience understand what pilates is and I think you did a great job explaining it. My pleasure, thank you. So thank you for your job in the community. I hope you keep growing. I hope you keep being an instructor and growing those studios. It's really a good thing for Hawaii, for the community and I hope for you, so thank you very much. Thank you, Maria, appreciate your time, thank you. Okay, and again, thank you everybody for following us and we'll see you in our next show and until then, aloha. Thank you.