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Alycea Ungaro - you are the
founder and director of Tribeca Bodyworks, New York
City. You originally trained as a ballet dancer
- tell us how you came to be involved with pilates.
How did you feel it benefited you at that stage
in your career?
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| AU: At the age of 14, I suffered
an ankle injury while studying at the School of
American Ballet. Since I was unable to attend ballet
class, the school suggested I take Pilates classes
to keep up my strength and help me to heal faster.
From that point forward, every time I suffered an
injury I returned to Pilates. It wasn't until I
was 18 years old that I began doing Pilates regularly
as part of my fitness regimen. I didn't realize
that it was so much more than a rehabilitative technique
- this was preventative maintenance. Done regularly,
Pilates can help you to perform your other activities
with greater strength, symmetry and grace. |
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Could you briefly outline
what to expect from a Pilates mat workout?
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| AU: In performing the Pilates
Mat work you can expect a total body workout. You
will address every area of your body as you simultaneously
focus on your midsection. Expect to do very few
repetitions but to work to your threshold during
each exercise. You will be mentally engaged and
physically challenged. Pilates students leave their
sessions with renewed energy and vitality as well
as better posture. |
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Joseph Pilates (the German-born
inventor of the exercise) has been quoted as saying
that 'You will feel better in 10 sessions, look
better in 20 sessions, and have a completely new
body in 30 sessions'. Can you expect to totally
transform your body with pilates training?
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| AU: I am asked this particular
question all the time. The reality is, exercise
can transform your body only if you concentrate
completely on every movement. The unique structure
of Pilates forces you to focus thoroughly on each
moment of every exercise. With regular training,
Pilates will effect profound changes in very little
time. Mr. Pilates outlined his program for the "normal,
healthy body". He intended for his students to commit
to three to four sessions per week. While three
sessions per week for ten weeks will yield visible
results, many of our clients at Tribeca Bodyworks
have noticed significant changes in far less than
30 sessions. |
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Among others, you have trained
Madonna and Uma Thurman - both women who like to
look their best. What do you feel is especially
attractive about a 'pilates body' rather than a
'gym body'?
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| AU: The Pilates trained body
is sculpted and strong but the most visible benefit
is the posture and carriage that results. Pilates
students learn to support themselves from the muscles
in the centre of their body which quickly results
in improved posture. Misalignments and poor body
mechanics immediately improve with Pilates making
one feel taller and leaner. |
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Your book - Pilates Body
in Motion - illustrates classic Pilates exercises
in a series of step by step programmes to do at
home. Most people can only make a Pilates class
once or twice a week - if they use this book, should/can
they exercise every day?
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| AU: The mat can be done every
single day. I tell my clients at Tribeca Bodyworks
that an optimal routine is 3 times per week. If
they can't get in to the studio that often, they
know that the matwork can be done at home at their
convenience. You really can't overdo it - as long
as you follow the instructions exactly and do only
the recommended number of repetitions. |
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Tell us about your experience
of making this book. How did you choose the models
in the book? Was it difficult for them to hold the
positions while shooting? Did you learn anything
new?
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AU: Writing this book was
incredible. Teaching affords you the opportunity
to continually talk your client through the exercise.
In writing Pilates Body in Motion, I was forced
to reduce each exercise to its most important concepts
and instruct the reader with a minimum of words.
The models were chosen according to their ability
to demonstrate the best possible form for each exercise.
Holding the poses was very challenging for the models.
However, our incredible photographer, Russell Sadur
was often able to capture the poses just by having
the model perform the exercise in slow motion.
I was reminded during the shooting that Pilates
is a challenging workout no matter how experienced
you are. The beauty of the system is that you learn
how to train yourself and become your own coach.
It just keeps getting better! |
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