Pilates Blog

Meet Missy! Missy is one of our favorite clients (we do love them all equally). She brings an incredibly kind energy into the studio and we’ve enjoyed watching her progress. Missy shared with us the benefits she’s seen since starting Pilates a year ago- specifically how they’ve helped her in her paddling and yoga practice.

What do you do in Jackson and how long have you lived in the valley?

I’m the Executive Director of the  Teton County Library Foundation and have lived full time in Jackson since 1994.

How long have you been doing Pilates?

I’ve been doing Pilates for about one year

What other activities do you participate in?

I road bike, ski, fish, hike and practice lots of yoga

Describe your first Grand Canyon trip.

In 2011, a group of friends and I paddled the lower section of the Grand Canyon. It was a wonderful and active trip and required the use of muscles that I haven’t used in a long time. A friend of mine and I both got small tears in our intercostal muscles . It required us to sit out at least one day of paddling which didn’t make us happy. It took several weeks to rehab the injury once we got home.

Describe your recent trip and the changes you noticed.

We’ve just returned from paddling the upper section this week. The good news is that we were completely injury free. We used our core to assist us in all the paddling and were especially strong in the big rapids.

Biggest impact Pilates has had on your life.

I feel that Pilates has helped me to become a more integrated athlete. I especially see its benefits in my yoga practice where I have observed more strength, fluidity and prana.

Jess McMillan is a superstar. When she is not in the studio, she can be found ripping ski slopes around the world, with the Warren Miller cameramen trying to keep up. Jess brings an athlete perspective to the studio and is a walking example of how Pilates can help balance out our bodies after a hard season of mountain sports. We often wonder how we got so lucky to have such a talented athlete teaching at our studio.

“Over the years everyone has called skiers athletes. But big mountain skiers don’t typically train like world cup ski racers, and at the time I wasn’t training that way either. I decided that if I was going to call myself an athlete and allow others to call me an athlete, I wanted to be an athlete. The training has made me feel more like an athlete mentally and physically.” -2013 Freeskier Magazine Backcountry Issue 

Q&A with Jess McMillan

What are some of your favorite Pilates exercises?

Tower on the Cadillac, Up Stretch 3 on the Reformer, Abdominals on the Mat, Standing Lunge on the Chair

Why do you live in Jackson?

Every morning when I wake up and see the Tetons, I feel like the luckiest girl alive.  Jackson has the best skiing in the lower 48 as well as amazing hiking, climbing, biking, water skiing, and people.  Sometimes I think the Tetons act as a fountain of youth for the residents of Jackson.  I am inspired everyday by the people of Jackson Hole.

If you have an hour to yourself, what would we find you doing?

Running by the Snake River, hiking the local hill-Snow King, or mountain biking.

Why your classes are unique?

My main focus during a Pilates class is form.  As an athlete, I constantly strive to master whatever I am doing.  Pilates is the same way for me. Pilates has changed my life.  I feel stronger, more balanced, and have better over-all well being.

Jess is back for the summer and ready to train new and old CORE clients. Please call the studio to get into one of her reformer classes or drop in to any of the following:

• Monday: 3:00pm equipment class, 5:30pm yogalaties
• Tuesday: 5:30pm equipment class
• Wednesday: 12:10pm mat class, 3:00pm equipment class
• Thursday: 5:30pm equipment class
• Friday: 12:10pm mat class, 3:00pm equipment class

How to keep up with Jess’s activities:

Jess ripping: http://vimeo.com/20622347#

Jess’s photos: instagram: jmcmillan

Jess’s website: http://www.jessmcmillan.com

Do you ever find yourself driving in your car and pulling in your rib cage? On a long bike ride, are you activating your hamstrings and relieving your quads?

We’ve got you addicted. You’ve started to think about pilates throughout the day, not just in the studio.

And you’ve been asking yourself…how can I get more? The answer?  The CORE Blog.  Now, anytime you leave the studio feeling like you want a little more, you can come here to read interviews with instructors, stock up on healthy recipes, and find out everything that Core Pilates loves – from songs to books to restaurants.

So, grab your cup of coffee, and come join us for a little more Core.