Pilates Rocks Celebrates A Decade Of Keeping Wellington Residents Fit Balance Flexibility

Pilates Rocks Celebrates A Decade Of Keeping Wellington Residents Fit Balance Flexibility

There are many ways to get fit and stay active in Wellington. If you are inspired to perspire, popular outlets for an active lifestyle include walking, running, biking, swimming, tennis, golf, playing team sports or horseback riding. If you’re looking for something more unique, add Pilates to your list of fitness activities because Pilates complements every activity in your life.

Pilates Rocks, located at 3460 Fairlane Farms Road, has been providing this unique exercise and fitness routine to residents of Wellington and beyond for the past 10 years.

Under the leadership and direction of co-owners Elissa Salzman and Laura Minucci, it has been a great first decade for Pilates Rocks with another exciting, perspiration-filled, calorie-burning, core-building decade to come.

The co-owners come from different backgrounds. Salzman is a longtime equestrian, while Minucci is a trained physical therapist.

Prominent professional athletes in all sports are now doing Pilates, Salzman noted. Among them are global soccer legend David Beckham and NBA superstar LeBron James. Locally, a large number of people involved in Wellington’s world-class equestrian scene are active members at Pilates Rocks.

“Our membership includes so many jumpers and a large number of dressage riders,” Salzman said.

Minucci added that veterinarians, groomers, trainers and horse owners also enjoy their Pilates classes. “Once the word spreads around a barn about Pilates, everybody decides to do it,” she said.

As a way of commemorating its first 10 years, Pilates Rocks sponsored two Grand Prix jumping events in Wellington on Nov. 15 and Nov. 17. “It’s the right thing to do since the equestrian industry is an important part of our business,” Salzman said.

What’s so appealing about Pilates is that it works on and improves many parts of your body — your back, knees, shoulders, arms and especially your core. 

“Every type of movement comes from the core. In Pilates, we want you to feel as if your belly button is kissing your spine,” Salzman explained. “With Pilates, you will improve your core, as well as your balance, flexibility, strength and awareness. Pilates also helps your breathing.”

How does Pilates improve your awareness? “It shows you where parts of your body are moving from when you exercise,” said Salzman, a New York City native who has lived in Wellington for the past 12 years.

Pilates is just as much a mental exercise as it is a physical workout.

“You have to concentrate and think at Pilates,” Salzman said.

There are generally two types of Pilates — classical and contemporary. At Pilates Rocks, they include the attractive elements of both versions.

“We have stayed true to the Pilates principles, but we continue to add new, modern equipment to our studios,” Minucci emphasized.

Back in 2009, Pilates Rocks had one studio. In 2013, the business expanded by adding a second studio, which was necessary to accommodate high demand.

Another benefit of Pilates is that it helps with bone density. “With Pilates, my bone density gets better every year,” said Salzman, now 74 years old.

This is especially important for equestrian jumpers when their bodies are constantly moving on the back of a horse as it leaps over one obstacle after another.

Some of the well-known equestrians who have spent time at Pilates Rocks are jumpers Laura Kraut, Lauren Hough, Chris McCrea, Eric Lamaze and Andrew Bourns, as well as dressage riders Susie Dutta, Ashley Holzer and Todd Flettrich.

Membership at Pilates Rocks numbers roughly 200 people. The ages of members range from 15 to 85. While many members are female, Salzman noted that Pilates is becoming more appealing to men.

“The number of our male members is picking up, especially from the equestrian sports,” Salzman said.

One key aspect of Pilates Rocks is that it caters to the needs and demands of its members.

“We are open seven days a week,” Salzman said. “We open as early as 6 a.m., and we try to head home by 8:30 p.m. Though, we will stay open later if we need to accommodate a specific client.”

Some members are enrolled in group classes and some prefer private one-on-one sessions. The group classes feature no more than eight participants. With the private sessions, it allows instructors to focus on one specific part of a client’s body. Some members do both group and private sessions.

“We have three or four group classes every day, but we conduct private sessions every day, throughout the day,” Minucci said.

Two of the original members of Pilates Rocks — Barbara Cherry and Holly Lichtenfeld — are as actively involved now as they were 10 years ago.

“I do Pilates because it’s fun,” Cherry said. “I’m also fitter and happier. I do go to the gym twice a week, but it’s a different workout at Pilates Rocks.”

“I like the variety of the workouts,” added Lichtenfeld, who attends group classes at least three times a week.

Lichtenfeld said that Pilates has improved her health.

“Years ago, I injured my back while picking up my kids,” she said. “Doing Pilates has healed my back and avoided trips to a physical therapist or a chiropractor.”

Without a doubt, the atmosphere at Pilates Rocks is forever positive.

“We have a good vibe here. We have a good time,” Salzman said.

The principles of Pilates were developed nearly a century ago by Joseph Pilates. The owners of Pilates Rocks believe that if he were still alive today, he would be pleased.

“He would be very proud of our studio and what we do,” Minucci said.

Pilates Rocks is located at 3460 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 12, in Wellington. For more info., e-mail info@pilatesrocks.com, call (561) 204-3185 or visit www.pilatesrocks.com.

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