PILATES WITH ANN McNEIL

The Pilates Method of Physical and Mental Conditioning, or Contrology, was developed from the 1930's through the 1950's by physical therapist Joseph Pilates and his wife, Clara. Pilates is a philosophy of movement and exercise, a mental and physical discipline, a series of carefully and consciously performed exercises that asks you to identify, articulate, and strengthen the deep muscles of the torso and abdomen, the core, while relaxing and lengthening the superficial surface muscles. Pilates also designed equipment to augment an encyclopedia of floor exercises. Careful, precise performance, attention to detail and integration of mind, body and breath is what sets the method apart from most exercise regimes. The core muscles become your primary support, you become more aware of posture and balance and you move more easily and efficiently. Please wear comfortable clothing, bring a mat and water! ABOUT ANN McNEIL In 1994, Ann McNeil moved to the Coachella Valley from Los Angeles, where she was teaching in several facilities, dance, back pain management, stretch and Pilates classes. She decided it was time to move to an area where Pilates was "unknown" territory to introduce this method of exercise. To her amazement , no one had even heard of it from athletic trainers, physical therapists and all of the holistic community. So Ann launched on a commitment to herself that she would be the first to teach this community about this "method" that she has been teaching and using in her career as a teacher. Ann has earned two Master Degrees, the first at UCLA in Dance Education and the second in Movement Analysis at the University of Washington. Dance and teaching has been her main focus. Ann also became Certified with the American College of Sports Medicine and has taught in the Certification Program in Dance and Sports Medicine at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. During and after her dance career, Ann studied the Pilates Method, which has been critical to her well-being and a wonderful discipline to share with her students. She opened up her studio, "The Intelligent Work-Out," upon moving to Cathedral City and is dedicated to sharing with her students Pilate's philosophy of discovering one's highest human potential through the balance of body and mind.