Get Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Here
People often ask great questions about Pilates and the services offered at TheraFit Pilates. Below are a few of the most frequently asked questions. If you don’t see your question, don’t worry, simply call Lisa or email her your questions.
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What is Pilates?
Pilates is a form of exercise that focuses on connecting people back to their bodies. It emphasizes the control of breath, learning to stabilize one region of your body while freely moving another, or learning to coordinating movements . Pilates teaches people healthy movement patterns to reduce pain and injury, improve vitality and reconnect the body and mind.
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How is Pilates different than Yoga?
Yoga and Pilates are similar and complimentary, particularly when it comes to the importance of breathing. Pilates is different in that there are a lot more coordinated, targeted movements aimed at improving posture and body mechanics. Pilates focuses more on strength, whereas yoga focuses more on flexibility.
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Why is breathing so important?
Breathing is our life force, this is how we oxygenate our tissues. It is a way to cleanse our bodies. If we don’t breath our bodies die. The average human breath is 12-16 breaths per minute, therefore we take >20,000 breaths in a day. If we do not use good breathing mechanics by using our diaphragm correctly, this can cause overuse pain and strain to the muscles that are trying to do the breathing for the diaphragm. The diaphragm and the pelvic floor are closely related and improper breathing mechanics can be linked to pelvic floor dysfunction.
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What is the “Core”?
The “Core” is often referred to the set of muscles that make up the bodies trunk or mid-section: Diaphram, Pelvic floor, Transversus abdominus, multifidus, internal & external obliques, rectus abdominis, erector spinae. At times the glut and parascapular region may also be considered part of the core. The core is also within our center of gravity.
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What is the “pelvic floor”?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that supports the bottom aspect of the pelvic region. It’s bony attachments are the pubic bone, both ischial tuberosities (sits bones), and the coccyx (tailbone).
The functions of the pelvic floor are: to provide muscular/structural support to the pelvis, to prevent our internal organs (as well as babies) from falling out from between our legs, for bowel and bladder control, and for sexual pleasure/function.
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Can I buy Pilates sessions at the studio and not online?
Yes, in fact, you can only buy your sessions in the studio. This keeps costs down. You will, however, still need to set up an account on Vagaro so your sessions can be tracked and accounted for. Please bring cash or check.
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Does Lisa still practice as a Physical Therapist?
Yes! Lisa continues to work one day a week at St. Alphonsus hospital (in-patient setting). She loves the challenges of the inpatient setting and this helps her keep her manual therapy, and verbal & tactile cuing skills up.
If Lisa feels you need Physical Therapy services she will refer you to a Physical Therapist or PT clinic she respects and is convenient for her clients.
You may ask Lisa about her Cash-Pay PT practice she has at TheraFit.
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Can I use my Medical Flex Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)?
At this time it seems to depend on your account holder. It is worth submitting to your account holder. A script from your medical provider may also encourage your account holder to provide the funds.
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Do the sessions I purchase expire?
Yes! Sessions will expire 6 months from the day they were purchased. You can place a freeze on your sessions for medical reasons, but this has to be done in advance of them expiring. Expired sessions can be renewed by purchasing the same package or one that cost more than the expired sessions came from.
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What are Pilates “toys/props”?
Toys/Props are: balls, arcs, foam rollers, stretchy bands, magic rings, free weights, stools/chairs ect… They are used to enhance and assist the Pilates movement experience.
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Why the Boise Bench?
The Boise Bench region in the Treasure Valley does not have a Pilates studio, and is a great region for all of the Treasure Valley (Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Kuna, Nampa) to be able to easily access from the interstate or from down town Boise and is 2.5 miles from the Vista Exit.
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Why do I have to schedule Solo and Duet Sessions through Lisa?
This is so these sessions best match the time you are available and the time Lisa has available (when not working as a physical therapist) to give you dedicated time. Plus since she knows her clients and their abilities she can better match people.