Ali Sales – Pilates Instructor

Ever wondered about Pilates? Well we did a Q & A with Pilates instructor Ali Sales to find out a little bit more about it.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you chose Pilates as a career.

Hi! My name is Ali, I’m 27, I live and teach Pilates in Kitsilano, Vancouver. I’m  married and have a gigantic cuddly rescue dog named Leonard Cohen. When I’m not teaching I’m usually exploring the outdoor lifestyle Vancouver offers.

Growing up, I dedicated quite a bit of time to sport which built lots of wonderful relationships but also resulted in a few injuries. I felt that after years of cardio and boot camp style workouts, Pilates gave me the same ‘workout high’ but educated me about the best way to use my body to achieve my goals; I felt safe and strong. Pilates doesn’t just give a great workout, it challenges you mentally as well as physically.

2. What would you say to someone who has never tried it before?

Pilates is great for anyone; my youngest client is 12 years old and my oldest is in his early 80’s. Pilates looks at the body as a whole and brings you back into alignment to keep you moving and getting stronger.

If you are a beginner, it is ideal to first try a private lesson with a certified instructor. This way you will be able to understand some of the fundamentals of Pilates and also be able to try mat exercises as well as the equipment. It will give you and the instructor a good idea of how to move forward to best suit your needs. If you are from the Abbotsford area, check out Dori at Terpsicore Pilates Movement and Education Centre or in the Vancouver area check out Meridian Pilates Studio.

3. Any moves we can do at our desk?

If you find your back is starting to hunch and your head is getting closer to the screen, take a moment, look at your lap then stack your spine all the way up to the crown of the head, relax your shoulders. Ideally both feet are on the ground and you can feel equal weight on both sitbones (the boney part of your bum). If you are crossing your legs or one sitbone feels heavier than the other, you are shortening one side of your body while the other stays long. If this is a habit 4-8 hours a day, you are creating an imbalance in your body.

4. Any final health tips or comments?

Drink lots of water and try to indulge in office donuts only occasionally. 🙂