Getting to know…Maider Arrausi

This is the next in our series of Getting to Know Your Instructor.

Meet Maider Arrausi who joined our great team of teachers here at Maider ArrausiLive & Breathe Pilates in 2023.

When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?
First I wanted to be an astronaut, then a writer, after a school teacher.

What inspired you to become a Pilates teacher?
My teachers; their dedication, generosity and love for the practice.
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Getting to know…Tamara Orto

This is the next in our series of Getting to Know Your Instructor.

Meet Tamara Orto who joined our great team of teachers here at Tamara OrtoLive & Breathe Pilates in 2022.

When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a Speech and Language Therapist and a Dancer.

What inspired you to become a Pilates teacher?
My background belong to dance and for my own research of the human body I continued my education and I become a Pilates instructor.
It makes simple if you know earlier how to move your body.
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Getting to know…Rachel Hollywood

This is the next in our series of Getting to Know Your Instructor.

Meet Rachel Hollywood who joined our great team of teachers here at Rachel HollywoodLive & Breathe Pilates in 2021.

When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?
Police Officer.

What inspired you to become a Pilates teacher?
I just loved how Pilates made me feel. It’s the one form of exercise that has been a constant for me for 15+ years.
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Getting to know…Liz O’Donnell

This is the next in our series of Getting to Know Your Instructor.

Meet Liz O’Donnell who joined our great team of teachers here at Liz O'DonnellLive & Breathe Pilates in 2019.

When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a physiotherapist.

What inspired you to become a Pilates teacher?
My own physical health. When I was extremely unwell, Pilates brought me back to good health. Through this I found a love for Pilates. I decided Pilates is what I want to do everyday to keep me well and to help others.
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Getting to know…Cáit Healy

This is the next in our series of Getting to Know Your Instructor.

Meet Cáit Healy who joined our great team of teachers here at Cáit HealyLive & Breathe Pilates in 2018.

When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?
A few things – a nun, a ballerina, a shopkeeper – so far I have only managed one of these careers, but who knows what the future holds.

What inspired you to become a Pilates teacher?
Steph Grey’s casual mention that there was a spare place on the BASI teacher training course was the start and of course all of the amazing teachers I have been lucky enough to have had – including Steph.
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Well being in your workplace

We’re often asked how to improve well being in the workplace.

But well being is not just about the work “place”. As well as what we do in our places of work, sleep, hydration, nutrition and exerciseworkplace wellbeing outside work are all needed to contribute to keeping us healthy.

Here’s some of our top tips for staying well throughout your day…

Mornings

    • A glass of hot water and lemon can kickstart your digestive system before breakfast.
    • A good breakfast sets you up for the day but avoid sugary cereals. Try eggs or porridge for a good, nutritious start. Your gut health and microbiome affect every system in your body, eat with awareness.
    • Lose yourself in a good podcast or audio book on your commute. Or even a real book!
    • Do you have to carry a laptop? Carry it over a different shoulder. It’s not the load that breaks us, it’s the way we carry it!
    • Using a mobile phone a lot? Check in with your non dominant arm. If you have elbow discomfort, maybe always holding the phone with that hand with a bent elbow could be contributing. Swop hands!

Daytime

    • Is your screen directly in front of your eyes? Raise it if needs be – some books underneath can do the trick. Ensure it’s directly in front of you too.
    • If you use a laptop at the desk, add a separate keyboard and mouse to prevent your head disappearing into your screen over the course of the day.
    • Have a standing desk? Use an anti-fatigue mat when standing to reduce pressure.
    • Constant meetings? Ask for a standing meeting, it’s amazing how much faster things get done. Why not suggest a walk and talk if you need to meet a colleague?
    • Conference calls? Take your call on a a quick stroll around the block, get some fresh air and daylight – away from the glare of artificial lighting and recycled air.
    • Bullying in the workplace should not be tolerated in any form. Report it.
    • Try using your mouse with the non dominant hand some times. Not as tricky as you might think and it’s good to work your brain with new and different movement patterns.
    • Reduce caffeine and increase your water intake. If you have more than 1 or 2 coffees a day it’s important to take on more water. The caffeine in both coffee and yes, tea are diuretic so hydration is affected. Dehydration can affect your ability to concentrate too.
    • Constantly stressed? Again look at your caffeine intake – could it be contributing?
    • Get some exercise. Regular, consistent exercise has been shown over and over to improve physical and mental health.
    • Find something you actually like to do. If you HATE what you’re doing – is that really something you’ll keep up in the longterm? Probably not. We’re obviously big Pilates fans in the studio, but our teachers are also swimmers, climbers, dancers, hikers and yogis. Experiment. Move. Find what you love and make it convenient and easy to fit into your day. If we can help get you started, let us know.

Evenings

    • Use your commuting time to decompress and turn off your work day stresses before home time.
    • Try a mindfulness or meditation app like Calm or Headspace. Take just a few minutes out every day to chill out.
    • Try our 4-7-8 Breathing video – a few minutes to de-stress.
    • Invest in a foam roller to open your shoulders. Not sure how? We’re big fans of the roller in the studio, come try a class, or check out our YouTube channel.
    • Lost in a TV box set? Lie on the floor and do some stretching as you watch, or better still, lie on your foam roller
    • Take an epsom salts bath. A great way to relax, ease tired muscles and help you sleep.
    • Difficulty with sleep? Good sleep hygiene is critical. No screens an hour before bedtime. Avoid alcohol or other stimulants before bed. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and get up the same time every morning to reset your body clock.
    • And lastly, have some fun. Don’t take life too seriously.

If you are interested in learning more, or in our corporate services, get in touch.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Complimentary Consultations for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month –

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, and as part of our Pink Ribbon Program, Pink Ribbon Programare offering free consultations to anyone looking to get back into exercise following breast cancer treatment and wondering where to start.

The goal of the Pink Ribbon Pilates program is to empower women and provide them with additional aids for recovery from their surgery whether they have had a lumpectomy, a full mastectomy or something in between.
During the consultation, we will take measurements to assess your range of movement, show you how to progressively stretch and strengthen your shoulders, chest and back to start to regain full range of movement and reduce risk of lymphoedema. We will also advise you on next steps to help you safely return to exercise.

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Feel Great in Dublin 8

As proud business owners and residents of Dublin 8 for the past 25 years, we’re delighted to see our neighbourhood and community be injected with a new lease of life recently. We’ve seen the changes firsthand, and the massive increase in popularity in the area. There are so many cranes on the skyline!

With change comes uncertainty though. We know change can mean additional stress or anxiety Feel Great in Dublin 8for people. Increased rents, stressful jobs, managing home life and work and getting through everything that life throws at us can be a challenge.

We have always had a focus on helping people in our studio and we have mainly done this through Pilates and movement in the past. However, the more we teach and the more we deal with people the more we realise that there is a mental health aspect to what we do too.

Time and again we see clients who are at very stressful points in their lives coming into us with increased back pain, more tension in their bodies and an inability to let go of that tension.

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