charleston Archives - Pilates of Charleston

Get to Know Team Pilates of Charleston

October 8, 2019

If you loved learning more about our girl Hanna, you’ll be psyched to hear that next up on our “Get to Know Team Pilates of Charleston” we interviewed instructor and owner, Katie Sovenyhazy! You’re probably familiar with Katie while she’s rocking her Lulu Lemons and counting out that it’s time to get into Pilates V for 100s! However, this week you’ll get to have an inside look at Katie’s history with Pilates and her favorite activities from fried foods to walks on the Charleston bridge. We hope you learn something new and get to know Katie aside from her duties as your Pilates instructor.

How did you get involved in Pilates?

The short story is….through years of ballet! Pilates mat classes were always part of our training and curriculum as young dancers and ballet studios/schools typically brought in Pilates instructors to teach their students inside the ballet studio. Pilates is ideal for a dancer’s body, as it develops core strength and helps to improve and strengthen flexibility. It also is a means to stay conditioned when dealing with dance related injuries. So, I have been doing Pilates mat classes since I was about 9 years old! Now, as a young dancer, I did not love mat classes because all I really wanted to be doing was dancing and rehearsing. So needless to say, I was not very enthusiastic about lying on a mat doing the hundreds at 8 AM on a Saturday morning…hahaha! However, as I matured I grew to appreciate the benefits of Pilates and I started to seek out Pilates classes outside of the dance studio, where I was finally introduced to the reformer.

How long have you been teaching Pilates?

I have been teaching Pilates for 14 years.

What is your favorite thing about being an instructor?

Contrary to what the majority of the public thinks, teaching Pilates is hard….and teaching a GOOD class is even harder! In a group class for example, you have to not only choreograph the flow of exercises, but you have to have enough knowledge of human anatomy to know what muscle groups are working and which positions or movements might contraindicate a specific person’s injuries. Not to mention, you need one hell of a personality to entertain people during a class and a large dose of enthusiasm to keep people motivated when the class turns hard! You also need to have good cueing, be hands on, and be available to spot when necessary. The challenge of executing all those things together perfectly, is an art. And that is what I love about teaching! I love striving for perfection, to constantly create the perfect class that inspires every single person in the room. I love choreographing classes that leave people feeling challenged, yet not defeated. And I love pushing and encouraging my students to believe that they CAN do more than they think they can.

How would others describe your classes?

Well, I do believe I have a reputation for teaching tough classes! I think most people would describe my Pilates classes as challenging and creative. They tend to be challenging mostly because it’s nonstop. I try to make every minute count and keep transitions to a minimum. Pilates is not “a walk in the park” and I think my classes reflect that. Now, even though my classes are tough, I never leave people stranded and always offer help and modifications should you not be able to do a particular exercise. I think because of that, everyone is accommodated no matter what their level of fitness is and EVERYONE leaves feeling like they conquered!

What other things do you do to live a healthy lifestyle?

I try to take at least two to three of Elizel’s classes a week and I also try to get a quick run in–although it’s more like a jog than a run! I also try and walk our doggie, Austin, as much as possible around the neighborhood, so he can get his energy out and I can get my steps in. I think cross training is important, so I will throw in a yoga class or some free weights with our girl, Megan Hamilton of Bodywise. I drink healthy, veggie/fruit packed smoothies or açaí bowls for lunch in-between sessions and I make sure I get in a massage as often as my schedule allows to keep my muscles happy.

Favorite “splurge” meal?

Fried Fish with tons of malt vinegar! There’s an off the beaten path restaurant in North Charleston called The Codfather that has the best fish and chips!

Favorite Way to spend a weekend in Charleston?

I teach so much during the week, that when I get to the weekend, I look forward to chilling out and spending time with my husband and two boys. I enjoy going for evening beach walks on Sullivan’s island, perhaps after dinner out with friends and family. Being able to walk the bridge (not run) always makes for a good weekend as well! And then of course, I’m a girl that loves mani’s, pedi’s, and blow out’s! So, treating myself to getting my nails done or my hair blown out, would be top on my list for a good weekend.

Favorite and least favorite Pilates exercise?

My favorite Pilates exercise is side bends on the box! I know, I know…people are probably rolling their eyes at me because there is nothing pleasant about side bends. However, I love that they tap into your obliques and QL in a way that’s hard to replicate with other traditional abdominal exercises. My least favorite? Humm….. maybe the classical rowing series. Just not a fan! Hahaha!

If you haven’t taken one of Katie’s classes yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. From a cardio blasting jump board class to a classic yet challenging reformer class, Katie will have you hooked on Pilates in no time. Schedule a class with Katie today and try out her famous side bends and chat about a dish of fish n chips.

Stretch Class….yes please!

October 1, 2019

Have you ever left one of our reformer classes wishing the end stretch was just a little longer? Well, so have we and that’s why we’ve added on a dedicated stretch class to our Pilates of Charleston group class schedule. Join us Mondays and Wednesdays at 9 AM for 50 minutes of restorative, guided stretch where you’ll have a chance to give the muscles you may have worked during one of our traditional group or jump board classes a little extra love, as well as pay special attention to any problem areas that may have recently effected your workout regime. We designed our stretching class for our amazing clients to not only feel the benefits of stretching, but to also designate time out of their hectic schedules to take care of key places in their body. Stretch classes are conducted on the reformers and we do make use of a variety of props as we see fit, to help us deepen the stretch and make positions feel more enjoyable. Oh, and did we mention that there are some lavender eye pillows involved at the end of stretch classes? Um humm….

In our stretching class, we’ll also go through a series of motions that will help relieve any lower back (lumbar) pain or tension that might be occurring in your body. Stretching your lumbar spine also helps loosen up any tightness in your muscles, allowing your spine’s blood circulation to pump up more quickly. The lumbar spine refers to your lower back area, specifically where your spine starts to curve inward from your abdomen area. The lumbar spine connects to the thoracic spine and is known for its ability to be both powerful and flexible. Your lumbar spine is responsible for your pelvic tilting and accommodates rotation and lateral flexion. All that responsibility gives the lumbar spine a heavy weight to bare – both literally and figuratively! Our stretch class will not only give your lower back some love, but your entire mind and body too! If you need an additional push to start stretching with us, check out some of what stretching it out does for you:

Gets you Standing Upright! Pilates + stretching = perfect posture. Pilates exercises already work to lengthen and strengthen your muscles, adding on a designated stretching workout to your routine can only take your posture to the next level! Tight hamstrings? We promise that those hammies will be shown some love during each of our stretch classes. Length and flexibility in the back of the leg is so important in the overall spine health, so we make sure that hamstring stretching is always at the forefront of our stretch classes.

Gets you Protected. When your muscles are “cold” or uptight, injuries are more likely to occur during your workout. Keep yourself loose and warmed up throughout the week and never worry about trying out one of those accelerated reformer moves again.

Gets you Stress Free. When you’re stressed, so are your joints and your blood flow. Stretching works against the stress and increases blood circulation. As soon as your blood gets pumping, your brain will too! Similar to a calorie burning workout, this stretching workout will give you that same endorphin release, leaving you feeling strong and ready to conquer the day.

These are only some of the abundant health benefits stretching has. We’d be happy to tell and show you the rest in one of our stretch classes! Katie teaches the Monday 9am stretch class and Elizel teaches the Wednesday 9am stretch class. So please stop by and stretch it out with us. We promise you’ll be as hooked as we are!

Charleston City Guides – Best Outdoor Patios

September 10, 2019

One of the best things about our jobs is where we get to work. Charleston, South Carolina is not only one of the number one city’s in the world, but it’s also our home and we couldn’t feel luckier to call it that. However, it can get pretty overwhelming deciding where to eat and what to do when there’s all of this greatness around us! But fear not! Our new blog’s segment – Charleston City Guides, will give you a local’s look inside the city that we call home. We strive to bring our clients current trends and exercises in the Pilates world and our recommendations are no different! Keeping things current, our first guide showcases some of Charleston’s best outdoor patios to grab a coffee (or a cocktail) while Summer is hanging on and Fall is inching closer.

Where to Kick Start Your Morning: Huriyali / @huriyali

Huriyali is one of Charleston’s OG health food cafe. We love it here because the menu changes seasonally and is one of the most creative ones around town. Of course, Huriyali has your green juices and avocado toast’s but it is there signature acai bowls and locally sourced breakfast plates that make it our favorite. Grab an E.A.T sandwich and an aloha bowl and enjoy your morning fuel in their enchanting backyard garden.

Where to Enjoy A Long Lunch: Leon’s / @leonsoystershop

If we could pick one Charleston staple, it would be Leon’s. Fried chicken and oysters…does it get better than that?? At Leon’s it actually does. Grab a large table out front with friends and splurge on that cheat meal…it’s okay you can come see us at Pilates of Charleston the following day. While you’re there, sit back and enjoy the char-grilled oysters, hush puppies, and the siam salad for some greens.

Where to Grab A Quick Coffee: Second State Coffee / @secondstatecoffee

Second State Coffee is a no brainer for the women of Pilates of Charleston. In between sessions we love to walk across the Shelmore Village shopping center and over to our neighbor’s cafe, grab a coffee, and take a breather on their outdoor patio. As Summer weather starts to fade and the Fall breeze gets going, our go-to order is a cafe au lait with oat milk…OR a dirty chai latte, which is a chai latte with a shot of espresso in it!

Where to Feel Like You’re In Europe: Babas on Cannon / @babasoncannon

The truth is…Babas on Cannon can work in anyone of these situations. Babas is an all day, old world cafe that makes you feel like you are on the streets of Paris. Although our favorite time to go is for some apéritif, definitely stop by one morning for a cold brew with homemade peanut milk…move over almond milk! We like it for a glass of wine and snacks before dinner however because you can grab a seat at one of their quaint outdoor tables and watch the King Street traffic stroll by.

Where to Enjoy Dinner Al Fresco: Coda Del Pesce / @codadelpesce_

Coda Del Pesce, located in Isle of Palms, is the perfect location for a special night out. This beautiful Italian restaurant, specializes in seafood and offers guests beautiful views of the beach. Spend the day at Isle of Palms beachside and then head to a delicious dinner.

Just because Summer is leaving us, doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of Charleston’s warm weather. Some of favorite months in the Holy City are during fall and each of these places would be the perfect day or night to transition into the new season. Stay tuned for some fall recipes on the blog as Fall starts to gear up!

Create The Perfect Morning Routine

August 19, 2019

Whether you’re an early riser or a “five more minutes” kind of person, having a habitual morning routine could be what your day is missing. Now, if you’re worrying that you don’t have one, don’t worry. Sometimes having “no routine”, could be your thing! However the instructors at Pilates of Charleston can’t stress enough how beneficial a morning routine has been to them. It could be a stretch, it could be a 5 minute meditation, or a cup of tea, but regardless, setting up a consistent ritual each morning, can help you start the day off right. We each have varying versions but we wanted to share some of our favorites that are too good to keep to ourselves. Try one or all of the below this week and have your most successful week yet!

Take a Deep Breath: Your alarm goes off and just like that, you’ve been on your phone since the minute you’ve woken up. We like to turn our alarms off and put our cells back on the nightstand. Instead of instantly checking your e-mail or what social media has been up to while you were sleeping, take a couple deep breaths in comfort and ease into your morning. You’ll likely be on your phone in some capacity for a large part of your day, so start your morning phone free and relaxed – you will be amazed at how peaceful the morning becomes when you take that time for yourself!

Wash Your Face: This might seem like a simple daily ritual but we like to switch up our morning cleanser from our nightly cleanser. Splash your face with cold water, as the cold wakes you up and also reduces anxiety and stress. Try out an exfoliating wash or mask to rid your face with the oils from last nights sleep. Feeling fresh faced and clean is an easy way to feel confident about the day ahead.

Hot Water With Lemon: You’ve probably heard about this health tip in your favorite celebrities routine. Celebrities and nutritionists alike have been swearing by this simple drink forever, but we’ve known about it all along! Add this into your morning routine 15-30 minutes before having breakfast or drinking your cup of joe. Not only is it a boost to your hydration, but it also immensely helps your digestive and immune systems.

Stretch: Once you’re up and moving, try adding in some stretches to start your blood flow and improve your poster for the day. Stretching doesn’t just have to mean touching your toes and shaking your head “yes” and “no”. We like to take a spiky ball – a tennis ball works great too, and roll out the arch of our feet. Not only will you treat yourself to some self reflexology but you can also help improve plantar fasciitis or other feet issues! Want more? Check out one of our stretching classes!

Enjoy Breakfast: Breakfast isn’t considered one of the most important meals for no reason! Having a bite to eat each morning, even if its small, kick starts your metabolism and helps you stay focused for the next couple of hours. Plus, majority of typical breakfast foods are chalk full with amazing benefits. Get your protein in early on with some scrambled eggs or start things off light with a delicious bowl of fruit. We like to start our mornings off with a bowl of granola and pomegranate seeds, yum!

Similar to each of these favorite rituals, taking a Pilates class is our favorite morning routine of all! All biased aside, enjoying a workout class bright and early is the best way to get some me time in. A Pilates class will not tone and burn some calories, but it also boosts your metabolism and increases blood circulation throughout your body. Once you’ve gotten the kids to school or have gotten yourself out of bed, reward yourself and your body with a workout! We guarantee that once you’ve added some of these rituals to your morning and end it with a class at Pilates of Charleston, you’ll take on the day filled with energy and positivity!

Summer BBQ Swaps

August 5, 2019

With Summer winding down, we are looking for every excuse to fire up the grill and enjoy an outdoor barbecue. Barbecues are guaranteed to bring laughs, stories, and full bellies. This summer Elizel and I have taken a healthy approach to the classic BBQ and want to share some of our favorite recipes with you! We have made some Pilates of Charleston approved swaps to some summer night classics like baked beans, loaded potatoes and juicy burgers. Enjoy these recipes and share in the comments some of your guilt free BBQ faves!

Swap Baked Beans for our 3 Bean Salad:

Beans are packed full with amazing benefits. Not only are they a great source of protein and fiber, but they also reduce blood sugar and improve cholesterol levels, making this easy 3 bean salad a no brainer. We like to make ours with kidney beans, chickpeas, and cannellini beans. Add in some chopped celery and season with salt and pepper. Keep dressing simple with a little bit of olive oil and a fresh squeezed lemon…does it get easier than that??

Swap Loaded Potatoes with our Stuffed Sweet Potato:

Like beans, sweet potatoes are rich in fiber, and contain a ton of vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, and selenium. This stuffed sweet potato is one of our go-to’s. Set the oven to 450 degrees and prep the sweet potato with olive oil, salt, pepper, and cinnamon…trust us, it’s amazing! Bake the sweet potato for 40-45 minutes depending on the size and let cool. Cut the sweet potato down the middle and stuff with your favs! We do ours with quinoa, chickpeas, pomegranates and sliced avocado! Take it to the next level and drizzle some Taziki sauce on the top…our mouths are watering just thinking about it!

Swap a Beef Burger for a Portobello Patty:

Mushrooms are another nutrient filled favorite of ours. They are low in calories, and are a great source of protein for both meat eaters and vegetarians. Of course a classic burger at a BBQ is about as good as it gets, but our portobello patty is a close second! We like to give the patties a quick marinate with balsamic, soy sauce, and our favorite steak sauce to get that meaty taste. Throw the patty right on the grill and let cook for 5-7 minutes on each side. Melt some swiss cheese on top and add tomatoes, avocado, and lettuce!

Swap a Cocktail with our Simple Tequila Drink:

Believe it or not, tequila does have some pretty impressive health benefits compared to other alcohols out there. Made from the agave plant, its been found that tequila can lower blood sugar and cholesterol…bottoms up! Another reason we like it, is because it doesn’t need much, meaning you don’t have to add on sugary mixers. Our drink of juice is a good blanco tequila on the rocks, with a hefty amount of limes and some agave syrup.

At Pilates of Charleston we strive to live a balanced lifestyle. Switching up some of the traditional BBQ options is a great way to mix up your weekday dinners and have you staying healthy. However, just like everyone else, we love to treat ourselves and living in Charleston has made that way too easy! When our health focused BBQ isn’t going to cut it we love stopping at these local favorites:

Lewis’s Barbecue: Nothing beats Lewis’s brisket. Come here on a Saturday for lunch and enjoy their adorable outdoor picnic tables and their renowned BBQ.

Rodney Scotts: Get your fix of Carolina style BBQ at Rodney Scotts. Their pitt master has been cooking since he was 11 years old and you can totally tell! After shopping on King Street make your way down here and see what all the hype is about.

So get to those last days of summer with our version of a Barbaque, and then come hit up your Pilates class with us in the studio at, Pilates of Charleston so that we can burn off all those calories!

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Get to Know Team Pilates of Charleston

Stretch Class….yes please!

Charleston City Guides – Best Outdoor Patios

Create The Perfect Morning Routine

Summer BBQ Swaps

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