New Contemporary Mat Pilates Classes
We’re excited to share that Contemporary Mat Pilates has officially joined our weekly schedule!
Class times:
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.
Sundays at 11:15 a.m.
Each class is capped at 10 participants, so you’ll have room to move and receive plenty of individualized attention.
What To Expect
Every movement in Pilates is intentional — designed to help you move with control, coordination, and strength through your entire trunk, from your shoulders to your hips.
Expect to:
Strengthen your deep stabilizing muscles
Improve posture and body awareness
Move more freely through your spine
Build a foundation for better strength training
You don’t need any Pilates experience to join.
Many people leave class feeling more mobile, balanced, and — yes — standing a little taller.
Newsletter Topics
FAQ: What’s the difference between Classical vs. Contemporary Pilates?
Classical Pilates follows the original sequence and style developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s. Movements are performed in a fixed order, emphasizing flow and precision using traditional equipment and cues.
Contemporary Pilates, like what we teach at Recess, builds on those foundations — but adapts them using modern understanding of anatomy, biomechanics, and functional movement. It’s more flexible, inclusive, and responsive to how real people move today.
We take this approach because it supports our broader philosophy at Recess:
Focusing on technique and control, rather than choreography.
Helping you build body awareness — knowing how your body moves and why it moves that way.
Developing better proprioception, which is your body’s ability to sense its position and movement in space (essential for strength training and moving safely).
In short, contemporary Pilates gives us the best of both worlds — the intention and precision of the original method, paired with updated knowledge that makes it more adaptable and effective for your body.
Get Stronger Curriculum Update
We’re now a couple of weeks into our new Get Stronger curriculum!
Over the next three months, you’ll progress through distinct training phases designed to help you build strength safely and consistently:
Month 1 – Learn the Movements [We’re at this phase for all of October!]
Focus on refining your form and understanding each exercise pattern.Month 2 – Endurance
Maintain technique while taking on more volume and higher effort.Month 3 – Maximum Strength
Drop the reps, increase the weights, and discover your upper limits.
Stay Consistent
If you’ve been trying different classes (A, B, or C on the schedule), that’s great for variety — but once you’ve found your fit, we encourage you to stick with the same letter. Strength builds through consistency.
A Common Question
“Should I keep my weights light all month long?”
Not quite! In this phase, you should be challenged by the final reps of each set.
If the weight you used last week now feels too easy, that’s progress — go ahead and bump it up slightly.
The goal is to find a meaningful challenge while you establish technique and confidence in doing the movement.
Get Stronger Class Size Increase
All Get Stronger classes now have a capacity of 12 participants — an increase of two spots per class!
We’ve expanded slightly to make it easier to get into your preferred sessions while keeping the same hands-on coaching and focused environment Recess is known for.
Topic 4
That’s Strength, Too
If your grip is giving out before your legs—congrats! That’s progress. For exercises like dumbbell deadlifts, we’ve got lifting straps available. They shift the load and can help you keep form as your strength grows.
- Watch this 1-minute demo to learn how to use them—takes a little practice, but we’re here to help.
Topic 5
Run Club Is Staying Alive!
- Exploring earlier start times to beat the heat
- Adrian is connecting with a run coach for special guest sessions
- Join the WhatsApp group to stay connected (and motivated!)
Originally set to wrap this week, but due to demand, Run Club will continue!
We’re exploring earlier times to beat the heat. Join the WhatsApp group to stay in the loop. Adrian is also connecting with a run coach for special guest sessions.
That brings us to the end of this newsletter!
Do you have a question about exercise that you’d like included in our next post? Send us an email to info@recessfitclub.com.
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