Coach Adrian is Taking A Few Months Off, Starting This November
Adrian’s getting a new hip.
On a personal note, Adrian has been managing arthritis in his hip for quite some time, and unfortunately it’s grown severe enough that the next step is a hip replacement. His surgery is scheduled for the middle of November, after which he’ll be taking a few months off to rest before returning more mobile — and bionic — than ever.
You’ll still see him around the gym before surgery, so please say hello if you spot him on the schedule. We’re really looking forward to seeing him move without pain, and to continue coaching for years to come.
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: Endurance Phase Starts October 27
Our next Get Stronger phase begins Monday, October 27, moving into four weeks of endurance training.
In this phase, we increase the number of repetitions and use the time to reinforce the technique we’ve been developing this month. The priority is to complete all the reps in the target range — and if that means reducing the weight a little to do so, that’s the appropriate adjustment. You may or may not need to, but this month’s mission is all about volume.
In case you’re curious, November 24 marks the start of the Strength Phase, when we shift focus to heavier lifts and lower reps.
New Instructor Alert
You may have already met Khari (pronounced car-ee) over the past few weeks. He’s been shadowing classes and gradually taking on more instruction.
Khari is a certified personal trainer and avid dragon boater. He’s been teaching group fitness elsewhere, and joins us both in his capacity as instructor and offering private PT.
We’re thrilled to have him join the Recess team. We haven’t finalized Khari’s class schedule (yet), but soon!
We encourage you to introduce yourself when you get the chance.
Get Protected from the Flu and COVID
As posted on the Toronto Public Health website: “Flu and COVID-19 vaccines … will be available for everyone … starting October 27, 2025.”
We’ve pre-booked ours at the pharmacy in the Loblaws (Dupont & Christie), and in past years we’ve had great luck with walk-in flu shots at Bloor Park Pharmacy (by the Baskin Robbins at Bloor & Christie).
It’s a priority to do what we can to avoid getting others’ sick. So, if you’re feeling unwell or have any sudden symptoms, please don’t come to class. To dissuade you, we’ll gladly refund your credit if it’s too late to cancel without penalty. Staying home when sick helps protect everyone.
Other reminders:
- You’re always welcome to wear a mask.
- We’ve got 2x commercial HEPA air purifiers running 24/7 at the gym.
Podcast Suggestion
Learn more about what seasonal illnesses may be ahead this winter with CBC’s The Dose' podcase episode titled: "How can we protect ourselves from fall and winter respiratory viruses?" Click to listen.
Improving Access to Classes
We know some of you have been finding it difficult to get into classes at popular times, and we want to acknowledge that challenge. To better enable our current members (and your routines), we’ve temporarily closed Recess to new folks.
If you’ve had trouble getting into a class, we apologize and will do what we can to make sure we can continue offering the classes you love. The aforementioned hip replacement does personally limit us (read: me, Millie) from adding more classes to the schedule for now, as much as I’d like to.
That said, we really encourage you to:
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Add yourself to the waitlist — spots open more often than you might think.
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Cancel even inside the three-hour window if you can’t attend; it may still help someone else jump in last-minute.
Thank you for helping keep registration flexible and accessible for everyone. And thanks for sticking with us. <3
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? Do you have lingering questions? We’d love to hear from you.
Don’t forget! You can manage your Recess workouts on the go with the Xplor mobile app.
