Interview with Karen – Part 2

What got this resident of Poway Pilates bound

(read Part 1 of this interview: An Interview with Long-time resident of Poway and Pilates expert Karen Rickett)

What community organizations are you involved with?

I’m very committed to animal welfare and rescue organizations. I work with the San Diego Humane Society and the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe. My studio holds a fundraiser for the Baja Animal Sanctuary in Rosarita. I’m currently fostering a dog myself.

How did you first become interested in Pilates?

As a personal trainer and dietitian for more than two decades, I wanted to find another way to train my clients that involved more functional, full-body core strengthening. I was really attracted to Pilates because of its methodology. It’s a much more thoughtful process of exercising — a mind-body discipline. Every move incorporates your core.

Pilates works to strengthen your core, improve your balance and control, and makes you more aware of your body as whole. Pilates encompasses several different aspects — core, weight training, flexibility, and balance in one 50-minute exercise session. It’s a very efficient program.

What advice do you have for people who are considering trying Pilates for the first time?

I tell first-time Pilates students to give it a least 5 sessions before deciding if it’s the right exercise program for them. In your first few sessions, you will improve body awareness and posture, and start activating muscles that have been previously inactive.

Where do your clients come from?

Our studio serves clients from all over North San Diego County — Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Carmel Mountain, Scripps Ranch, 4S Ranch, and Rancho Penasquitos.

What is your favorite Pilates exercise and why?

The short spine is a great stretch — challenging yet fun to do. It’s a good overall full-body exercise that’s great for strengthening your abs, glutes, and hamstrings and helping with whole body coordination.

What would you like your clients to take away from Pilates?

Pilates is a good full-body workout that will improve overall fitness and health and it’s fun! It’s one of the most versatile types of fitness programs — anyone from age 9 to 84 can do Pilates. Pilates exercises can also be really beneficial for people who are experiencing medical ailments such as fibromyalgia, back pain, or Parkinson’s.