MOST of the accounts I follow on Instagram are those of my friends, relatives, beauty enthusiasts, brands and beauty influencers. I follow very few people who are into fitness. Offhand, I can only think of influencers Jackie Go, Angela Nepomuceno and Kaycee Enerva, whose approach to fitness is not preachy and righteous. I know Jackie, Angela and Kaycee, and I have seen them eat and drink, and I appreciate that they don’t starve themselves to stay thin.
I don’t go to the gym but I believe that those who have regular and consistent fitness routines are on the right path not only toward wellness but also beauty. Exercise helps your circulation and makes you sweat, which helps your body eliminate toxins.
I recently interviewed Krishna Yalong Penson, owner and managing partner at Move With Options and owner of Options Studio Timog, which are both Pilates studios. Krishna has the most amazing body and skin, thanks to an active lifestyle. Prior to Pilates, she did yoga and tennis.
Krishna and her friends first tried Pilates under master trainer Ole Eugenio, who founded Pilates in the Philippines, and she realized how fun and challenging it was. Krishna loved how Pilates was a mind-and-body workout that can be done by anyone.
“More important, Pilates is very private. I don’t feel conscious when I’m working out,” said Krishna.
Options Studio Timog, a partnership between Krishna and Ole, opened in 2015. Krishna’s dad offered her space in a new building being built by the GMA Network cooperative, and she thought it would be a perfect space for a Pilates studio. Celebrities like Janine Gutierrez, Lovi Poe and Max Collins work out there.
Last year Krishna and Ole decided to open a Classical Pilates studio at The Power Plant Mall. Move With Options is a small studio with a more intimate and organic vibe to complement its Classical Pilates offering. Move With Options recently hosted a #WellnessWednesday session cosponsored by La Mer for members of the press.
In 2010 Ole, who is the first Filipino to be fully certified by a contemporary Pilates method, revisited his Classical Pilates roots.
“I wanted to seek and understand the full system about the art of control, or Contrology—the original name for Pilates.”
Classical Pilates is all about the person and movements with the machine needed only to give the desired results.
“After mastering both Contemporary and Classical Pilates, I understand that you need Connection, Engagement and Commitment,” said Ole.
Unlike other forms of exercise, which can be intimidating for beginners, Pilates is more inclusive. Move With Options at R3 Level, New Wing, of The Power Plant Mall has clients as young as seven and eight years old and as senior as 80.
“Pilates is for everyone. We have women who want to tone, lengthen, look leaner and have a stronger core. We also offer prenatal exercise, which we learned also helps women conceive. We have gentle exercises for balance and coordination for more mature clients, or anyone with injuries or special conditions. Even male athletes go to us for a stronger core and back,” said Krishna.
During the interview, Ole demonstrated how to use the reformer machine, which was invented by Pilates founder Joseph Pilates. The bed-like frame has a flat platform, which rolls back and forth on wheels within the frame. This platform, or carriage, is attached to one end of the reformer by a set of springs, which provide choices of different levels of resistance as the carriage is pushed or pulled. If the reformer looks like a hospital bed, it is because it was inspired by one.
“The reformer was used to help rehabilitate injured soldiers,” said Ole.
The reformer has a higher level of difficulty so those who are younger and older than the average Move With Options client use the classic reformer machine. The reformer helps improve overall strength, flexibility, coordination and balance. It also offers relief from back pain and imbalances.
Krishna used to have mild scoliosis and had to go to a chiropractor at least once a month for alignment and pain management.
“A few months into doing Pilates, my back pain disappeared and there was no longer any need for me to go back to my chiropractor.”
Move With Options’s slimming, toning, healing and rehabilitating exercises and programs are centered on Classical Pilates practices, including Core Barre, Core Suspend and Core Reform. These three systems are known as the tripod of Smart Movement, a unique approach that aims to motivate movement and bring about a transformation in whole mind-body health.
The health benefits of Pilates include increased flexibility and strength without bulk, improved core strength and posture, added energy and weight loss.
For more information, contact Move With Options at 216-6607 and 752-2080. You can connect with them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/movewithoptions) and Instagram (@movewithoptions).