How Pilates Improves Strength, Flexibility and Balance

With its ability to help you strengthen your muscles and improve your posture, flexibility and stability, it’s no wonder that Pilates has become one of the most popular workouts in fitness today. 

“The benefits of Pilates (both Mat and Reformer) are various,” says Carmen Fermin, a longtime certified Pilates instructor, and fitness manager at Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center. “When done correctly, using the Pilates principles, it can help improve a person’s overall core strength, increase muscle flexibility, increase bone density and improve balance and coordination.”

If you’ve ever visited our Dale City Recreation Center, where our Pilates Reformer classes are held, you may have noticed the Pilates Reformer machines. They have a bed-like frame, with a flat platform called the carriage that rolls back and forth on wheels within the frame. The fitness machine was invented in the 1920’s by Pilates founder Joseph Pilates, originally from Germany. 

Fermin, who teaches the classes, brought the program to Dale City and opened the Pilates Studio there in 2008. The studio is fully equipped with a handful of Balanced Body Allegro Reformers with Tower, a Barrel and a Chair.

“Upon my arrival to the facility (Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center), I noticed there were limited resources and a true absence of inspiration amongst a community and center that truly needed wellness programs,” says Fermin. “I began to envision solutions to connect with people in the community, existing clients, staff and co-workers throughout the agency to embrace and act on the need for our facility to have resources, equipment and dedicated instructors for fitness and wellness programs." 

This included Pilates Mat and Pilates Reformer classes. The Pilates Reformer small group classes (five people per class) have become so popular that they fill up quickly each session.

Jennifer Hernandez, who is also a certified Pilates instructor, as well as the group fitness specialist at Dale City tried her first Pilates Reformer class in 2013 and has been completely hooked ever since and encourages others to give Pilates a try.

“I wholeheartedly believe that all body types and sizes can and should try Pilates classes,” says Hernandez.

Ready to give Pilates a try? Our fall lineup is packed with opportunities to do so. We offer educational workshops, Pilates Reformer foundations classes, gentle Pilates Reformer classes, and more. Learn more about all of your class options here.

"At Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center, first time Pilates Reformer customers receive a free consultation to help familiarize them with the basic principles/fundamentals of Pilates, along with how to use the apparatus and working on learning the basic exercises," says Fermin. "This is also an opportunity for the instructor to learn about what the customer’s fitness goals are, along with any physical and movement concerns or limitation/restrictions."

Please note that our Pilates classes are very popular and tend to fill up quickly so early registration is encouraged. If you have any questions on where to start, please contact Carmen Fermin, Fitness Manager, 703-792-8669.