PP Instructor Feature: Tara Singer

                 

Make sure you read all the way through to find out what you should incorporate these two liquids in your life :-)

TARA SINGER

1. What inspired you to become a Pilates/spin instructor or what inspired you to want to be a part of platinum?

    I enjoyed Spinning so much - the intesity, the movement with the music, the sense of accomplishment at the end of a class - that I wanted to share that love of the activity with others.

 

2. What is your favorite exercise to put your class through? 

    Jumps on a hill - losing yourself in the rhythm of the music so you don't realize how hard you're tightening your glutes and abs. 

 

3. Which exercise do you think is the most challenging or most effective?

    Sprinting on a hill is quite effective.  It allows you to push yourself further than you thought you could go by adding a revolution to an already weighted peddle stroke.  You're strengthening your leg and glute muscles as well as lungs and heart, while also tightening your core.

 

4. What is your favorite way to exercise?

    Spinning, SPX, jogging on the beach by the shoreline and using my elliptical

 

5. What is your favorite healthy food and what is your favorite unhealthy food? 

    Kale salad with quinoa.  Fried chicken.

 

6. What is your most unique quality?

    I genuinely care about the clients -  their form during the workout, their enjoyment of the time spent in my class, their well being

 

7. Where is your favorite place in LA and why?

    Santa Monica beach near Ashland.  It's relaxing yet rejuvenating - wide expanse of beach and ocean with a beautiful view of the sunset.

 

8. In one sentence...why should someone take class at platinum or why spx Pilates? 

    Done efficiently, SPX offers a full body workout that your body will feel and you will see the results of your work, as long as you listen to your body and understand it's current limits while also challenging yourself.

 

9. Where do you find inspiration? 

    Everywhere.  Everyone has something to offer that reminds us how much better we can be and do.  Removing your ego and being open enough to see it and learn from it is the key.

10. Describe the energy and type of music you like to play for class. 

    Energy = inspirational, motivating, playful.  I play all kinds of music, from pop to alt rock, techno to r&b - if it's got a good rhythm and keeps the energy up, I'll play it.

11. What is one piece of advice you'd like to share with the platinum blog reader.  There is no such thing as "bad" - i.e. "I was bad and didn't work out" or "I was bad and ate the ice cream".  Life is a progression with ebbs and flows.  Cut youself some slack and instead of beating yourself up about it, acknowledge that it was a personal choice and you can choose to make a different choice, if you want to, next time.

And last but not least. If you we're to have a cocktail named after you what would the ingredients be. If you can think of its name share that as well.  

Gentleman Jack whiskey & pineapple juice with two twists of lime over ice. Name = Gentleman's Surprise

PP Spin Instructor Feature

MEET LIZY BEFORE

MEET LIZY NOW 

after losing 65lbs

 What inspired you to become a Pilates/spin instructor or what inspired you to want to be a part of platinum? I used to weigh about 65 pounds more than I do now but was able to transform my body and, more importantly my respect for it, when I committed to healthy eating and discovered spin. I would love to help motivate people to find a similar self-acceptance, which is why I became a spin instructor! Since Pilates Platinum is all about self-transformation, motivation and developing and maintaining healthy habits, I knew it was the place where I wanted to train. 

What is your favorite exercise to put your class through? I love a good hill--sometimes they can be cathartic! 

Which exercise do you think is the most challenging or most effective? I find intervals particularly challenging since they require mental endurance in addition to physical.

What is your favorite way to exercise? The 30/30 spin and pilates class is my absolute favorite exercise. 

What is your favorite healthy food and what is your favorite unhealthy food? I'm pretty obsessed with spaghetti squash and chocolate chip banana bread. Maybe not together, although that's sounding pretty delicious. 

What is your most unique quality? I always try to find the silver lining in any situation and to see struggles as opportunities.

Where is your favorite place in LA and why? The tea room at the Huntington Gardens. Who doesn't love wearing florals and eating finger sandwiches?

In one sentence...why should someone take class at platinum or why spx Pilates?
Where do you find inspiration? I'm an energetic guide who's going to push you, but not force you, to work hard and outside of your comfort zone. 

Describe the energy and type of music you like to play for class. I'll play anything with a strong beat but love top 40s and strong female pop. 

What is one piece of advice you'd like to share with the platinum blog reader. Once you stop judging yourself that's when the changes happen!

And last but not least. If you we're to have a cocktail named after you what would the ingredients be. If you can think of its name share that as well :-) The Hermia--a shot of blanco tequila and cayenne--like Shakespeare says, though she be but little, she is fierce!

Each instructor can be found on our schedule, here, see if the time they teach works for you and stop on into one of their classes! 

Mythbuster post: Does spinning give me big bulky legs?

MYTH

I challenge you to ask the next big buff guy you see and ask him how to achieve big bulky muscular leg.  I 100% guarantee you, his answer will not be spinning.  I give you the extra bonus challenge to ask him a follow up question...Does spinning give you big bulky muscular legs.  Warning:  He may laugh in your face.

The answer is NO.  Spinning will  not give you big bulky legs.  In fact it will do the opposite.  Spinning will creat lean muscular legs.  Next time you are in your car or walking along the beach check out all those bikers on the road bikes.  They have a very lean muscular physique.  In fact, I am a little jealous of their calves.

Don't be afraid to add resistance to the wheel next time you are in spin class.  It is the resistance that helps to build strength and work the quads the most.  The quads are the largest muscle in the body.  The more you work them, the more calories you will burn, which can lead to weight-loss...of course paired with a healthy diet.  If you keep getting bigger, chances are your diet needs a little fixing.  Now you may feel your clothes fitting differently but that is only because you are waking up new muscles and gaining strength.  Muscles are dense and weigh more than fat, but their density is what makes a muscular body leaner than a fat body.

 Blast anywhere from 300-400 calories just in one half hour of spinning class.  If that isn't speaking enough for itself then I don't know what is.  Your body can't be in aerobic and anaerobic stages at the same time.  Spin is aerobic and will melt that fat away!

Remember to put on that resistance.  Chances are your spin teacher isn't keeping you on that resistance for very long.  You'd have to be climbing up hills for days to get bulky and that is not what spinning is about.  In fact the 30/30 class is a perfect balance of cardio calorie blasting spin, paired with long lean muscle building pilates!