Team Long + Lean: Get to Know Jenn

Jenn is an OG Long + Lean Pilates instructor who has been with us since day one at the Elmwood studio! If you have had the opportunity to work with Jenn, you know she is an amazing instructor who is pursuing her doctorate in Physical Therapy! Here’s your chance to learn more about Jenn.

What brought you to Buffalo?
I moved to Buffalo from home (Schenectady) just about 6 years ago in order to start my undergrad studies in Exercise Science. As soon as I moved here I felt an immediate love for the city and it’s people. Buffalo had just started expanding in big ways and I was loving the community support. I hung around Buffalo after graduation, applying to Physical Therapy schools, eventually enrolling in D’Youville’s DPT program.

What inspired you to start teaching Pilates?
Actually, my last semester of my undergraduate career I had the opportunity to pick almost any location within the health and wellness field to do a full time internship. I knew I wanted to eventually go into Physical Therapy but wanted to have fun with it my last semester. So, I ended up having the great pleasure of working with Dane Burke (previous owner of Northstar Pilates). Dane is a Physical Therapist, Pilates instructor and a huge anatomy geek. He mentored me and opened my eyes to the amazing world of Pilates, helping me get certified in Mat Pilates. I was officially obsessed with Pilates and how it can be a rehab tool, a strength and conditioning tool or flexibility and balance tool for anyone of all ages and conditions. For the next two years I spent well over 500 hours (and a whole lot of money) gaining my comprehensive certification.

What’s your favorite activity outside of the Pilates studio?
Anything to get outdoors and in nature! Summer is my preferred season but with the winter weather coming up, my favorites will be getting out to Ellicottville to go snowboarding and snow shoeing. With the snow coming and having to stay indoors more often, crafting is a big pleasure of mine, too. Crafting anything from knitting scarfs, to making my own lotions and chapsticks, to building furniture.

Best thing about living in Buffalo?
I live on the West side and everything is in walking distance! If I do drive, anything I would need or want to go to is within a 20 minute drive (even Canada)! Everyone is very friendly, neighborly and seems to be heavily involved in the community and making Buffalo a better place.
Everyone and every place I have crossed paths with thus far has made Buffalo feel just like home. <3

What is your favorite act of self-care?
It’s hard to remember how important self-care is especially trying to balance work, grad school and personal life. Taking a spinning class, yoga class, working out or simply meditating helps tremendously to clear my head from a hectic week. One of my all-time favorite things to do to unwind is taking a warm bubble bath with a glass of wine and a good book!

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L + L at Home: Modified Front Row

Welcome to the first post in our series of Long + Lean At Home Favorites! To begin the series, all the Long + Lean instructors are sharing their absolute favorite exercises to do at home!

Founder Hayley’s favorite exercise to do at home is a Pilates Reformer exercise modified for the mat that is great for posture and feels amazing. Here’s why Hayley loves doing Modified Front Row at home:

“This exercise gives me everything I need right now (and always): it stretches my back and hamstrings, opens my chest and shoulders, gives me gentle work in my abs and spinal extensors, and feels invigorating.”

Want to try the Modified Front Row for yourself (you totally should)? Here’s how to do it:

Setup
Sit with your legs extended out in front of you. Make sure you are sitting on your sitz bones with a neutral spine (let your knees bend slightly if you cannot sit up straight with your legs extended). Flex the ankles so your toes point up to the ceiling.

Steps

  1. Round your spine one vertebra at a time, starting from your head, as the arms reach forward towards your feet. Feel the back ribs pull back while energy from the fingers and the heels shoots forward. Think of widening the shoulders on the back, but don’t let them sneak up to your ears. Feel the abdominals gently pull the belly button towards the back as your spine rounds.
  2. Stack the spine up one vertebra at a time, returning to neutral, while carrying the arms straight up overhead. Keep those shoulders relaxed down and the ribs relaxed, not popped forward.
  3. Circle your arms down to the starting position. Feel the pinky fingers reach away from you as though your arms could reach the walls. Repeat 3-5 times.

 

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Summer Announcements

This summer brings free classes, new regular class times, a new apparel line, and more to Long + Lean. Read ahead to get all the details on summer happenings at L + L!
Free Class with Long + Lean Teacher Trainees
Get excited! We are offering free, yes FREE, Reformer classes with the Long + Lean Method Teacher Trainees on July 1st and July 8th at our Elmwood Village location. This is an amazing opportunity to take advantage of free classes while our newly trained instructors perfect their teaching skills. Spots are going fast for these classes so sign up now!

 

New Classes on the Schedule
Looking to add more Pilates classes to your schedule? We’ve got some awesome new class times available now! At Long + Lean Elmwood, check out the Reformer+ Classes Mondays at 8:30 AM and Wednesdays at 10:00 AM. At Long + Lean at Hive, try the new Thursday classes, Jumpboard at 9:00 AM and Reformer+ at 4:30 PM.

 

July 4th Holiday Hours
Long + Lean Elmwood and Long + Lean at Hive will be closed on Monday July 3rd and Tuesday July 4th to give our team a much deserved summer break! Classes will go on as normal July 1st and 2nd and will resume on Wednesday July 5th. We hope you all enjoy a wonderful holiday!

 

Brand New Apparel
We are so excited to introduce Nux Activewear in the Long + Lean Boutique! There are three new styles of leggings and capris and two new tops perfect for your summer workout wardrobe. Come on in to shop the boutique!

 

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100+ Pilates Class Super Star: Molly

Next time you see Molly at the studio, go ahead and give her a high five because she has far exceed 100 classes at Long + Lean Pilates! Between private sessions and group classes, Molly does a great job making sure she always gets a new challenge. Molly has been coming to Long + Lean Pilates before we were even in our current location! Thank you for your dedication, Molly. You rock!

What do you love about Pilates?
Since I’ve started Pilates I feel stronger and longer and definitely more flexible.  It has become like an addiction to me.  I wish that I had time every day to come to class.

What motivates you to workout?
What motivates me is the fact that my body feels instantly better after every class.  I am stretched and ready to tackle the rest of what the day may bring.  I am more relaxed and feel more centered in both mind and body.

What changes have you noticed since starting Pilates?
My body is toned and I have discovered muscles that I didn’t realize I had.  My body has become more of a source of pride rather than something to hide.  If I go even a week without Pilates I can instantly see and feel that my body is suffering. Pilates is now officially a part of who I am and what I love. My dog walks get longer and  faster after every Pilates class. Not only does that benefit me but it benefits my dog, Winnie, as well.

Other than Pilates, how do you like to stay active?
Being a mom of two young kids, Pilates has helped me to stay very active and to truly be a hands on mom.  Whether its playing soccer at the park with my family, doing Girls on the Run with my daughter or hockey in the house with my son…I am energized, fit and ready to roll.

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100+ Pilates Class Super Star: Allyson

We want to give a shout out to our awesome client Allyson for reaching the 100+ class mark! Allyson has been taking group Reformer classes 3-4 times per week for a year and she has the results to show for it! Read on to find out why Allyson loves Pilates…

What do you love about Pilates?
I love Pilates because since I have started taking classes I do not only feel better physically but also mentally.  I find that after a class at Long and Lean, I am less tense throughout the day and I sleep better.  At Pilates, I also receive a total body workout- some days reaching muscles I did not even know I had. The personal attention from the instructors is unmatched and every workout is different and challenging.

 

What motivates you to workout?
Unfortunately, I have never been a fan working out.  Pilates is the first workout that I absolutely hate to miss.  The workouts challenge me, while at the same time give me a sense of accomplishment and make me feel better about myself.

 

What changes have you noticed since starting Pilates?
Since starting Pilates I feel more toned.  My balance and posture have improved and I find myself correcting how I sit or stand to improve my alignment.

 

Other than Pilates, how do you like to stay active?
As a full-time, working mom I hardly sit still. I do enjoy walking once the weather breaks in Buffalo.  Pilates is an amazing workout that compliments any other activities that you may already be doing.

 

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