Pilates for Everybody in Columbia, Missouri

Upon entering Pilates for Everybody, Columbia, Missouri's newest, and only, Pilates studio of it's caliber, I was skeptical of the amount of exercise I would be receiving in it's spa, rather than sporty, environment. Today my workout would be with three women nearly triple my age, but the mental and physical strength they possessed proved that Pilates is an ageless method that truly works.

"It's amazing how much better your body feels. You're building the muscles as you stretch and breathe - it's the whole package!" said Meredith Tate, a Pilates student present at the day's session, which she typically participates in with three of her good friends. "Jennifer is a great teacher; she has a way of putting into words what your body needs to do."

Jennifer Drewing, the studio's owner, has been studying Pilates since 1998 and had to accumulate at least 500 hours of lecture, observation, observed teaching and testing in order to become a certified instructor. She opened the studio back in March, and hasn't stopped succeeding since.

"I actually got into it for a selfish reason; I was going into back surgery and wanted to strengthen my body to avoid the procedure," said Drewing. "After learning Pilates I believed in it so much and had such a passion because I wanted to help people and realized that I had a gift to teach people with different capabilities."

Currently Drewing teaches 4-5 classes a day, and the majority of her work is private lessons. Due to Pilate's benefits, including a safe and gentle, yet challenging, workout that will increase injury recovery, sports performance, good posture and optimal health, she believes it can be practiced and appreciated by all types of people.

"I've had a very broad range of students, both male and female," said Drewing. "Some people do Pilates because it's a trend; some because of weight issues. I've even had people come in looking to improve their golf game."

Pilates also improves the mental muscles by emphasizing a proper breathing technique and concentration along with the flowing movements and repetitions. Introduced in United States in 1923 by Joseph Pilates, the method develops the body uniformly by offering more than 500 exercises using 5 different pieces of apparatus including the Mat, Reformer, Trapeze Table, Chair and Ladder Barrel. The concept may seem like a conundrum, but is easily applicable with its smooth, continuous movements -- particularly with the personal assistance of an instructor such as Drewing.

"My philosophy in teaching is reflected in the name of my business. It's not just for women or people that are 'fit,'" said Drewing. "I try to modify to everyone . . . I strive to make each person feel comfortable."

Comfort is key, and not difficult to come by, in Drewing's small studio off of Chapel Hill Rd. The light and airy smell of exotic flowers, peaceful dripping of a small fountain, smooth rock flooring and beautiful earth-toned interior make the workout nearly unnoticeable. By the time our session is finished, I have hardly broken a sweat, but feel a sense of purity and relief that I had clearly lacked upon entering the studio.

"Missing it affects you - mind and body," said Linda Lowenberg, a fellow student of Drewing's and classmate/friend of Tate's, whom hadn't been able to attend recent classes as a result tending to stressful family matters. "It's purifying."

After 50 minutes of a semi-strenuous yet sans-sweaty workout, 'purifying' seems to spell out the sentiments of the moment because 'content' just won't cut it.

"Can I just say one more thing?" Lowenberg calls from the door on her way out. "I was practically in tears on the way over; and now, I feel so much better."

She walks over and snugly hugs Drewing around the shoulder before heading back out the door, and into the world, renewed.