Laura Caldarera
Performance Pilates has an amazing team of comprehensively certified Pilates teachers.
Learn more about Laura below.
Q: What led you to Pilates?
A: My Dad was the Master Carpenter for the Houston Ballet, so I grew up backstage hanging out with the Ballerinas. A few of them became Pilates instructors after they retired from the Ballet and they became my first teachers.
Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: I’ve been teaching for 8 years. But I’ve been a Pilates student for 18 years! It’s been so much fun! Every person is so different and it’s such a fun challenge to work with people and see how Pilates can help them and see the changes in their bodies when they stick with it.
Q: Do you work with both men and women?
A: Yes. Men are great to work with because they need Pilates so much! Joseph Pilates created so many of the exercises for men. They need to strengthen their core muscles to protect the back and to stretch. Working with women is great because, even though we all have different body types, we are really good at connecting with our bodies. So many of Joseph Pilates’ first clients were women and ballet dancers, you can really see this come through in the exercises.
Q: What is your favorite piece of Pilates equipment?
A: I love them all! But if I have to pick just one, I love the Ladder Barrel. We never stretch enough and it perfectly frames your body so that you are stretching correctly. I’m not naturally flexible, so I need to stretch every day. And then the exercises on the barrel are really fun and challenging. I love horseback and swan!
Q: How would you describe your Pilates style?
A: Classic. I love the traditional method. Going through the order and adding to it as you progress is a great “maintenance program” for your body. It’s like the old saying, “use it or lose it,” we want to keep using our bodies. It’s when we stop moving that problems start. Classic Pilates helps us to keep moving.
Q: Do you teach classes?
A: Yes, there is such a great energy in classes! It’s like a good form of peer pressure. Others motivate us to keep going and progress. I’m a very visual learner and it always helps me to see how an exercise looks on other people and then to work on my own form and technic.
Q: Why is it important for beginners to take private sessions?
A: Private sessions are great for everyone. You get to focus completely on you! We all need that sometimes. Beginners need to form a basic understanding of the exercises so when they do go to classes, they feel comfortable and can easily flow with the class. Pilates equipment can look intimidating at first but you feel more secure and at ease after a few private sessions.
Q: How does Pilates benefit you in daily life?
A: I am so much more aware of my posture. In our modern world we are so prone to slouch and even kids have forward head posture. I catch myself slumping and think, “No, no, stand like I’m in Pilates class: abs in, shoulders down, eyes up.” That’s the great thing about Pilates, you can use it in every aspect of your life and in other forms of exercise too. When you are driving your car, waiting in the checkout line, running , biking, anything…
