Kim Novotny, co-owner of Pilates EQ, lies down on a piece of equipment in the pilates gym where she conducts classes. It’s a beautiful space in the Roots on Whyte building — several large windows line a few of the walls, providing plenty of natural light. The space is full of many different types of equipment, from mats on the floor to large, spring-filled machines.
The piece of equipment that she’s currently lying on looks like something you’d find in a regular gym. Springs hang from one side and a bar from the other. At the end of the springs are loops to put your hands or feet in. Laying on her side, Kim slips on of the loops around her foot, and gently pulls her leg back, and then forward, explaining that these simple movements can help with muscle imbalances in the hips. Muscles are strengthened and stretched through the various movements with the challenge of the spring. It can help those with injuries to recover movement and potentially heal old wounds.
