By Dan Courtney, NIFS Correspondent

The Pilates studio at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport may soon have to be renamed The Joan Lafuze Family Pilates Studio. It seemed like her family took up permanent residence there this summer.

Joan, along with her daughter Jeannette Morrow and granddaughters Jessica and Erin Bleich, were regular participants in the Friday Pilates classes taught by NIFS instructor Memer Hoeltzel. The granddaughters have returned to school, but Joan and Jeannette continue to gather and work out for 45 minutes each week.

“I feel so much better after I leave Pilates,” said Joan. “I feel so relaxed. It has really helped with my toning and flexibility.”

“It’s a total body workout,” adds Jeannette.

Lafuze, a NIFS member since 1989, decided to be adventuresome and try yoga. Unfortunately, at age 68 she discovered yoga was (excuse the pun) over her head and not appropriate for her. She gave mat Pilates a try before advancing to the Pilates Reformer. It was a perfect fit.

“I don’t think the yoga was really comfortable for her,” said Hoeltzel. “With  Pilates, the biggest difference I have seen in her is the way she carries herself. She’s been able to gain strength through her core muscles.”

While Lafuze was dropping her waste size, she felt she had to share the experience with someone close to her…daughter Jeannette. Jeannette had been having some lower back pain, and Joan felt the Pilates Reformer would be the antidote.

“After the first day I was pretty sore, but I could see how it helped,” said Jeannette. “Memer told me not to go too hard right away, because she wanted me ‘to be able to walk the next day.’”

Jeannette passed the Pilates experience down to daughters Jessica and Erin. Jessica played basketball and Erin was a swimmer, and her mother felt Pilates would be great conditioning for them over the summer.

“At first I was not sure how they would like the Pilates. They went from being apprehensive to really enjoying it every week,” said Jeannette.

“I have people in my classes from age 20 into their 60s,” said Hoeltzel. “With Pilates these are exercises you can do with the whole family.”

Lafuze said her weekly routine varies and she always looks forward to the workout. That is a tribute to Hoeltzel’s coaching and support.

“She looks at what you are doing and adjusts to the next step of improvement,” said Lafuze.

Pilates has been popular in the Midwest for about eight years. However, it has really taken off in the Indianapolis area in the past five years. The popularity has forced Hoeltzel to look for a few more Reformers.

She may have to get those machines quickly if another Lafuze family member or two decides to try Pilates.

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