Things That Make You Go BOOM!
As a woman in the magazine industry, you may be quite surprised to know that I don’t judge a book by its cover; I judge Instagram accounts. As a millennial, it’s embedded in our brains to not only do thorough research on a company but to also get a feel for their vibe. Believe me when I tell you that BOOM Pilates owner, Danyal, is like a real life replica of her Instagram account. I’ve never met a human being that was such a doppelganger of her own brand; and that’s a compliment to the highest degree. She’s vibrant, cheerful, and full of life (yet still gives you a sense of calm when she’s your instructor).
For my first time at BOOM, I chose to do a group session with three of my gal pals (regulars at the studio so they were perfect to show me the ropes). As a former dancer, I had an idea that Pilates would be the best for me so I was excited to get started. I quickly learned that it doesn’t matter if you’re as flexible as a rubber band or struggle to tie your shoes; Pilates is a workout that builds on each individual’s skill set so you can work at your own speed.
One thing that Danyal first explained to me was the history of Pilates- how fascinating! It was created in the 1920’s by the physical trainer Joseph Pilates (1880-1967) for the purpose of rehabilitation. Some of the first people treated by Pilates were soldiers returning from war, and dancers, as a means to strengthen their bodies and heal their aches and pains. That is briefly how Pilates began and photos of Mr. Pilates can be found throughout the BOOM studio as well.
Ok let’s get started…
The class is 50 minutes and let me tell you… it goes by quickly! The music is upbeat, everyone goes at their own weight/speed levels on the reformer and she really just makes it fun. Danyal isn’t one of those trainers that yells in your face to try harder or do better, she’s more of a cheerleader. She tells you when you do something well and she is there to further explain the techniques so next time you get it right. One thing that I’ve noticed about this particular studio is that it focuses on more moves per class than most other studios I have tried. Which, for me, is great because I get bored easily and it also doesn’t allow for downtime where you stop to realize how sore you’re going to be tomorrow. I found that these classes focus not only on lengthening and strengthening the muscles but also helping with coordination and ultimately building self confidence so you’re ready to fly from beginner to advanced classes with ease.
I will say that just doing weekly classes for three months, I can both see and feel a difference in my body lines– I just feel a little firmer than before. The classes are small. On average, there are four to six people per class which allows for a more “private lesson” feel. You build a relationship with the instructors and they get to know your body in a way that allows them to push you or accommodate certain moves for injured problem areas- me and my once broken knee cap, appreciate this so much!
The Juvo board..
The Juvo Board is designed to help you increase strength, flexibility, mobility, balance and agility. BOOM Pilates classes incorporate Pilates, Active Isolated Stretching, and Barre fundamentals when using the Juvo Board. I personally have not tried it yet- but it’s on my list!
Fun fact: Boom Pilates founder, Danyal Timmermann, was one of the first 250 certified Juvo Board instructors in the nation. I cannot say enough amazing things about this studio. I promise you that if you try a class, you’ll be hooked! Not only that, you’ll probably want to have brunch with Danyal because she’s just that much fun to be around.
12330 Olive Blvd. 63141
@boompilates