A new Pilates studio appeared in the middle of the Village district last fall. Carolina Akland, certified Pilates instructor and founder of Mind- BodyPlace, is on-site to welcome small groups of students, in semi-private and private sessions. A remarkable journey beset by ups and downs has allowed this young woman, who is passionately interested in wellbeing and “getting back in shape”, to obtain topnotch expertise in human mechanics… which could be quite an advantage to many.

Let’s take a look. Carolina, whose parents are both German, was born in Italy and spent her childhood there prior to joining the State Ballet School Berlin at the age of 16. She won her degree there in 2013 and started a career as a classical dancer, notably as a soloist, which took her to some of Europe’s most beautiful theatres.

At the same time, she taught Pilates and ballet technique in several famous institutions such as the State Ballet Academy Berlin and the National Ballet Academy in Lodz, Poland, where she danced professionally for three years. At the age of 24, at the crest of a career marked by her interpretations of great roles in classical ballet, contemporary dance, musicals, operas and operettas, she had to leave her beloved dance because of a severe form of arthritis.

Pilates permitted her not only to redirect her career, but – thanks to daily training sessions – to stop the progression of the chronic disease. After having achieved all the certification required to practice her new trade, including certification in the Gyrotonics method, Carolina decided to go to Toronto to perfect her training at the headquarters of the famous Stott Pilates.

“This is the world’s major Pilates company and I wanted to learn from the best,” Carolina notes. “My husband and I came to Mont-Tremblant on vacation and decided to settle here early in the summer of 2019.”

Pilates sessions

Throughout the exercise sessions, in a soft, cheerful voice, Carolina provides advice on how to do the exercises properly. Breathing has a major role in this discipline, which is all about sculpting and reinforcing one’s muscles, impact-free.

According to Carolina, the Pilates method also allows the practitioner to exercise their mind-body connection, which remains one of the key principles of physical well-being.

“When we become aware of our posture, our movements, and we manage to engage all the desired muscles, our performances are increased tenfold no matter what sport we are doing, and we feel better overall,” Carolina explains.

You leave your stress at the door

The concentration required to do these exercises also provides respite for busy minds, offering active meditation during which anxiety-producing thoughts are robbed of the playground that usually allows them to fester. For an hour, Carolina’s students breathe deeply and think of nothing but their movements.

“People leave energized. The goal is to have everyone who enters the studio leave it invigorated, both physically and mentally,” she states.

The advantages

While the objective is to get the very most out of the training sessions, they are always adapted to the limits of each student and remain safe. Every day is different and Carolina pays particular attention to the mood and energy of her students. Carolina insists on the importance of acquiring a  solid base, from which it would be possible to progress in stages.

Whatever the sport practised, this approach considerably reduces the risk of injuries. It works for golf, cycling and tennis, as well as for grandparents who also want to play with their grandchildren.

437 992-9142 | csbulst@gmail.com

More from this author by clicking on his photo below.