With a warm smile and oozing positive and infectious energy, Body Forté Director Summer Lopez welcomed convalescents, fitness enthusiasts and first-timers to her physiotherapy and Pilates studios Saturday last, May 5, in commemoration of International Pilates Day. “We want to make sure Jamaica’s on the map in the worldwide pilates community,” she shared. Preparations had certainly been made inside the well-appointed establishment to accommodate the full suite of complimentary classes, contests and refreshments — from 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Indeed, Lopez, a physiotherapist, has constructed a training regime based on the techniques of German physical trainer Joseph Pilates, who invented and promoted the Pilates methods of physical fitness during World War 1, to offer aid to injured soldiers. Her classes run the gamut of Pilates exercises which target the various muscle groups in the body, to offerings that are suited to rectify hip, knee, sports-based and spinal injuries, which is the centre’s specialty.

Lopez and her six-member team of four physiotherapists and two Pilates instructors conducted Saturday’s 55-minute-long sessions which saw each batch of attendees being split into two alternating mini-classes. Participants, spanning a range in age and varying physical requirements, were put through client-specific sets of standard Pilates exercises on Body Forté’s top of the line equipment — notably the Reformer-Tower of Power combo, and the “Trojan Horses” — which allow for thousands of exercises that, Lopez informed Tuesday Social, are geared towards a full-body workout.

The smiles four hours later, plus the new sign-ups, spoke volumes and underscored the Pilates Day mission to foster the public’s appreciation and awareness of the Pilates method through a network of varied, innovative and high-quality grass roots Pilates events accessible and affordable to all.

Body Forté also offers a line of branded paraphernalia including theraballs, microfibre towels, metal water bottles and non-skid socks — designed to complement the holistic Body Forté experience.

More information on Pilates is available at:

Shop # 5

9-11 Barbican Road

Sovereign Commercial Centre

632-5585

summer@bodyfortelid.com