1841 Broadway
(at 60th Street) Suite 1104l New York, New York 10023 • Phone: 212-977-8894
Easy Access to All Subways and Path Trains. Adjacent to AOL TIme Warner Building at Columbus Circle.
Studio Features:
All Pilates Equipment
Swiss Ball Work
Free Weights
Massage/Shiatsu
Trampoline
Balance Beam
Benefits:
Improve Posture
& Alignment
Increase Strength
& Flexibility
Improve Muscle
Coordination
Body Sculpting
How does Pilates differ from other exercise methods?
This system employs a complete body/mind conditioning technique. One uses the entire neuro-muscular system to create balance and symmetry in the body. It utilizes finely crafted apparatus. Tensioned springs provide progressive resistance. Form, not repetition or weight, is stressed. This lengthens muscle tissue without the bulking associated with traditional gym equipment.
What results can be expected?
One gains body control, strength, increased flexibility and tone within a short period of time. It also enhances the performance of daily activities including the demands of dance and sports. It energizes before or after a long day at work.
Can it alleviate chronic pain?
Yes, by re-educating the muscle motor patterns, muscle imbalances are corrected. It is effective in rehabilitating chronic back, neck, hip, and lower extremity problems.
Who can use this?
All ages from teens to senior citizens benefit.
This method can be used during pregnancy and post-partum. It is also good for
all types of injuries and joint limitation. Peter Vaillancourt has had extensive
training in dance, sports and body therapy management.
He has synthesized both theoretical and practical knowledge from 25 years of
professional experience in these fields, including work with Carolo Trier and
Marika Molnar, PT. He has lectured at universities, taught members of New York
City Ballet,
American Ballet Theater, Joffrey Ballet, the Royal Ballet and the Kirov. He
is also a state licensed massage therapist. Over the years he has seen positive
changes in the physical and mental well-being of individuals using this method
of body conditioning.
Elan Golomb
Psychologist/
Writer
Age is no reason to lose your shape. The program has increased my stamina and helped avoid injuries. A few months at my desk without it and Yikes! There goes my back...my neck. Resume the program and it’s gone.
Ed Bradley
CBS News Journalist
Peter Vaillancourt helped increase my strength and flexibility. He has improved my posture, my skiing, and strengthened my back.
Jennifer Tinsley
NYCB Dancer
The exercises have been extremely beneficial & enjoyable. It helps me maintain a strong, healthy body to meet the demands of performance & rehearsals.
Amy Gross
Former Editor-in-Chief
Mirabella
This is the best thing I’ve ever done for my body. It stretches, strengthens, increases flexibility, relaxes, realigns. By focusing on abdominals it gives a center of gravity. The movements are dancerly, so it’s aesthetically pleasing, and most amazing - it’s never boring.
Stretching the Point (Article written by Bobbi Queen for
Womens' Wear Daily)
NEW YORK - Not everyone who studies Pilaties looks or dresses like the young women here. But then, these are dancers, not models. And whether they wear their own clothes or those supplied by designers, this is pretty much how they look every Saturday morning, working out at Peter Vaillancourt's studio on West 60th Street. They even did their own hair and makeup as some had performances afterwards.
Here, children and adults, ranging from 10 to 90 plus, come to stretch, strengthen and, very often, repair their bodies. Sure, there are the celebrity clients, but everyone gets the same level of care, attention, political chatter and silly jokes from Vaillancourt. Nothing in either his attire or those of the other instructors smacks of the typical New York star indulgence. This is, undoubtedly, one reason that luminaries from the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Alvin Alley companies are loyal followers, as well as others such as photographer Deborah Turbeville, actress Claire Bloom and television's Ed Bradley. "Peter has increased my strength, flexibility and posture," says Bradley, "even improved my skiing."
There is nothing trendy or fancy about the studio or location, but many clients joke that an hour here is like a visit to Lourdes. Vaillancourt, a former dancer himself, has spent 23 years training in sports, dance and body therapy management, acquiring both theoretical and practical knowledge. He finds individualized ways to address, counter and manage problems that can occur in the body. When something is outside his scope, he readily refers clients to physical therapists or physicians.
At the studio, teachers instruct three to six students in a series of varying - mercifully- movements. Tensioned springs provide progressive resistance in which form, not repetition or weight is emphasized. Vaillancourt, a licensed massage therapist, wants to prevent injuries by aligning the body properly and isolating muscle groups to maximize control, strength and flexibility. Muscle tissue is lengthened without adding bulk. Some of it is aerobic, but that isn't the main attraction of this particular approach. Control, flexibility, strength and tone are all basic goals.
And everyone seems to trust the Vaillancourt skills. Dancer Alexandra Hirsch, a regular, explains, "I feel comfortable with Peter," who corrected her knee injury. For years, there have been battles and controversy over the unlicensed use of the Pilates name in gyms by exercise trainers who refer to their classes as the real thing. Vaillancourt Studio's brochure never even uses the "P" word; the students do. While Vaillancourt has been trained In the technique, has the appropriate equipment and teaches many of the traditional movements, he has no formal affiliation with the company. This, however, doesn't seem to to stop the ever increasing number of parents who want their children to study here or the adults angling for time in an already-packed six-day week.