LightSpace is the only Pilates and wellness studio in Chicago to integrate both Western and Eastern movement philosophies. We customize holistic wellness programs for all populations using a blend of Pilates exercises and Qigong. The result is an individual movement experience that addresses your unique needs. To achieve this, our instructors fuse the principles of Pilates, movement therapy, Qigong, Taoist Neuro-Energetic Therapeutics, and Shiatsu Bodywork.
WHAT IS PILATES?
Pilates is a movement system designed to stabilize, strengthen, stretch, and balance the entire physical body. At LightSpace we refer to Pilates as “Dynamic Stability.” Pilates exercises restore strength and length to the body’s postural muscles and to the muscles around the joints, those “deep core” muscles, helping you achieve optimal alignment and healthier, more efficient movement. Pilates conditioning helps develop strength, flexibility, coordination, speed, agility, and endurance.
WHAT IS QIGONG?
Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is an internal martial art considered to be a form of moving meditation. Its translation means “life energy cultivation.”
At LightSpace we practice Qigong in several ways: (1) Through a series of movements called Gift of the Tao. Some observers think these movements look like Tai Chi, but in fact Gift of the Tao Qigong movements are quite different and much more energetically powerful. (2) We combine the energetic principles of Qigong into our Pilates movements which we call QI-LATES (qigong + pilates). You can experience this in both our private sessions and classes. (3) We offer clients the therapeutic art of Clinical Qigong, which includes off-body and on-body techniques for improved health and wellness, pain management, and increased energy or “Qi” flow.
Among its many benefits, the practice of Qigong in these forms can not only increase one’s Qi, but also provide relief from stress and anxiety, physical tension, and greatly enhance and balance the body’s immune system. We love Qigong because it helps cultivate a deeper internal awareness and calm, which enhances our daily lives in so many ways
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE?
At LightSpace, your Pilates practice is more than just physical exercise. The deep internal focus you achieve by integrating Qigong into Pilates movements (QI-LATES) can help you eliminate energetic blockages that act as roadblocks to free, fluid, and efficient movement. These blockages often take the form of muscular tension or “knots”, stress and anxiety, or injury, all of which can prevent proper postural alignment and pain-free movement. The result is healthier and more efficient movement in every aspect of your life.
HOW DOES QIGONG HELP IN THIS PROCESS?
Pilates and Qigong complement each other. Qigong movements and meditation help release superficial physical tension and pain that create imbalances in posture and alignment, often leading to injury. Once this tension is released, it is much easier to “tune in” to the body in order to find optimal alignment and locate and activate the deeper core muscles of the abdominal wrap. These muscles are particularly difficult to access, but provide stability, support, flexibility, as well as optimal posture and alignment for more efficient movement patterns. The result? A unique and rejuvenating workout for the physical body, combined with a stronger and more balanced energetic body – all without the high-impact stress on the body or mind. And the amazing feeling of having meditated for an hour!
WHY LIGHTSPACE FOR POST-REHABILITATION?
Whether recovering from injury or looking to improve your strength, flexibility and well-being before or after surgery, LightSpace is here to help you! Our experienced instructors guide you in connecting to your center utilizing one or more of our Qigong methods, and lead you through Pilates movements to help you build a more dynamically stable and flexible body. We educate you about your body and how it works, help you correct faulty movement patterns that cause instability or pain, guide you in balancing both the physical and energetic body, thus helping you rehab from current injuries and reducing the likelihood of future injury. Our instructors are dedicated to mastery and excellence in their craft. With over 1,000 hours of training in the mind body arts, we are committed to continuing education.
WHAT CONDITIONS RESPOND WELL TO OUR APPROACH?
- Postural problems
- Low back pain/injury
- Disc injury or dysfunction
- Hip and Sacroilliac joint pain/injury
- Sciatica
- Knee, ankle, or foot pain/injury
- Frozen shoulder and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Elbow and Wrist pain/injury
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Rotator Cuff pain/injury
- Tendinitis
- Scoliosis
- Hyper-Lordosis/Hyper-Kyphosis
- Pregnancy: prenatal/postpartum
- Stress, Anxiety, Depression