Barrington Instructor is One of Pilates Elite

Pilates has become mainstream in America over the last few decades, popping up in storefronts, basements, and studios alike. However, the system of fitness training actually was invented by a physical trainer named Joseph Pilates in the 1920s as a rehabilitation process geared toward soldiers returning from World War I.

According to Jennifer Anzelmo, Pilates teacher and owner of Transformotion on Cook Street, the dance community discovered the benefits next, followed by athletes and the public in the 1970s.

The method, which is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as an exercise regimen typically performed with the use of specialized apparatus, has steadily grown in popularity since.

The program’s popularity can be a problem however, Anzelmo asserts, as not everyone teaching Pilates has been certified to do so.

“You actually have to be asked by a certifying body to be one of their instructors,” Anzelmo explained. “You have to train for years. You can’t just call yourself it.”

Given that there are only six widely recognized certifying bodies nationwide, that Anzelmo has been certified twice is an impressive fete. In addition to that, she is a part of a very small group of trainers invited to join an organization called “Pass the Torch.”

“There are five of us that have been invited to join the balanced body (Pass the Torch), brought together with people who have worked directly with Joseph Pilates during his lifetime,” Anzelmo said. “I feel honored that I was asked to be a master trainer in two different certifications and that I was able to participate.”

Pilates was not Anzelmo’s first foray in teaching physical fitness. however. “Movement has always been part of what I did. It’s kind of an evolution of sorts, as far as having this bigger background that combines dance and movement and personal training and aerobic instruction; having all of these blending and certifications come together to make what I do,” she said.

Just before she segued into Pilates, Anzelmo ran a corporate fitness consulting company and led some of the Chicago suburb’s first boot camp fitness regimens, an exercise program method that mirrors that of the military’s.

Eventually, however, Anzelmo’s focus changed. “I was inspired to do something kinder, gentler.”

Another inspiration was an injury sustained as a young adult. “I was in a very bad car accident when I was 19, on college break,” she said “I had three herniated disks, three torn disks. So it put me into position as a young trainer to really understand people of all ages and what people are going through with acute or chronic pain is a unique skill that gives me a much broader understanding of what people are going through.”

Compassion is the hallmark of Anzelmo’s work at Transformotion, since she opened the studio a little more than 10 years ago. “I feed off of people succeeding in Pilates or succeeding in health programs. It makes me very excited to have people reap the benefits of what I have. It really charges me up,” she said.

According to Anzelmo, Pilates is the perfect exercise program for just about everyone: men, women, mature and young, those recovering from injuries and those simply seeking a healthier body. “It’s just a wonderful thing for everyone to be able to do on all levels,” she said. “Whether you’re an athlete or coming to us for rehab, it’s just wonderful work.”

The practice can be helpful particularly to older clients, said Anzelmo, who noted her oldest participant was 88 years old. “It takes the place of strength training, helps with bone density, plus mobility and fluidity of motion and balance,” she said.

Despite the easily accessible aspect of the routine, Anzelmo stresses that an experienced instructor is vital for the student’s well-being. There are intricacies of movement and centimeters of movement. Change can make vast differences to someone who has a trained eye and can cue verbally or hands on, if needed. It’s very specific in nature; the goal is to be precise.

“We pre-screen everyone coming in so you have a minimum of one session that’s required before they get on the equipment,” Anzelmo said, adding that clients are matched up with others of the same level of ability. “We’re all about form and technique here, making sure everything’s safe.”

Those recovering from injuries can experience rehabilitation through Pilates. “We have a Pilates instructor who has a background in physical therapy,” Anzelmo said. “We are not a rehab, but we work in conjunction with some physicians. We can see things from a movement pattern, like one hip is longer than the other.”

Anzelmo also teaches a new fitness routine that she has created, which fuses classic ballet, barre/floor work, mat Pilates, and the best sculpting exercises.

“It’s kind of out there already, but I developed it and fine-tuned it to meets the needs of what clients would really want with really strong results, and it’s an intensive way to get that long lean dancers body,” she said.

“I’m really excited about the bar work. There’s been a lot of it on the West Coast, but it’s starting here. It’s very hot to do,” she added. “I’m the first one to bring it out here. It’s a sweat-and-burn class.”

Anzelmo has a message for those who might feel intimidated by their inexperience or are uncomfortable with their body’s shape. “You have to start somewhere and nobody is judging in this environment,” she said. “The whole thought process when I opened was to give people an intimate environment where they feel really comfortable. You’re not part of a large crowd. The intention is to give people a lot of attention and have people feel that they can succeed without criticism or judgment.

“Everyone is supportive here. There’s no competition. It’s like kudos to you when you accomplish something,” she said.

Anzelmo added that the highly trained staff always is learning as well. “We all want to continue to grow and serve our clients better.”

Transformotion | 1-847-277-9740
220 S. Cook St. | Barrington, IL 60010