Pilates Mat Class at Namaste

Among the many styles of movement classes offered at NAMASTE is the recently added one-hour Pilates Mat class taught every Sunday at 11:45 by dancer Johanna Mayer. Pilates builds strength in the core—stomach, back and buttocks—with a series of low-impact movements. The result is greater strength, flexibility, pain reduction, and an elongated body.

Trained at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts by Kathy Grant, the recently deceased 90-year old legendary Pilates “elder,” Johanna has attracted a group of neighborhood regulars, usually about 7 women (and an occasional man) with none to some Pilates training. Nonetheless, in only a few months time, she has taken them from an hour of  stop-and-start exercise to an almost uninterrupted movement flow with minimum explanation.  All this takes place lying on the mats in a warm yellow room with mirrors lining one wall and windows another.  A 3-class introduction costs $36. Namaste, 482 Coney Island Ave., at Church Ave.,  2^nd floor .  Tel: (347) 533-6226. www.mynamasteyoga.com