I am excited to share my course on Curious, Pilates 24/7! It's the perfect tool to help you be the ver best version of yourself in 2015!

Start your day with Kira Elste’s Pilates workouts! Perfect for all ages and skill levels, this eight-lesson course will expand your Pilates repertoire and help you truly feel great. Each workout focuses on a series of interrelated goals, such as: improving posture, strengthening your core, and toning your arms. You will also develop the healthy habit of stretching after a workout to prevent injury. Roll out your mat and follow along!

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Stay Curious!
Kira Elste

Ready for a new lesson? This one is strategically placed for your post Thanksgiving plan! I am excited to share my lesson, Jump-2-Fit Cardio Tone & Pilates Finish.

Strengthen and tone all your body’s muscles while burning calories in this interval training session with a Pilates finish by Kira from Pilates Barre Workouts!

Happy Learning!
Kira Elste

I'm thrilled to share my newest lesson How to Do the Ballet Sauté de Chat.

It’s time to learn a ballet favorite: Sauté de Chat. Ballerinas will start by running and leaping. It's so much fun that you’ll want to leap everywhere!

Let me know what you think of the lesson. I'm hoping that the little ones on your household will love it! And remember, I'm here if you have any questions!

Happy Learning!
Kira

Ready for a new lesson? I am excited to share my most recently published lesson 'Little Black Dress Barre Workout.'

In this popular Barre workout, concentrate on the little black dress. This lesson works on all the areas you need to tone to look and feel amazing!

Take a look and let me know in the comments what you think!

Thanks,
Kira Elste

I am excited to share my latest lesson on Curious, Balanced & Buff Pilates Workout!

Tone your legs, bum, tummy, and arms in this well-rounded Pilates session! In just ten minutes, Kira covers obliques, abs, quads, triceps, and more.

Take a look and let me know in the comments what you think!

Thanks, Kira Elste

Any kiddies in the house who are excited to learn to dance? I'm thrilled to share my newest lesson: How to Chassé in Ballet.

Miss Kira makes learning ballet fun for kids! In this lesson, learn how to do the Chassé step by pretending to be a sweeping Cinderella character.

Take a look and let me know in the comments what you think!

Thanks, Kira Elste

We don't want to wait until the snow has fallen in order to shape up for skiing. I'm thrilled to share a great lesson on Curious which will help us all do just that! "Cross Training Workout for Skiing."

This workout from Pilates and ballet instructor Kira Elste combines medium-intensity core, balance, and leg exercises to get you ready for skiing season.

Let me know what you think of the lesson. And remember, I'm here if you have any questions!

Cheers, Kira Elste

I am excited to share my latest lesson on Curious, Improve Balance & Posture for All Ages!

Improve posture and balance with non-strenuous exercises that help joint alignment and range of motion. Good posture & balance are essential to healthy living.

Happy Learning!

I am excited to share my latest lesson on Curious, Barre B Firm & Toned Workout!

Are you Curious about the Barre craze? This ballet inspired workout routine tones your stomach, arms, and legs, but is low impact enough for everyday!

Let me know what you think of the lesson. And remember, I'm here if you have any questions!

Cheers & Hugs,
Kira Elste
Pilates, Barre, & Workouts

I am excited to share my most recently published lesson "Pilates Fit in a Flash Toning Routine". The best part is that it's ultra-efficient. I know you're busy and I am honored that you spend time working out with me. That's exactly why we craft lessons that will get you maximum results for the time that you spend!

This fun and fast-paced Pilates session will strengthen and tone your muscles without taking up hours of your time. We'll take a fun, upbeat approach as we tone up our arms, abs, and legs!

Looking so forward to seeing a picture / video / comment of how you did!

Each day we wake up to a whole new of set minutes. 1440 minutes to be exact. Sure, there are obligations and commitments, real life “to do’s”. But I want to challenge you to be certain that you’re setting some “to do’s” for you. Can you spend 20 minutes doing a Pilates Workout today? Can you lace up your running shoes and fit in a short jog? Or try a new form of exercise. With endorphins, a sense of balance and accomplishment in tow, you’ll make it through the day as a happier you. Guess what? You still have 1420 minutes left.

I am excited to share my latest lesson on Curious, Daily Pilates for Obliques, Abs & Legs!

This flowing and balanced Pilates mat lesson will give your muscles a wonderful workout using only your body weight. Work on arms, legs, core and posture!

Let me know what you think of the lesson. And remember, I'm here if you have any questions.

Cheers, Kira Elste, Pilates, Barre, & Workouts

Audrey Hepburn once said, "I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner." I think many of us get quite serious about fitness and our goals. Of course, keeping fit and healthy is important, but if it's something we need to spend a great deal of our time doing, why wouldn't we want to make it something we can be excited about? I believe that if we are to have the hope of keeping up with our workouts long term, then we need to find a way to increase the fun factor.

Nutritionist, Karen Lugay addresses the issue, stating that: "Fun in exercise fuels long-term desire. Most people say that they have a determination to exercise, but determination is greatly mind-directed. Let's face it, we can easily get caught up in the "minefield" of our minds. Determination may seem great on the outside, but I feel it bears too much weight on the mind, and not as much on the heart and soul which really are our true driving forces."

So, I encourage you all to find a type of exercise that you can look forward to. For Audrey, it was working out at the ballet barre. Yes, exercise is good for you, but it should make you feel happy too. Perhaps Pilates will be your exercise of choice? I've included a Free lesson to enjoy, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this as well, and so I encourage you to interact with our very jovial group!

When embarking on a new learning experience, especially one of the fitness variety, it's important to create milestones for yourself. It's not about doing 5 Pilates lessons a day - it's about setting attainable goals that fit into our lives.

We are all busy people. Your time is valuable, and so is the time that you set aside for yourself. So, make a little time to shut down that cell phone or pinging email. Just jot down a goal for yourself. Perhaps, "I will give myself one week to work in 3 Pilates sessions". When you accomplish your milestone, as I know you will, you will have something to celebrate. You set a goal and met it!

I invite you to start this week's goal setting with Pilates Foundations. Here you will work your core, improve your flexibility, strengthen your arms and build long and lean muscles. This lesson is great for all ages and involves only the weight of your body! Lesson 1 covers core strengthening, leg exercises, and finishing stretches to lengthen your muscles.

Pilates is such a unique form of exercise. If you think you've heard the word, but are not sure what it's all about, I encourage you to try it. You will really be amazed at how good of a workout you can get, while not straining or potentially injuring yourself. No need to be afraid... as Pilates was originally developed for those in hospital beds so that the rest of their bodies would stay strong while they healed. Yes, it has morphed since the early days, but the idea of intelligent exercise has not waned. Do try it and let me know what you think. I, personally started 18 years ago. It actually changed my life as "corny" as that may sound. I hope that Pilates works its way into your story as well...

So many people are intrigued by ballet. But, are you as an adult going to put on a little tutu and go to a class full of strangers in order to try something you haven't attempted since you were a child?

I created this lesson so that you could learn some classical ballet in the privacy of your own home. Bonus: It really works your body in an amazingly unique way. Try it and you'll see!

Here is a nice and long (about a half hour) session of Pilates which will elongate your muscles and improve your core strength. You deserve it! The perfect after work de-stressor and also excellent for a Sunday afternoon!

I used to work in Collegiate Athletics. I loved reading this post myself and I think it rings with truth. I was so excited to have the 12 Minute Abs session selected to go along with this interesting post:

Curio #248 | Division one and done
A daily curious fact from Justin Kitch, Curious CEO
I'm feeling a lot better about never achieving my dream of playing Division I college basketball. Last month's Sports Journal of Medicine contained a study that finds Division I athletes suffered from much higher levels of disabling pain, depression and health problems than the general population. The researchers note that these athletes were used to training at the highest level, and always had coaches and doctors' assistance. Since most of them played sports that aren't practical later in life, they had difficulty adjusting to self-motivated workouts in the gym or on the treadmill--so they tended to do nothing. Two thirds of them also suffered from a major injury, and 40% had arthritis, compared to 24% of the general population. The healthiest segment appears to be people who only played recreational sports in college--"weekend warriors" as we like to call ourselves--and learned to incorporate exercise into their routine on their own. I hope all those guys who dunked on me in high school are reading this!

http://curious.com/pilatesbarreworkouts/12-minute-abs

MORE ABOUT THIS CURIO

Curious Lesson of the Day
Watch this Lesson

Daily 12-Minute Abs Routine
by Kira Elste, Pilates, Barre, & Workouts

This intermediate workout session will fit into your busy day and incorporates hand-picked favorite exercises that focus on upper, lower, and oblique abs. 12:25

Curious.com on iPad