MY CLIENTS ARE MY GREATEST TEACHERS. Read their inspiring stories here.
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For the past 7 years I have had recurring lower back problems, sciatica, and SI joint issues as a result of an injury sustained while working out. Walking was difficult and often quite painful. I saw several physical therapists and personal trainers for rehabilitation and strength training, but had made little progress. My goals included being able to walk without pain, achieving better flexibility, and restoring mobility throughout my body. I was referred to Pacific Northwest Pilates by my physical therapist. Ishbel was assigned to work with me based on my injuries and current physical condition. I have worked with Ishbel for 2 ½ years.
For the first 2 years, I did Pilates with Ishbel. Once I gained core stability and strength, Ishbel added Yoga to our sessions. I am now able to walk without pain and have added active stretching to my daily exercise. I now have more mobility, strength, and stamina than I have had in a very long time. Ishbel understands my body and what is going on at any particular moment. I thought I could never do Yoga but Ishbel has a special gift for teaching. She is an excellent teacher and mentor who believed that I would recover and enjoy moving again. ~ Kathleen D. |
I came to pilates five years ago at age 55. I was paired with Ishbel due to significant instability in my sacrum requiring ongoing prolotherapy treatments, a shoulder injury I had been advised to fix surgically, and lost abs, inner thighs, and various other muscles that had stopped working properly. I injured easily, my legs going out from under me causing falls, and my mid-back/side spasmed frequently when doing routine housework.
Today my work with Ishbel enables me to have no pain in my sacrum or my shoulder, discontinuing prolotherapy and avoiding surgery. My abs can support me, and my inner thighs have learned their function. My body gets addressed and stretched/worked appropriately. I am definitely a work in progress, but significant progress has been made. Entering a pilates studio was intimidating; being unable to perform simple exercises highly embarrassing. Ishbel's warmth and compassion allowed me to relax, learn to breathe, and start the work slowly. Her skill level in being able to reduce my body pain through movement has been remarkable. I call seeing Ishbel "therapy for the body". I am very lucky to have found her. ~ Sally S. |
I began working with Ishbel almost four years ago. I initially went to see her in preparation for knee replacement surgery which was successfully completed in the Spring of 2012. Her early work with me centered around strengthening my right leg, increasing balance and re-adjusting my core strength for the upcoming surgery.
After the knee replacement, I forewent physical therapy and did my rehab with Ishbel instead. We continued to work on overall conditioning, strength and flexibility. My rehabilitation has transformed into an exercise routine that has significantly benefited my “real” sports of cycling, skiing and golf. What began as a necessary evil has morphed into a passion for the “art” of Pilates and the challenges of continual improvement. Pilates is vastly different from any other sport that I’ve played. With Pilates, there is no way to keep score, measure time or reduce strokes. Rather it is a personal challenge of self-measurement and individual rewards. I firmly believe that it will make the aging process significantly easier with fewer minor aches and pains. Ishbel is a great motivator . She pushes when she should and back’s off when appropriate. I grew up with Joe Loprinzi at the MAC as my fitness guru. Joe set the standard for physical conditioning, positive attitudes and finding the fun in working out. Ishbel is a female version of Joe….and much better looking! ~ Bob W. |
I was in a car accident four years ago and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I lost muscle control on my right side in my arm, leg and core. I have been working with Ishbel for a couple of years. Through hard work and persistence, I continue to regain control and strength throughout my body and see considerable improvements on the right side of my body. When I first came to see Ishbel I was having trouble making the connection between my brain and my body and thus a lot of the physical therapy exercises I was trying to do were nearly impossible. Ishbel has a way of explaining things to me that allows me to make that connection and as a result regain control of my body. Because of this I've nicknamed her the Muscle Whisperer. ~ Amber K. |