Cathy Dobson
Florida is where Sarnia’s Tricia Slipacoff discovered she loves Pilates and how in tune with her body they make her feel.
Coincidentally, 12 years later, Florida is where she and yogi Julie Kohlmeier discovered a studio while on vacation that offers both disciplines.
That became the model for their new Northern Star Yoga & Pilates studio, which opened May 1 on Mitton Street.
“We thought we could open a similar studio in Sarnia that combines the two,” said Kohlmeier, who has taught yoga for the past five years in various rented city spaces.
By the time she decided to form a business partnership with her longtime friend, Kohlmeier had developed a following of loyal students and wanted to offer them a permanent studio.
“I could never make rented space my own and I really want the women I teach, my community, to have special space that feels good,” she said.
Northern Star Yoga & Pilates at 161½ Mitton St. is a bright, airy studio with high ceilings and room on the polished hardwood floor for 10 students at a time. There’s a lounge and equipment area, a place to stash personal items during class and a retail area where Kohlmeier sells Liquido Active Wear.
Her yoga styles include gentle flow, beginner yoga and core strengthening.
In all of them, there’s a mind-body connection with emphasis on the breath.
“With yoga, there are flow sequences,” Kohlmeier explained. “We are flowing from posture to posture and connecting it with breathing.”
That’s different from Pilates, which is more about strengthening the core by working on a mat, said Slipacoff.
“Joseph Pilate developed his exercise method believing the core is the powerhouse of the body,” she said. “Pilates fundamental goal is to strengthen the torso, which means your abs, your back muscles, your obliques.”
Slipacoff, who taught for the Lambton Kent District School Board for 30 years before retiring, also taught various kinds of fitness.
She began with high-impact aerobics when that was popular in the 1980s, moved on to low impact aerobics, step aerobics and spinning.
“When I retired I wanted to do more. Then I found Pilates,” she said. “You can’t take the teacher out of the teacher so I decided to bring Pilates classes to Sarnia.
“I just think people need to know about Pilates. There's a lot of science behind it.”
She and Kohlmeier believe they are the only studio in Sarnia to offer yoga and Pilates.
“They are different but complement one another,” said Slipacoff. “With Pilates we believe all movement comes from the core.”
“With yoga, we move with the breath, then engage the core,” said Kohlmeier.
As the business gets off the ground, Northern Star is offering six Pilates classes a week and seven yoga classes. Drop-in sessions cost $16 and package rates start at five classes for $75.
Registration is online only at www.yogaandpilates.ca.
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