Pilates Talk Sponsored by St Vincent’s Women At Heart

BRIDGEPORT — Women at Heart at the Regina L. Cozza Center is sponsoring a free talk open to members and nonmembers entitled, “Embrace a Healthier Lifestyle with Pilates” as part of its 2006 Fall Lecture Series. The program will take place on Wednesday, September 20, at a new time, from 6 to 7:30 pm in the Hawley Conference Center of St Vincent’s Medical Center.

A light dinner and a free raffle will be included.

Exercise Physiologist Sarah Collins, MS, of St Vincent’s Medical Center will be the featured speaker discussing Pilates, the core-strengthening exercise philosophy.

The Pilates method was first developed by Joseph Pilates and used primarily by dancers for years, but now has become one of the most popular forms of exercise among modern women. Using specific exercises, Pilates brings together focused breathing, movement control, stretching, and strengthening, and serves as an effective independent body-conditioner as well as a beneficial adjunct to sports training and physical therapy.

With its gentle, body-aware approach, enthusiasts find the exercise method produces long, lean muscles, relief from stress, prevention of lower back pain and injury, and improved circulation, posture, and flexibility.

Ms Collins has more than 25 years experience in the exercise science field. She came to St Vincent’s as owner of a personal training and Pilates studio in Trumbull that focuses on fitness services for special populations with hypertension, diabetes, joint and muscular challenges, and obesity.

Previously Ms Collins served as a senior director of Health and Wellness for YMCA organizations in Los Angeles and Houston, where she managed total health and fitness programming. Locally she has served as fitness director of the Lakewood Trumbull YMCA, fitness instructor at the Ahlbin Rehabilitation Center, and consultant to the Jewish Community Center and the Town of Trumbull.

She is certified with the America College of Sports Medicine (ACMS), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), is a national faculty level trainer for the YMCA of USA, and has been recognized as an IDEA Masters Level Personal Trainer.

St Vincent’s Women at Heart is a cardiovascular club created exclusively for women of all ages designed to provide a holistic, woman-specific program of education and cardiovascular screening. The Women at Heart club helps women lower their risk with discounted cardiovascular screenings, nutrition counseling, stress reduction sessions, educational heart health lectures, seminars, and the soon to be released Heart Healthy Recipe Calendar.

Prevention opportunities and information about the latest treatments and research findings are also provided. Membership to Women at Heart is free, although reservations are required to attend the lectures.

Call the Care Line at 877-255-SVHS (7847) for more information or reservations.