Kim Gordon, Physical Therapist, has been teaching pilates for almost ten years and is a regular instructor at the Rochester Athletic Club. Through understanding how to better control your core, or center portion of your body, Kim helps her patients and class members to help reduce, or even prevent, pain.

Kim also teaches pilates classes specific to helping the pregnant woman reduce, eliminate, or even help prevent pain. Her prenatal pilates program addresses the body's changes that it will go through in each trimester and modifies the program for each of the three trimesters.

Class members and patients are welcomed into the class at any stage during their pregnancy, they do not need to start during their first trimester. Classes are offered at the Rochester Athletic Club, but you do not need to be a member to participate in the pilates program.

If you've ever suffered from back pain or if you are having difficulty getting back to exercise or sports after dealing with back pain, this is the class for you! The goal of the program is to teach class members about how posture and body mechanics are affecting their pain and how to fix those that are contributing to their pain. Kim will review safe movement habits, lifting techniques, sitting, standing and sleeping postures as part of the class series. In addition, the program includes a gentle progressive pilates exercise program and is taught by a licensed physical therapist who specifically modifies the program to your back's individual needs. You can't find this in just any exercise class.

The class series includes a posture lecture, individual postural assessment, proper lifting tips, and a gentle but effective pilates program to strength your back and improve awareness of safe back movements.

Self Help Tips:

• Often times clients with a history of disc herniation have difficulty lying down flat on their back. Try lying down on a foam roller and see if this gives you some relief and another way to exercise.

You can contact Kim directly at ActivePT by phone at 877-322-3460 or 507-322-3460, or by email, for available classes or to set up a private/semiprivate session. Dads are encouraged to take these classes as well. Cost is $60 per session, which may be shared amongst a group of up to 3 people.