Out & About #699 | North York Drive + Sum Pilates Session #2 Recap

"It sounds like you're just always on the go." a friend declared in response to my recap. But it was probably true. Racing thoughts are my norm, whether in contemplation of my work (-from-home) tasks or household responsibilities.

​The weekend commenced with glorious weather, sunny blue skies that persisted for the entirety of Saturday. I celebrated the above-seasonal temperatures with a run for groceries - for what else could be new? The journey was succeeded with takeout ventures at my childhood favourite of Akko Cake House, then the ultimate comfort food destination of Wonton Chai, and finally chaotic pineapple-bubble tea swap.

​Time of the essence, I bolted onto the 401 and buzzed towards North York.

I had been aware of the excavation efforts along Finch for the Finch West LRT - and even verified the lane restrictions via I-VIEW the evening prior. This hadn't altered my desire to witness the construction progress though. It's been a dreadfully lengthy site visit drought.

Ten grueling minutes of exiting the 400, I arrived at Khi Coffee. Its proximity to one of my former neighbourhoods of work was fascinating, yet somewhat annoying given its deviation from the city's main points of interest.​

Located within a small plaza not much larger, nor more modern, than Newin Centre Mall by Thirstea, Khi Coffee operated in a similar manner to a food court stall (think the Yonge-Bogert complex). Their menu listed an array of beverages, ranging from bubble tea to signature Vietnamese coffee, while muffins and cookies resided in a display case by the counter.
Given the constraint of time, I was pleasantly surprised to find the stall accessible from the street entrance facing Four Winds Drive. Calling in advance to secure my order further ensured a swift pick-up process of the phin filters unavailable at Dak Lak.

​I arrived at Sum Pilates for my second session without a second to spare. Well, "without a second" after taking into account changing and bathroom usage time. Given the absence of a changeroom, I had opted to enter the premises more minimally, even deserting my water bottle in the car.

​​One amendment I'd like to make in regards to the previous visit: the first door was in fact a dental office, rather than a doctor's office. Though, the observation of patient folders lining the shelves behind the reception desk prevails as precise.

After a temperature check, I was ushered into the studio. The class commenced with a brief alignment check, then onto the Cadillac for work with the bar. The foam roller was not used to rectify breathing techniques this time; the focused shifted to active rehab-focused exercises.

With tension springs attached to a horizontal bar, I was guided through an exercise targeting the back muscles, with emphasis on engaging the lower abdomen. Given that the motion was executed in a downward diagonal manner, I asked about ways to recreate the exercise at home; my instructor enthusiastically demonstrated using a loose (untied) resistance band.

The second part of the session was held on the reformer. A trampoline attachment was used for "cardio", placing emphasis on the inner thigh; it involved varying placements of the legs and feet, from frog legs to hip distance - the distance between one's sit bones, contrary to the popular belief of being the distance from the outside of the hips, as per clothing measurements. The routine was similar to a combination of plié squats and narrow squats, yet relieved the user of gravitational stress - an enemy of poor biomechanics.
Reminders were uttered to engage the core muscles and relieve strain on the neck and lower back. Terminology from the previous class was revisited, then subject to repetition for familiarization: neutral spine, where the pelvis was likened to a traingle in a single plane, and imprint, for a slightly tilted triangle and fully engaged lower abdomen.

​Continuing on the carriage of the reformer, I proceeded to come to a tabletop position. A yellow (light) resistance band was looped around the feet, while tension straps on the hands. This prompted thorough usage of the core muscles while simultaneously engaging the underside of the back, as arms were maintained in a Hundreds position. Toe dips, leg extensions, and bicycles were amongst the series performed.
All exercises proceeded with the head down, rather than the "pilates stance" that I have grown accustomed to, encouraging one to engage the entirety of one's powerhouse without fear of transferring tension to neck.

For the last part, I sat upright on the carriage. My side facing the reformer and my hand looped into the tension strap, I was instructed to drag the hand across the body while maintaining straight wrists. Strengthening of the pectoral muscles would be assist in rectifying rounded shoulders from extensive deskwork and hunched posture.

​Differing from the rhythmic Pop Pilates I am accustomed to, STOTT Pilates (and I suppose Classical Pilates as a whole) requires even more control. Deep inhale and exhale motions summon all strength from the core, with none left for "storage". Subtle soreness resulted from this quality-over-quantity approach.

The session proceeded in a comparatively relaxed manner, and I was not ushered out hurriedly as there did not seem to be any sessions immediately lined up. When inquiring about the other apparatus in the room, I was promised opportunities to experience them firsthand, and was further assured that all equipment would be utilized over the course of the ten classes.
At the end of the session, I signed my tracker and bid farewell, witnessing the Lysol spraydown of the equipment from the corner of my eye.

Journeying south on Yonge, I learned that The Guksu and Noodle has become Yorokobi.

My go-to Gong Cha order of Brown Sugar Oolong Milk Tea w/ 2J (minus tapioca where possible) was acquired through Ritual. I then proceeded to head home. Weather was fabulous on the drive back, with traffic astoundingly minimal for a weekend afternoon.