Zobha Grace TankBy Amy Leibrock

When I first found the new Zobha fitness apparel line online, I was captivated by its elegant styles and colors and classic eveningwear details. Now, with samples in hand, I’m happy to report that the line is more than just a pretty face. Founder and yoga instructor Jamie Hanna’s goal of creating clothes that embody the element of “grace” that attracts her to yoga shines through in the fabric, fit and performance of the pieces I tried.


Zobha Audrey TankMy favorite is the Grace Tank ($56, sizes 2-10). It has a flattering scoop neck and long waist that won’t ride or roll up, and the cut around the shoulders is perfect for showing off strong Pilates shoulders. The variety of other top styles will cover and flatter a variety of body types and seem to run true to size. And you’ve gotta love the names—Audrey, Jayne, Ava—that evoke icons of Hollywood style.

The fabric, a wicking blend of Supplex and Lycra, has a cotton-y feel and matte look that made me feel zipped-up but not bound in. I do have one word of warning for Pilates regulars—the Straight Leg Capris ($60) are cut a little too low and will quickly ride down during a typical Pilates workout—try the Essential Pant Capris ($64, sizes 2-10) instead; they have better coverage. The line also includes a few hoodies ($64-$66) and seamless “yoga panties” (thongs and boyshorts, $16-$18), and they have maternity, men’s and children’s lines in the works.

BONUS: The folks at Zobha were kind enough to offer Pilates-Pro.com readers a 15% discount on website orders. Get yours by entering the code Z0815PPro at zobha.com from now until May 31, 2008. Happy shopping!

The Pilates-Pro.com team just got back from the Body Mind Spirit educational conference that took place last weekend (April 23-27) in Santa Clara, CA. Pilates and Gyrotonic teachers took over the hotel and convention center as they floated between classes and the expo hall (and the pool—the weather was beautiful!). This year, the regular 3-day conference was fortified with two days of pre-conference intensives with tracks for both beginner and advanced instructors and those interested in scoliosis and osteoporosis. Yoga, which used to be on the BMS rooster, wasn’t available this year, but Feldenkrais and other somatic techniques were on offer.

The expo hall floor was also buzzing with equipment demos, new products and old favorites. Flip through our slideshow above for a few of the highlights, and look for more details about some of the products soon on the site.

P.S. We created the slideshow using Flickr and PictoBrowser. We’ve also started a Pilates-Pro.com group photo pool on Flickr, which is open to everyone to join and post and share Pilates pics. More on this later!

The British press is buzzing with more than just news of Prince Harry—we did a little digging and found a bevy of Pilates-related stories from the UK.

Britons Are Leaving the Gym
Memberships are plummeting at British gyms, which have “been elbowed aside by yoga, Pilates and outdoor boot-camp-style programmes such as park circuits,” according to The Times.

Pilates Wear Reviewed
The Telegraph takes a look at Manuka Life, a line of yoga, Pilates and meditation clothing. It’s only stocked in British stores, but they will ship to other countries, including the U.S.

London Physio Clinics a Great Place to Work
Congrats to Sports & Spinal Clinics of London, which was listed No. 65 in The Sunday Times’ Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work for 2008. This group of seven physiotherapy and rehab clinics incorporates Pilates into its clinical work and offers Pilates classes.

Cricket Player Paul Collingwood Credits Pilates
“I’ve got a Pilates bench that looks like a torture device,” said the stylish Collingwood in the Daily Mail.

…And in American news…
Instructors everywhere will appreciate this nice profile of Rosanna “Nahnie” Barberio, a dancer-turned-Pilates-instructor who left New York to start a studio in Lansing, MI.

For months, maybe even years, I’d been hearing raves about lululemon athletica workout wear. I knew all about the comfort, the fit and the fabric, not to mention the flat-seams and fashion-forward designs. But the phrase that kept being repeated, the one that convinced me to make the trek to Manhattan’s Lincoln Square store on Broadway and 64th Street, was, “The pants make your butt look so good.” Comfort or not, this was one claim I wanted to investigate.

Long story short, I was not disappointed. After trying on a handful of pant styles I finally decided on two: The Training Pant, which features a straight-leg design, a mesh ventilation strip along the back of the waist and a hidden key pocket, and the cropped Wonder Under Tight, a slim legging which I picked in a pin-stripe fabric. A quick spin before the mirror revealed that my rear appeared more lifted, my legs longer and leaner. I’m telling myself that part of this is all the Pilates I’ve been doing, but I have to give some credit to the pants, too. The tailored fit is about more than appearance though—the pants don’t slide or shift so it really is like wearing a second skin.

Finding a top wasn’t quite so easy. My pursuit actually took a second trip to the store and trying on a variety of styles. Apparently some designs work better on different body types (this is unlike some workout wear styles, which attempt to fit all shapes and sizes into the same compression garment), but I eventually found my perfect fit. The Wrap Tank offers the support of a bra without sacrificing shape. The top was higher cut in front than some, which made me comfortable enough to do some exercises on an incline, like Tendon Stretch, and the wide straps never impaired my range of motion. Most importantly, when wearing the combo while standing before a class, I felt like a professional. I guess it’s time to ditch those ill-fitting sweats, once and for all.

If you’re looking for a new line of clothing to sell in your studio—or just a few new outfits to teach in—check out Sense. Their popular Tunic Pant with its short skirt layer is versatile enough to go from demonstrating Short Spine to dinner with friends without changing.

Some pieces are great for working out (like the Double-Strap Cami), and others are more trendy (like the Cape Blouse), but they’re all made of the same super-soft, light-as-air material—a blend of modal and lycra—and can be mixed and matched dozens of different ways. And it’s all made in the USA. 

Some instructors swear by Crocs,  others won’t enter a studio without lacing up their MBTs. So when I recently began teaching Pilates, I gave myself the challenge of  identifying the perfect footwear to wear. I tried tennis shoes, flip-flops, socks and barefeet… Then I found what may be my Cinderella slipper—the recently released Rainier Ballet Flat by Terrasoles. This fleece slip-on shoe is made in-part of recycled materials  and features a thick rubber sole. When I first saw it, my immediate reaction was “Ooh,  a slipper I can wear outside!” which is just the right mix of comfort and function.  The design allows me to point my feet,  easily slide the shoes on and off, and safely brace some of the machines’ moving parts with my feet. Pick up your own pair for $49.95 at Dillards or planetshoes.com.

Wear your Pilates passion loud and proud with a variety of “I [heart] teaching Pilates” bags, t-shirts, sweatshirts and hats from this CafePress online shop.

While you’re there, look into CafePress’ sellers program, which allows you to sell a variety of products—emblazoned with your own logo or slogan—with no upfront costs and no inventory to carry or manage. You can link to your shop from your Web site or keep samples in your studio to sell to clients. Or check into similar services, including Spreadshirt, Zazzle and Printfection.

Just in time for the holidays, the latest crop of Pilates-inspired T-shirts has hit the market, and the catchy slogans are better than ever. These clever designs would make the perfect gift for favorite clients and teachers, and you may want to pick one up for yourself, too. Pictured below are five of our favorites. Visit on each company’s website to order the shirts and to see more designs.

 

 “Pilates Mat Workout” T-shirt by we pilates,$26
Visit wepilates.com to see more designs and to order.
Pilates Pro Bonus: Receive a 10-percent discount for mentioning the code PPRO. Call 225-769-6298 to order.

 

 

 “Contrology Freak” by Joe’s Pila-T-Shop, $30
Visit joespila-t-shop.com to see more designs and to order.
Pilates Pro Bonus: To receive 20-percent off all purchases made before December 19, enter this coupon code: joe-pro1.

 

 
“Use Your Core” T-shirt by Do More Pilates, $25
Visit domorepilates.com to see more designs and to order.

 

 

“Without Pilates I’ll Just Die” by Maya Michelle Designs, $30
Visit mayamichelledesigns.com to see more designs. For ordering information, email maya@mayamichelledesigns.com.
Pilates Pro Bonus: Mention this article to Maya Michelle and receive $2 off this shirt.  

 

 

 “Roll Like A Ball” by Pilates Classic, $38 each, or $28 each when ordering 12 or more
Visit pilatesclassic.com to see more designs and to order.

 

 

“Pilates Girl” by Pilatees.com, $19.99 (studio logos can be added to shirts for no additional charge)
Visit pilatees.com to see more designs and to order. 

The New York Times included a review of Pilates socks in today’s Fashion & Style section (written by Pilates Pro’s own Jessica Cassity). Gina Papalia, owner of Grasshopper Pilates in New York, tested five pairs—each designed to grip the machines—for comfort and performance. Her favorite? Adidas Core Fitness Sock ($8 at Adidas stores).

Do you wear socks in the studio? If so, do you have a favorite brand? (Click “Post a Comment” to answer.)