ST CROIX — Located in the heart of downtown Christiansted is a serene escape where fitness meets paradise. Paradise Pilates is an intimate fitness studio that offers a variety of services to meet your needs, from mat and reformer classes to TRX training sessions.
Owner and instructor Marina Falcone opened Paradise Pilates after becoming a full-time resident of St. Croix. A recurring visitor to the island since 2016, Falcone’s extensive fitness background got its start from her early days of competitive swimming. Her career took off in high school, setting several records in the sport. Falcone has spent the last twelve years in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor. She became a certified mat and reformer Pilates instructor through Balanced Body Pilates and is also a certified personal trainer, swim coach and TRX instructor. Her transition from Olympic style weightlifting to practicing Pilates was rooted in her desire to prevent injuries while maintaining strength and flexibility for competitions as Falone continues to train and compete today.
Paradise Pilates state-of-the-art studio is equipped with four (4) top-of-the-line Pilates reformers where clients are guided by certified instructors to master the art of controlled movements. For those who prefer a more grounded approach, the 50-minute Mat Pilates class uses the Joseph Pilates method of exercise to improve core strength and muscular endurance, stability, posture, flexibility and body awareness. This class targets the inner unit of the body to build strength and tone the core from within. Alternatively, the Reformer Pilates session combines traditional mat Pilates principles and movements with the resistance of springs on the reformer to improve core strength, flexibility, posture, balance and alignment. These sessions can incorporate the use of the reformer and other Pilates equipment like the EXO chair and/or jump board to add variety. TRX sessions, also known as Total Resistance Exercise, uses a single strap hung in half with loops for hands or feet on either end. This session leverages gravity and your bodyweight to perform hundreds of exercises. Marina’s extensive background in TRX training makes this a perfect complement to any Pilates session. Paradise Pilates is located at 1 Queen Cross Street on the 3rd floor near Hot Heads Boutique near the corner of Queen Cross and Strand Streets. To learn about their classes, packages and reserve your spot in a class, visit their website at www.paradisepilatesvi. com. There are only 4 spots for each class; advanced booking is strongly recommended.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard
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