2019 May Colony Magazine

North County
PILATES
Local business helps North County
residents find balance, achieve goals
By Melissa Chavez
In the past five years, the United States
Pilates industry has grown at an annual
rate of nine percent, and for good reason.
Pilates offers a low-impact, customizable and
long-term source of physical fitness.
Since 2006, North County Pilates, located
at 5815 Traffic Way in Atascadero, has provided
the North County with all the equipment
necessary to equip both new and experienced
clients to reach their fitness goals.
“My clients’ concerns are being able to be
active throughout their entire lives,” said owner
Melissa Barton. “About 70 percent who come
in have experienced an injury or have some sort
of pain, which knows no age. Every exercise we
do is modifiable. With individualized attention,
we can take someone exactly where they are
today and address any age, injury, or pain and
work with them.”
Among the early benefits of Pilates conditioning
is concentration, breathing and
self-awareness, of which are foundational for
continued progress. With regular participation,
clients begin noticing increased flexibility, control,
stability, precision, balance, and renewed
strength and stamina. Additional benefits are
improved blood flow (which oxygenates the
brain and body tissues), decreased stress and
improved mental fitness. The correct posture
used in Pilates also helps reduce muscle imbalance
and pain previously experienced in
everyday activities.
Three class options with a variety of pricing
are available for beginners and advanced
clients, including private/semi-private classes,
small group apparatus and drop-in classes, and
mat Pilates classes. Monthly memberships are
also now available with discounted group rates,
guest passes, and priority booking.
“Over the course of five private appointments,
we learn about their bodies and it gives
clients time to tune into their bodies and what
they’re feeling. We teach you how to be functional
and adjust to achieve the same tasks. I
love how Pilates makes one think about how
to carry their bodies,” Melissa said.
“Three years ago, one client had lower back
pain. When she returned today from vacation,
she said, ‘I did fine. I hiked over these big boulders
for miles and jumped off rocks. I feel safe
now that I can do it because my muscles are
supporting my bones. Activities are a joy!’’
What feedback does Melissa most often
hear from her clients?
“They tell me, ‘I’m not in pain anymore,’”
Melissa said.
For complete class information and pricing,
visit nc-pilates.com or call 805-466-9642.
Continued from page 09
Hope across ECR, and Hope Chest Emporium
has continued to expand its square footage
of old ranch and rustic furniture, housewares
and unique just-made items. Shop owner Karen
McNamara also recently took third place in
the Atascadero Dancing With Our Stars event,
raising almost $25,000 for the Atascadero
Printery Foundation — #uninhibited.
Running down El Camino, toward Traffic
Way, you find some empty spaces that would
once serve as fodder for criticism of Atascadero’s
abnormally high vacancy rate. But today,
there is more excitement than trepidation about
who will take residence in the old Scotty’s BBQ
space, and next to that a renovation is underway
with an opportunity to customize a great space
in a historic building that recently underwent
a facelift to recover the brick facade that lay
beneath years of caked-on exterior. Across the
street, a Dunbar Brewing banner hangs in the
former Camozzi’s window.
On the southwest corner of Traffic Way
and El Camino, Shane and Joanna Wemple
rolled up the doors of a garage conversion to
serve fresh and local grub from Colony Market
and Deli. The corner has been transformed
from a vacant parking lot to a picnic-tabled
patio to add yet another lunch option to
the Colony District.
Across the street, Nautical Cowboy opened
its doors in the Carlton Hotel a year ago and
continues to serve surf and turf, adding a solid
choice for dinner for families and dates. Chef
Kurtis comes on to take the lead in the kitchen,
with some signature dishes like Ora King Salmon
with wild mushroom-fennel risotto.
Traffic Way has seen a flurry of new businesses
take residence, like Traffic Records, Bland
Solar, Central Coast Cafe, She Shop Vintage,
among the longstanding Traffic Way usuals.
Also check out Malibu Brew’s new location
and patio facing Sunken Gardens on East Mall,
where you can pick up some coffee, lunch, or
Doc Bernstein’s ice cream.
All over the Colony District, it is happening,
new, growing and changing …
and worth a stroll.
May 2019, Colony Magazine colonymagazine.com | 41