Tag Archive for: MOVE Wellness Studios Pilates Ann Arbor
Elaine Economou, President and CEO of a bustling Ann Arbor fitness studio, sat down with Tara Kachaturoff, the creator and host of Michigan Entrepreneur. For a decade, Michigan Entrepreneur has spotlighted entrepreneurs as part of an effort to bring awareness to exciting and dynamic businesses across Michigan.
In this interview, Elaine talks origins with partner Robin Krienke, the business of joy, and some of the tough questions they’ve had to ask as they approach MOVE’s five-year anniversary.
“When it gets uncomfortable, you’re getting close to something you need to understand about yourself.”
Elaine Economou on Michigan Entrepreneur TV
Watch the video below:
Moving Beyond Breast Cancer Program
MOVE Wellness Studios Wellness is partnering with the Cancer Support Community of Ann Arbor to offer a free 6-week program for cancer survivors in the community. Program participants will receive a combination of exercise training, fitness planning and tracking, emotional support, nutrition, and education. It will be offered free of charge for people who have completed their primary treatment for cancer and are making the transition to their “new normal.” The program, called Moving Beyond Breast Cancer, will focus on healing and consider the unique needs of individuals who are returning to life after cancer. The classes will run from 9-11:30 a.m. on Jan. 13, 20, 17 and Feb. 3 and 10.
The series is co-facilitated by MOVE Wellness Studios’s experienced fitness trainers and a clinical social worker. MOVE Wellness Studios will offer individual fitness assessments and planning, group exercise classes, and education around these topics. Program social workers will facilitate supportive discussion and address the emotional health of participants.
“The period of time following cancer treatment can be extremely stressful for cancer survivors; Often, medical providers and support has dissipated,” said Bonnie Dockham, Executive Director of the Cancer Support Community. “Moving Beyond Breast Cancer was designed knowing that people need support in recovering from both the emotional and physical trauma of cancer and its treatment. Partnering with MOVE Wellness Studios, experts in physical healing, made perfect sense for the program. Combining the skill set of MOVE Wellness Studios with CSC’s knowledge of survivorship needs will make an outstanding program offering.”
Co-owner of MOVE Wellness Studios Wellness, Elaine Economou, said, “MOVE Wellness Studios and the CSC both value an encouraging and caring community, empowering people to live their best life. Their commitment to participants reminded me of how much we care about our own clients. Both my business partner Robin and I have been impacted by cancer and we know the value of the services they provide to families. Partnering with the CSC seemed like a very easy choice when I found out they could use the type of training MOVE Wellness Studios offers with Pilates, postural support, and safe, effective fitness training.”
Moving Beyond Breast Cancer is offered once a year at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. This special program is sponsored by Susan G. Komen Michigan. To register, please contact Rosie Morrison, Program Director at rosie@cancersupportannarbor.org or 734-975-2500.
Emily Douglas has been training at MOVE Wellness Studios since we opened in 2014. She recently returned from an adventure in Utah where she hiked nearly 30 miles at elevation across several national parks in the area! She credits her overall strength and endurance to training at MOVE Wellness Studios before the big trip. Emily was kind enough to share her trip with us below.
Where did you go on vacation? Southern Utah. I work for a non-profit organization called Best Friends Animal Society. Every year we all travel to Kanab for “All-Staff Week” for meetings, outings and time with the animals at the Sanctuary. Kanab is located in the southeastern most corner of Utah, smack dab in between Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon.
What did you do? After all of my work-related activities wrapped up for the week, I stayed for three extra days to hike and explore in the area for my 40th birthday. Over three days, I hiked nearly 30 miles at elevation across a couple different national parks in the area, and drove close to 1,000 miles. On one day, I spent nearly seven hours hiking around South Coyote Buttes, which is part of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The next day, I did the 6-mile round trip hike out to Calf Creek Waterfall. And I hiked the 8-mile Fairyland Loop Trail at Bryce Canyon on my final day, before doing the 4.5 hour drive back to Las Vegas airport for my flight home.
Emily at the Wave
What was your favorite place you visited? The Wave, an iconic sandstone formation located in Grand Staircase Escalante that is protected by the Bureau of Land Management. Only 20 people a day are permitted to hike into the area. The hike out to the Wave is an unmarked, open wilderness/desert area at about 5,200 ft elevation. It’s a challenging hike involving multiple types of terrain. You’re scaling up rock formations one minute and trudging through thick sand dunes the next. It was mind-blowing.
What did you do to prepare for your trip? I increased my workouts significantly and focused on inflammation reduction, which meant everything from herbal infusions and clean eating to stretching and limiting alcohol consumption. I attended Power Pilates with TRX on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoon Mat class with Angela religiously. The core engagement routine we do in both of those classes combined with the leg and back work on the TRX made a huge difference for me in overall strength and endurance. I also took much of what I learned in Nicole’s and Julie’s Shred classes and repurposed those exercises to create my own Tabata workouts.
How did training at MOVE Wellness Studios help your health and wellness during your trip? My organization actually owns a wellness center in Kanab that I can use for free. So I was able to go in early every morning to the gym and do my own Pilates routines and workouts to start the day off right. I also bought myself a cheap foam roller to keep in my hotel room and did a number of stretching and core routines in my hotel room in the morning and at night that my various MOVE Wellness Studios trainers have taught me.
In the past, coming home from an 8-day trip like this that involved long flights and many hours driving in the car would result in me spending many weeks in and lots of money on physical therapy to get things back on track due to a hip impingement and spinal dysfunction. In fact, I was able to jump right back into my workout routine once I got home and haven’t had any problems since. That in and of itself is a miracle. Happy 40th Birthday to me. 🙂
Need some help getting conditioned for an upcoming trip? Whether you attend group classes or private training sessions, MOVE Wellness Studios’s expert trainers can help you reach your movement goals. Call us today at 734.761.2306 to schedule an introductory private session to discuss your needs and fitness goals.