<div>Pilates is probably the most sophisticated and sought after form of exercise today. Since the 1920's it has been used to strengthen and stretch the bodies of professional dancers and athletes alike. Now, after 75 years, Pilates has become mainstream, finding its way into people's homes through dozens of how-to books and videos. Yet, these instructional materials are incomplete. This CD provides the missing ingredient. It allows you to take an actual mat class under the direction and motivating voice of an experienced instructor with no equipment, no pages to turn and no TV required. Portable Pilates is a 45-minute mat class as taught at Alycea Ungaro's Real Pilates in New York City. Owner and certified instructor Ungaro conducts the class in clear, easy-to-follow instructions. Original music and creative sound effects provide the student with the necessary cues, tempo, and dynamic for each exercise. This item is intended for those with prior Pilates experience.</div>
Fitness and wellness authority, Alycea Ungaro opened her first studio, Tribeca Bodyworks in 1995. As a pioneer of the Pilates method, Alycea introduced the very first Pilates Mat classes in large New York gyms such as Chelsea Piers and New York Sports Club, helping bring about the Method's current popularity.
With Pilates in her back pocket, Alycea developed an interest in wellness across the board. In order to accommodate clients with limitations and disabilities, Alycea expanded her own education attending New York University's prestigious Physical Therapy program to become a licensed physical therapist in 1998. In 1996, Real Pilates was officially established.
Alycea released the innovative Portable Pilates™, an easy-to-use at-home mat workout. She authored Pilates: Body in Motion for DK Publishing in 2002, and launched her third title, "The Pilates Promise" in April 2004. In 2003, Alycea again broke new ground by partnering with Mobile Mind, Inc. to launch a digital version of Portable Pilates™. This go-anywhere mini-workout, designed to run on a cell phone, has again broadened Pilates accessibility.
From 2004 - 2006, Alycea established and operated additional Real Pilates satellite studios housed within the New York Health and Racquet Club.
In 2007, in her continuing her mission to make Fitness accessible to everyone, Alycea has joined up with the online community at iAmplify.com as well as Nextfit.com to create and record downloadable Pilates workouts for MP3's, iPods and computers. Alycea's exclusive workouts for Post-natal fitness as well as her signature Walking programs are are available via these channels.
In addition to serving on the advisory board of Fitness Magazine, Alycea also travels widely as a guest teacher hosting retreats at world-famous location such as Amangani in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She has trained scores of celebrites such as Madonna, Uma Thurman, Kyra Sedgewick, Claire Danes, Molly Sims, and Sarah Michelle Geller. Together with long-time client Christy Turlington, Alycea collaborated on a Pilates Booty for Puma. The booty, was aptly named "The Alycea".
In February 2007, Pilates: Body in Motion was re-released by DK publishing in a brand new deck format for ease of use and portability. In the winter of 2008 Alycea released her first DVD in a groundbreaking new product titled "15 Minute Everyday Pilates.". This book has converted into a series of Vooks - (video books)and are available for iPhones and iPads as well as on the Amazon Kindle and the Android platform. The New York Times has hailed these Pilates Apps as the best on the market.
Earlier this year, Alycea released her first Pilates prop, the Real Alignment Mat.
The Pilates Practice Companion, Alycea's largest Pilates book yet was released in bookstores in January 2011.
Follow Alycea's blog at alyceaungaro.com.
She lives in New York with her family.
