March 29, 2020

Hello everyone, we hope you are all doing well, staying safe and calm and gentle during this incredible time in all of our lives and the world. At Pony Locale we excel at our live and in person classes and instruction. We want to have our eyes on people as they move and be able to guide, cue and facilitate adjustments based on what we are seeing. Based on this incredible time we are living through however, we have made some recorded videos for you. We hope they will be useful, helpful and fun. As we work to get these up on our website, in the mean time, CLICK HERE to visit our Youtube page where you can find them all. Please share with anyone you think may be interested. Please be careful and mindful. Do not do anything that hurts! Keep yourself safe, take your time, use your discretion. We know we filmed into the light of the windows but it was actually the best spot to shoot in our studio.Even if we are a bit dark, listen to the voice and direction and watch the movement of the body. Enjoy! For more information on us and our studio, classes etc. please check out our website, www.ponylocale.ca, or give us an email at info@ponylocale.ca or a call at 709-237-7487. Pony Locale, nor its owners or staff are in no way liable for any pain, injuries, accidents or death that may result from the participation in using this video class.

March 17, 2020

Hello everyone, In some ways this has been a very challenging decision, and in other ways, not. Given the context of the situation in Canada and our province, what we know from other countries that have just recently gone through this, and the advice from government and health officials over the past many days and today we have decided to close the studio temporarily. We want to be part of the efforts which we strongly encourage everyone to engage with to slow the transmission of this virus, to help our health care system not become overwhelmed, and to then not have our most vulnerable left behind. We are a small studio that works mainly with private clients and with group classes that are always kept small. So, we have been trying with extremely careful cleaning and distancing measures to stay open. As a small independently owned business of course it is extremely difficult to close our doors and leaves us as so many other local businesses in a very fragile position. That being said, we feel strongly that this is the time to make these decisions, to have the chance to make an important impact into how the next month will play out in our city, province and country. We will be extending any passes or purchases clients own to reflect the time we must be closed. We are also looking into offering some live online classes. Stay tuned for that! We can also direct you to a number of our colleagues that have these online services already in motion and are amazing. We thank everyone, our clients, who we literally love, and appreciate so much. This is an incredibly challenging time for everyone. Let’s all be smart and deeply compassionate. Let’s help those we can, safely. Let’s take this time to reflect and consider how we all live and how perhaps an event like this could mobilize the planet into fundamentally living in much more gentle ways, ones that move in line with the natural world around us rather than constantly depleting, degrading, extracting, forcing, and taking from it. It is speaking back to us. Let’s all listen. With love, Pony locale

March 14, 2020

Upcoming workshops! update Due to the Co-vid19 concerns and the important abundance of caution we will be postponing the first of these workshops, Introduction to Pilates, tomorrow, Sunday, March 15. We will decide during this fluid situation what to do about the following workshops and will announce that along with new dates as required. Please let us know if you are interested and would like to be added to the workshop notification list. These workshops will be led by Sarah Joy Stoker, extensively trained and experienced, fully certified Functional Anatomy and Bio-mechanics Specialist, Certified Post Rehabilitation Exercise Specialist, Certified Pilates Instructor, and co-owner of Pony Locale. Sarah is well known by her clients as a gifted instructor with a deeply effective way of explaining things about the body, movement, exercise, perception and sensation. These workshops are OPEN TO EVERYONE! No experience in Pilates necessary. They are for everyone and anyone who has questions or experiences pain or discomfort, or has issues in certain areas of the body, or anyone who would just like to know and understand more about their body and simple things that can have a very big and positive impact. The sessions will be a combination of instruction, participation (doing the led exercises as a group) and discussion. There is no such thing as a bad or silly question. All questions and full and lively discussions are encouraged and anticipated! Each Sunday afternoon workshop, 2 - 4pm, is $50 each or 4 for $175 Introduction to Pilates This session will take you through the philosophy, essential elements, background and foundations of Pilates. Grounded with a gentle level of anatomy we will talk about the mental and physical health benefits of this amazing work, as well, take the group through the foundational work required for a fast and effective entry into your Pilates class. We will explain in detail essential elements like posture, alignment, core strength (what is it, where actually is it and what does it feel like?), the differences and essential functions of the Inner (Local) Core and the Outer (Global) Core Systems, the all-important neutral positions of pelvis and lumbar, and all other elements required for a full understanding of this sophisticated but incredibly accessible source of exercise. Wrists and Hands Do you struggle with painful or “weak” feeling wrists? Do you find it painful, uncomfortable or just too difficult to sustain being on your wrists and weight bearing? Well, if so, you are not alone! This is an incredibly common issue and in Pilates and Yoga we spend a large amount of time weight bearing on hands and through wrists. This session will break down why it happens and give clear and proven recommendations, exercises etc to help greatly improve the problem. This work is incredibly important for anyone doing regular Pilates or Yoga but can also be life changing as far as quality of life when it comes to things like gardening or computer work, tasks that demand a lot from our lower arms, hands and wrists. Pelvis, SI Joints, Hips and Lumbar It is a mouthful! This power house and weight bearing center of our bodies is vital for our health and well being in the world. If we have pain, discomfort or dysfunction anywhere within this area of the body then, as so many of us know, we are in trouble. This session will break down the anatomy of the pelvis, which includes and creates the hip joints, the SI joints and the junction at the lumbar spine. We will identify common and prevalent issues that come up for so many people within this area, and we will give and perform exercises that help get things back on track. This is an excellent opportunity for participants to share experiences, as quite often these issues can be difficult and confusing to assess and understand resulting in a long and often arduous rehabilitation. It can be very frustrating, depressing and even demoralizing when we feel as though we have tried everything but just cannot get something sorted out. Feet and Ankles So many of us encounter pain, discomfort and problems in our feet and ankles. Morning stiffness, plantar fasciitis, “weak” ankles, toe joint pain, etc. Our feet are literally our base of support! Understanding the complexities of feet and the lower leg, along with the massive role that fascia plays down there is key to being able to give appropriate and necessary care to them! This session will break down some light anatomy and then share exercises and protocols for helping strengthen and soften musculature and fascial tissue through our feet and lower legs. When our feet feel and function better then we have less pain and discomfort, we feel dramatically more sure and confident standing and moving on them and of course that is an invaluable part of our desired quality of life. What clients have to say about Sarah and her teaching... “Sarah has that rare, very special teac ...

Hello everyone! As new information surfaces and further restrictions are put in place the health risk in Canada still remains low for the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and Pony Locale would like to do its part in keeping it that way. Listed are some preventative measures we are taking at Pony Locale to keep the studio clean and safe, as well as some preventative measure that you yourself can take to stay healthy and slow the spread of the virus. What additional practices have we implemented at Pony Locale? Reminding staff and clients about preventative measures such as diligent hand washing, proper cleaning of equipment and sneezing and coughing edicate. We are increasing and intensifying our general cleaning of surfaces, especially high traffic ones, in the studio. We have changed our general studio/mat/reformer and props cleaning solution to include pure castile soap. For those attending classes, please spend some extra time making sure to fully clean all things you have been on, or near, or touched. Hand sanitizers have been made available as much as possible however we strongly encourage hand washing with soap and water in the washrooms over this. We encourage our instructors to limit touch cuing (putting their hands on clients) during this time. Cues and explanations will be limited to vocal and demonstration cuing. We also encourage clients and staff to consider social distancing when it comes to where you are in relation to others in the space, leaving as much space as possible. Our classes are kept small so this should not be too much of a problem! As we have many different types of vulnerable groups of people passing through the studio each day we are encouraging, as always, any clients and staff to stay at home if they are feeling unwell and CALL 811 to speak with a medical professional if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath. We will continue to monitor the developing situation to stay on top of any new information and to best help inform you, our valued clients and friends. On behalf of all of us at Pony Locale, please continue to look out for one another and let’s do all we can to keep each other, the ones we love safe and those more vulnerable safe and healthy. Yours truly, Michael and Sarah

March 7, 2020

Upcoming workshops! These workshops will be led by Sarah Joy Stoker, extensively trained and experienced, fully certified Functional Anatomy and Bio-mechanics Specialist, Certified Post Rehabilitation Exercise Specialist, Certified Pilates Instructor, and co-owner of Pony Locale. Sarah is well known by her clients as a gifted instructor with a deeply effective way of explaining things about the body, movement, exercise, perception and sensation. These workshops are OPEN TO EVERYONE! No experience in Pilates necessary. They are for everyone and anyone who has questions or experiences pain or discomfort, or has issues in certain areas of the body, or anyone who would just like to know and understand more about their body and simple things that can have a very big and positive impact. The sessions will be a combination of instruction, participation (doing the led exercises as a group) and discussion. There is no such thing as a bad or silly question. All questions and full and lively discussions are encouraged and anticipated! Each Sunday afternoon workshop, 2 - 4pm, is $50 each or 4 for $175 Pre-registration only - space is limited! Please click on the links below to purchase and register - Interested in all four??? Please use promo code "4please" to purchase all four at check out. Sunday, March 15 - Introduction to Pilates Sunday, March 29 - Pelvis, SI Joints, Hips and Lumbar Sunday, April 19 - Wrists and Hands Sunday, April 26 - Feet and Ankles Sunday, March 15 - Introduction to Pilates This session will take you through the philosophy, essential elements, background and foundations of Pilates. Grounded with a gentle level of anatomy we will talk about the mental and physical health benefits of this amazing work, as well, take the group through the foundational work required for a fast and effective entry into your Pilates class. We will explain in detail essential elements like posture, alignment, core strength (what is it, where actually is it and what does it feel like?), the differences and essential functions of the Inner (Local) Core and the Outer (Global) Core Systems, the all-important neutral positions of pelvis and lumbar, and all other elements required for a full understanding of this sophisticated but incredibly accessible source of exercise. Sunday, March 29 - Pelvis, SI Joints, Hips and Lumbar It is a mouthful! This power house and weight bearing center of our bodies is vital for our health and well being in the world. If we have pain, discomfort or dysfunction anywhere within this area of the body then, as so many of us know, we are in trouble. This session will break down the anatomy of the pelvis, which includes and creates the hip joints, the SI joints and the junction at the lumbar spine. We will identify common and prevalent issues that come up for so many people within this area, and we will give and perform exercises that help get things back on track. This is an excellent opportunity for participants to share experiences, as quite often these issues can be difficult and confusing to assess and understand resulting in a long and often arduous rehabilitation. It can be very frustrating, depressing and even demoralizing when we feel as though we have tried everything but just cannot get something sorted out. Sunday, April 19 - Wrists and Hands Do you struggle with painful or “weak” feeling wrists? Do you find it painful, uncomfortable or just too difficult to sustain being on your wrists and weight bearing? Well, if so, you are not alone! This is an incredibly common issue and in Pilates and Yoga we spend a large amount of time weight bearing on hands and through wrists. This session will break down why it happens and give clear and proven recommendations, exercises etc to help greatly improve the problem. This work is incredibly important for anyone doing regular Pilates or Yoga but can also be life changing as far as quality of life when it comes to things like gardening or computer work, tasks that demand a lot from our lower arms, hands and wrists. Sunday, April 26 - Feet and Ankles So many of us encounter pain, discomfort and problems in our feet and ankles. Morning stiffness, plantar fasciitis, “weak” ankles, toe joint pain, etc. Our feet are literally our base of support! Understanding the complexities of feet and the lower leg, along with the massive role that fascia plays down there is key to being able to give appropriate and necessary care to them! This session will break down some light anatomy and then share exercises and protocols for helping strengthen and soften musculature and fascial tissue through our feet and lower legs. When our feet feel and function better then we have less pain and discomfort, we feel dramatically more sure and confident standing and moving on them and of course that is an invaluable part of our desired quality of life. What clients have to say about Sarah and her teaching... “Sarah has that rare, very special teaching gift. Not only are her ...

November 9, 2019

Hello everyone, and welcome to our new website! There are many new and exciting things happening at Pony Locale, this is one of them! We hope you will find your way around, enjoy the content, find it helpful, inspiring and user friendly. You can make all your purchases on here, register yourself in for classes, take yourself out when unavailable and always see the schedule and what classes are available, don't forget you can also read about our story being Pony Locale, meet our staff and discover the services we offer. We will have an updated schedule very soon and are delighted to announce and introduce two new instructors! As many of you know we will be moving the studio very soon also! We are incredibly excited about this. We are moving into the space directly below us, where the daycare was, and sadly where the fire happened. The space has been completely gutted and rebuilt. It is the old gymnasium space. We will still have all our big beautiful south facing windows along the front of the space, and now we will have the incredible old gym hard wood floor, all sanded and refinished. It is beautiful! We can't wait to share this new space with you all. We will still of course have our massage therapy room, as well as two washrooms, one even now with a brand new shower! We will have more open space to help accommodate our Parkinson's classes which we are thrilled to report have been growing exponentially. Also super exciting is that we will have access to the front playground space! So, picnic tables for sits and chats and lunches, coffees, sun bathing, gardening, and most of all, outdoor exercise!!!! Look out, outdoor summer circuit classes! Please share this wonderful new website, created by the very talented local company, Digital Roots, around within your community and as well news of our studio and our exciting move. Please help us to attract and involve, inspire and work with as many people in and around our city as we can so that together we can spread the joys and benefits of movement, please help us make sure this very special business has the long life it deserves. With love, Pony Locale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHYHjJZVGzI