We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Hocks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. Is there a historical figure you look up to? Who are they and what lessons or values have you learned from them?

Joseph Pilates was a sickly child. He suffered from asthma, rickets, and rheumatic fever, and he dedicated his entire life to improving his physical strength. He was introduced by his father to gymnastics and body-building, and to martial arts like jiu-jitsu and boxing. By the age of 14, he was fit enough to pose for anatomical charts. Pilates came to believe that the “modern” life-style, bad posture, and inefficient breathing lay at the roots of poor health. During World War I, the British authorities interned Pilates, along with other German citizens, in Lancaster Castle, where he taught wrestling and self-defense, boasting that his students would emerge stronger than they were before their internment. Pilates studied yoga and the movements of animals and trained his fellow inmates in fitness and exercises. He later said that the intuitive movements of cats, in particular, inspired many aspects of his fitness regimen. It was there that he began refining and teaching his minimal-equipment system of mat exercises that later became “Contrology”. He was then transferred to another internment camp at Knockaloe on the Isle of Man. During that involuntary break, he began to intensively develop his concept of an integrated, comprehensive system of physical exercise, which he himself called “Contrology”. “Contrology” related to encouraging the use of the mind to control muscles, and focusing attention on core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and provide support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and of alignment of the spine, and strengthen the deep torso and abdominal muscles. Some of the early use of Pilates’s exercise methods included rehabilitation of seriously injured veterans. I admire Joseph Pilates for his perseverance. He could have just resigned himself to being a sickly person, but he turned his weakness into his strength.

I fell in love Pilates after having children. It was the only thing that helped me put my body back together. Joseph Pilates’ legacy lives on through me, and here at Barre Room Pilates we want to share that with everyone we can. We want to improve the physical strength and well being of our clients. We want to help turn weakness into strength.

Rachel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My passion for movement started when I was a very young girl living in Southern California. My mom signed me up for dance lessons at a local studio. I continued my dance education for 10 years taking tap, jazz, and ballet classes. I was on the dance team in high school and took classes recreationally in college.

I discovered Pilates after having the first two of my six boys. It was the only thing that helped my abdominals regain their pre-pregnancy strength. My love of Pilates continued and really blossomed when I moved to Texas and was introduced to the STOTT Pilates method. I completed my mat certification and taught mat classes at a local gym. When Covid happened and gyms were closed, I decided to pursue my full certification. The training on the equipment took my understanding to a whole new level.

I love working with people of all ages. I get excited when a client can feel the difference Pilates makes in their life. I have helped clients improve posture, come back from injuries, and become more body aware. I have a joy for life and movement and want to bring that to my clients. I want my clients to have a fun workout that benefits them long after they leave the studio.

Bridget has had a lifelong passion for movement. Bridget embraces the philosophy that the human body is never meant to be sedentary. While living this philosophy, Bridget discovered and fell in love with the Pilates Method while training for the Houston and Boston marathons.

Bridget is a 30 year veteran of the fitness industry and has worked with all types of clients from teens to seniors. Bridget has helped many clients with injuries and replacement to neurological conditions. It is her lifelong dream to be a studio owner and teach the benefits of the Pilates Method.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Bridget and I were going through our equipment training at the same time here in Houston. We spent hours together learning in the training facility, and ultimately ended up studying for our exam together. We quickly learned that we have similar values and philosophies on life and movement, and wanted to go into business together.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for us is actually referrals. Our clients are very loyal, and the proof is in the pudding so to speak. Others see how strong, happy and fulfilled our clients are.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.brpilatestx.com
• Instagram: @brpilatestx
• Facebook: @brpilatestx
• Youtube: @barreroompilates