T-minus three days 'till bikini season. Is your beach body ready?

Yes? Well then, congratulations! You're a step ahead of the pack.

No? Then why didn't I see you at Pilates in the Park on Saturday?

Memorial Day Weekend is fast approaching. With seemingly everyone I know—guys included—flipping out about getting in shape for this weekend's kick-off to summer 2010, I tried not to get too caught up in the madness.

Alas, I've found myself adding extra workouts to my routine in the last few weeks.

This week's addition came in the form of Pilates. When I saw that Stefanie Semaya of Pilates on the Hudson was hosting a free session on the Maxwell Place pier, I was immediately on board. I've been meaning to try a Pilates class for a while, but have been waiting for the free outdoor summer offerings to start popping up. They're finally here! It seemed like a bonus that the class didn't start until 11 a.m., which gave me plenty of time to sleep in before my work out. 

Pilates is a system designed by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s. According to Power Pilates, "His system focused on the core postural muscles which help keep the body balanced and which support the spine. The central aim of Pilates is to create a fusion of mind and body so that movement is efficient, balanced and graceful."

Efficient, balanced and graceful? Yes please!

Already pumped for Pilates, my excitement grew when I woke up to perfect weather Saturday morning. Not too hot, not at all cold. Just right for a workout on the pier.

I was happy to see about a dozen other ladies setting up their mats when I got there. The friendly, laid back Semaya greeted everyone with a short introduction about the studio and surveyed us on our Pilates experience.

Next up, she showed us all the wrong ways to practice Pilates. She made us slouch over and stick out our hips. She made us lay down and arch our backs. Essentially, she taught us to keep our abs engaged throughout the workout, rather than letting our tailbone curve in either direction.

Once we knew what not to do, she went through a series of typical Pilates exercises. It reminded me a bit of Pilates DVDs I followed in high school, but i was in much more pain this time around. The poses are all low-impact, designed so that they will not cause any joint pain. Many are done on your back, with legs raised at various angles determined by your level of fitness.

My favorite pose is "rolling like a ball," a seated one in which, you guessed it, you curl up into a ball, holding your knees to your chest, and rock back and forth. It sort of massages the spine, while working the abs (because you have supposed to balance at the top of the rocking, without letting your toes hit the floor, and not rock past your shoulder blades.)

Semaya was a patient yet stern instructor. She demonstrated each new position, then moved throughout the group to adjust and realign anyone who needed a hand. She never raised her voice, but used a naturally encouraging and commanding tone.

We had a range of experience, so she made sure to offer beginner, intermediate and advanced options for most the poses and exercises. I learned that the biggest difference between yoga and Pilates is that in Pilates, you maintain a curved spine. The exercises work the core, or torso, muscles, more than any other group.

I went in expecting it to be somewhat of a more intense version of a yoga class. I left feeling slightly sore, and fully understanding that while some of the poses seem similar, Pilates and yoga are totally different workouts.

I would definitely give Pilates another shot, though I want to attend a more intense class.  I know to expect beginner classes when I attend these free events, but for some reason I always sort of hope everyone in the group will be experienced and we'll get a really intense workout. Saturday's wasn't super-light, but I am certain that Semaya offers more hearty workouts in the studio.

Semaya plans to offer more free sessions on the pier, but has not yet selected the dates. In the meantime, she is offering several summer specials:

- Memorial Day through Labor Day: 15 sessions (either privates or groups), valid for four months

- 50% off for the month of June (first time customers only; for group or private)

- free session for anyone that joins and refers a friend to buy a package

Side note: I haven't decided yet what I'll be doing this week—perhaps a run on the beach at some point over the weekend—but I was excited to see that the free kayaking has returned to the Hoboken Cove Boathouse. The yellow kayaks were spotting the water on Saturday. Come join me on June 5th for the official kayaking season opener and a great arm workout!