Desiree Sanchez
Pilates Instructor and Teacher Trainer
Desiree Sanchez is a Pilates Instructor and the owner of Functional Strength Pilates based in Lone Tree, Colorado. With over 27 years of experience teaching Pilates, Desiree is the founder of the Functional Strength Pilates Teacher Training program, offering an in-depth and uniquely supported comprehensive Classical Pilates Teaching Training. Desiree completed her initial Pilates training in 1999, completed master’s training in 2008, and served on the staff at The Pilates Center in Boulder, Cololrado for over 10 years in addition to guest teaching throughout the US and Europe. She has extensive experience leading workshops for clients, teacher training, and continuing education. She has been a frequent presenter of both classes and workshops at the Pilates Method Alliance member meetings and other conferences.
Education
- BA Dance & Contemplative Psychology, Naropa University 1994
- Advanced Classical Pilates Teacher Training
- The Pilates Center, Boulder, CO, 1999
- Pilates Masters Training, The Pilates Center, 2008
Professional Achievements
- Taught Classical Pilates throughout the US and in Europe
- Taught classes and presented workshops at PMA member meetings and other conferences, and founded a comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training Program at her studio in Lone Tree, Colorado, more than 15 years ago
- Teaches in English, French & Spanish
Favorite Piece of Advice
My favorite thing to say to clients is "What if?".... What if... you could move this way? What if you could breathe this much? What if your hips could lift you higher? What if your spine could move like a snake? What if....? "
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Forum Comments (3)
How can I flatten my stomach naturally?
For ab work, the most effective thing is to do Pilates mat work because it's all body weight work on the floor, and you can do it at home.
If you do that several days a week, you will 100% see a big change in your abs as long as you're not overusing your neck or hip flexors.
If you do that several days a week, you will 100% see a big change in your abs as long as you're not overusing your neck or hip flexors.
Can you make yourself taller by stretching?
Most people find that if they stick with a consistent Pilates regimen, they do get a little bit taller because so much of what we do is decompressive. We decompress the spine and train the muscles to support the spine in a more elongated position. Also, posture improves naturally as a result of doing good Pilates consistently.
With just those two things, will you gain four inches? No, you're not going to go from being 4'10 to being 5'10 - that's not going to happen. But most people find that between improved posture and decompressing a little bit, and strengthening, they do actually gain a tiny bit of measurable height.
Specific stretches within the Pilates method that I’d recommend include the ballet stretches. There are a number of stretches on the tower system or the pole system, it's called both things, and the reformer that are really great. They're always part of a full workout, so they don't really stand alone, with the possible exception of the ballet stretches.
In the fitness world in general, one of the easiest, most effective ways that you can decompress is to do passive hanging, you know, to hold a bar and just hang, let your body weight hang. It's not like a full body stretch, but it will decompress your spine and do quite a lot for you.
With just those two things, will you gain four inches? No, you're not going to go from being 4'10 to being 5'10 - that's not going to happen. But most people find that between improved posture and decompressing a little bit, and strengthening, they do actually gain a tiny bit of measurable height.
Specific stretches within the Pilates method that I’d recommend include the ballet stretches. There are a number of stretches on the tower system or the pole system, it's called both things, and the reformer that are really great. They're always part of a full workout, so they don't really stand alone, with the possible exception of the ballet stretches.
In the fitness world in general, one of the easiest, most effective ways that you can decompress is to do passive hanging, you know, to hold a bar and just hang, let your body weight hang. It's not like a full body stretch, but it will decompress your spine and do quite a lot for you.
How do I lose fat and gain muscle?
Pilates is known for developing long, strong muscles. You will get stronger from doing Pilates, but it is a very different look from weightlifting or some of the other ways of working out, because we also focus on flexibility at the same time.
We develop long, strong muscles and a lot of postural work that happens as a result of moving the way we do. We don't necessarily focus hugely on the posture, but good posture does organically arise from doing good Pilates. So, in terms of reducing fat and building muscle, people tend to lose inches doing Pilates. I wouldn't say that it's necessarily a big fat-burning thing like HIIT or some kind of cardio workout, but people do tend to lose inches and find that their posture changes significantly, which gives the illusion of having trimmed down considerably.
If you’re looking for a Pilates regimen, we always advise people to do Pilates three to four times a week. That is a really nice balance. And it's also ideal to balance working on the reformer and the mat, and maybe the pull system, using the full system. Classical Pilates is designed to be a system, and all the different pieces of equipment work together. There are muscles that you use and ways that you use your muscles very differently on one piece of equipment versus another. So, it is good to have a well-rounded experience on multiple pieces of equipment and to do it consistently several times a week.
The consistency makes a huge difference, especially at the beginning, as does the frequency. The whole concept of classical Pilates is to create uniform development in the body. So, we're trying to balance the musculature around the joints and within the body so that even the smallest muscles are working, and you're not just overpowering them and only using your muscles that are already strong. For that reason, it takes a beat to tune into the cues that your body gives you when you're learning how to use muscles that maybe have been historically underused.
We develop long, strong muscles and a lot of postural work that happens as a result of moving the way we do. We don't necessarily focus hugely on the posture, but good posture does organically arise from doing good Pilates. So, in terms of reducing fat and building muscle, people tend to lose inches doing Pilates. I wouldn't say that it's necessarily a big fat-burning thing like HIIT or some kind of cardio workout, but people do tend to lose inches and find that their posture changes significantly, which gives the illusion of having trimmed down considerably.
If you’re looking for a Pilates regimen, we always advise people to do Pilates three to four times a week. That is a really nice balance. And it's also ideal to balance working on the reformer and the mat, and maybe the pull system, using the full system. Classical Pilates is designed to be a system, and all the different pieces of equipment work together. There are muscles that you use and ways that you use your muscles very differently on one piece of equipment versus another. So, it is good to have a well-rounded experience on multiple pieces of equipment and to do it consistently several times a week.
The consistency makes a huge difference, especially at the beginning, as does the frequency. The whole concept of classical Pilates is to create uniform development in the body. So, we're trying to balance the musculature around the joints and within the body so that even the smallest muscles are working, and you're not just overpowering them and only using your muscles that are already strong. For that reason, it takes a beat to tune into the cues that your body gives you when you're learning how to use muscles that maybe have been historically underused.
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