3 months ago
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THE MEXICAN IS BEAUTIFUL. I FEEL REALLY PROUD THAT I’M PUTTING YOU KNOW, MY WORK THERE FOR THE PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT MESSAGE FROM AN ALBUQUERQUE WOMAN WHO MOVED TO THE U.S. TO BETTER HER LIFE IS NOW DOING THE SAME FOR OTHERS AS WE CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. DARLENE MELENDEZ SHOWS US HOW SHE EMPOWERS NEW MEXICANS EVERY DAY. INHALE, FLEX. FLEX. INSIDE THIS COZY STUDIO. EXHALE A GROUP SHARES AN EVENING RITUAL. WE’RE BENDING THE KNEE TEN TIMES. ONE HOUR OF PILATES, GUIDED BY LOURDES AVITIA. I’M THE OWNER AND INSTRUCTOR OF EMPOWER PILATES STUDIO. SHE HAS HAD HER STUDIO FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT TODAY STARTED HER PILATES JOURNEY DECADES AGO, I DISCOVERED PILATES 20 YEARS AGO, GOING TO THROUGH DEPRESSION AS A PERSONAL TRAINER. SHE WAS NO STRANGER TO WORKING OUT, BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS EXERCISE. PILATES IS A MENTAL WORKOUT AND IT HELPS WITH THE CONNECTION OF MIND, BODY THAT YOU CAN’T FIND IN OTHER MODALITIES. REALLY HELPED ME TO RELEASE ALL THEM. THE DEPRESSION. ADDING TO WHY IT WAS CREATED BY A MAN NAMED JOSEPH PILATES TO REHAB WORLD WAR TWO SOLDIERS AFTER COMBAT. DON’T LET THE BREATHWORK FOOL YOU. THIS ISN’T YOGA. THIS IS WAY DIFFERENT. AND THESE METAL SPRINGS MAKE A TOUGH WORKOUT. IT’S NOT EASY. JUST AS THIS GROUP ARE YOU GETTING A GOOD WORKOUT? JUST SHAKING. AND SOME OF HER PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE CLIENTS. THEY’RE IMPRESSED THAT BEING A PROFESSIONAL, HOW I CAN MAKE THEM STRUGGLE WITH CERTAIN EXERCISES WITH ME. THEY LEARN TO MOVE SLOW AND INTEGRATE EVERY SINGLE MUSCLE IN EVERY MOVEMENT. TINY MOVEMENTS LEADING TO BIG CHANGES IN HER PRACTICE. LIFTING THE TAILBONE TWO INCHES AND OUT AND IN HER OWN LIFE. I PUT IT IN MY HEART BECAUSE NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE IF THE CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO NATIVE HADN’T TAKEN A CHANCE AND LEFT FOR ALBUQUERQUE 33 YEARS AGO. I LOVE THE CITY AND ALWAYS THOUGHT OF MOVING HERE. THESE ACCOLADES LINING HER WALLS RECIPROCATE THAT LOVE. THIS IS HOME FOR ME. SO WITH EACH CLASS BEING HEALTHY THAT WAY YOU CAN EXTEND THE LEG MORE. THIS EMPOWERS THE COMMUNITY. SHE NOW CALLS HER OWN. I GOT SO MUCH FROM THIS COUNTRY. ONE BREATH AT A TIME. IT’S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TO GIVE IN RETURN. DARLENE MELENDEZ BYRON MORTON KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHECK OUT THE STUDIO, THERE IS AN OPEN HOUSE TOMORROW FROM 11 TO 1 IN POWER. PILATES IS OPEN T
Latina empowers New Mexicans through Pilates
Sister station KOAT is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the many contributions of New Mexico’s Hispanic and Latino communities.Lourdes Avitia is on a mission to empower everyone who steps foot in her northeast Albuquerque Pilates studio. Avitia is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, but moved to New Mexico three decades ago. “Being Mexican is beautiful,” Avitia said.Avitia is the owner and instructor of Empower Pilates Studio, but she started her Pilates journey years ago. “I discovered Pilates 20 years ago, going through depression,” Avitia shared. “Pilates is a mental workout. It helps with the mind-body connection that you can't find in other modalities. It really helped me to release all the depression.”Avitia now guides people of all ages and health levels on their own Pilates journeys. She credits her desire to help others to her own experience as a Mexican immigrant. “I got so much from this country, and it’s something that I have to give in return,” Avitia said. “I feel really proud that I'm putting my work there for the people to take advantage.”
Sister station KOAT is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the many contributions of New Mexico’s Hispanic and Latino communities.
Lourdes Avitia is on a mission to empower everyone who steps foot in her northeast Albuquerque Pilates studio. Avitia is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, but moved to New Mexico three decades ago.
“Being Mexican is beautiful,” Avitia said.
Avitia is the owner and instructor of Empower Pilates Studio, but she started her Pilates journey years ago.
“I discovered Pilates 20 years ago, going through depression,” Avitia shared. “Pilates is a mental workout. It helps with the mind-body connection that you can't find in other modalities. It really helped me to release all the depression.”
Avitia now guides people of all ages and health levels on their own Pilates journeys. She credits her desire to help others to her own experience as a Mexican immigrant.
“I got so much from this country, and it’s something that I have to give in return,” Avitia said. “I feel really proud that I'm putting my work there for the people to take advantage.”
English (US)