Ten years ago, Tina Anderson was single, living in California and involved in fashion.
So what’s wrong with this picture?
Anderson didn’t really find out until a few years ago when she took a class at The Dailey Method in San Francisco and eventually trained with founder Jill Dailey.
“It changed my life in more ways than one,” Anderson said. “It was more than just a workout. I realized this was what I wanted to do.”
Anderson’s transformation comes full circle with today’s (Dec. 9) opening of The Dailey Method franchise in . Located at 188 E. Westminster, the 4,800 square foot, two-floor studio will offer free classes today and Saturday (Dec. 10) at 8:30 and 9:45 a.m.
This is the fourth of eighth locations to open in Illinois, and the second on the North Shore. The first was in Kenilworth. Nationally, there are 33 locations and even two in Canada and one in France.
Anderson, who grew up in Park Ridge, was a dedicated runner logging 40 to 50 miles a week. Now she doesn’t run at all, finding the breathing component of The Dailey Method workout provides the cardio workout she seeks.
“And my body is so much healthier,” she said. “Instead of compressing the body when we run, this workout helps lengthen the body.”
The one-hour fitness class combines athletic ballet barre work, core conditioning, stretching, and orthopedic exercises. For example, rather than perform lunges that require lowering the leg, this workout asks for the participant to stop a lunge at its midpoint and hold it. The same with a sit-up. Rather than perform the full motion, the participant stops the sit-up at midpoint and holds it.
“You build on the contraction, which burns calories and gains muscle,” said Anderson, who previously taught at The Dailey Method in Bucktown for two years. “I had never seen muscle tone before in my body until I started doing this workout. It’s amazing the self-esteem it builds.”
Another important aspect of the workout is proper alignment, which can help to rehabilitate long-term injuries and prevent those that can occur over time, Anderson said.
Head into the studio and beyond the ballet bar for balance, there are just lightweight dumbbells. The weight you bear in this workout is your own.
“This really is a personal training session in a group atmosphere,” Anderson said.
For Moms, the downstairs floor includes a supervised play area for kids and a second, slightly smaller studio. The larger studio upstairs can hold classes of 25 people, and there is a full-service locker room.
The main floor also contains an array of workout apparel, allowing Anderson to still dabble in the sporting fashion industry she worked in for several years.
“My life has changed a lot for the better,” she said. “And I get my fashion fix with our retail area, so it’s the best of both worlds.”
