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Research grant given to Pilates students |
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Thursday, 31 January 2008 |
by BRITTANY PENLAND
Intern News Reporter
Three Appalachian State University students were awarded the “Be Fit” research grant in the hopes to prove the positive effects of Pilates on the mind and total body wellness.
Senior exercise science major Ashley V. Brown, junior advertising major Ashley A. Payne, and junior finance and banking major Kiesha S. Congelosi received confirmation of the grant last fall.
The Appalachian sponsored grant could be up to $1,000 and they plan to begin their research study on
Pilates exercise in spring 2008, said Rebecca H. Quin, an instructor in the department of theatre and
dance.
 Ashley A. Payne (l) and Kiesha S. Congelosi (r) strike teaser poses while Ashley V. Brown does a long stretch. Photo by Holt Menzies
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The students first noticed the grant on the Appalachian Student Research Web site.
To apply for the grant, the students prepared a grant proposal to explain what they planned to
accomplish in their student research.
In the study, the girls will teach three, 50-minute classes a week in the Varsity Gym for a total of six
weeks.
“There are a variety of exercises in pilates that can cater to anyone,” Payne said.
Two of the research classes will be equipment classes and the other will consist of mat work.
The Pilates research will use a group of nine to 12 participants from the Appalachian campus.
“It is such a great opportunity to teach at a studio on campus,” Brown said.
Each of the participants will be evaluated by taking an entrance and exit survey. The survey will
evaluate the changes in the mind and body connection, as well as the overall wellness Pilates offers.
The questions found on the survey are collectively prepared by Payne, Congelosi and Brown, as well
as their instructors, Quin and Marianne Adams, a professor in the department of theatre and dance.
To gain participants, Quin sent out numerous e-mails to Appalachian students and was able to choose
from the candidates who responded.
Each of the girls is also certified to teach Pilates classes and has completed a 600-hour Pilates
teachers training course.
“I have been doing pilates for three years,” Congelosi said. “When I first saw Pilates I was drawn to it
and I fell in love with it. I will continue to do it for the rest of my life.”
The purpose of Pilates is to strengthen the core and focus on strength and flexibility, Quin said.
Quin also said there are over 500 different exercises in the Pilates method.
Three sections of Pilates conditioning are offered to Appalachian students. The first course is Pilates
conditioning one, which includes mat work and is a pre-requisite to Pilates conditioning two, where a
student works with equipment.
“The great thing about Pilates is that anybody, any age, can do Pilates because you can modify it for
each person,” Quin said.
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