Awesome Andrea with a Beautiful Smile

Awesome Andrea with a beautiful smile meets me on social media every day. You can’t escape it. And the amazing thing is, you can feel her bright, positive energy right through your screen. And you can’t help but smile right back.

Social media can be toxic, but it depends on who you are following. I pick my friends wisely, as I do the people I follow. Makes life much easier.

The smiles kept coming and I became inquisitive so I began the conversation. A comment or two on her posts, followed by the messaging. Once I found out how this awesome Andrea with a beautiful smile spends her days – out came the questions! Plus a post where I asked her advice.

Most of what Andrea says in her posts are things like this: “I feel thankful, grateful, and blessed”.

And she is.

But I had to know more.

And so, it was time for a true spotlight. Because I feel we need more people like Andrea smiling right at us, sending us positive vibes. Teaching us healthy habits and showing off her super cool violin! She does that, too? You better believe it!

Andrea Pines. (@groovymom_68 ) Mother of two boys and wife to David. Holding degrees, diplomas, and certifications in Psychology, Gerontology, Volunteer Management, Fitness, and Pilates. Presently working at Jewish Family and Child Services as the Coordinator of Volunteer Services and Café Europa Holocaust Survivor Programming. Pilates and Fitness Instructor at Prosserman JCC (@prossermanJCC). A member of The Strings Attached Orchestra (SAO) 2nd violin section, and a board member.

That is quite the list. But to me, she will always be awesome Andrea with a beautiful smile.

How long have you been exercising?

If you ask my mother, she would say I was exercising in the womb!  I did always love to swim, and still do. I love anything water-related. But it wasn’t until my late teens and early 20s. That’s when I really started to get into exercising and took group fitness classes.

How did you get started teaching Pilates? 

I loved fitness classes so much, I said to myself “I can teach this!” and decided to become a Professional Certified Fitness Instructor. I began my fitness career teaching high and low Impact Aerobics, Step classes, Aqua Fitness, Strength and Weights Classes. I loved teaching it all! 

What is the most challenging part about about exercise in your life?

I was born with Juvenile Arthritis in both my knees, which is now diagnosed as Osteoarthritis. Because of that, there have been injuries and setbacks along the way, but also lots of self-awareness, self-care, and love.  It was not until my mid-30s, that I started taking courses and learning more about “mind-body fitness”. As my mind and body aged, along with the mind and bodies of my participants, my fitness and wellness journey lead me to become certified as a Mind-Body Fitness Instructor, and then a certified Pilates Instructor. 

What do you love about Pilates and the other classes you teach?

Throughout my teaching career in the fitness industry, I continue to learn more and more each day. I love how you think about things like one’s breath, body alignment, posture, strength and stretch, and of course, core. It is so wonderful! Being able to fuse it all together. Embracing the entire mind-body connection part of Pilates and Fitness. That is pure magic.

As of today, I am currently teaching Pilates, Stretch and Strength, Outdoor Walk Fit, Aqua Fitness, and Chair Fit Classes. I do Chair Fit together with my beautiful parents, Myriam and Robert Shechter, once a week. After class, we have lattes together!

Why do you love to teach fitness classes?

So many reasons, but really, it’s the people. I have the privilege and opportunity to teach, connect, and inspire people through fitness exercise, and wellness. Motivating, Training, and coaching them with loads of encouragement makes my heart sing!  To gracefully age through fitness, exercise, and wellness together with my participants and clients, mind, body, heart, and soul is a gift.

My classes strive to be both “challenging AND meaningful” when teaching and training their mind-body fitness. I want to always safely challenge my participants and clients, giving them strong physical workouts, while at the same time, making sure that it is meaningful. I think about the actual exercises and the music, and how to communicate and cue them. Making sure it all comes together for them.

What is your exercise regime? Does it change in the summer/winter?

When I am teaching and training, I am usually doing the exercises together with my participants. I am constantly communicating and cueing them throughout their entire workout so that they can fully see, hear, follow and understand what they are doing.  

I also do my own Pilates, Stretch, Strength, and Yoga workouts.  And I love to walk and more recently, cycle too! 

In the winter, my husband David, (who I like to call “Hubby”) and I do a lot of walking together outside. When you dress appropriately, winter exercise is amazing!  I am also often on my Schwinn bike, in our home gym. 

In the summer, we also do a lot of walking. We also get out on our bicycles, exploring different neighbourhoods and parks in the city. Paths by the lake are always my favourite! Oh, and a coffee and or ice cream, are usually part of it afterward.  

Favourite guilty pleasure?

Hmmm… “guilty” pleasure. None of it is guilty, ha! ha! “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” by Edith Piaf. One of “my anthems”! I do love to watch a few mindless reality shows, The Real Housewives franchise being one of them, usually while folding laundry, maybe sipping some wine.

I am truly thankful, grateful, and blessed.

Each blessing and obstacle that comes your way is all in your perspective. Thank you, awesome Andrea with a beautiful smile for your insanely positive attitude and presence.