Interview with Cristin Wertman

Cristin Wertman discovered Pilates at the age of 14. She asked her parents for Pilates lessons as a Christmas present and their response was, “get a job!”  When she was able to afford lessons on her own she was instantly hooked and thought it was the best method of exercise ever.

After attending the University of California Santa Barbara she began her Pilates career. It has been over 10 years and she has never looked back. She trained at The Pilates Institute of Southern California under Stacey Vargas, which was through The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado. She continues her education with always taking private lessons from the best and her favorite instructors, Amy Lange, Lisa Hubbard, Rael Isacowitz, Sandy Shimoda and Karen Frischmann at Vintage Pilates.

Cristin was on the cover of Pilates Style Magazine in 2008 and has been featured a handful of other times in the magazine. She has been an ambassador for Lululemon and has been on pilatesanytime.com performing Lisa Hubbard’s workouts.  

We caught up with Cristin recently! Keep reading to learn a bit about her teaching style and what advice she would give to someone trying Pilates for the first time.
 

Tell us a little bit about your teaching style.

I would say my teaching style is authentic Pilates with a splash of Jane Fonda! I truly believe in sticking to the classical method of Joseph Pilates. He was a genius and the method really does wonders for your mind and body. I like to throw in old school Jane Fonda butt, ab, and arm exercises because they are really fun and they really work! Especially when you apply your Pilates tools while doing the exercises. I also like to throw in mini trampoline work.  It’s fun, low impact, and good for your lymphatic system. My mom was an aerobics instructor for 17 years and when I was a little girl I would go to her classes with her and sit on the stage while she taught and watched. That’s probably where I get it. I like my clients to leave me after their workout feeling invigorated, strong, lean, happy, and healthy.
 

What is your favorite Pilates exercise and why? 

Tough question! I love every Pilates exercise. I’m going to go with the stomach series of 5. Just like every Pilates exercise you work your entire body. You definitely can work and engage your entire body with this series. I also love the footwork. I love starting the workout with footwork to get your legs warmed up, and its reflexology for your feet! I also love rolling like a ball, teaser, and stomach massage.They all test the stability of your low belly. Oh, and side kicks! But I was only supposed to choose one exercise. I also love working my upper back in the method. It feels good for my posture. 
 

Tell us where you teach and how we can find you.

I teach in Corona del Mar, CA where I have a Pilates studio in my home. I also do house calls. You can call me directly at 310-570-7943 to set up an appointment.    
 

What advice would you give someone trying Pilates for the first time? 

Start as early as you can! In my opinion it’s the best investment for yourself. I could go on and on about the wonderful benefits of Pilates. The best way I like to describe it is the method keeps your body moving and flexible the way it was when you were a kid! Pilates is also a lifestyle, it helps you perform your every day movements and other sports and activities with ease. Also, be patient. Pilates is a journey, so embrace the process.  
 

What are some of your hobbies and interests?

I have a 3 ½ month old son, Everett! He is now my favorite and most important thing to me in life, in addition to my husband, Greg, and our 110 pound Bernese Mountain dog, Addison. I make each day an adventure for Everett and Addison. It is quite the workout! I absolutely love it. I also love hiking. I think hiking and Pilates are the two best forms of exercise. Throw in healthy eating and you are good to go with those three components. Hiking is so great because you can get some fresh air outside, get your low-impact fat burning cardio in and it’s a great way to catch up with friends. It’s also good to do something daily that scares you; I’m always scared of mountain lions when I hike!