Your Neighbor: Joni Ross

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times: Every body is unique. With different capabilities and capacities, it can be difficult to find a form of exercise that strengthens as well as motivates each person. This is something Joni Ross focuses on in her practice of Pilates.

“I felt compelled to tell the community that you don’t have to lose inches, lose your posture or be in pain,” Ross said. “You can really do something about that with a little bit of knowledge.”

Initially, Ross vacationed on Longboat Key with her husband, Stu. They were avid tennis players at the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort and enjoyed many active and fulfilling years there.

Although Ross loved tennis, her body had different feelings.

“I had the kind of body that was constantly breaking down,” Ross said. “I was either going into back spasms or having shoulder issues. And I was young! I was in my late 20s, and I was breaking down.”

Ross ignored her body pains for almost 10 years before deciding she had to try something. She bought a book, “The Pilates Body” by Brooke Siler, and began to study the pages of poses while looking in the mirror. After six months, she felt confident enough to join a class. Not only did she see changes in her body and her strength, but also in her flexibility and posture. And, best of all, she no longer had back and shoulder pain.

“For me, it’s been a complete lifestyle change,” she says. “It’s changed my everyday life as well as my mental and physical capacities. It’s just been an amazing form of exercise.”

Today, Ross has been doing Pilates for 20 years and teaching for 18. She teaches two times a week at Harbourside, where she and her husband now live. Her classes concentrate on balance and posture, but, most importantly, core strength. She limits classes to six students because this allows her to pinpoint individual issues and the needs of each body. This personalized approach has helped many of her students embrace Pilates — and her as a teacher.

“When you’re passionate about something and it’s worked for you, it’s very easy to share it,” Ross said.

Contact Kelsey Grau at [email protected]