After attending the School of American Ballet in New York at the age of fifteen on a full scholarship, Natalia Haigler went on to perform professionally for several seasons with Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Washington. There she discovered Pilates while rehabilitating several dance-related injuries. After retiring as a dancer, Natalia pursued her interest in Pilates, earning a certification from Stott Pilates. Since then, she has starred in many of Stott Pilates’ consumer and professional DVD series and has joined them in fitness conventions around the U.S. She has also taught at Pilates studios and gyms in New York, Los Angeles, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, including Pilates on Fifth, Sports Club L.A., Equinox, Crunch, LIV Fitness, and International Fitness, as well as Canyon Ranch wellness resort in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Natalia is fully certified through Stott Pilates and holds a PMA-CPT certification through Pilates Method Alliance. She is currently a Master Trainer for BootyBarre and Hypervibe, a Certified Integrative Health Practitioner, and a Precision Nutrition Health Coach. In addition, Natalia has written articles for Pilates Style Magazine, Fitness Magazine, Imagen, and Buena Vida, as well as other titles geared toward the Hispanic market. She was the face of the Pilates program and promotional materials for New York Sports Club. Natalia also played a dancer in the feature film, Center Stage.
Natalia currently lives in her native Puerto Rico, where she teaches Pilates and BootyBarre in her studio and at the Fitness and Wellness Center in Dorado Beach. Sign up for online classes with Natalia on her website nvpstudio.com and follow her on Instagram @nataliahaigler for daily Pilates movement inspiration shared from her studio in Puerto Rico.
1. What has studying ballet and Pilates taught you about ergonomics?
Both ballet and Pilates give you the awareness of your body in space. How to move and sit properly are things that probably come extremely naturally for both dancers and Pilates instructors. A little simple cue of “close your ribs” and a dancer and instructor can immediately make the change. Non-dancers usually have a harder time connecting to the body as naturally!
2. How has the pandemic affected how you practice Pilates and engage with students?
It has affected me greatly! I have home studio with three reformers and I have been closed now for over a year. I was thinking I would be closed for a month or so, so I wasn’t planning on making any changes. But, thankfully, I had some clients that approached me to rent my reformers and continue teaching them on a daily basis. This hour became my only access to the outside world and teaching virtually, although limited in what clients can safely do without you being there to spot them, has taught me to communicate better.
I used to teach Barre classes too (I am a master trainer for Booty Barre) so, I really miss the energy that the group class gave me, but my body needed a break, so it has been nice for me to step out of that for a little bit. My clients also pushed me to start my virtual platform so I will be forever grateful. I was encouraged by clients before to start an online membership and I always said “no way, I can’t speak in front of a camera!” (my previous filming experience, I was just the body and didn’t instruct) and now I absolutely love it. Love the process of filming, editing and running my site! Grateful to this pandemic since it absolutely pushed me to do new things!
3. When you’re not practicing/teaching, what types of ergonomic products such as a desk, chair, tech accessories or equipment do you regularly use at home to keep your body in alignment?
I have a Prana Mat that I try using, although not as much as I should, and when I am working on the computer I either sit on my Venn Air Chair or stand up.
4. What advice would you give to professional people who are trying to avoid sedentarism during the pandemic? What are beneficial movements you recommend for desk workers to break up their day?
I think everyone should put an alarm on their phones to force them to get up every 45 minutes to an hour. Multiple 5 minute walks outside to get some fresh air and vitamin d through the day are game changers as well as just getting up from your chair and doing some squats, calf raises and some sort of core work goes a long way. A proper daily workout is needed, especially now that we are home all day, but 5 minute breaks every hour to just move a little goes a long way!
5. For those totally new to Pilates, how do you recommend they get started and what equipment will they need?
Pilates can be intimidating for a lot of people. The equipment looks very intimidating and mat work sometimes looks so much easier than it is. But I always tell clients that come to do Pilates or Barre, give it at least 5 times before you judge the class. It’s OK if you don’t understand or feel everything, but don’t judge it for at least five times. But what I do tell clients that don’t love Pilates, is that Pilates will teach you how to properly execute what you truly do love. Pilates will give you the foundation to any other form of exercising, so it is definitely a must to learn and understand.
I feel like starting on the equipment is an easier way to introduce them to the work. If they lack the body awareness and connection, the mat work is harder. With the equipment, the resistance will “make them feel the move more” and once they have more awareness it is sometimes easier to then move them to the mat. But this may vary depending on each client.
Sign up for online classes with Natalia on her website nvpstudio.com and follow her on Instagram @nataliahaigler for daily Pilates movement inspiration shared from her studio in Puerto Rico.