K
Kevinc
Guest
Is there life after radio? I often wonder what I would do... Then I found this in the Chronicle online... Maybe Cody Robbins has the answer...
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/pasadena/news/3520404.html
Former radio DJ discovers world of Pilates
Pearland instructor uses training to help her with equestrian competitions
By NINA TAYLOR
Chronicle Correspondent
The balance and core strength Cody Robbins acquired through Pilates training helps the Pearland YMCA fitness instructor stay firmly in the saddle during equestrian competitions.
"Falling off happens; it doesn't matter how good of a rider you are. But thanks to Pilates, I've had a lot of saves," said Robbins, 42, whose name may sound familiar to many because of her work as an on-air radio broadcaster in Houston.
She has competed in riding events since she was 9 and received two champion titles and one reserve champion title in Houston-area competitions this year.
An exercise change
Robbins first enrolled in Pilates classes three years ago when her work schedule changed and she was unable to work out at the gym five days a week.
She said Pilates promotes weight loss by building deep, fat-burning muscles.
"You can have all these muscles, all these ripples in your arms and ripples in your stomach, because I had them," she said. "I did kickboxing. I ran. I lifted weights and I did sit-ups every day."
In addition to physical changes, she noticed positive psychological effects such as an improved attitude, longer attention span and better concentration.
"Pilates is definitely a mind, body, spirit type of exercise," she said. "If the body is not right, then the mind is not going to be right. If you have a balanced body, you have a balanced and sound mind."
Robbins, who lives five minutes from Pearland near Blackhawk and Beltway 8, started teaching Pilates after she lost her job in 2004. Besides coaching at the Coppinger Family YMCA in Pearland, she also heads Pilates classes in Friendswood and Houston.
Robbins was born in Jacksonville, Fla., but grew up in Charlotte, N.C. She moved to Texas and graduated from high school in Splendora in 1981.
Country music deejay
After completing a bachelor of arts in radio and television in 1986 at Sam Houston State University she moved to the Bryan-College Station area to work for a country music station for a year.
Robbins moved to a full-time broadcasting job at an adult contemporary station there while commuting every weekend to a part-time job in Houston.
"I went through three cars," she said.
After living in San Antonio for five years, Robbins settled in Houston with her husband, Bobby, whom she married in 1992, and worked three part-time jobs.
"I had three different names," she said. "I wrote my name down everywhere that I was so I would know who I was. On occasion, I would say the wrong name."
Besides Pilates, she has a passion for riding. Her earliest childhood memory involves riding a horse. Her parents bought her a horse when she was 11.
Passion for riding
Robbins currently competes with a gelding that was thin and undernourished when she bought it about a year ago.
"He turned out to be extremely athletic, extremely agile, and jumping is almost effortless for him," she said.
When she has time, Robbins participates in formal foxhunts, complete with black velvet riding hats and coats.
The riders and dogs follow a scent trail laid by the organizers.
"The premise of fox hunting is that it's a sport between hound and fox," she said. "It's not people with guns hunting down and slaying a fox. It's kind of a cat and mouse game."
Robbins, who holds a level three certification from Training Athletes Neuro Kinetically, an evolved Pilates form geared toward athletes, is pursuing certification from PEAK Pilates, the classical form developed by Joseph Pilates.
Next year, she plans to pursue Equilates certification, which is Pilates designed specifically for equestrians.
When time allows, Robbins enjoys cooking and relaxing at home with her black Labrador retrievers, Rosie and Buddy.
"I like to sit in front of the TV and be queen of the remote control," she said.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/pasadena/news/3520404.html
Former radio DJ discovers world of Pilates
Pearland instructor uses training to help her with equestrian competitions
By NINA TAYLOR
Chronicle Correspondent
The balance and core strength Cody Robbins acquired through Pilates training helps the Pearland YMCA fitness instructor stay firmly in the saddle during equestrian competitions.
"Falling off happens; it doesn't matter how good of a rider you are. But thanks to Pilates, I've had a lot of saves," said Robbins, 42, whose name may sound familiar to many because of her work as an on-air radio broadcaster in Houston.
She has competed in riding events since she was 9 and received two champion titles and one reserve champion title in Houston-area competitions this year.
An exercise change
Robbins first enrolled in Pilates classes three years ago when her work schedule changed and she was unable to work out at the gym five days a week.
She said Pilates promotes weight loss by building deep, fat-burning muscles.
"You can have all these muscles, all these ripples in your arms and ripples in your stomach, because I had them," she said. "I did kickboxing. I ran. I lifted weights and I did sit-ups every day."
In addition to physical changes, she noticed positive psychological effects such as an improved attitude, longer attention span and better concentration.
"Pilates is definitely a mind, body, spirit type of exercise," she said. "If the body is not right, then the mind is not going to be right. If you have a balanced body, you have a balanced and sound mind."
Robbins, who lives five minutes from Pearland near Blackhawk and Beltway 8, started teaching Pilates after she lost her job in 2004. Besides coaching at the Coppinger Family YMCA in Pearland, she also heads Pilates classes in Friendswood and Houston.
Robbins was born in Jacksonville, Fla., but grew up in Charlotte, N.C. She moved to Texas and graduated from high school in Splendora in 1981.
Country music deejay
After completing a bachelor of arts in radio and television in 1986 at Sam Houston State University she moved to the Bryan-College Station area to work for a country music station for a year.
Robbins moved to a full-time broadcasting job at an adult contemporary station there while commuting every weekend to a part-time job in Houston.
"I went through three cars," she said.
After living in San Antonio for five years, Robbins settled in Houston with her husband, Bobby, whom she married in 1992, and worked three part-time jobs.
"I had three different names," she said. "I wrote my name down everywhere that I was so I would know who I was. On occasion, I would say the wrong name."
Besides Pilates, she has a passion for riding. Her earliest childhood memory involves riding a horse. Her parents bought her a horse when she was 11.
Passion for riding
Robbins currently competes with a gelding that was thin and undernourished when she bought it about a year ago.
"He turned out to be extremely athletic, extremely agile, and jumping is almost effortless for him," she said.
When she has time, Robbins participates in formal foxhunts, complete with black velvet riding hats and coats.
The riders and dogs follow a scent trail laid by the organizers.
"The premise of fox hunting is that it's a sport between hound and fox," she said. "It's not people with guns hunting down and slaying a fox. It's kind of a cat and mouse game."
Robbins, who holds a level three certification from Training Athletes Neuro Kinetically, an evolved Pilates form geared toward athletes, is pursuing certification from PEAK Pilates, the classical form developed by Joseph Pilates.
Next year, she plans to pursue Equilates certification, which is Pilates designed specifically for equestrians.
When time allows, Robbins enjoys cooking and relaxing at home with her black Labrador retrievers, Rosie and Buddy.
"I like to sit in front of the TV and be queen of the remote control," she said.