[non-paid advertisement as I point out a great business owned by an Expat in Stuttgart]

I was SO excited when Heli, the lovely owner of My Pilates Place (and a dear friend since 2018 when she moved to Stuttgart and booked my Local Buddy Service) told me that she has finally found a place for her equipment Pilates studio. I have tried Pilates before but never with equipment. All I’ve heard about equipment Pilates classes sounded great so I was eager to try it myself. I booked a private introductory session last Monday with Heli and was very excited.

My Pilates Place is located right in the center of Stuttgart-Vaihingen, at Hauptstraße 19 (same building as Children’s English Library is in) and can thus be reached easily with public transport (Bus stop and U-Bahn stop Vaihingen Schillerplatz are close by). When you arrive by car, the public garage at Schwagengalerie is a good option.

Heli welcomed me at the door of her studio and showed me around. There is a lovely little waiting area when you enter the studio, then a room with the Pilates equipment and finally a changing room and toilet. I changed into my workout clothes and was ready for the session.

We started on a device called the Cadillac where Heli showed me some exercises that are good for the lower back, the upper back and pelvis. It felt SO good working out again after such a long time (well, I have been running during the winter months to stay active but working on your strength and your muscles is definitely something else).

Then we moved to the reformer. As it was my first time working with Pilates equipment I needed to find out how to use it. But here comes Heli’s great guidance into play. She is a very ensuring and professional teacher who guides you through all the exercises with good care and a lot of empathy.

I ended up LOVING the reformer. I felt that I have been working with muscles that I haven’t used properly for a while but I never felt overwhelmed during the training. Plus, it is quite a funny feeling using it – you have to try if for yourself!

Time flew and when my 50 minutes session was over I thought I was working with Heli for only 10 minutes.

What can I say? The Pilates bug has bit me 🙂 I couldn’t imagine what a difference it makes using the Pilates equipment compared to a “normal” Pilates class. I’ve decided to continue working with Heli at My Pilates Place on a regular basis and a mix of private sessions and small group equipment classes (maximum 3 trainees! That is nearly private, too, isn’t it :-)) So maybe I see you in my next class?! 😀

Oh, and by the way: This is wonderful Heli from My Pilates Place in Stuttgart-Vaihingen without a mask 🙂

More information:

My Pilates Place in Stuttgart-Vaihingen
Private sessions and small group equipment classes with a maximum of 3 trainees.
All classes are given in English.

Hauptstraße 19
70563 Stuttgart
Tel: 0178-261-1180 (also on WhatsApp & Signal)
Email: hallo@mypilatesplace.de

www.mypilatesplace.de

The post Tested: Equipment Pilates classes in Stuttgart-Vaihingen at “My Pilates Place” appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

• This is something for all my American readers: On July 2 you can learn how to prepare the perfect July 4th snack at Snack-a-Vaganza on youtube. The event is organized by d.a.i Tübingen.
• On July 2 you can also check out the Tour of Hope. The live stream will bring the work of DJ Jens Herzberg, mainly House and Techno, from the rooftop terrace of Stuttgart Library directly into your living room (or where ever you might be :-)) You can follow the event here youtube.de/stadtbibliothekstuttgartyt
• Between July 14 and 18 you can join the nature film festival Natur Vision online. You can dive into a variation of topics while watching “Beauty and the Bees”, “Bikes vs. Cars” or “Chicks on Boards” to name just a few.
• Between July 21 and 25 the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart will also be celebrated online. The festival pass (18 Euro) allows you to watch current feature films, short films and documentaries from all over India for five days at home.
• Meet other English speakers around the globe virtually on July 12 at Stammtisch Transatlantik.
• The book club of DAZ (Deutsch Amerikanische Zentrum) will meet online on Zoom on July 22 in order to discuss “Night Sky with Exit Wounds” by Ocean Vuong.

But it is summer and of course we don’t want to sit at home in front of a computer all day. So: Get out there! 😀

• All the public outdoor pools of Stuttgart and the area are open now. You have to buy your ticket online in advance. In order to avoid the crowds you might consider going in the morning.
• In my last post on the blog I have pointed out 4 fun outings for families with toddlers. In this article I share my 3 favorite short walks and a highlight of Stuttgart with you.
• Any hikers here? Check out the hikes in the area of Leinfelden-Echterdingen! The city has published two hiking guide books in English which you can download free of charge: Refreshing Walks and Idyllic Recreation at Siebenmühlental. Don’t be astonished when you check out the cover of the first guide book and think the lady on the picture looks familiar – I am the co-author 🙂
• Another great hiking trail is Herzog-Jäger-Pfad at Waldenbuch. You find a virtual map here.

Have a great July in Stuttgart (or anywhere in the world :-)) and stay safe and healthy!

PS: Please note, this post contains links to fun activities. I did not get paid to mention them or link to them. The selection of events provided here is based on my personal research.

VIP Sponsors

A big THANK YOU to the sponsors of Living in Stuttgart! Without their support it would not be possible to run this source of information for the International community in Stuttgart. You can support this blog by giving theses companies a visit and considering benefiting from their services.

The post July in Stuttgart – Corona edition appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

So that’s why this post about events this June in Stuttgart is still a Corona edition where I point out mainly online events or things to do where you don’t have contact with many people.

• June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Of course things will be different this year as there can’t be parades or parties but CSD Stuttgart has still organized a lot of great events, most of them online of course.
• The public outdoor pools in Stuttgart are now open! In order to purchase a ticket you have to sign in here and then buy the e-ticket here. You have to select the bath you want to go to and one of the two time frames (morning or afternoon). You have to bring a negative Corona test or show proof that you are fully vaccinated or recovered.
• The local tour provider “Stuttgarter Stäffele Tour” now offers an City Quest Tour in English where you discover Stuttgart by yourself/with friends while solving exciting challenges.
• The Wilhelma, our local zoo, has opened its gates again. You can enjoy all the outdoor attractions with a Corona-Schnelltest/Rapid Test that is not older than 24 hours. Please book your ticket online in advance.
• Filmtage Tübingen celebrates Cine Latino online between June 3 and 16.
• Take part in the fun social media event of “Das Stuttgarter Ballet Jung”, the young branch of the famous Stuttgart ballett. Film yourself performing to a song that was especially produced for this online event. Then write to expressyourself@staatstheater-stuttgart.de and you will get an upload link for your video. Hand it in before June 6 and become part of a fun music video.
• On June 7 the New English American Theatre NEAT will perform Sunflower Skeleton by Allen Ginsberg online on youtube.
• It is virtuell board game night on June 17!
• Do you want to try watercolor painting? Then join the free workshop of vhs international on June 18 via Zoom.
• Stuttgart Expats will organize a Scavenger Hunt on June 19.
• On June 23 you can join the online discussion #Love is Love! LGBTQ+ which is focusing on the challenges of adolescence LGBTQ+ youth.
• The book club of DAZ (Deutsch Amerikanisches Zentrum) will discuss Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu on June 24.

Have a great June and stay safe and healthy!

PS: Please note, this post contains links to fun activities. I did not get paid to mention them or link to them. The selection of events provided here is based on my personal research.

VIP Sponsors

A big THANK YOU to the sponsors of Living in Stuttgart! Without their support it would not be possible to run this source of information for the International community in Stuttgart. You can support this blog by giving theses companies a visit and considering benefiting from their services.

The post What’s up this June in Stuttgart – Corona edition appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

• The New English American Theater will perform the one-act play  True Dylan which is based on a interview with the musician on youtube on May 3.
• Join the virtuell lecture “Irony and Outrage: The Polarized Landscape of Rage, Fear, and Laughter in the U.S”, organized by DAZ on May 4.
• The beloved Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film can only take place online this year from May 4 to 9. Next to films and games one additional offer is the ITFS VR Hub, which will bring the Festival feeling to a digital Schlossplatz.
• On May 7 you can join a multimedia exploration of popular literature and film with d.a.i.-teacher Scott Stelle. This month’s topic: the thin borderline between the law through works of fiction, true crime and film.
• On May 11 you can join an online presentation and discussion about guns and gun control in the US.
• Calling all book lovers: On May 14 you can participate in the virtuell book discussion about Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, a fictionalized story of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes and the death of their son Hamnet.
• d.a.i. Tübingen organizes a virtuell boardgame night on May 20.
• The DAZ book club meets virtually on May 20 to discuss “The Undocumented Americans” by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio.

VIP Sponsors

A big THANK YOU to the sponsors of Living in Stuttgart! Without their support it would not be possible to run this source of information for the International community in Stuttgart. You can support this blog by giving theses companies a visit and considering benefiting from their services.

The post What’s up this May in Stuttgart – still a Corona edition… appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

I LOVE Exit Games (or “escape the room games” how some call them)! My friends and me have played quite a few with ExitGames Stuttgart already. And when Corona hit us and meeting friends in real life wasn’t an option anymore, I was very excited when I found out that they offer Online Exit Games now! And the best: you can play them in English.

ExitGames Stuttgart offers two Online Exit Games at the moment: “Lockdown” and “Diamonds are forever”. I have played both and liked both equally 🙂

At Lockdown you have to solve the mystery about Nicolas Maison, who tried to escape the limitations of the lockdown with some friends and rented a vacation home for the weekend. A weekend trip, he should not return home from …

And at Diamonds are forever you slip into the roles of detectives and investigate in the case of stolen diamonds.

Both Online Exit Games are well designed and the clues and puzzles are challenging and intelligent.

If you haven’t tried an Online Exit Game yet, here comes some details:

• You can play this browser-based game with friends from different locations at once, using Skype, Hangouts, WhatsApp or any other suitable platform.
• You can play whenever you want, you are not fixed on a certain date.
• You can play for as long as you need to solve the case (whereas there are hints you can read when you get stuck at some point). Most people need between 90 and 120 minutes.
• It is a lot of fun! 🙂

And here comes a little special for all of you who want to try an Online Exit Game in the next weeks:

All those who book the Online Escape Game “Lockdown” between February 1 and March 31, 2021, will receive a 10% discount by using the promotional code 100289941

Please note: The promotional voucher is not redeemable in combination with other discounts. A cash payment is not possible.

To see all posts concerning things to do during the lockdown, check out the tag fun online courses and events

The post Things to do during the lockdown: play an Online Exit Game with your friends appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

Here comes another post for new moms or moms-to-be: If you follow my blog for a while already you might remember Josette from an Expat Interview I did with her a while back in 2020. Josette is an instructor for baby massage classes and also added other newborn classes and even Hypnobirthing to her portfolio.

When Covid hit us all she started to move her services online. Nowadays she has clients in Stuttgart but also America, Argentina, Greece, UAE, UK and still counting.

Her driving force has always been the fact that she once was a lonely mama, in a new country with zero family and knowledge of the German language. So she knows where many of you stand at the moment.
Here is an overview over online courses offered by Josette:

• Hypnobirthing
• Newborn cares
• Newborn Nurture
• Baby massage
• Pre- recorded Baby massage

The fear of birthing can be present in most, however the fear of the unknown of birthing in a new or foreign place can have an impact on the mind, body, soul, baby and bonding process post birth. Therefore learning the techniques and tools through hypnobirthing leaves one feeling positive, full of knowledge, confident and empowered.
Post birth courses enable you to feel confident and empowered in caring for your newborn through loving and nurturing touch. Learning all about settling holds and soothing techniques, mindfulness when looking after your baby, the power of touch and how this can deepen and strengthen your bond and trusting  instincts. After all, “you are your baby’s first teacher”

Always remember: “You are capable and brave and significant and truly magnificent” Josette

Pop over to Josette’s website for a closer look: www.thelittlenestlingplace.com

To see all posts concerning things to do during the lockdown, check out the tag fun online courses and events

The post Things to do during the lockdown: online Hypnobirthing and newborn classes appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.

Still looking for fun online courses to fill the lockdown with something meaningful? volkshochschule stuttgart, one of the largest centers for adult education in Germany, has moved many of their English courses online, too.

Here comes a little overview over some fun online courses of vhs stuttgart:

• Online Start-up Bootcamp (09.03.-16.05.2021): Do you have a business idea that you want to bring to the marketplace?
  In this course, you will find a forum to share ideas and turn them into a viable business.
• Talking about… Slow Food (18.03.2021): Healthy food is important to you? Let’s talk about the organization “Slow Food”! This online talk will start with an inspiring presentation and continue with a Q&A session.
• Chocolate Easter Eggs (27.03.2021): In this class you will learn how to prepare a delicious chocolate egg with coconut filled shell and also chocolate trufles.
• Brazilian Cooking Class: Brigadeiros (22.07.2021): Brigadeiro is a traditional Brazilian sweet made with condensed milk. In this class, we you will learn how to prepare three different versions: traditional chocolate, nuts and coconut.
• And for all of you who speak Italian: Stoccarda chiama…una demografa italiana (26.02.2021): In questo incontro conosceremo la dott.ssa Angela Paparusso, demografa ed esperta di migrazione e integrazione. Nel suo dialogo illustrerà il lavoro di demografo.
• Moreover, vhs stuttgart now offers many of their language classes online and they have introduced some new languages, too, like Albanian and Guaranì. With over 35 languages they are now the biggest language school in Baden-Württemberg!

To see all posts concerning things to do during the lockdown, check out the tag fun online courses and events

The post Things to do during the lockdown: enjoy online courses of vhs stuttgart appeared first on Living in Stuttgart.