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Teaching the ABC’s of Pilates

We’ve all seen it happen. Some clients can only afford a handful of private Pilates sessions. Oftentimes, these are the bodies crying out for help with pain, misalignment and poor body mechanics. After working with thousands of clients from all walks of life, I’ve developed a unique teaching style that serves both the short-term client and the ongoing client. It uses a system of A-B-C vocabulary that is easy to remember and quite empowering for teachers and clients alike. Here’s how it works. Begin cueing with A, then move to B, then move to C. A = Anchor Point These help us manage body mechanics. We anchor each movement to make it more efficient and effective. Example: arm movements need to be anchored at the armpit,... Continue ...

The Psoas is NOT a Hip Flexor

photo credit: Wendy LeBlanc Arbuckle Director of Pilates Center of Austin. The psoas is not a hip flexor – okay, there I have said it!  Usually I warm my students to this idea before I spring it on them. However, I guess I am feeling bold.  Whether or not you agree with me that the psoas is something other then a flexor muscle, I invite you to test out my reasoning during your next practice. The iliopsoas, fondly known as psoas (so-as), is the core muscle of the body and it is the only muscle to attach spine to leg.  The psoas is formally categorized as a hip flexor.  Flexors are defined as muscles that close a joint.  Major flexors are located in the front of the body. Because the psoas moves from the deepest core... Continue ...

Pilates and Rolfing

Pilates and Rolfing are made for one another. They can interact synergistically to create profound change in the body and mind – in how we relate to ourselves and how we relate to the world around us. They both speak to many of the same aspects of living an embodied life: breath, strength, freedom, coordination, intention, and awareness to name a few. In the hands of a skilled Rolfer™, Pilates clients can deepen their understanding of the possibilities of the form and of their own bodies. What is Rolfing? As with Pilates, there are many misconceptions out there about what the work really is (“You know, Pilates, that super-intense ab workout on medieval torture machines.”) Despite what you may have heard, Rolfing is... Continue ...

Zen of Teaching Pilates – working through a negative mindset

There is a reason Pilates is called “mind-body” work.  Not only does the mind work in conjunction with the body to create flowing movements and firing specific muscles, it also sets the tone for how a session proceeds.  But what happens when your client’s mind is: Dead set on being negative Insistent upon speaking, through complaints or otherwise, throughout an entire class Convinced he or she does not or will not move beyond the comfort zone of familiarity Any of the above situations can set the tone for a long 55 minutes. Running out the door isn’t an option when a client comes in with a huff and a, “I guess I’m ready for you to torture me now.”  This is where the instructor’s mind-body work begins. Even... Continue ...

Motivating the Motivator

Encouraging, motivating, supportive and instructive.  That’s what we, as Pilates professionals, are for hours on end, day after day.  While we thrive on teaching our clients and watching them grow with the Method and seeing their bodies transform, this business can be draining.  Being energetic and “on” all the time without recharging our own batteries is a recipe for exhaustion…and boredom. Signs of boredom at work are fairly obvious: Not wanting to go in to the studio Experiencing general malaise Being snappy at co-workers or clients Repeating exercises that have become stale to you. Before you decide to chuck your training out the window and become an accountant, try some of these motivating techniques on... Continue ...

Pilates workout with the X-iser Machine™

Wouldn’t you like to have the ability to add cardiovascular work to your Pilates classes without foregoing the Pilates workout? Here is a way to add cardio work while complementing the Pilates workout in addition to helping clients feel better, increase their endurance, burn more fat and save time? The X-iser Machine™ is a stepping device used for an exercise protocol called Sprint Interval Training (SIT). This method of exercise can help you and your clients accomplish all of the benefits listed above and more! X-iser Machine™, offered through Corrective Wellness, is a stepper that can be used to build both upper and lower body strength and endurance while saving you valuable time. The machine was used in a study conducted... Continue ...

Kathy Corey of West Coast Pilates

It’s been nearly 30 years since Kathy Corey founded West Coast Pilates and made the leap from fitness trainer and journalist to Pilates instructor, educator and innovator. Whether she is training students, instructors, doctors or university professors, Kathy’s unique methodology of teaching Pilates is world-renowned. Kathy began her career with Pilates as a determined writer would – with in-depth study, many interviews and hands-on practice of the Method itself. What differentiated Kathy from others was her opportunity to do all this work with the original Master Teachers who taught with Joseph and Clara Pilates in their New York studio. As the Publicity Director and feature writer for the Institute for the Pilates... Continue ...

The New Pilates ARC from Balanced Body aka “The Abdominal Killer Machine”

At first sight this new toy looks like a high density foam roller that has some nice curves. After taking a class with Nora St John, Program Director for Balanced Body University at the most recent Pilates on Tour in Minneapolis, I love this thing! First of all it is so light (3.75 lbs.) you can pick it up with one hand. That feature is very different from my beautiful wood and upholstered and very heavy spine corrector that resides under my trap table. The price is nice too; $159 for the Pilates ARC vs. $310 for the heavier version. The asymmetrical design with a gentle curve on one side and a steeper curve on the other makes it more comfortable for different body types. The step is detachable therefore making spine extension... Continue ...

The Art of Cueing – Oh, Those Words

Consider the awesome power of words. Just to begin the discussion, think of the many meanings of words. The same word can have many meanings and be interpreted in lots of ways. The word “position”, for example, can refer to the arrangement of your body in space, your job description, or a situation you find yourself in due to circumstances. Words have different connotations that leave them open to miscommunications. They may imply, hint, and suggest with subtle changes in meaning. Most importantly, words have power. They are the means of effective communication and make an incredible difference in the success of a trainer. Think again of the word “position”. Consider it as the frame of reference for your client that... Continue ...

Postnatal health with Pilates

After having a baby, mommies are consumed with overwhelming emotions, thoughts, baby duties, fatigue and as always, trying to find time for mommy. We all know we are better mothers if we take time to exercise and take care of our health. It seems impossible at times, but small things make a world of difference. As a working mother of a 3 year old, I know it is difficult, but balance is important. When I take time to exercise, eat healthy and find extra sleep, my world is unbelievably different than when I don’t. When I say Postnatal Pilates, I am talking to all mothers. Many of these tips are important for those of us with new babies, but much of this applies to mothers with big boys and girls as well. Before beginning... Continue ...

Pilates for the Love of the Sport

I have been an avid cyclist since 2001. When my husband, Joe (a Personal Trainer), and I were married, we each purchased steel-framed LeMond bikes. Every summer weekend, we would go out and ride for miles and miles. Now with two little girls, we work hard to balance our family lives, our full-time jobs as fitness professionals, and our love of cycling. To accommodate our busy schedules, we tend to favor workouts that allow us to condition for cycling and our other favorite sports without injuring ourselves. It is with this experience in mind that I developed a program, Pilates for Athletes, to help cyclists become pedal powerhouses in no time flat. Pilates’ integration of the trunk, pelvis, and shoulder girdle, as well... Continue ...

Foam Roller Fun

Are you incorporating the foam roller into your Pilates exercise routine? We sell them to our clients all the time and they love using them at home. There are so many exciting and challenging options with the roller. It is a great addition to a group class, private session or home routine. Balancing can be difficult because of the small surface area, but the foam roller also helps with modifications for certain exercises, stretching and therapeutic work. Try some of my favorites to change up your routines: Toe Taps/Knee Lifts Bring legs to table-top and hands to the side. Alternate reaching each foot to the floor and returning to table-top, while maintaining stabilization in your torso, pelvis and lower back. Ab Prep Lying... Continue ...

The Link Between the Mind and Body

It’s something you do every day, every minute, every second yet you wouldn’t give it a thought unless you couldn’t do it and then it would quickly become an issue. What is it? It’s breathing. Without it we die, with it we live and we can enhance our entire being by our awareness of it. It’s interesting to watch people breathe. As Pilates instructors we are keyed into it not only for ourselves but for our clients. We watch them and ask them to be aware of their breath because it will facilitate their ability to exercise and to maximize their exercise experience. It’s amazing how utterly unaware people are of their breath. When a new client comes to you, it’s a good bet that one of the first... Continue ...

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