On Feedback

Feedback can be hard to accept sometimes. It is not always easy to hear that you are doing something wrong. Even worse is when you recognize the deficit and do not yet possess the skills to address it. This can be a very frustrating place to be, yet here is where the magic happens. Here lies opportunity. Here we grow.

At Peak Pilates® we work within a circular learning pathway.  It goes like this:

1. Unconscious Incompetence - Doing it wrong and not knowing it. As the saying goes, “Ignorance is bliss”. Most of us spend long periods of time in this stage. We have a  faulty movement pattern and we do not know it exists. Although this faulty movement pattern manifests in pain or injury or the inability to perform certain exercises correctly. Which bring us to the next stage…
2. Conscious Incompetence - Feedback. Someone has pointed the deficit out and we observe it ourselves and still, with great effort even, cannot correct it. Here many would put their fingers in their ears and stomp their feet. There is a choice to make...give up, lose faith, deny the deficit and make excuses or change. Joseph Pilates said “Patience and persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor.” We must be patient and kind with ourselves. Take tiny accomplishments as great ones. As instructors, point these accomplishments out and praise them. Use building blocks. Work towards the goal and watch the magic unfold...
3. Conscious Competence - High five! We did it! It takes great concentration, control and effort but the skill can be accomplished. All the hard work has made a huge impact on us. It has changed the way we perceive our bodies, the way we think and move and how we perceive the world. Now comes the work to refine the skill and make it even better…
4. Unconscious Competence - Doing it right without a thought. The skill is now perfected and autonomous. Here we can get lazy and rely on automatic patterning instead of concentration and precision. Here we must work to continue to dive deeper into the exercises. Refine, refine, refine. As well, the time has come to learn a new skill and start the process all over.

Feedback is a blessing. Cherish it. Avoid becoming confrontational even if something that is said hits a nerve. Make space to take it in. Say “Thank you.” Write it down. Read it back to yourself at a later time. Let it sink in. Choose to change. Choose to work through it. Choose to improve and perceive a better world to live in. Grow, learn and seek out more feedback.

Pilates for Every Body

I must admit I felt nervous this morning when I checked my class list for Tower Class. Two students were signed up. Long time Pilates practitioner Jane (80yrs) and brand new student Chris (28yrs). How was I going to keep Jane safe, while challenging Chris? As soon as I started pondering this dilemma I realized the answer….teach good Pilates.

Pilates is a method of exercise that when taught as a system the weaknesses in a person’s body and the solutions to strengthen those weaknesses reveal themselves. Start at the beginning and go from there.

Both Jane and Chris had stiff spines. First exercise, Rollbacks. We focused on articulating the spine bone by bone. Both of them used the building block of bending the knees so they could really work through the stiff spots. I asked them to take their time and initiate the exercise by curling the tailbone under and lengthening the spine down into the mat. By the end of the Rollbacks set Chris had sweat beading on his forehead (yes the AC and fans were on).

We continued with The Hundred with rollback bar (Jane had to rest her head once), Arm Springs, Leg Springs, Push Through Bar series (Swan, Teaser, Push Through Front and Mermaid). Lat engagement was a major theme for both students. As well as keeping the shoulders and hips square. At one point Chris told Jane “Stop making me look bad!”. We all had a good laugh at that one!

A partial Tower finished off the class. Just the stretch part..bending and straightening the knees and pointing and flexing the feet. Both students were challenged to keep the pelvis anchored and to keep their hips, knees, ankles and toes aligned.

After a little Standing Power Circle to let the students leave ready for their day, we had a nice chat. Chris is now in love with Pilates! He can feel how it is already changing his body in just two sessions! And Jane couldn’t stop praising the virtues of her regular Pilates practice.

I’m happy to say they will both be back next week. And I couldn’t ask for two more eager, ready to learn and hard working students. Pilates truly is for every body.

See you at the studio,

Amie

The million dollar question....

What is Pilates?!?

As a Pilates instructor with over 15 years in the industry I can tell you I've been asked this question a thousand times. And every time I give a different answer. Pilates "is" many things to each individual that practices it. It's a journey, a habit, a supplement, a God send, a building block, a career and more. I have seen it change lives.

The one thing that all of my new clients find the most intriguing about learning Pilates is how it makes your body think. There are no mindless repetitions in Pilates. Every single motion, muscle engagement and breath is precise and given 100% effort. You cannot take short cuts. Practicing Pilates correctly takes discipline and faith. Faith that your body can change and is smart and will do what you ask it to. Maybe not the first time, but over time.

I have also been asked "How many classes will it take me to see results?" And to this I always answer "That depends." We all want a "get fit quick" fix. It's on the cover of all the heath and fitness magazines. "5 Days To A New You!" Well folks, I know this is going to be tough to hear, but if you want change you have to work for it. Yes, that can mean sweating and muscle soreness but it also means concentration and believing in yourself. Results come from within.

So what is Pilates, really? Pilates is exercise. Exercise that focuses on deep core strengthening above all else. In order to access your deep core muscles you have to know how to find them and engage them. Your brain must talk to your body! Once you can do this we add more complex exercises. We test the deep core strength by taking the extremities further away from your center while maintaining spinal stability. We work in all planes of movement on the mat and the equipment. We use breath and control. Building strength in this way leads to a healthy spine and supported joints, better posture and overall strength and a body that can think for itself. Pilates is a lifestyle.

See you at the studio....
Amie

So Many Bodies!

Wow. What a week!

It still amazes me how many different body types can benefit from Pilates. Every week I teach the spectrum - 28yr old female getting married in 5 weeks and works out 6 days a week, 64yr old man recovering from a shoulder injury, 50 something overweight woman who hasn't exercised in years, 37yr old female with a high stress job, 62yr old female with lumbar/sacral issues, 20yr old dance student taking Pilates classes for the summer -the list goes on. Each of these clients challenge me and I am never bored!

The wonderful thing about The Pilates Method of exercising is that every individual I stated above can do something. The method is easily modifiable if you know what your doing. I can modify the equipment or which range of motion we're working in. I can make the movements smaller or bigger or add weight or take weight away (this does not always make the exercise easier, in fact it often makes it harder) I can break things down into smaller parts or make them more complicated. I can boost, prop, vary, arrange. Movement is attainable to all of them. Building strength is attainable. We might have to start small and be creative, but work we can do.

Each of these people came to me with their own goals. Those goals can range from increasing shoulder mobility to better posture, to being able to sit at my desk without back and shoulder pain, to looking SUPER HOT in my wedding dress to becoming a better dancer. My job is to guide them towards those goals muscle by muscle. I love every minute of it!

See you at the studio...
Amie

Question of the Week

I had a client ask me this question:

"Can I really change my body? I mean it is what it is, isn't it?"

My answer:

"Are you made of flesh and blood? Do you have a mind?"

YES! We are the keepers of our bodies. How do you want to live in yours?

I Love My Staff!

I am so honored to share my workdays with my brilliant Pilates staff. The teachers at Pilates on 10th are truly some of the best! All have backgrounds in movement or dance or athletics and all have continued to expand their knowledge through various workshops and classes. I love watching them interact with our clientele and hearing their thoughtful assessments and gentle encouragements.

What I enjoy most about our group is that we are not all of the same "brand" of Pilates. We come from varied certification schools and are able to share our knowledge with each other.  By trading lessons with each other we learn new variations and different forms of cueing. Sometimes hearing, saying or showing something in a slightly different way can make a huge difference to the client.

I try to encourage my clients to get lessons from all the teachers. We keep detailed notes on each client and what they did in every lesson so the teacher will know what your working on and what to watch out for. If you find a favorite teacher it's OK to stick with them for awhile. But if they go on vacation try out someone new! You might be surprised what you learn that will carry over to your regular routine.

Our teachers are smart, safe, careful, gracious, effective, courteous and inspiring. I am proud to have them here. So thank you amazing staff of mine. Keep up the superb work!


See you at the studio,
Amie