September 26th, 2010
The studio was left buzzing after the appearance of Pilates VIP Peter Fiasca who came all the way from Philadelphia to guest teach at CORE! We are all well aware of Peters Pilates prowess after watching him perform in the Classical Pilates Technique DVD series. Gulp!
Slots with Peter filled up fast as clients and instructors alike jumped at the chance to experience a classical Pilates class from a true master teacher. Upon arrival Peter was perfectly charming, talking about Pilates with an insiders insight and years of first-hand knowledge. His sessions stretched well beyond the allocated 55 minutes as Peter flew through the system, leaving people panting in his wake! The unanimous verdict of each person was how eye opening their experience had been.
This started me thinking about flow and how it translates in Pilates
My approach thus far has been to focus (almost fanatically!) on form. Checking and double checking my placement and feeling inadequate when a quick glance at my apprentice manual made me realize that I had it all back to front! The commonality of Peters classes was his energy “have fun!” “let go!” were his cues, and my favorite “don’t worry about being perfect – just smile”
Obviously form is of utmost importance in Pilates. Correct positioning and anatomical awareness is vital to really reap the benefits of the system. I had to wake up my sleepy core muscles before I physically started to feel the purpose of the exercises. Throwing yourself into strenuous Pilates positions without prior understanding of which muscles should be working and exactly what you are trying to achieve in each movement can cause discomfort and even injury. It was through these first subtle (and not so subtle!) adjustments to my alignment that I really began to understand my body and how to correctly activate my core.
However the Pilates system is designed to be practiced at a smooth and steady pace, flowing from one move into the next with minimum movement while transitioning between each excercise. My over analysis of the whole situation has definitely been slowing me down! Learning pilates is a bit like trying to create the perfect dish – all the ingredients need to be in there in the right order for the meal to be at its best!
Peters advice on flowing through the exercises without intellectualizing them so much was so liberating for me! Like tossing the cookbook to the side and letting your tastebuds guide the way, going for flow may not always turn out perfectly, but I am having a lot of fun trying! “Pilates is just exercise – enjoy it!” Thanks Peter!
Established in 2002, Core Pilates NYC is a full service Pilates studio located in the Union Square neighborhood of New York City with a CPNYC Annex studio in Venice, CA. Our Pilates instructors have a reputation for being the best in the biz and deliver customized training in group Pilates classes including Pilates Mat, Tower, Pilates Reformer classes, Prenatal Pilates and Mommy-and-Me classes. Pilates private, semi-private, and duet sessions are classically designed to include the Pilates Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, Barrels, and other small equipment for all levels. Our world-renowned Pilates certification and Teacher Training courses have resided in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Italy with more worldwide locations coming soon.
99 University Place 9th Floor NYC 10003
212.260.5464
info@corepilatesnyc.com
At Union Square
At 14th Street
At W 4th Street or 14th Street
212.260.5464
