I have never forgotten what Kirstin told me, and I can pinpoint that time as a turning point in my teaching. I credit her for helping me get to where I am today, a teacher trainer in Los Angeles with a thriving private Pilates clientele.  I’m in the position to pass on this invaluable piece of advice, as one of my jobs is to make our certification trainees effective teachers. If you can learn this tool early on in your teaching, it will make you stand out among the many teachers out there. And your clients will stick with you because they will see results. Anyone can teach, but not everyone has the ability or awareness to teach effectively.

What does being an effective teacher actually mean? To me, it means when asking your client to do something, make sure they are actually doing it. It’s the exact advice given to me 5 years ago. Be present as a teacher, follow through with your instructions, and don’t just go on cruise control. In my opinion, there are layers to learning to teach. First you must memorize the information, then you may imitate those you admire and respect, and finally you’ll take what you’ve learned and come into your own as a teacher. This will happen in stages; however, what you can do from the start is guide your clients with effective cueing. Get them into positions where they don’t have the option to not use their muscles. It’s actually a pretty simple concept: Be Present and Aware. Advice that can also be applied to your life.

An important part of a healthy relationship is a great sex life. As the popularity of Pilates, a mind-body conditioning method of exercise developed by Joseph H. Pilates, has increased, people have become more aware of its many benefits. These include, but are not limited to, increased muscle strength and tone, improved flexibility and balance, and a longer, leaner body shape. What most people don’t know about are the many ways Pilates will improve their sex life.

Whether you are a man or a woman, here are 8 ways that you can benefit from Pilates.

1. Pilates increases physical stamina. A key element to Pilates is muscle control. Joseph H. Pilates originally called his form of exercise “contrology”. The exercises are not done quickly. Control is the focus rather than speed. It’s not how fast you do the exercises that produces results, it’s technique. Pilates gives you steady strength and stamina during sexual activity allowing for a longer, more intimate experience.

2. Your body is your exercise equipment. Unlike working out with machines at the gym, in Pilates you are using your own body weight to perform the exercises. This is especially true with Pilates mat work, which was the original method of Joseph H. Pilates. Because sexual activity often requires you to use and sometimes support your own body weight, you will be able to enjoy yourself without any physical discomfort and will not become easily fatigued.

3. Pilates teaches you to be fully present. We are all familiar with how being fully present or “in the moment” enhances our life experiences. This is especially true during sex. One of the first things you learn with Pilates is focus and concentration. In order to work your body correctly, safely, and efficiently, you must concentrate throughout the exercises. You can not be thinking about your to do list, you must be fully present. Pilates trains your body and mind to be totally present. This will carry into the bedroom, enabling your to be totally present with your partner for a more intimate and enjoyable experience.

4. Greater flexibility means more creativity. Pilates gives you more muscle flexibility and improves the health of your joints. This allows you to get into positions you previously thought to be impossible. It also increases back and hip flexibility, eliminating the back pain some people suffer from during sex.

5. Increase blood flow equals more intense orgasms. Pilates focus on “scooping” or pulling the “navel to the spine” brings increased blood flow to the pelvic area. This continuous rush of fresh blood and oxygen to the sexual organs results in an increase in libido and more intense orgasms.

6. Pilates reduces your stress level. One of the main reasons couples do not have sex more often is stress. The Pilates method of breathing teaches you breath control. It was designed to cleanse the bloodstream through oxygenation, by bringing fresh blood to all of the cells. This method of breathing not only increases your physical health, it also reduces your blood pressure and triggers a relaxation response in the brain. Less stress equals more sex.

7. When you feel attractive you are less inhibited. When you are physically fit and toned it gives you more self-confidence. Hesitation in sex has a lot to do with body image. You can’t have great sex if you’re self-conscious about your body. Pilates teaches you to love your body and appreciate its unique strength, beauty and power. This allows you to be less worried about body image  and have more fun.

8. Pilates enables you to have a great sex life for decades. Sexual dysfunction in both men and women in their later years is often due to a prolapsed uterus or bladder.  Pilates focuses on the deep, unseen muscles of the abdomen and the pelvic floor, strengthening the muscles that support your internal organs. This benefit along with increased overall muscle strength, greater flexibility, healthy joints and greater self-confidence means that Pilates contributes to a great sex life well into your golden years!

The wonderful thing about Pilates is that it was developed by a man to benefit both men and women. It is also a method of exercise that was designed for anyone to do, from a beginner to the most advanced athlete.

Tonya Sheridan is the founder of Lifestyle and Longevity, LLC. She is a Life Coach, Wellness Writer and a Pilates Personal Trainer. A member of the International Coach Federation and an American Council on Exercise certified Personal Trainer, she is passionate about health, happiness and living an authentic Lifestyle. She currently resides in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Visit her website TonyaSheridan.com, follow her on Twitter @TonyaSheridan or Facebook at fbTonyaSheridanLL

I made the decision to become a Pilates instructor because I wanted to help people. I fell in love with Pilates the moment I was introduced to it, and felt like I’d found the most ideal job when I made the decision to teach. I never could picture myself sitting behind a desk at a corporate job. With movement-based activities being a big part of my childhood, Pilates seemed to fit perfectly into my life. I truly felt that I had found my calling. What I didn’t expect were the thoughts that surfaced one day of “I’m only just a Pilates instructor.”

After eight years of teaching I found myself wanting more. I kept thinking to myself, “Am I doing enough?” “Am I making a difference?” After 20 sessions with a client who still was not able to set up for footwork, I would wonder, “Am I getting through?” “Are they learning anything from me?”

I took time to speak with instructors whom I respect to pick their brains on what it means to them to be a Pilates instructor. The talks helped momentarily, but in the end I still had the same feelings. I even toyed around with going back to school to get a master’s degree, but decided that I wouldn’t be going back for the right reasons.

Who knew that one comment from a student would change my outlook on what I do? Recently a client told me that teachers are teaching even when they don’t realize they are, and that I have been one of those teachers to her. She’s learning Pilates, yes, but because of my influence she’s also now getting massages, seeing a nutritionist and is very aware of changes she wants to make in her life. It was an “a-ha” moment for me as a Pilates instructor, realizing that what I do goes beyond the 60 minutes I spend with my clients. Our influence goes beyond the actual technique that we teach. By instilling the work of Joseph Pilates and his principles, we are instilling life-changing benefits in other ways as well.

Joseph Pilates wanted his work to be integrated into people’s lives, and it’s clear to me that he was talking about more than the actual act of doing the movements. We all know the benefits of having a strong core, as well as what to do to get the core strong. The principles that we use to guide our clients through a session can be applied to their day-to-day lives as well. In an hour we may teach them how to breathe, concentrate, get centered, find control, work on precision, or flow. Each and every one of these bleeds into life outside of their lesson. Think about the mom of three kids who comes for a lesson. The obvious reason she is exercising is to look good. But maybe she needs the hour for herself to get centered, to breathe or just flow. I strongly believe that when people take care of themselves they are better prepared to care for others. So maybe my client after 20 sessions has no idea how to set up for footwork. That’s OK because I do know that she feels great after an hour of Pilates.

There’s also the client who, because Pilates starts to make her feel so good, wants to continue down that path. She may seek out ways to do that and look to you as her teacher for guidance. This is what happened to my client, and how in turn she told me I was her teacher even when I didn’t realize I was. Because of the path I have chosen to go down, which has been very influenced by my experience as a Pilates instructor, I inadvertently helped guide her down a healthier path. I was very aware of the information I was giving her, but never thought what that actually meant.

I am very grateful for this “a-ha” moment and that I realized that we, as Pilates teachers, are in a position to pass along this amazing methodology and what goes along with it. I have made decisions in my life that propelled me down a path I didn’t necessarily see for myself, but I say this in the most positive way. I am very lucky to be in the position that I am as a teacher. I wouldn’t change it for anything.

The Prenatal Workshop

When:  April 2-3rd from 9am – 3pm.

The workshop is for Bella Bellies® Prenatal Comprehensive Certification and Bella Bellies Prenatal Momilates® Certification.

Tuition:  $297.00

Location: 720 Monroe Street, Studio 514 C, Hoboken, NJ, 07030. Offering Free Parking and directly next to public transportation making it extremely accessible to New York City.

Contact: www.bellabellies.com, (201) 705-4018, info@bellabellies.com

Click to Enroll

The most comprehensive prenatal pilates program offered in the country. Instructors will study with Bella Bellies® owner Annie Martens. Included in the workshop will be presentations from various health care providers including an OB/GYN, Physical Therapist, Doula and more. Graduates of the program will be certified to teach Bella Bellies® Prenatal Momilates®.

The Postnatal Workshop

When:  April 4-6th from 9am – 3pm.

The workshop is for Bella Bellies® Postnatal Comprehensive Certification and Bella Bellies Postnatal Momilates® Certification.

Tuition:  $297.00

Location: 720 Monroe Street, Studio 514 C, Hoboken, NJ, 07030. Offering Free Parking and directly next to public transportation making it extremely accessible to New York City.

Contact: www.bellabellies.com, (201) 705-4018, info@bellabellies.com

CEC‘s: ACE 1.6 CEC’s

Click to Enroll

This workshop will review research-based techniques for working with postnatal clientele which may be applied to group exercise, private training, and fitness assessments. Instructors will learn two programs for working with postnatal clientele, Stroller Moves® (cardiovascular and strength training) and Momilates® (Pilates for Mommies). Instructors will learn how to incorporate the baby with trademarked techniques which include songs, hand rhymes, strollers, and slings. This workshop will stress the necessary postnatal modifications for mat work, cardiovascular training, and strength training, while providing effective methods for incorporating baby – giving certified professionals an advantage to work in a variety of situations. Participants are provided with the Bella Bellies® Book, covering over 300 pages of Momilates® and Stroller Moves® exercises, which can be sold to clients. At the conclusion of the workshop, instructors will earn Bella Bellies® Postnatal, Stroller Moves®, and Momilates ®Certifications. Speakers for the workshop include a physical therapist (specializing in prenatal and postnatal physical therapy), Midwife, Chiropractor (specializing in prenatal, postnatal and pediatric care) and more.

Photos are  the property of Bella Bellies. Annie Martens grants permission to use the pictures on the Core Pilates website to advertise Bella Bellies upcoming teacher trainings.

It’s a brand new year and it’s been 6 weeks since having baby Adriana. I finally got the 6 week green light from my Doctor to start exercising again (among other things…) and I am beyond thrilled to have started!

Back in Action

Since I wasn’t as active in this last pregnancy due to placenta previa, my body took a beating the first time I worked out. As I was skimming through all my choices of exercise DVDs, I of course decided that Jillian Michaels 30 day shred would be a good idea to try.  Much to my dismay, halfway through I find myself huffing like an out of shape chimney smoker running to try to catch a bus on a frigid winter day. There was a tightness in my chest that I haven’t felt in a long time and I knew that it was going to take a lot of discipline not to give up. What did I do? I ended up pressing Stop on the remote control and told myself I will try to finish the next time around, using the ” first time back ” pass. Nevertheless I felt great the next day and I woke up to muscle soreness that explains none other than good old fashion hard work.

The next morning after all mouths were fed, diapers changed, dishes washed and most importantly baby put down for her nap, I engaged in my second workout. This time I listened to my tender weak body not my overly ambitious brain and opted for Pilates.

I pulled out all the props I owned; circle, balls, weights, mat, arc barrel and started to practice on my own. Sort of…Chase was in the mix of all these new “toys” mom had sprawled out all over the living room. He would laugh hysterically as he was bounced around with every rep I would do for hamstrings on the physio ball.  Despite his adorable interference into a steady workout, my body and my brain felt the energizing high that only exercise can deliver. Boy did I miss that! Positive and constructive thoughts were rushing into my brain, motivating me to get more than the usual done that day. Since then, I have been loyally keeping up this reunited relationship with exercise.

Pampering More Than Baby

At this point in postnatal recovery, you deserve more than a manicure a la nail biting and a facial courtesy of Gerber sweet potatoes. Go out and treat yourself to a half-day at the spa and splurge a little. Yes, leave the baby AND your guilty conscious home with Daddy. All will be fine and even better than fine when you take care of you first sometimes. Remember that age-old rule when flying to put the oxygen on yourself first?  Rings true as the captain of your family. Don’t let yourself go!

I did just that recently and finally addressed the way overdo shave of the legs and the skin that was beginning to look more dull than the coat of paint on my husbands 84 Ford Bronco. Since moving upstate I didn’t have as many options as when we lived in NYC but  thankfully I wasn’t disappointed with the first place I tried and am looking forward to going back VERY soon! It’s amazing what a mani, pedi and chemical peel can do to raise your self image, not to mention your hubby’s…..eyebrow!

Spontaneous Planning

Now that you got the green light for more than just exercise, its time to face the fact that spontaneous romance is out the window now that baby is in the mix. I have to say though that after a vaginal birth with Chase, 6 weeks was more like 3 months! OUCH!!  Anyways, when your body is healed and you are feeling ready to get intimate with more than your nursing pads, don’t be discouraged if a little planning is called for. Your husband will welcome any scenario involving just him and you. Between Dad working lots of hours and Mom taking care of the house, two babies, and two dogs I find nap-time is the designated slot.

Did I just share too much?

Stay tuned for next week’s blog about getting baby into a healthy sleeping pattern. Also please feel free to ask me any questions or share some of your tips as a Mom or Mom to be!

Tough Mudder……………what is THAT?

Right before Christmas as I was surfing Facebook I came across a post from a friend who was “looking for an additional 3 people to represent TEAM ETB FIT at a Tough Mudder event in Pennsylvania”.  Being interested in team sports and wanting to get into better shape I said “I’M IN!!!” without knowing what I was getting into.  Once becoming inspired by something, I tend to just take a leap of faith and jump into a situation.  Boy did I jump this time hahahaha.  It turns out Tough Mudder is one of the premier obstacle courses in the world designed by British Special Forces to test all around stamina, strength, mental grit and camaraderie.

Once looking up the obstacles which include scaling 12 foot walls, jumping off of a 15 foot cliff into ice cold water, running through fire and electrical wires (to name a few) I was seriously reconsidering.  It didn’t seem that the obstacles themselves were extremely challenging physically as I know with the proper training I could complete the 11mile course. The challenge seemed to be mentally preparing myself for the race.

I called my team leader and friend and told him that after reading more about Tough Mudder I was feeling apprehensive and quite frankly scared.  After talking with him I realized that it was not really about the competition but more about working together as a team and finishing the race together.  It’s about setting a goal and enjoying the journey to get there.  It will be a lot of preparation and team workouts but I am excited to get started.  So…… I officially registered today and there is no turning back.

I hope you enjoy following me on my journey.

Cabin Fever!!!

I thought being stuck in the house during the freak October snowstorm was bad…

Normally I would be out in public two weeks after giving birth, but since I had my little package sooner than expected, its been advised to me to stay in until she would have been 38 weeks in utero.

With the exception of taking her to the Pediatrician twice, and me running a couple errands while my loving Mother stays home with the kids, I haven’t really left the house.

Having to recover from a cesarean birth adds a whole other element to “taking it easy” since now my instructions are to not lift anything heavier than your newborn and at only 5lbs at birth that limits most things including my 19 month old son wanting to play and be held by mommy.

I have to say though that my time spent at home is being put to good use. If you aren’t too sleep deprived take this opportunity, as I am, to catch up on paperwork… send thank you cards, birth announcements, plan meals, start canning (why the heck now!?) And if you read my last blog, begin getting the body back on track with post-natal Pilates, yoga, or other fitness routine you can do anywhere in the home.

Avoiding Post Partum Blues

Being stuck at home while the world seems to go on without me does leave room for the blues. I had a tendency in the past, pre-kids, to slip into depressions from time to time.

But alas I am as stubborn as they come and I have tried and continue to try to beat it. Getting rest at every opportunity if you are not getting enough at night is key to a happy Mom. If baby goes to bed at 7:30, put down the smartphone, log out of Facebook and go to sleep with baby since you know you will have to wake up in 3 or 4 hours to feed again.  My husband and I have a good system too. He puts our son down to sleep so that I can go to bed early with Adriana. He knows how important sleep is to a happy Mom (and let’s face it, a happy him!)

Breastfeeding is another beautiful way to stay out of the post baby blues. Like I have stated before, there are so many benefits to breastfeeding and this is one of them. While you are pregnant and then breastfeeding, your body produces high levels of Oxytocin. Its been known as the “love hormone”. It plays a large role in falling in love, sexual reproduction, orgasm and maternal behaviors. While breastfeeding you are releasing this feel good hormone that gets passed into baby. Not only do you experience this euphoric feeling but your baby does too. The result? A happy and relaxed Mom and a very contented baby. Isn’t nature just perfect?

Time to Pitch In: Calling All Family

I am happy to say that I am blessed to have a very strong support system both with friends and family. My support system kicked into high gear long before I had baby # 2. I was diagnosed with placenta previa when I was 19 weeks pregnant. It’s a condition where the placenta is positioned low in the uterus and although in most cases it migrates out of the way of the birth canal in the late stages of pregnancy, mine hadn’t. The biggest risk involved with having placenta previa late term is going in to labor and hemorrhaging.  Needless to say I was beyond stressed through out the later part of my pregnancy.

My family and close friends were there to help and be on call if needed at all times. This was truly a comfort for me.

I ended up having a bleeding episode at 35 weeks and as a result an emergency C section. My Husband was by my side the entire time, and Mom drove 5 hours from the Vineyard to help with my son Chase.  A friend of Eric’s drove to get my suitcase over an hour away in the middle of the night, another friend picked up Eric’s briefcase that he had left in the restaurant where we were when I had my bleed, and my cousin Meg took off from work to help my Mom out. She also finished “nesting” where I left off (ie.washing and putting baby clothes away in the dresser.) These are just a few of the many examples of the support I had at this dramatic and critical time.

My Mom is here with me now for two months helping still, as she was when I had Chase. She is a wonderful cook and even though she’s not used to the energy needed to look after a toddler, she is doing a great job with him!

I can’t overlook my mother in law either. She has also been super before and after baby Adriana. She has always been a great support and is beyond thoughtful with her time and resources. We love you Moms!

Keeping Up With the Hurricane

Currently as I write, my living room has exploded with toys, laundry is piled as high as the washer, the beds are unmade and the kitchen is cluttered with pots and pans and dishes.

These days I feel like I do have enough time to keep the house looking like I want it to but it seems like it’s much harder to accomplish then when I was a busy singleton trampsing about town. Yes I know I need to rest more, but couldn’t I tackle one thing a day so that my house doesn’t look like a hurricane came through? Try to have compassion on yourself. There is so much to keep on top of, namely any older children who might be practicing super powers off the kitchen table, that shaking pride and hiring a housekeeper if it’s economically possible can do wonders for your peace of mind.

A huge group gathered at Ron Fletcher’s workshop and within moments his visualization techniques began. The hundred or so impressionable followers in attendance, dressed in our best fitness-black, were improvising with our bodies in slow motion the act of reaching, and plucking an apple from a tree and carefully inspecting that “apple.” While I pride myself on playing a mean air-guitar… cupping my hands and pretending to study an air apple with adoration as if a golden delicious sat there waiting for its first bite didn’t come as naturally.  The visualizations were helpful in tying into our mind-body connection and while I often sat skeptically and (breathlessly) during the “you-can-spot-em-in-a-crowd” percussive breathing technique that signifies a Fletcher practitioner, I did appreciate how the percussive breathing activated the muscles of inspiration and expiration within the movements.

His humor and sometimes shockingly crass remarks to those poor souls in the front row fueled wide eyed glances between my business partner and I, and we both felt grateful for being anonymous in the back.  But after it was all over I had gained deeper insight into his passion, eccentricity and the why’s of his Method. While my own Pilates education lineage is quite different from his practice, learning to be open to the differences in any Method gets me closer to understanding the entire story of Pilates. And getting to the bottom of any story is all this ex-journalist needs.

Our deepest condolences to the family, friends and followers of Ron Fletcher. Everyone in our industry has no doubt had their Fletcher moment. May the memory of him live richly with all of us and his work continue imprinting on the Pilates landscape.

Here is a wonderful tribute in the Los Angeles Times.

Pregnancy brings forth a host of colorful emotions, especially if it’s your first time in the preggers club. One emotion felt most by the fitness enthusiast is worry about getting back to that pre-baby body after the baby arrives. You may look at your skinny jeans and wonder, “will I ever fit into them again?”

Having had two of my own  (one just 2 weeks ago) I can speak first hand about the concerns felt , and what can be done to get back into the shape you once had nine months prior.

Doctor’s Orders

Six weeks of “no exercise “ is standard when it comes to Doc’s orders and part of the recovery dos and don’ts for both a vaginal and cesarean birth. If you are anything like me, six weeks of no exercise is like telling a child six weeks of no playing with his favorite toy! Its just torture. So… what can be done with in those 6 weeks that wouldn’t give your Doctor a hernia and would make you feel that you are on the road to looking fabulous once again?

Slow and Steady Weight Gain

For starters, gaining only what is recommended  (25 to 35 lbs) is so important since between the baby, placenta and extra fluids only equal about 10 lbs.  Having a regular fitness program of resistance and cardio, –approved by your Doctor, of course–and eating a healthy diet is key to a slow and steady weight gain.

Rest Up

Once junior is born , you will need at least a week of as much rest as you can get since  you will most likely be sore from either pushing out your little bundle vaginally, or sliced by the knife and having to recover from major surgery. During this time thankfully your little one is very sleepy and will be getting some major shut eye while you are able to gear up for more late night feedings ahead.

Increasing Your Activity

Depending on how you are feeling and how much you are bleeding, you can start to increase your activity each day. Lace up some toning sneakers so that wherever you walk you are adding a little pep to your step and burning a little more calories, even if it is just doing light house work.

Working Your Transverse Abdominals

This is an exercise that you can start to do anytime after you give birth as long as you are feeling up for it. To do this exercise, either start by lying on the floor with your knees bent and feet firmly on the floor, or you can do this standing in correct posture.

1. Lightly place your hands just below and to the sides of your belly button.

2. Firmly press two fingers from each hand into your lower abdomen.

3. Take deep inhales into your ribcage then on your exhale, gently begin to draw your lower abdomen down towards your spine (picture a string pulling your navel up and back towards your spine) but do not move your pelvis.

4. Hold your muscles tight and contracted for 10 to 15 seconds as you begin to breathe normally. Repeat 9 times for a total of 10.

Kegals! Kegals! Kegals!

Don’t forget those kegal exercises that you loathed , but made yourself do in prenatal pilates, on the subway or driving in the car as your favorite instructor’s voice played over and over and over again long after class was over.  Continuing this very useful and rewarding practice will not only please your partner during intimacy after you are thoroughly healed (which I have to say , is usually FAR from 6 weeks…shhhh don’t tell him that) but will keep you from ever feeling like your mother who pees her pants every time she bursts out in laughter. Sorry Mom

Dirty Little Secret

While pregnant your body produces a special hormone called relaxin. This hormones’ duty is to loosen up your bones, joints and ligaments particularly in the pelvis in preparation for baby to come out. The downside to relaxin is that it makes you more vulnerable to injury. This why you need to take it easier while doing any kind of activity. There is an upside however, which leads me to tell you about my dirty little secret!

Relaxin stays and circulates in your body for at least six weeks after baby is born, and so I say take advantage of it! Wear a compression garment for forty days and forty nights to pull those loosen joints back to where they were before. Instead of those high priced bellybands that end up somewhere around your ribcage, buy a pair of Spanx. They cover all the essential areas; belly, hips and thighs. You might just find yourself two months later not only fitting into your skinny jeans, but feeling smaller in them then before! Again, I am speaking from experience.

My ‘Breast’ Friend

I saved the breast for last. Ok enough of the puns… Seriously though, there are over a hundred reasons why breastfeeding is the best way to go when feeding your baby. I won’t go into all of them, however I will just touch on one of the benefits that is apropos to this blog article. Breastfeeding is like doing 2 to 3 hours of cardio a day!!! Need I say more? So drink lots of water, eat nutritious whole foods,  AND feel good that you are feeding your baby with the best food he or she can eat and you are a fat burning machine.

One last thing that is important to be conscious of while breastfeeding, pumping or just holding your baby is, posture. It’s very easy to fall into bad posture during this postnatal time. Keep trying to remind yourself to pull your shoulder blades back and down. This will keep you from getting those awful knots that feel like needles in your shoulders and will also help to keep your back strong.

“I AM a purist. I swear.” I’m quoting my good friend Michelle Fama, co-owner of Core Pilates NYC, as those were pretty much the exact words I was thinking of using to start this post. I swear! Great minds think alike I guess.

While I can’t speak for Michelle, my reason for swearing I’m a purist is because when it comes to Pilates, that’s how I’ve always seen myself. So when Michelle recently asked me to consult with her on the topic of a new class they offer at their studio, Core 30/30 (similar to a class I teach, Combo Class), I started thinking about the evolution of my teaching and the future of Pilates.

Someone once told me when you are learning something new you first memorize, then imitate those you admire, and finally come into your own. I think I stayed in the imitating world for a while doing everything exactly how I learned it and not really critically thinking. I was worried the Pilates Police (not real in case you were wondering) would come after me if I left out an exercise, or started with leg springs instead of footwork on the reformer.

In time, I began to loosen up a bit. I tend to live in such a black and white world but learned over the years that Pilates is far from black and white. I realized that the Pilates Police weren’t coming after me, and that it’s okay to step out of the box while staying true to the Pilates principles. In reality, in order to survive in this industry, stepping out of the box has become necessary. It’s still something I fight. But we live in a society with lots of choices, constant change, and innovation.

One change I’ve noticed since getting certified in 2003, is the growing number of group apparatus classes being offered. One contribution to this was most likely the economy taking a nose dive in 2007. People needed to come up with creative ways to get and maintain business . There are so many types of classes to choose from whether they be pure Pilates classes or a hybrid of some kind. They range from more classical reformer and tower classes, to jump-board classes that offer cardio, to Pilates Plus type classes.

Is this just a phase or the beginning of something new? Most likely these classes are here to stay. And in another 10 years, I’m sure there will be new trends to talk about in the Pilates world. My guess is even then I’ll still consider myself a purist. While I’m all for making Pilates accessible to people, because at the end of the day I want everyone exercising, I will never compromise myself as a teacher just to be competitive. A bold statement I know, especially considering what I’ve been talking about. But at my core I believe in the classical method.

Trends come and go, but solid teachers are hard to find. So I will continue to do what I can to make my classes fresh and fun, just don’t expect to be jumping from a trampoline onto the reformer and back.