Putting Pilates at the top of your To Do list
March 8, 2008
Originally uploaded by troymccarty
Making Time for Pilates
More than likely you have children, a job, a house, a spouse, extended family, a hobby or two, and on, and on, and on. Our list goes on forever. Many of these things you wouldn’t trade for the world. But face it – with all of those obligations, our lives often become over-programmed.
You wake up in the morning and your head is swimming as you try to figure out how to give everything on your list attention. You look at your list or desk full of post-its and say, “okay I’ve got a full day to get through this.” But more often then not, we move things over to tomorrow’s list.
What I’m trying to get at is that I understand that it’s hard to set aside one hour for your exercise. But not only is this an hour you can’t simply move to the next day, it is actually, an hour that can carry you through the rest of the day.
Many of my clients schedule their sessions first thing in the morning. I used to think they did this to get it out of the way. One day a client stated, “this is how I want to start my day.” It put a whole new spin on the clients I’m meeting at the studio at six o’clock in the morning. Starting your day off with a Pilates session – just think of it conquering your day ‘one vertebrae at a time’ (yet another Pilates saying).
I always remind my clients to take what you have learned in your session and carry it through your day. You’re driving to make an appointment and all of sudden you notice your sitting up so high on your sitz bones…you get out of the car and you glide so easily…you walk in with such posture. You carry yourself through that errand with such form and function your now impressed with yourself. Now all these things on your “to do list” are so easy to get done. You now have joined the league of super moms or dads, but you’re doing everything with such economy of motion.
But try to think back to life without that Pilates session – how would you have felt? Slow? Sluggish? Poor posture? I don’t want to put words in your mouth – but remember –there’s not much your Pilates instructor misses.
Most studios have early morning classes for their clients. One of my colleagues states that her “CEOs” are her “morning people.” They all want private or semi-private classes and are frequently talking her into meeting them early so they can catch the corporate plane to a meeting. She insists that they will do anything to avoid missing a session and that there has to be a correlation to the fact that these people are so professionally successful and personally committed to their Pilates practice.
I start at 6 am and have been known to come in at 5:30 for that special client in need of his/her session. I’m a morning person so I’m eager to get the day started. I love those clients that start off with Pilates. I see them come in first thing in the morning on the sleepy side, bed hair, and a Latte in hand and it’s off they go into reformer land. I see these clients slowly come alive as we start our foot work. I know as a teacher I’m preparing them for their day.
So the night before when your making your lists put PILATES at the top and you will be thankful.
Pilates Elder Mary Bowen comes to Cleveland, Ohio
March 8, 2008
Originally uploaded by troymccarty
April in Cleveland with Mary Bowen – Bring Your Psyche!
In 1959, Mary Bowen was a young actress/comedienne in New York City. A sufferer of chronic back pain, she read a short article about Joseph Pilates, sought him out, and studied with Pilates, his wife Clara and their assistant Hanna for the next six years.
Mary Bowen has spent 49 years studying Pilates. She became a psychoanalyst in 1971 and began teaching Pilates in 1975. She uniquely combines the two practices in her Pilates Plus Psyche training, assisting clients and instructors in delving deeper into body, mind and spirit.
Mary brings her unique experiences and talents to Cleveland April 25, 26, 27 as the guest of White Cloud Studios.
Join Mary Bowen for a workshop series that includes six hours on the Pilates Body and six hours on the psyche and Pilates. Mary has a unique perspective, an intuitive nature, the timing and sensibility of a comedienne, and a Pilates history rivaled by few.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Friday, April 25
Reception/Historical overview of Pilates/Q & A with Ms. Bowen.
6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 26: The Pilates Body
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (two hour lunch break)
Sunday, April 27: Pilates Plus Psyche
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (two hour lunch break)
Cost for the reception and workshop is $400 per participant with a limit of 20 students.
Open to the public. Tickets to the Friday night reception only are $50 per person. Reception limited to 50 people..
Mary will be at White Cloud Studios- for more information please call 216.221.9998 or www.whitecloudstudios.com
Your own pilates retreat
March 8, 2008
Originally uploaded by troymccarty
* Developing your own Pilates practice:
The last of the children have moved out, your mate has finally gotten rid of his/her collection of Elvis memorabilia or maybe you’ve just finally accepted the fact that if you haven’t learned to sew by now, you probably don’t need that “sewing room.” In any event, you have an extra room in your house and you want to turn it into your own private Pilates retreat. A room to work on your Pilates exercises and have some meditative space too. Super – but what next?
Try to make your Pilates room a soothing color. My personal Pilates room is lavender. It’s filled with natural sunlight. I keep this room as inviting and calm as possible. It’s a place where I go to communicate with my body. It’s a time where I do a bit of life editing and always walk out of filled with great energy
What about music? I personally love music in the background when I work out, but remember to keep your focus. I listen to something that doesn’t have big tempo or style changes. In this fashion, the music doesn’t really set or disrupt my pace. You want your awareness to be on your body – the music should float in and out of your consciousness.
So the setting is right, but what exercises will you perform? My first suggestion is to schedule some private mat work with your favorite instructor. Ask them to audio tape it or at least give you a “cheat sheet.” This is someone who knows your body, how and when you cheat and what modifications need to be made to certain exercises to keep you safe and working hard. If that’s not a good option for you, go to www.balancedbody.com. They offer a great variety of DVD titles – start with a beginner video and see how it goes. Watch the video a few times before you try it – make sure you understand the exercises and even consider going slower than the video instructor to start – to make sure you’re focusing on your form.
What about equipment? Start with a comfortable mat. There are many great mats out on the market. I would recommend one that is not too cushy so you can feel your spine and pelvic placement. I like the four-fold mats sold by Balanced Body. They can be great for mimicking some reformer foot work and offer stability as well. I also keep a medium sized playground ball, a magic circle (ring), a 55 cm fit ball and a towel handy.
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Now you’ve been doing your own mat work, attending your reformer classes and feeling like you need more. You are determined to make the big leap and purchase a reformer. First, let us set some ground rules. The reason you have had tremendous results (physically and mentally) from your reformer classes is because you have an expert guiding and watching your every move – spotting things in your movement and your body and communicating the information back to you. You don’t have to think about what to do next, you simply have to follow cues and do the work as instructed. I have seen many clients with incredible intentions purchase a reformer and then 8 months later admit it’s become a clothing rack. Unless you are planning to attend a comprehensive reformer certification class, apprentice in a studio and then teach for a while, you really shouldn’t be managing your own reformer workouts. In other words, if you feel you will benefit from practicing on your own reformer – terrific. But remember that this will not replace regular, bi-weekly instruction from a certified instructor. If you are still interested in a reformer, there are many good ones on the market, Peak and Balance Body are the two I like the most. I would purchase a wooden reformer. The wood is so sturdy and smooth – it is probably similar to what you’re working on in your studio. Just make sure to buy your reformer from a reputable company – this is about safety and yours shouldn’t be compromised. If you have children, keep your Pilates room locked once you add your reformer – again, think safety.
There are many teachers that will make house visits. It would be a good idea to hire a coach to periodically come in and watch you work at home. They can focus on what habits you’re practicing (good and bad) in your own environment.
I love my own little studio in my home. I normally teach about 8 hours a day, but make certain to squeeze a good hour in daily at my home studio. It’s my own little oasis. I have trees right out side of my window often frequented by many birds, and a pond just a ways back. Hearing my soft classical music, the birds chirping, and the water feature trickling into the pond – it’s almost an hour-long vacation each day!
Troy McCarty is a teacher with 18 years of experience. He is also the owner of White Cloud Studios in Cleveland, Ohio. You can see his web site at www.whitecloudstudios.com.
