In any movement practice that you teach, you will encounter students of all levels and ability. The Pilates industry caters to many different class settings, environments, and sizes. I used to teach group mat classes that had both seasoned movers and an elderly lady that could not get on the floor without assistance. Currently I teach mostly semi privates; the differences in any two bodies, even roughly at the same level, are vast. How is an instructor supposed to handle these differences? How are we supposed to keep our clients safe and still meet their goals? How can we teach the same class to so many different bodies? Here is a way you can make make multi-level classes work.Read More
Discover 4 Surprising Benefits of Pilates
Pilates is celebrated for its ability to sculpt and strengthen the body. Core strength, improved posture, and ability to lengthen and tone muscles are just some of the effects that come from a regular Pilates practice. In this article, you will discover four lesser-known, surprising benefits of Pilates.A deeper understanding of the multifaceted benefits of Pilates can enhance your Pilates experience and further benefit your practice and teaching. When you understand Pilates’ potential to influence the body in these ways, you can also use it more effectively for rehabilitation, mental, and physical health. Read More
Fascia in Pilates
Being aware of what fascia is and where it is located is a great start to incorporating our understanding of it in movement education and science. Have you also ever wondered why continuously stretching what you think to be muscle tissue doesn’t consistently yield results in you or your clients? Perhaps it’s not the muscles that need impacting but a fascial restriction that is producing sensations of tightness, restriction, or rigidity. How do you address this? I propose a whole body movement integration session with manual therapy, movement, or a combination of the two. Read More
Efficiency: Should it Always be the Goal?
Teaching Pilates has made me realize that the more I know, the more I don’t know. With any profession, hobby or skill set I am sure that’s the case. After ten years of teaching, I finally feel that I have a true understanding of the way the body works and how to help people achieve their goals. Regardless, I will always find a way to […]Read More
Why are Pilates Chairs so Different in Design?
You might have noticed that there is a big difference in the widths, heights, and depths of different brands and models of chairs, which lends for confusion when learning the Pilates chair repertoire and difficulty when deciding which chair to purchase. The great news is, you can choose your preference based on the outcome you’re looking for!Read More
No Pain No Gain? Ingredients for the Perfect Fitness Recipe
No pain, no gain? Polestar educator Karyn Staples PT, PhD, NCPT discusses how cross training, moderation and epsom salt might be crucial ingredients for the perfect fitness recipe. When You Don’t LOVE your Exercise Anymore It’s been nearly two months since you resolved to get more exercise. You started with the best intentions. You went […]Read More
