Pilates Tips

Community Highlight: Polestar Mentor Valentine Hilaire

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In your own words describe “the Spirit of Polestar”:

VH: A benevolent environment. It helps you to understand that the most important thing is not only about what you do but how you feel. It has guided me to connect with myself.

What three words come to mind when you think of Polestar Pilates:

Observation

Freedom

Serenity

What do you love about teaching Pilates?

VH: I love Pilates mostly because the practice isn’t about the person adapting to Pilates, but Pilates adapting to the person. Polestar Pilates gives you a sense of observation which helps you to understand each person individually. I did my training in Paris with Alexander Bohlander, Birgit Scheffe and Yaelle Penkhoss. They all helped me train my eye.

What are your current Inspirations?  

VH: I love to explore movement. As a dancer I learned how to move with music, now I love to move with my own rhythm, to find fluidity and connection between exercises, and to create a harmony that makes sense with how I feel in the moment.

Why Pilates?  How did you find the practice?

VH: I began Pilates when I was in a professional dance school. I was 14 and it helped me to find both mental and physical balance. Since my first Pilates class, I felt that something had changed not only in my body but also in my way of visualizing my body.

Why Polestar Pilates? 

VH: My Pilates teacher told me it was surely the best Pilates training. I came to the Pilates studio, took a class, and knew it was where I wanted to be.

What do you hope to convey in your teaching?

VH: That everything is possible! I remember one of my clients who came to me because he had pain everywhere; low back pain, hip pain, and shoulder pain. At the time he told me “I thought I couldn’t do this anymore” speaking of a specific movement. Today he can, and he’s free of pain. I hope to convey that there’s always a way to feel better.

Do you have a favorite Quote? 

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.

Vivian Greene

To me this means to remember that the most important thing isn’t what happens to us, but what we do with it.

What is your favorite apparatus or favorite way to move?

VH: Of course I love each apparatus, but If I had to take only one apparatus on a desert island it would be the reformer because of its fluidity and its ability to adapt to all our needs.

Valentine is a Mentor for Polestar Pilates France – You can find Valentine on Social Media @valentinehilaire

Polestar Graduate Highlight: Lorna Jarrett MS, LPTA, AIB/VR-CON, NCPT

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What is your movement mantra?

LJ: Your purpose is fulfilled as it is lived in your best body.

How did you first hear about Pilates?

LJ: As a personal trainer and dancer, Pilates was part of my personal workout and training repertoire at the gym. I enjoyed how it connected to traditional dance choreography and I valued its ability to challenge my expert movers and support my special population clients.

Why Polestar Pilates?

LJ: I am a Polestar Graduate (Rehab track) and NCPT. I chose Polestar Pilates because for me there was no other option. I researched many certifications. Polestar certification discussed the founder Brent Anderson along with his background. The focus of the certification coincided with physical therapy practices and evidence-based research. This is what interested me. I am a Physical Therapist Assistant with a corporate business background and wherever my career took me I needed my education and practice to be sound.

What is your Teaching Philosophy?

LJ: I specialize in those with neurological disorders and the special population i,e, Myotonic Dystrophy, MS, Stroke, Parkinson’s, spondylolisthesis. Most of my clientele have chronic conditions. During our sessions, we focus on movement potential. This approach allows my client to redirect and discover that they can still have joy in movement no matter the diagnosis. This practice creates an opportunity for me to instill hope on an ongoing basis.

How has Pilates impacted your life?

LJ: Pilates as a tool has allowed me to serve a cross-section of the population with varied needs and abilities. Its principles have provided a level of discipline and organization to my own movement. It has provided a common theme to which I have built lasting relationships. It’s an industry that is rooted in tradition but remains progressive, contemporary, and relevant.

What is your favorite apparatus?

LJ: My favorite apparatus for the last two years is the Core Align. It allows me to challenge every client and support the principles in a standing position. I am excited to complete Core Align for Rehabilitation at POT Rehab Summit 2020.

What is your favorite thing about your Job?

LJ: What I love most about coming into the studio, is creating an environment of peace and tranquility so that clients can have a pain free, enjoyable yet challenging mindful movement experience. An atmosphere, where every sense is impacted, to evoke mental, emotional, and physical change. In creating this environment, I myself get to experience it over and over again. I value being able to help people improve their abilities. Movement ability is taken for granted and this work reminds me of what a blessing it is to move.

What is Unique about your studio?

LJ: I co-founded Whole Pilates studio with two physical therapists. It is unique in that we offer an integrated and holistic approach to our studio. Utilizing music and essential oils assist with focusing the senses. We partner with a Doctor of Naturopath, who provides complementary alternative therapies in our studio space i.e. infrared sauna, vibration plate, IMRS table. Therefore, our clients can receive nutritional counseling along with complementary alternative therapies with their Pilates training. Our staff is certified in Pre and postnatal Pilates, so we value meeting the needs of every season. We value education and our offerings based on an integrative and holistic approach are real and very important to us.

What do you find intriguing?

LJ: The concept of the mind and thoughts determining gene expression. The fact that the brain can rewire and change the physical state of the body.

What are you reading?

LJ: I am reading about Decision making in healthcare leadership as I am completing my Doctor of Health Science with an emphasis in leadership and organizational development from AT Still University, Osteopathic Medicine/College of Health Studies. I am an entrepreneur and have developed a non-profit and wellness business. I realize that effective leadership is at the foundation of any cultural change or initiative. So, one day I decided instead of writing another proposal that instead, I would become the decision-maker.

Also, I am reading “The Bridge Across Forever: A true love story” which is a book about experiencing your soul mate.

What are you excited to learn about?

LJ: As a rehab practitioner, I have completed CEUS for stroke therapy, certification as a Stroke Recovery specialist, Pilates for MS and other neurological conditions, Vestibular Rehabilitation and Concussion Management Certification/ American Institute of Balance 

What is something Unique about yourself?

LJ: I love chocolate! I have jumped 15,000 feet with a parachute, Arizona mountains make me feel like I am coming home, I am my happiest when I am dancing, I believe a new thought precedes any new experience.

Read more from Lorna on the Polestar Blog:

Patient & Client Safety: On The Blog

Polestar Mentor Highlight: Juliana Fabio

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The Spirit of Polestar is their ability to bring creative, intelligent, innovative, kind and loving people together to not only create a dynamic and positive community but also family.

Juliana Fabio

What Three Words come to mind when you think of “Polestar Pilates”

Community

Family

Knowledge

What do you love about teaching Pilates and owning a studio? 

JF: I love making connections with my clients and instructors and watching them grow through the Pilates work.

Where did you take your training and who was the educator?

JF: My Polestar training was with Mette Hansen at my studio Aligned Pilates Studio in Santa Barbara.

What are your current Inspirations? 

JF: I am currently inspired by how our emotional health affects our physical health. I love teaching Pilates as a way to help others feel better and more empowered.

Why Pilates? How did you find the practice?

JF: I suffered from chronic back pain as a child and young adult. Nothing helped until I found Pilates in my mid-twenties. I no longer suffer from back pain and feel stronger and healthier.

Why Polestar Pilates? How did you come to join the Polestar Community?

JF: I wanted a more in-depth knowledge of how to work with people who have different pathologies. Over and over I kept coming back and taking classes and workshops from Polestar teachers. Eventually, I realized I needed to be Polestar trained.

What do you hope to convey in your teaching?

JF: I want to give my clients the tools they need to help themselves and feel empowered.

Is there a quote you live by?

JF: We are only on the planet for a little while. Making authentic connections with others is at the heart of what I do and who I am. I try not to take myself or life too seriously. I feel my best when I am present with the person I am with and living in the moment.

What is your favorite apparatus or favorite way to move?

JF: I love doing all the Runity movements. They are functional movements and can be used on any piece of equipment. Since I am a runner it has changed my life for the better.

Polestar Student Highlight: Elena Shabelnikova

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In your own words – describe “the Spirit of Polestar”

Improving the life by improving the movement

What Three Words come to mind when you think of Polestar Pilates

Slow

Gentle

Deep

What do you love about teaching Pilates?

I love helping other people to feel and understand their bodies and their movement. I like to give them new feelings, new experiences such as body awareness, body control, total body comfort… deep relaxation and soft functional power at the same time!

Where did you take your Training and who was the educator?

I took my training in Kazan, Russia with Polestar Pilates Russia. Many thanks to Natalya Tokmakova🙏

What are your current Inspirations? 

I want to teach people how to love, care, treat and respect their bodies properly so they could live longer and more comfortable.

Why Pilates? How did you find the practice?

For some years I was teaching classic Pilates at my fitness-club but then I noticed the majority of people weren’t ready for traditional classes due to modern way of life! Less moving, more sitting, less sleep, more stress… Internet addiction! This lifestyle made their body unready for classic Pilates and I decided to find something modern, flexible, appropriate. It was Polestar.

What do you hope to convey in your teaching?

Forget about “no pain no gain”, stop damaging your body temple, stop punishing yourself with typical fitness: hundreds of knee-ups, thousands of sit-ups, etc… Learn to listen to your body. It’s much wiser than you think.

What is a quote you live by?

Movement is life. Movement is freedom.

I think we shouldn’t stop with one practice. The more different classes we take and more various moves we make… the more free we become.

What is your Favorite Apparatus or favorite way to move?

In Pilates I mostly like standing roll down. It gives me this indescribable feeling of stretching and grounding simultaneously.

Discover the Polestar Difference

Explore Polestar Pilates Russia here. Meet Elena on Insta

Factors to Design the Best Pilates Session: Part I

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Does the “magic” Pilates class exist? One that serves both the student and the instructor? How are the best exercises chosen? Can a session be suitable for each and every member of the class? We’ll explore how to design the perfect class… 

Having a clear intention and focus is essential in choosing the exercises that are going to provide a positive and focused motor experience for your clients. 

It’s important to keep in mind that not every exercise or transition will be 100% appropriate for everyone. For an individual or private session, we take into account the specific circumstances of the student, their needs and their objectives. When we talk about group sessions (either collective or small group), we must look for a balanced group objective that addresses the entire body. In this case it is very helpful to have clear distinctions between the levels of each class: if the student is in an inappropriate class level, they may not be able to follow the class or it will be too simple, boring or insufficient. 

Whether it be an advanced Pilates session, a beginner class or a session for the rehabilitation of an injury, planning is essential.  

We recommend that you always perform a functional assessment and conduct an interview with your students to know their habits, lifestyle, sports practice, etc.  It is important to plan subsequent assessment sessions in order to evaluate the efficacy of your program design, changes in the student, and to subsequently adjust the program if the desired changes in the student have not been produced. This assessment tool also helps us communicate to the student their progress . 

It’s a good habit to keep a “logbook” of your classes where you can write down information about each student that may be relevant in relation to their movement.  This logbook can also be useful for you as the instructor in evaluating the level of your classes and how your students are performing and improving. 

In our next post we will go in depth on how to develop a movement program based on effective and quality Pilates, under the premises we follow in Polestar Pilates. Do not miss it! 

Before adding a new student to your Pilates classes, do you have them fill out a questionnaire? Do you do an interview or a functional assessment? Tell us what works best for you.

Learn more about Polestar Pilates Spain

Polestar Pilates Educator Highlight : Noelle Dowma, Kansas City, KS

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What do you love about teaching Pilates and owning a studio? 

ND: My favorite thing about teaching Pilates is when someone has an “ah ha” moment.  This is when they realize they did something correctly either with awareness or the movement become effortless, with automatic ease.  This summer is my crossing into 27 years in Pilates. 

Where did you take your training and who was the educator? 

ND: I started as a dancer physical therapy patient who felt the efficiency from doing Pilates and was sold.  I continued to study, did my first certification in a classical program, and then started to teach at the Polestar Pilates studio in Miami.  While teaching, I had the opportunity to go through the Polestar rehabilitation series with Cynthia McGee and then trained to be an educator when onsite.  I have loved teaching for Polestar as an educator across the US over the past 15 years.  

What are your current inspirations?  What do you love about them?

ND: I am currently inspired by how much of our past influences the current and future.  How we handle these past situations dictates how we respond at the moment and how we will move into the future.  The more awareness and courage we can have to delve into these things, the more we appreciate the journey of life.  Similarly, I am currently interested in our reflexes and how they integrate or maybe don’t in our movement patterns.

What do you hope to convey in your teaching? 

ND: I think little things like having proper posture with the demands of our sedentary, device-driven world are crucial.  I love to try to tie the feelings of the Pilates work to function, so to help people continue to embody the work as a way of life vs. just ending when our session is over. 

Life is about efficiency and this is what Pilates teaches.  

Where would you love to vacation? 

ND: The Caribbean is my favorite place.  I am currently in search of my favorite islands. 

Describe your movement style: 

ND: I love investigating people’s desires for movement based on their past experiences and current desires.  Some people don’t feel like they have worked out unless their heart rate increases and they sweat, others need to stretch, and others need to “feel a burn.”  I personally don’t feel like I have exercised unless I have moved my spine and limbs.  As a dancer, I love the feeling of a stretch DURING movement vs. just a static stretch, and I do love to “feel a burn” in my targeted muscles.  I also enjoy variety, so Pilates, Oov, ballet, and weightlifting all are my rotated workouts.

What is your favorite apparatus or favorite way to move?  What do you love about it? 

ND: Selecting my favorite apparatus is like someone selecting their favorite child—how do I do that?  But, if I could only select one piece to bring with me on a desert island, I would choose the Reformer because it is so versatile.

How does Pilates inform your profession or recreation outside of Pilates? 

ND: The mindfulness of Pilates is what is so helpful for all aspects of life.  I love reaching a level of automaticity so to have the quality of movement Joseph emphasized, however we still need to have the mindfulness in our movements, especially when doing something less common like moving furniture and heavy yard work.  Forethought in these activities can go a long way in preventing injury.  

Follow Polestar Educator Noelle Dowma at: kinespherephysicaltherapy (facebook) and kinespherept (instagram)