Pilates

Polestar Educator Highlight : Audrey Ng

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Audrey is the Director and Principal of Performance Pilates & Physiotherapy, established in 2003 and located in Leederville, Western Australia. She received her B Sc (Physiotherapy) degree from Curtin University of Technology in 1992. Previously an Australian international rhythmic gymnast, she commenced her study in the Pilates Method of exercise while working as a physiotherapist in Los Angeles, USA. Audrey has been incorporating Pilates in her physiotherapy treatments since 1998.

Audrey specializes in posture and movement assessment and has an interest in teaching her clients to improve their functional ability and efficiency of movement through understanding the effect of gravity and load on posture and core stability with a holistic emphasis. This approach has been useful for many clients including elite athletes, office workers or clients with a sedentary lifestyle, with chronic or persisting pain or injury, women and pelvic health, pre and post-natal care and the aging population.

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

The possibility, knowledge and responsibility to experience and share movement, inspiration and quality of life with our loved ones, colleagues and community.

Polestar Pilates to me is:

Freedom

Purpose

Opportunity

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

I opened my clinic & studio, Performance Pilates & Physiotherapy in 2003 with a vision to deliver comprehensive and holistic movement rehabilitation. What I love most about being an integrated health practitioner is that as a Pilates teacher is that I have an opportunity to empower people to regain confidence and improve the quality of their lives. Movement in particular is essential for an aging population so what better time to start than now!

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

I first undertook Pilates training in Los Angeles in 1998 with The Physical Mind Institute, joining the Polestar family in 2003 under the tutelage of Dav Cohen.

What are your current Inspirations? What do You love about them?

On a personal note, I wish to live with greater intention, each moment of every day. I found myself thinking that this past year flew by so quickly and I realized that I wasn’t present to so many moments along the way.

I am inspired by the resilience and the sense of community, the true “spirit of Australia” that our people have demonstrated in the past few weeks as a result of the catastrophic bushfires that have taken lives, destroyed homes, burned over 12 million acres and killed 1 billion native Australian animals.

Coming from a place of gratitude and stewardship for our beautiful land, we have a responsibility to take action against climate change – everyone here on the planet can play a part in conscious sustainability.

Why Pilates? How did you find the practice?

As a child I played and enjoyed a variety of sports – swimming, cricket, hockey, I also performed calisthenics and fell in love with gymnastics. In high school I had the opportunity to try Rhythmic Gymnastics which is floor based and involves handling apparatus – ribbon, hoop, ball, clubs and rope and went on to compete at an international level for Australia.

I found that through movement I felt my happiest and developed my confidence to perform on stage and the courage and determination to face competition and do the training to reach my goals.

Through movement I found my vocation as a Physical Therapist, and when I experienced Pilates, I found my dharma, the way to my purpose and calling.

Pilates is accessible to everyone and such a complimentary medicine to the knowledge I acquired as a rehab professional.

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

I first heard about Polestar Pilates while working in Los Angeles in the late 1990s, so in 2003 I was excited to hear that Polestar was coming to Perth! With a 5 week old baby, I attended my first Principles course and the rest was history. Within a few weeks, I met Polestar’s founder, Brent Anderson, Shelly Power and the rest of the Polestar Australia crew headed by Cat Giannitto. It was like coming home … I had found my pilates family of like-minded individuals, on a mission to share, educate and deliver the message of intelligent movement.

What do you hope to convey in your teaching?

That each and every person is able to do pilates, is able to move, with freedom, joy and purpose. That movement is connected to spirit and is essential for maximizing our quality of life! To instill confidence, love and respect of our whole body, of what it is capable of achieving when we re-establish the relationship of body, mind and spirit.

What is your favorite Quote? How do you embody this?

So many favorites!

Applied to Pilates:

“the science and soul of movement”

Pilates truly encompasses body, mind and spirit. There are physical, mental and energetic reasons as to why we should move! There is increasing evidence, both empirical and anecdotal that support this philosophy and as a physical therapist and integrated health practitioner, I choose Pilates for a neuro/bio/psycho/social approach to rehabilitation.

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

The Trapeze Table is my favorite apparatus as there are so many options for movement! I begin a workout using the assistance of springs, increase proprioception and neuro-motor learning with the tower bar, then build the intensity adding the challenge of resistance, while moving through different planes and orientations to gravity. My favorite movement sequences involve spine extension and inversion…something I look forward to on the Trapeze Table daily!

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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

What is the Oov?

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Most of you have probably noticed or at least heard about our newest piece of equipment, the Oov. All of us were rather skeptical going into the course.

We thought, “do we really need to learn how to use another piece of equipment?”

I thought I had already allocated enough money and sacrificed weekends towards continuing education but with some encouragement from my peers I, as well as my colleagues decided to embark on the Oov journey. I’m sure glad I did! The following highlights just some of the benefits and features the Oov provides.

OOV media launch

A cradle for your spine

This is the analogy I have been using for describing the Oov. The shape of the Oov is engineered to match the natural spinal curves of your body. Unlike a foam roller, the Oov is made from compliant foam so it is comfortable. Once a client is positioned on the Oov, they are essentially in what we refer to as a “neutral spine.” This is wonderful for us as manual therapists and movement instructors because we no longer need to “clog” the neurologic system with cues about where your spine and pelvis are in space.

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Balancing your stability

The Oov is shaped to be an unstable surface. So while it “cradles your spine,” it also challenges your rotational stability, which is functional for many of our daily activities. Since the shape and material of the Oov keeps the spine in an elongated, neutral position, we can easily train clients out of dysfunctional, habitual movement patterns. More importantly, clients gain new awareness of these patterns which is a challenging aspect of our treatment paradigms.

 OOV media launch

Free your shoulders

Unfortunately, our modern world promotes unhealthy posture. Freedom and coordination of the muscles around the neck and shoulders are important for a healthy, functioning spine. The Oov was designed to allow the shoulder blades to move freely while laying on it. We can train a client’s head, neck and shoulder alignment while challenging the neuromuscular system to recognize a new, healthy position of the spine.

OOV media launch

Home exercise

Teaching clients how to perform exercises at home can be tricky. One quandary I experience as a physical therapist is when patients report not doing their home exercise program because they were not sure if they were doing it correctly. This is where the Oov comes in handy. Many of the “core strengthening” exercises we prescribe can be performed on the Oov without proprioceptive confusion. Purchasing an Oov for home is an affordable option for physical therapy and fitness clients alike.

(How to make sure your Clients are doing their Homework?)
Sandy Vojik is a physical therapist and Polestar Pilates practitioner.  She is a native of Riverside, IL and currently resides in Salt Lake City. She loves creating positive physical and mental changes in her patients by tailoring her evaluation and treatment techniques to meet every clients’ unique needs. Sandy has found the Oov to benefit clients presenting with impairments ranging from neurologic deficits to athletic injuries. For upcoming Oov courses, click here.

Polestar Pilates Graduate Highlight : Lily Hodgson

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Introducing Polestar Graduate Lily Hodgson of Polestar Pilates Australia: Central Coast, Australia

I love being able to spread the awareness & importance of health through movement to my clients.

Lily Hodgson, Polestar Pilates Graduate

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

LH: I study with Polestar Pilates Australia in Sydney, and have been educated by Cat Gianitto, Lissie Fields, Joanne Bezzina & Liz Trezies- just to make a few!

How did you choose Polestar Pilates to be your training school?

LH: Training with Polestar was an easy choice to make as I knew they are an internationally accredited & positively known education body. I was lucky enough to know & attend classes run by a few Polestar trained instructors prior to commencing my education; after my experience during these sessions I was ready to sign up for my course.

Why Pilates? How did you find the practice?

LH: A long list of personal health issues ultimately lead me on my path to becoming a Pilates Instructor. Without it, I would be in a VERY bad state. Pilates has not only saved my physical health but my mental health as well. I am grateful to have found my calling to teach & support others in a similar way to what I was able to receive in my time of need.

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

LH: In short, Family! Connecting through movement and inspiring positive & healthy life from all over the world!

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

Family

Educated

Support

What do you love about teaching Pilates?

LH: I love being able to spread the awareness & importance of health through movement to my clients.

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

LH: All things holistic health and learning – Creating and enjoying the journey of study. I love being able to expand my knowledge by being open to new concepts and adapting old ones.

What do you hope to convey in your teaching?

LH: My goal is to instill positivity into at least one persons life in the short hour I have them for. If they leave with a smile, I know I have achieved something great.

What is your favorite Quote? How do you live and apply this?

“Change happens through movement & movement heals.”

Joseph Pilates

LH: I live this quote day in and day out, and embody it through my positivity towards a healthier life.

What is your Favorite Apparatus or favorite way to move?

LH: I couldn’t pick a favorite so I’ll say my favorite is the human body! I love how through determination and learning we can apply ourselves to move better and grow stronger, no matter what exercise or device we use.

What do you like about your teachers Cat Gianitto, Lissie Fields, Joanne Bezzina, Liz Trezies and Audrey Morrison

LH: I am grateful that they & everyone else at Polestar are supportive & encouraging towards the collective aspiring goal of graduating at a highly competent level, and are always reinforcing the Polestar Principles of Movement in an enriching & hands-on experience.

What is the Pilates community like in Central Coast, Australia?

LH: The Pilates community here on the Central Coast is on the rise as people are made aware of the health benefits of movement; another few years and I’m thinking it’ll be booming as much as Sydney!

What are your aspirations or goals for your creative professional life and career?

LH: A personal goal of mine is to have the ability to connect with clients on as many levels as possible, as I strongly believe that whole-body health is exactly that; body, mind & spirit. It’s also important to me that I am able to have access to and continue learning throughout my career to improve not only my own understanding of Pilates but give the best experience to my clients.

What has been the hardest part of your training?

LH: Not losing mojo or getting burnt out at the workload and logbook hours. Everyone has to get it done in order to be their best version of a Pilates instructor (and of course to graduate), but at some point like anything (and most students that I have spoken to feel the same) an overwhelming sense settles in at the amount of work that needs to be done.

Nothing worth doing in life comes or happens easy though and the overwhelming feeling doesn’t last long; as soon as you get back in that Polestar studio and continue to learn, another signature gets logged along with the next “lightbulb moment”, and before you know it you’ve done your exam.

It’s a bittersweet moment knowing all the hard work has well & truly paid off, but you’re no longer a student. No more weekends to attend, no more signatures to collect. After having already completed Mat & Reformer with Polestar, I’ve learned to savor the journey. Because once its ended, its ended. And trust me, when it does, you’ll wish you were going back next month!

Students, Mentors, Grads and Educators:

Get ALL the Highlights and Interviews here

Community Highlights

Generosity & The Business of Pilates

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“What I love most about Polestar and Brent Anderson’s message is the spirit of generosity.” – Mara Sievers

I remember reading a newsletter Brent wrote a while ago encouraging us to visit other Pilates studios, even the ones that are not teaching our technique or style. We can learn from everyone. Each new piece of information, every creative variation enriches us. Every life experience for that matter.

There is no reason to be afraid of other styles, schools or teachings.

When I first opened my studio, I felt a significant amount of stress to fill my classes and make everyone love Pilates so that my studio and I would thrive. This stress took quite a toll on my mental and physical wellbeing, so I made the conscious decision to eliminate the self-imposed stress of competition. I have to admit that it was initially more of a “fake it ’til you make it” effort, but over the years, I can honestly say that I have completely dropped the fear of competition.

Last year I visited a Pilates studio and took a session with the owner. During our session a man came in the door who was curious about Pilates and wanted some information. After briefly showing the man around the studio, she let the prospect go. She told me that her schedule was booked and she doesn’t need new clients. That’s wonderful for her, but she missed an opportunity to generously share the Pilates method with someone who’s interested by referring him to another nearby studio.

In order for the Pilates method to thrive, we all need to thrive. In this example, the studio owner could have brought business to another like-minded, hard working business owner. The man who came in would have remembered that this lady was generous enough to help him get what he was looking for even though she got nothing out of it. I think it’s better for us to be inclusive than exclusive, and this type of generosity and honesty gains respect in the community.

At my studio I get the occasional request if we offer barre classes, which we don’t, but I know of a studio in my town that does, so I refer them to that studio. Although barre is a different movement style, the spirit of generosity still applies.

Recently, a classically trained instructor who had moved to the area contacted me with her interest in teaching at my studio. After her demo and some thinking, she decided not to teach at my studio and eventually opened her own about 20 minutes from me. I saw this as a fantastic opportunity for me to experience classical equipment, which was new to me. I had been terribly curious about it and wanted to experience first hand what everyone was talking about. As soon as her studio was set up and ready to go, I booked a session and learned a bunch of new things that helped my body and inspired my teaching. She is a very different teacher from me, and she will attract very different clients.

Here are some reasons why I would refer a client to another teacher or studio:

  • I’m fully booked and can’t fit the client into my or the studio’s schedule
  • One of my current clients has a different mindset and approach to Pilates: if I feel I have to convince them in every lesson that what I do has value, then it might be better to refer them out… we’ll both be happier
  • If I or my studio don’t offer the day, time or type of class that the student is looking for, it’s more important that the student gets to do their preferred movement, even if it’s somewhere else

As Pilates teachers, it’s our goal to help people have positive movement experiences and to build awareness of mind and body. Whether they reach that goal through us or our “competitors” doesn’t matter so much; what matters is that people are moving and finding happiness.

Keep a generous spirit even or especially when the stresses of our lives make us withdraw, contract, and pull back. Sharing opens your heart to others, and people will love and remember you for it.

Your turn! Share your story of Generosity & Pilates in the comments section below.

Mara Sievers NCPT, is a Polestar Graduate, Practitioner and the creator of the Pilates Encyclopedia.  “Pilates is an amazing method, and it can be hard. It requires a lot of time to master. With its many details, it can seem overwhelming at first. Even after completing a comprehensive training, there is still so much to learn.“

6 Mistakes Pilates Teachers Make

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People make mistakes. We are human, after all. When mistakes happen in your studio, it can sometimes contribute to misunderstandings or even affect the Pilates experience. Luckily, by regular evaluations and improvements of your habits, you can ensure a positive movement experience for everyone. You may be so accustomed to your routine that you may not find anything that could be affecting your sessions. When re-evaluating your teachings, ask yourself a few questions: Is this appropriate to say? Does this help the client understand? How do I make meaningful changes to my teaching? Here are six of the most common mistakes Pilates teachers make when teaching a Pilates class.

1. Too much emphasis on breathing

For decades, Pilates has been associated with an emphasis on breathing. Many instructors repeat, “Inhale – exhale” hundreds of times in a class, without ever explaining the purpose. For Polestar, the breath should match the intensity of the exercise. According to Ron Fletcher, Joseph Pilates said of the breath, “breathe in the air and breathe out the air”, not a strict inhale at this point or that point of a movement. Focusing too much on a particular breath can often distract the student’s attention from his/her experience of movement. At Polestar we always say, “breath is a tool, not a rule.” That is, we use breath as a tool to facilitate or challenge movement and control.

2. Teach too many exercises in the supine position

You’ve probably attended or taught a Pilates classes where the primary exercises in the workout were done in the supine (lying on your back). For the most part, you spend that time doing spinal flexion exercises. Humans must accommodate the body to the many stimuli in our lives, including standing. It’s best to teach and move in different orientations to gravity, not just supine. In Polestar Principles, we present the Polestar movement categories as a guide to select the exercises in the repertoire that best fit the student’s objectives and to create rich lessons.
Students in the supine position during a transition course.

3. Use of negative language

This is one of the more subtle, though possibly dangerous, mistakes instructors often make. It is very easy to use phrases like: “don’t lift your shoulders”, “you have a lot of tension in the neck”, etc. Each time we use this sort of language, we risk causing our clients to improperly focus or stress on a particular movement or posture. And it doesn’t tell the client what you ‘do’ want them to do. Again, is it meaningful information and does it improve the clients performance of the movement?

4. Unsympathetic instruction

Communication skills are the foundation of being a good Pilates teacher. On many occasions, the difficulty of instructing successfully stems from a lack of training centered on effective communication techniques. For a successful movement experience, trust must be earned, and to do so one must listen carefully and keep a calm and positive tone of voice. Ideally, you should speak with your client in a kind way that matches their personality. Analyze your own speech and make sure the tone is not hasty or militant when giving instructions. For more information on communicating with your clients, check out our previous blog post on the subject.

5. Focus on doing stretches

Another common mistake is to use Pilates exercises merely for stretching. There is increasing evidence of the negative effects of sustained stretching and poor efficacy as a method to increase functional range of motion. Often times, these prolonged stretches cause the opposite effect in therapeutic exercise. A diverse movement strategy works best to improve mobility in Pilates. Think of the many different exercises that take a muscle through its full range of motion – there are hundreds. By improving the motor pattern we have, it positively affects both mobility and available strength. Do not look focus on the stretch itself, but for efficient, integrated and quality movements in all of the repertoire.

6. Propose difficult exercises too soon

One of the oldest myths in the fitness industry is,”no pain, no gain”, or, “no pain, no glory”. Both trainers and clients generally operate with the belief that the harder the exercise, the more beneficial it is. This belief sometimes causes instructors (sometimes “obliged” by their clients) to select high challenge exercises too early in their movement programs. This often causes the student to develop compensatory movement strategies to compensate for the lack of efficient motor skills, mobility or strength. Ineffective or inefficient motion patterns can often turn into the client’s usual movement. In other words, the body becomes very good at incorrectly performing movements. After you screen your client, remain loyal to a suitable regimen for them. No need to rush to the finish line, so to speak. If you catch yourself performing one of these undesirable habits, don’t beat yourself up. Take it as a learning opportunity and a chance to make your clients more have an even better experience. What other poor habits do instructors make? Let us know in the comments – we’re all human!