Welcome to the Surprise Pilates Blog! Together we will explore topics related to Pilates, Life, and all things Health, and Wellness. Subscribe to our blog so you will receive new posts emailed directly to you. Feel free to pass this along to friends and family or suggest a topic you would like to see featured here. Thanks so much for reading.
Most of you know I was in Las Vegas a week ago for the Pilates Method Alliance Annual Conference. The PMA is the governing board for Pilates and every year this conference draws around 1,000 Pilates teachers from around the world. This conference is a wonderful way for me to meet other instructors, connect with instructors I now, take workshops and Pilates classes and grow as a teacher, myself.
Read MoreThis morning I went for a long run. It was cool, crisp, and picturesque with the Fall colors beginning to show. I felt strong, energized, and capable. I was reminded why I love running! Not every run is like that … and it was only a few weeks ago I was dragging along in the heat and humidity.
Read MoreThis is a topic that comes up from time to time in the studio and runs rampant online. The question may be “Who trained you?” or “Where did you get your credentials?” These are fair questions … but the answer doesn’t really tell you everything you need to know as a potential student or fellow teacher. Many of us, myself included, received one form of Pilates training … possibly what was most convenient, affordable or available for us. But, many of us, myself included, have continued to pursue additional training, working with different instructors or schools of thought and practice. If you simply ask where did you study or who was your original teacher, you would miss learning about all the additional scope and expertise gained post initial training.
Read MoreI am a PMA Certified Pilates Instructor. I own a studio. I teach classes for a living. I have the luxury of having a fully equipped studio to play in when I am not working. I really enjoy hopping on a reformer, a chair or the tower and moving. I love choosing the movements I feel my body needs that day. I like challenging myself, exploring choreography, and spring choice. Some days I just want to stretch and lengthen and soothe my body after a hard run. I often turn the music off and just listen to what I feel in my body. Could anything be more perfect or rewarding than that?
Read MoreWhen I was in grade school through high school, I was a perfectionist. I labored intensely on my projects, I did the extra credit assignments, and volunteered to help out the teacher. Yeap – that person! Grades were important to me and getting the best grade – even more important to me. I also ran track and cross country. Breaking and setting school records was the goal there. And I achieved it.
Read MoreI enjoy working out. I love Pilates. I love running. But some days I just don’t feel like it! Not every day do I bounce out of bed and feel like moving. Most days I do but occasionally I’m tired, burned out, stressed or just plain lacking motivation. Here are my go to motivators for those days:
Read MoreHas anyone told you lately your body is amazing? They should. It is. Really – your body rocks. Yes … I am talking to you. I know what you are doing … right now you are thinking of all the flaws you have. Maybe you feel like you need to lose a few pounds, tighten up, or maybe some things aren’t where they used to be (hello gravity!) It doesn’t matter … your body is still amazing and you should appreciate it.
Read MoreOne of my biggest challenges as a Pilates Instructor is getting clients to slow down! You might think it would be communicating the exercises, modifying for individual needs, programming the class, etc. – but all of those I can master. What I can’t always do is convince a student they will be working harder while getting stronger by going slower. (And they really will if they’d listen and try it!)
Read MoreI've seen them and I'm sure you have, too ... ads for some 'new' fitness class or phenomenon that is 'amped up' or ‘ups the ante’ or is Plates on Steroids, etc. The ads and posts can be persuasive. They can make you question 'Do I need more? Is Pilates enough?'
Read MoreIf you spend any time with children, you will quickly learn their only goal is to have fun and play … all day! They are carefree and will play and play and play. Children don’t understand why adults would not want to play, too?
As adults, however, we seem to push play to our last priority. Work, chores, et, al are all higher priorities before play.
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