More Than Skin Deep...

Last September I had the opportunity to visit the Newcastle University Anatomy Laboratory for a cadaver tour. I had the opportunity to attend an anatomy lab many years ago as part of my massage therapy study, but I have always been keen to learn more. The tour was organised by a dear friend and amazing pilates instructor, educator and physiotherapist Lisa Anthony. Lisa is dedicated to development of pilates instructors and to a deeper understanding of the human body. She has created Access Anatomy. As someone who is passionate about the development of recent Pilates graduates and Pilates students, I am so thankful to have been invited to her first tour!

A few car loads of eager pilates instructors showed up at Newcastle University bright and early on a Sunday morning to get stuck in to our anatomy- literally! After donning our gloves, glasses and aprons our wonderful guide Doug showed us around the lab.

We had two hours to examine prosections of different kinds. Lisa organised for us to access to prosections of the major joints of the body as well as the abdominal area and the spine.

The amount of work put in by the anatomists and laboratory technicians is really amazing. It is hours and hours of work for us to be able to differentiate the many layers of muscle. Being able to see the nerves passing through the body as well as veins and arteries was amazing. I think most of us were taken by the thickness of the sciatic nerve passing through the spine into the glutes!

The thing that many of us were quite struck by was the opportunity to understand scale. I heard many times- "wow! I didn't realise that would be so big/small" or "that wasn't as I imagined it". I found the scapula quite beautiful. It is so thin and has so many muscles attached to it. The force that it can withstand is impressive!

Many of us in attendance had been teaching pilates or practicing physiotherapy for many years and we felt that it really brought things into perspective in terms of why certain movements have the effect they do. For the participants new to the industry the feeling was that the experience would really spring board them into their teaching practice.

The things I found most fascinating:

1. The Diaphragm- Wow! What a massive piece of tissue the diaphragm is. I don't think I was ever truly able to visualise the proximity to the pelvis. In hindsight it seems obvious as the space between the thorax and pelvis is not very large but even still- I think in my mind the diaphragm somehow sat around the bra strap! Clearly, knowing your origin and insertion points doesn't always seem to translate into what you see in your mind's eye. The other thing about the diaphragm I found both amazing and beautiful was it's texture. It actually reminded me a bit of the ITB. Again, when you think about it- it is constantly in motion, of course it would be strong. But somehow, the picture in my mind was a delicate, fragile tissue.
2. The Ankle Joint- just so cool. The way the tibia and fibula glide against the talus is pretty impressive engineering. Looking at the joint in this detail has completely changed the way I cue dorsiflexion. I feel very restricted into this range of motion and it is so tempting to just push the heel down and over activate anterior tibialis and friends. Now I think of the way the hinge glides and give the front of the ankle as much room as it needs. It should be noted that I love the foot and ankle complex and that others may not find it quite as fascinating as this geek...
3. Quadratus Lumborum and the Abdominal Wall- How could I possibly ignore this? While I expected the diaphragm to appear thinner, I must say I expected the abdominal wall to be thicker. I think this is due to the amount of force our lovely abdominal muscles generate despite the obvious fact that we can all feel past our muscles into our digestive organs quite easily. Seeing how deep the QL sits finally gave me perspective as to why it is grouped as a muscle of the posterior abdominal wall  and not the back. WOW those little guys are hidden away so deep and still manage to make themselves heard when they want to!

So, the word of warning... I paint a rosy picture. I LOVE ANATOMY but this environment can be confronting for many. I was very happy to get my gloved hands all over the muscles and tendons and was engrossed in the bio-mechanics very quickly. Others who stood back found it a bit much. After all, these were people who lived amongst us and were once somebody's friend or relative so there is a degree of letting go required to get the most out of this experience. If you can create that separation, you will learn so much and your teaching will be changed forever.

Confessions Of A Virgo Pilates Instructor

I’m sure I’m not the only Virgo that has noticed that look. The one people give you when declare your sun sign is Virgo. The “oh, you’re one of those…” expressions. I’ve never cared. I’ve always been out and proud. You can mock my perfectly rolled towels with the stripes all impeccably aligned or the fact that every coat hanger in my wardrobe faces the same direction. I don’t care that you are living your life in disorder (neither do I understand it). When I discovered Pilates it was like I had arrived home. I had discovered an exercise methodology where moving with precision and accuracy are vital to its successful execution, it is little wonder that I became a Pilates Instructor. As a Pilates instructor I am extremely patient while you develop both your confidence and competence in the studio. I understand, Pilates is difficult. There are many things to think about while you set out on the path of efficient and pain free movement. I will ask you to breathe at a certain time while you consider your alignment, the order you recruit each muscle, the pace of your movement and the intensity at which you work – simultaneously. In life there is is a correct way and an incorrect way to do things. In the Pilates studio the correct way is the Virgo way and I will make sure that is how you are going to do it.

When it comes to Pilates, the directions are given for a reason. When done properly, Pilates is beautiful. It is quality movement that reminds the body that there is a place for everything and everything should be in place. Pilates is balanced by a rich history of order and sequence with the newest research to stay relevant. It IS the Virgo way: smart, focused, grounded and efficient.

The Pilates body (under my supervision) is like a mannerly dinner party at a fine dining restaurant. The food is exquisite, it is arranged on the plate delicately and intentionally. Each muscle behaves like the guests at the table: courteous, witty and charming conversationalists. Everyone responding cleverly, responses float through the air effortlessly with pause for effect. All of the other tables listen in enviously- wishing that their life was just as interesting and that they could engage with their friends in the same gracious way.

The Virgo Pilates instructor strives to ensure you embody this. Movement flows from one exercise to the next. The spine articulates at every level like a rhythmic gymnast’s ribbon. Each joint glides with ease, the breath is continuous without strain. Everything in your body is adhering to my Pilates plan. This is is the path to the sleek body you have been working to achieve. Strength balanced with equal flexibility and control. Your mind now focuses on all of the other elements in your amazing life while your body runs its own show. Grace personified.

The alternative repulses the Virgo Pilates instructor. For god’s sake- slow it down- are you a bull at a gate? Why are you holding your breath? Can you please not arch your spine like that! Pilates is methodical. There is a natural order that needs to be adhered to. You do want to do this correctly don’t you? We need to stop, re-organise and start again. Ugh!

Without the expert guidance and dedication to perfection the Virgo Pilates instructor offers, the body will begin to resemble a motley crew of dinner guests. The table will be rowdy. The food slopped onto the plate, one item on top of the other, sauces intermingling, unbalanced flavors- muck. The guests are not interested in genteel conversation. Oh no! Everyone is stubbornly determined to get their point across no matter how unruly. One person shouts over the top of the other until the only sound emanating from this table is loud indistinguishable noise. It is only a matter of time before someone is sent home in disgrace

Is this what you want? If so, off you go… to the gym with the grunters and groaners moments away from disc herniation and unsightly, hypertrophied muscles. Where is the precision? Where is the order? I spend my days teaching this beautiful exercise methodology, and you expect me to watch you taint it with your shoulders so close to your ears that your neck appears engulfed by your torso? I don’t think so. You are hurting my eyes.

So either charge ahead with your unrefined, mindless movement or come with me towards the light. The choice is clear to me.

This article was first written for www.mysticmedusa.com.

Brooklyn with Blossom

After experiencing Blossom's teaching at the PAA conference in Sydney last year I was a big fan. So when it was time to have my private sessions with her at her studio Bridge Pilates in Brooklyn I was very excited. We were staying at an AirBnB apartment in Brooklyn Heights and I got to walk to the studio and pretend I was a local- very fun! Blossom had some time before her client was due to arrive and greeted me as though she had known me for years. The wonderful thing about her is that it is soon obvious that she offers this beautiful energy to all who come her way.

Bridge Pilates is a beautiful light filled space in the DUMBO neighbourhood of Brooklyn. The studio has two reformers (Gratz- modified to have an additional spring), a trapeze table, ladder barrel and an original Joseph Pilates wunda chair and spine corrector inherited from the days that Kathy Grant worked from the space in the Henri Bendel department store. While we could all spend thousands of dollars on gadgets that release this and things that do that, Blossom has collected an array of little balls and other bits and pieces from hardware store visits that are just the right size to make you REALLY FEEL what she has in store for you. Observing Blossom teaching was great. She incorporates a lot of hands on work with her clients and it is obvious that they completely trust her. I loved the way the traditional work was done with slight variations like using the straps on the trapeze table to create an uneven base of support and using the edge of the trapeze table to do work reminiscent of the short box series.

I'm a massive history nut. I love people's story and I think the way that someone makes you feel is definitely what you remember about your experience with them. Blossom has some beautiful photos of Joseph Pilates in motion that you could easily stare at for hours. But it was the way that Blossom spoke about Kathy that was really beautiful. Imagine that, your first introduction to the work of Joseph Pilates through a pilates elder! I loved the way that Blossom's eyes glistened as she said... "I miss that woman". I have always felt that the respect for the legacy of the elders is just as important as respect for Mr Pilates himself but that also innovation is crucial. People's bodies are different in 2014 than they were in the 1950's and the way the general public uses their body is completely different. I feel like Blossom's approach is the perfect balance of honouring the work of those who entrusted it and working with the body in front of you, your skill set and your own creativity and flair.

After we talked a little- Blossom made my booty burn like never before!

I have quite a long trunk and I can fake spinal articulation pretty well, I thought I WAS scooping (I was even fooling myself!)- but not in a private with Blossom. We used those beautiful cats of Kathy's to get me moving. I was amazed to feel my deep abdominals as I moved my spine without gripping my obliques and squashing my poor diaphragm as I am known to do. When Blossom showed me the warm up in straps to get the lumbar spine articulating before short spine I distinctly remember cheekily asking

"oh! you want me to work?"

Pilates instructors around the world all know what happened next... Blossom made sure I worked!

As we went through the traditional reformer repertoire, I remember feeling that the apparatus and I were working together as a team. During rowing it wasn't just that I was pulling on the straps but almost a pas de deux. It was the first time I really understood this interaction in my body rather than in my head. I felt more graceful than I ever had and it was a wonderful reminder that you always have a little more to give- so Blossom asked for more and I gave it (I hope!) Blossom's enthusiasm is infectious, not only do you feel that you can do what she was asking but also that I owed it to both of us to do it.

If Blossom is confident then I am confident, I thought to myself. And I will have fun while she makes me work it!

I had so much fun that I completely lost it during the knee stretch. I don't know about you, but the knee stretch isn't exactly an exercise that you would associate with laughing your head off but it happened. FYI here is a list of things I have a history of lost competence at while laughing:

• riding a bike
• taking a selfie
• dancing
• making party snack we know as 'fairy bread' here in Australia
• knee stretch on the reformer. I think this was the first time Blossom had encountered this strange behaviour...

Thank you Blossom for so many memories from those three amazing privates- I have never done the forward lunge on the chair with the ease that you helped me achieve. I think about my feet in my practice more than I ever have before. And I continue to practice my swan on the reformer in my endless quest of good hip extensor bio mechanics (and a pert booty)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfts59mluF0

Where Does The Time Go?

The past few weeks have felt manic to me. While I have had two blog posts sitting in my head waiting to be written for weeks, I find myself (not unusually) trying to be everything to everyone- while the posts stay in my head instead of on the blog. The reason I bring this up is that this is hardly the first time that what I want to get done gets pushed to the side for the needs of others. And I'm sure it won't be the last. While this might sound like a whine to some, I think that most pilates instructors can also relate to the fact that actually, I don't mind AT ALL. I like being the helper. Helpers are valuable members of society- there should probably be more of us! It makes me wonder... How common is this personality trait within our industry?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1vQJFF2TKQ

Our desire to help people was probably a motivating factor for many of us gaining our teaching qualification in the first place. The drive to help others move forward in their bodies is what makes us wonderful teachers and what makes the pilates world wonderful. We think about our clients in our down time. We are excited when we attend conferences and we know EXACTLY the person that will benefit directly from what we have just learned. Most of us want to make a difference in the lives of others and if that means that we miss out on our usual afternoon off, just this one time, to help out- is that really so bad? The giving nature is definitely a positive attribute at work but to what extent are we putting ourselves last within the industry? Funnily enough this was a major inspiration for creating this blog in the first place!

I have seen this behaviour affect the amount of personal work out time I give to myself. To the point that it feels like weeks since I've done the footwork series and truly taken time to breathe. Have you ever demonstrated an exercise to a client and felt jealous that they are the one having the pilates session instead of you? Lately my brain has felt so tired that all I want to do is kick back and relax with my inner circle. I could go and treat myself to the rollback series on the cadillac but that would mean that I would have to go to my workplace where I already feel as though I have been living. I know that I want to nurture this blog space and it is something very important to me- but it can feel like there isn't any more space to give. When work colleagues are unwell or it is a time at the studio where all hands on deck are required, I WANT to help. I don't want to say no. It takes an awful lot before resentment kicks in but I admit- I have been resentful in the past.

Many years ago I remember Brent Anderson posing the question:

Do you want to be a pilates enthusiast or a pilates instructor?

I want it all! And I want to be a great friend and I want to be an excellent employee and I want to be a wonderful girlfriend and I want to be a loving daughter and I want to be a responsible pet owner and I want to be... everything to everyone.

One day, I will get the balance right. I have booked my private sessions in regularly with my friend (that I don't work with- very important). I will truly believe that I can say no and that, that is okay. I will find a time to treat myself this week. I will let myself off the hook.

NYC- where to next?

My fascination with Kathleen Stanford Grant began many years ago when Pilates Style magazine did a feature on Kathy Grant's cats. I thought it was really interesting that she loved and was so inspired by cats that it influenced her teaching style so much. I remember trying to incorporate some of the versions of her cats into my mat classes at the time (but I don't think I got it quite right). When I visited New York in 2007 I spent some time with Roberta Kirschenbaum at her studio Rolates Pilates. She told me that I should come along and observe her having her own personal pilates class with Kathy Grant at NYU. I was so excited- I'm sure you can imagine how devastated I was when I couldn't find the building in time- especially when Kathy passed in 2010 and I realised I had missed my opportunity to meet her.

So the years passed and Blossom Leilani Crawford was invited to the 2013 PAA conference here in Sydney. This was the perfect opportunity to learn more about this pilates elder I was so intrigued by. After attending her workshops at the conference I was a fan of Blossom- independent of her amazing connection with Kathy.

Blossom's sense of humour while teaching is so great and I loved the feeling of connection to the tiny deep muscles (of the shoulder especially) with some of the very intricate exercises. When it came to deciding on a second person to spend my time with while visiting New York this time around, there really wasn't any question of it being anyone but Blossom!