How Do I Keep Track of Repetitions During Teaching
Q: I'm having a hard time figuring out how long to teach a movement. Should I mentally count how many times the class has done the exercise? Shall I count repetitions, watch the clock, or observe how everyone is moving?
A: I bet you know the answer to this yourself. I'll give you a moment to read...
How Can I Stop Flaring My Ribs
Q: I have a hard time pulling my ribs in. I love to flare them. How do I overcome this? How do I help my students to keep their ribs down?
A: Let's look at a little bit of anatomy first. Which muscles attach to the rib arch? Internal obliques, external obliques, rectus abdominis and the...
Arthritis versus Osteoporosis
Q: I know arthritis is not the same as osteoporosis, but it does affect the joints. Would flexion and/or extension be limited for someone with arthritis? Perhaps should I suggest they take a Buff Bones class?
A: Arthritis is in fact different from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis means that bone...
How To Deal With Joint Replacements In a Pilates Class
Q: If someone comes to my class with a hip or a knee replacement, and I don't feel like I have all the knowledge to keep them safe, would it be unreasonable to ask for a doctor’s note before starting a Pilates program? I personally would suggest training with someone with more experience.
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The Optimal Pace To Progress Beginners
Q: When I correct a beginner student, should I keep it basic and just gently build on getting them moving correctly?
A: What an excellent question! Here we go:
Not all beginners are the same.
Some people have never taken a Pilates class before but have plenty of experience with their bodies from...
How To Effectively Cue the Abdominals and the Pelvic Floor
Q: My question is about finding cues to activate the lower abdominals and the pelvic floor. For example, in “The Hundred”, using cues such as “belly button to spine” or “bring the sit bones together” can create excessive pelvic tilting and/or the rectus...
Watch The Moment of Return
Pilates is all about control, don’t we know it.
In this video, I’ll talk about how co-contraction of agonist and antagonist around a joint makes your movement fluid and your joints stable.
Often we focus on the first part of the exercise, pulling on the bar or the strap, and then we...
How Do I Encourage Focus in My Students Without Sounding Like A Hippie Guru?
Q: When I begin a class with breathing it sometimes feels more like a yoga or meditation session than preparing for movement. How do I get clients to leave the world outside behind and start to focus on the class? How can I help them stop the mind from wandering without sounding like a hippie...
How To Explain Pilates?
Q: How do you explain what Pilates is? My first statement is “It's not yoga.” Then I say “Pilates teaches functional movement to help you get through your day. It strengthens your core and helps improve your posture.”
A: I like your answer. It's short and sweet and to the...
Ask Not What to Get, But What to Get Rid Of
Pilates is different, don’t you know it. No matter how often I try to explain the method to a new student, it’s still difficult to get across, especially to someone who approaches Pilates with a fitness mindset. So naturally, I listen closely to students when they describe in their...
