Pilates Conservatory (R)

PILATES: Change of Perspective

2011-12-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

Why do things change? There are many answers. The Pilates community still polarizes around a line of demarcation. The division is defined by the exact exercise system that Joe taught and is currently called “real, classical, pure, original” Pilates. The other camp is called “innovative, neo-classical, evolved, or rehabilitative” Pilates.

Why do things change? We change.

I love to read. I have been revisiting the classics. Most of these books were read when I was in high school. I admired Eustacia Vye in Thomas Hardy’s Return of the Native. There was the glamour of a mysterious woman who would wander the heath at night. I loved the narrative and I empathized with Eustacia. On this last read, I had a very different experience. I found that Eustacia was selfish and narcissistic. How did Hardy’s character change? She did not. I did. Leo Tolstoy’s, Anna Karenina also changed from a story of a tragic heroine to a neurotic drama. I loved both of these books on this last read as much as I did the first time. The difference is that I have lived longer and my experience in life has changed my perspective.

In college, read anatomy textbooks about one-celled organisms, complex vertebrates and plants. (Yes, plants have anatomy!) I was doing study at a university. Now, I am reading anatomy because I like to do so for my pleasure. The bones, muscles and organs did not evolve since 1970. I did. I now have a different application that is practical in my work environment. I am teaching people about themselves in simple and useful language. For instance, one of my master teachers would wonder aloud as he taught class with great humor, that he did not understand why shoulders were always migrating to the ears. I would love to tell him that it might be our primitive gill arches are still trying to get down into our chests. Fish did not have heads and they had gills. It took a few days to adapt to dry land.

Perhaps Pilates has changed because the basic truth can support adaptability and flexibility of the list of exercises that Joe taught. I teach the same exercises that I have taught for 27 years. They look the same on the outside, but I look inside and see many more things. If I were not able to change my perspective, I would become bored at the very least. The Franklin Method Teacher Training has been a dynamic shift in awareness. I am more skilled at observation, implementation and communication.

I cannot say what constitutes Pilates. I cannot say what falls from the definition of Pilates. It does not interest me to spend my time in conjecture about such things. That can be left for the experts of purity. I can say that I enjoy teaching, learning, and applying new ideas. Work in process keeps movement vital and current. That is what I like about Pilates. It stays the same and it always changes.

Pat Guyton - Franklin Method Level III Homework - Lungs

2011-10-06T08:04:00.001-07:00

Franklin Method and Pat Guyton Pilates – Working in 3 Dimensions

2011-10-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

Now that I have graduated from Franklin Method Level III, I have some work ahead of me. Eric Franklin has said that current fitness training does not account for the organs which are part of the tensegrity of the human body. I invite you to ponder some of my thoughts in relationship to teaching Pilates or any kind of movement system.

Everyone wants to look good and the muscles that are strong, elastic and toned create that delicious body on the cover of the magazines. In anatomy books there is a focus on the origin, insertion, action, and nerves of the muscles which implies that there is a relationship of muscles and bones.

Where do the organs fit into this picture?

Pilates comes from the center. Where are the organs?

The diaphragm is a muscle separating the upper and lower organs. If the diaphragm moves, what happens to the organs?

If the body requires breath to stay alive and good breathing is diaphragmatic, can the organs be fixed in one place?

If the body bends sideways and the organs do not slide, how can we bend?

Could we train the body to move from the organs?

Do the organs need movement to function at optimal performance?

When doing an assessment for designing a Pilates exercise program for an individual, should posture and organ function be considered?

It is not always the muscles and the bones.

OH:
Joe was right. You need to breathe. It comes from the lungs.

Pat Guyton Graduates! – Franklin Method Educator Level III

2011-09-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

The academic level of content and the amount of information require three years of study and practice to get to the Level III. The Franklin Method has changed my Pilates teaching. The workout does not look significantly different. I teach the exercises presented in the original syllabus. The approach to the functional movement, health, and motivation through imagery is the transformation. This produces better results in the student practice and they enjoy learning about the body.

Organ study is the third year of Franklin Method Teacher Training. It has been extremely rewarding. Eric Franklin has stated that this will be the future of physical fitness training. Currently, the muscle and the bone is the focus of the workout. There are not many systems that include the organs as part of the tensegrity system of whole body health.

At the beginning, I was curious about the reception of my students to the colon, the heart, the lungs, the kidneys, etc. How would I integrate this into a Pilates workout? Today I introduced the colon and the diaphragm to a private client. She experienced the internal relationship to her sacral iliac joint dysfunction and how the colon imagery might be part of her symptoms. We did a workout and I sent her home with some Franklin Method movement for her colon. She loved it!

Thanks Eric!

Pilates Anytime is Great Every Time

2011-08-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

Pilates Anytime was born out of a desire to share high quality Pilates classes with everyone and is the creation of Kristi Cooper White. I will admit that when I was approached by Kristi, my initial reaction was skepticism. How would anyone really teach quality Pilates outside of a classroom or in a private session?

I live in Boulder and this is a community that is visionary. Everything that is new and has potential to improve the quality of life and that of the world is here. Kristi reminded me that not everyone has access to quality teachers. In small towns and in many parts of the world, people hear about Pilates in all forms of social media, but there are no classes available.

I have had many students who have been curious from taking Pilates classes on a video. Their studio was the living room floor in front of the television. The motivation to come to my studio was the medium that was available to them.
Pilates Anytime is unique. It offers many choices of teachers, level and content of classes. The entire experience of working with the team during the filming process is professional and relaxed. I have many people ask me about Pilates. This is a fantastic way for them to join for a month, view a variety of teachers and be inspired to find a path to education.

If everyone had to find Joseph Pilates to be well trained, then I would have been one of those who did not get it the “right way”. I was exposed in an athletic club evening lecture. The teacher was not a First Generation Teacher. He did not do the classical work. He was charismatic and irreverent, but I am here because of that one night.

The world is changing. If Pilates is to remain viable, it is important that Pilates professionals change attitudes of superiority and reach out to everyone. I have been honored to be selected to represent Pilates Anytime.

Franklin Method Pelvic Power and Pilates - Tita Ortega and Pilates Salud Host Pat Guyton

2011-05-11T16:33:00.000-07:00

Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. & Franklin Method® - Lucia Laudisio Teaching Introduction to Imagery

2011-05-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

I am currently in my third year of Franklin Method® Teacher Training, Level Three. This has been an incredible journey and continues to be so. Two of my teachers, Lucia Laudisio and Rende Brockwell are enrolled in Level One. The Pilates work that happens in this studio has been transformed. My teachers are incredible ladies and it is a joy and pleasure to watch them grow. Words like tensegrity and coupled motion can be heard in the teaching as well as creative and anatomical imagery referenced by the clutter of bone models and toys that stray throughout the space. “Can anyone tell me where the sacrum went?” “What is that toy truck with a crane doing on the Cadillac?” The Franklin Method® will change how you image your life, work, and service to others!
Thanks, Eric Franklin!

STUDIO A – INSERVICE

2011-04-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

WOW! The Franklin Method® Pelvic Power visited San Antonio, Texas, thanks to Aida Zorilla and United Airlines. Security lines at airports are amusing situations due to the bones and toys that travel with me. Lucia Laudisio, my student and fellow Franklin Method ® Educator to be, could see the eyes roll as the TSA employees saw the pelvis, pelvic half, femur and sacrum lodged happily between tensegrity toys, sponges, therabands, and other interesting imagery tools.

The weekend started with the Franklin Method® Pelvic Power. This workshop is so much fun to teach and the laughter is rewarding. Aida had cookies that were decorated like a butterfly, however everyone agreed they were pelvic halves and sacrum images.

There were students in attendance from many lineages. All were excellent students and each one brought questions and comments that stimulated the experience. I enjoy sharing my work and hearing how each individual is developing a personal approach to teaching Pilates. These teachers want to help other people find health and happiness and they are willing to continue study to increase their knowledge.

Aida looks fantastic! She is a dynamic teacher, an inquisitive student, and an impeccable host. We are excited to reconnect and to develop diversity in the Pilates community. If you are interested in the San Antonio experience, you are welcome to attend the next workshop in June:

Franklin Method® Pelvic Power – June 23

Franklin Method® Liberate Your Neck and Release Your Shoulders – June 24

Extending Pilates, 12 PMA CECs – June 25, 26

Thanks Aida!

PILATES ANYTIME – CHECK IT OUT!

2011-03-06T15:46:00.000-08:00

Kristi Cooper White approached me last year with her idea of an online site called Pilates Anytime. Kristi spent time talking to me and writing emails of her vision of Pilates Anytime. I was interested, but I did not pursue the connection. I had been hosting the Franklin Method® Teacher Training for 2009 and 2010. This year I will be hosting the Level Three. Hosting is a big job. I am also a student. My time was maximized and I put the idea on the shelf, but I did not forget Kristi’s gracious invitation and enthusiasm.

Every January, Amy Haven’s the owner of CenterPoint Pilates in Santa Barbara, California invites me to do a workshop. Her studio is a location for filming Pilates Anytime and she is a Regular Instructor. She does a mat class every Friday. Amy suggested that I could come in early and do her spot. Kristi contacted me and I am now proud to be mentioned as a Distinquished Instructor on the website, www.pilatesanytime.com. Look for class #385!

Pilates Anytime provides an opportunity for people who may not have a Pilates studio near home, or have responsibilities that make personal workout time limited, or may not have the economic resources to pay for classes and private lessons. Pilates Anytime also offers workshops from First Generation Teachers, such as Lolita San Miquel. This is an opportunity for students and teachers who cannot afford to go to workshops or conferences.

Joe Pilates had a vision that the whole world would be doing his work. I have been amazed to see the comments for my class coming from the USA, but also other countries where Pilates workshops are not available. One member asked if I was planning a workshop in her neighborhood. Maybe I will do that!

CenterPoint Pilates Workshop: Extending Forward and Franklin Method

2011-02-03T08:05:00.001-08:00

Santa Barbara was warm and sunny. Usually they serve me up a nice rainy weekend. The workshop was Extending Forward. Amy Havens was my gracious host at CenterPoint Pilates. The workshop focus was on the spinal mechanics of extension within the Mat, Reformer, Wunda Chair and the Trapeze Table.

On Friday night, CenterPoint Pilates hosted my Franklin Method®: Relax Your Neck and Liberate Your Shoulders. Most of the Pilates teachers who attended the Extending Forward Pilates Workshop were present for the Franklin Method® on Friday night. The Franklin Method® brings the experience of the anatomy through imagery, touch, and movement. The teachers were surprised at the level of movement that is inherent in the shoulder girdle and how the shoulder girdle and the breath assist in extension. This material is one of the most pleasurable workshops for me to teach. Most of the students need to feel the shoulder girdle before they can begin to work within the Pilates syllabus. Otherwise the cues or images are distracting from the choreography in the moment, are not supported with functional anatomy, and the student is left “wrestling with the equipment”.

I also had the experience of teaching a Mat class for Pilates Anytime. Kristi Cooper White has created a wonderful venue for Pilates. I look forward to working with Pilates Anytime in the future and would like to invite you to take a look. While it is always good to have a professional teacher present the introduction to Pilates, many people do not have the access due to geographic location and financial resources. Many of my most loyal students found me after seeing Pilates on the television or a video. Pilates Anytime brings a menu of great teachers and classes that change every week. Amy Havens has been doing her Friday morning mat class every week. Thanks to Amy and Kristi, I was able to sneak into that Friday spot!

The Pilates Method Alliance Annual Conference and 10th Anniversary

2010-11-29T08:44:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate to be selected to present at the PMA Annual Conference this past November. After serving on the PMA Board of Directors for 7 years, it was a different side of the curtain.

I want to thank the PMA for the excellent job! Speaking from my experience as a presenter, I was shown courtesy and respect. The room proctors were polite and helpful, the AV people were prompt, and everything was prepared for me.

I would like to thank all of the attendees who came to my workshop: Pilates: Doing the Work and Feeling the Work. Without the students, there cannot be a teaching experience. My evaluations were uplifting and I am filled with gratitude.

It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with those in the past. Please know that my door is always open.

Thanks also to the other conference presenters. Although I could not attend every teacher's classes due to time and schedule, I look forward to seeing you again.

My mentors in the past have always stressed that one can just “do at the work” or “feel the spirit of the work”. I thank them for their inspiration and example through teaching.

Swissbody Geneva – Wunda Chair Workshop

2010-10-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

Susan Pepper is a delight! Swissbody Academy has set high standards for teaching Pilates and movement. Susan is a third generation ballet dancer from South Africa. She was one of the first Pilates studios in Switzerland. Although Susan is an incredibly competent business woman, she understands that there is a difference in packaging a commercial training product as opposed to establishing an environment for Pilates education that is inclusive and expansive.

Susan just completed Lolita San Miguel’s Teacher Training program. This is a woman who has taught Pilates for many years, trained quality teachers, and is humble and grateful to continue with her education.

I bought the Wunda Chair syllabus to Swissbody for five days. The syllabus was 108 pages with pictures. As I began to write, I realized that without the photos, the notes can become muddled and the process of note taking can be distracting from the work at hand. My assistant, Yuuko Igarashi, flew to Colorado and we spent the weekend taking photos. Some of the photos really needed to be large to see the detail. The students were very grateful and thanked me for taking the time to provide information to supplement the notes.

Susan and I are both very much preoccupied with the pelvic floor. The movement of the bones and muscles simply cannot be ignored when teaching any movement. The Wunda Chair really requires basic understanding of the pelvic floor functional movement. This knowledge helps the student understand the purpose of the exercise.

I will be teaching the same Wunda Chair work in Japan in 2011. Amy Havens, owner of Center Pointe Pilates in Santa Barbara is planning to offer this workshop in 2011. I am grateful that my experience at Swissbody has left me more prepared for the next opportunity.

Pat Guyton is Franklin Method Educator Level II

2010-10-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

My first workshop with Eric Franklin was in June of 2008. I expected a quality experience and I was ready to refresh my work. It is very easy to become insulated in one point of view. It happens to everyone at some time in every profession. I was hosting the workshop with Jan Dunn. We had a huge turnout and my dance space was full. The workshop was fun! I learned many new things that infused my Pilates practice with more precision.

Pilates teachers understand that a Pilates movement principle is precision. Precision can become a discerning eye that watches and encourages better health through improved functional movement. Precision is also the disciplined approach to life of the teacher. This is reflected in continuous inquiry which will sharpen the mind.

This past September I graduated Franklin Method Teacher Training Level II. I am able to offer a greater diversity of workshops as a Franklin Method® Level II Educator. In 2011, Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. will be hosting Franklin Method Teacher Training Level I and Level III. This choice of study for me has been invaluable.

If you have any questions about the Franklin Method® and how this has changed my life, email me.

Pilates on Tour: Check it out!

2010-08-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

I was honored to be a presenter at Pilates on Tour in Denver on August 1. I enjoy teaching new audiences. The fresh perspective keeps me thinking and motivated. Balanced Body, Inc., Nora St. John and Al Harrison offer an excellent venue for continuing education and a welcome relationship for the presenters.

Mary Bowen and Lolita San Miguel were also presenting. It was an opportunity for me to be mentored by these wonderful ladies who are First Generation Teachers of the Pilates Method. I always enjoy my time with Mary. Her perspectives on Pilates and the Psyche are a “must do” experience for everyone who teaches. Lolita helped me with my feet! As a dancer and a product of ill luck in the foot genetic program, I needed some help. There is much misinformation in the fitness world about the foot. Lolita gave us exercises for home, demonstrated the Ped-o-Pull, Foot Corrector, Toe Corrector and the Reformer foot positions. I learned new information that I brought home to the studio.

Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. Regarding Teachers and Students

2010-08-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

Students have an obligation to their teachers to repay them by becoming better teachers. Teachers have a spiritual lesson to accept this and send blessings to each student's success.

Climbing Mountains

2010-07-28T17:30:00.000-07:00

What is your five-year business plan? That is a question that has been posed to many by business experts. I am not certain that I could consider that question again. A classmate and I were given an assignment to share our goals. I prepared and wrote something that really would be very good if it were to happen. During our time for comparing and supporting, my friend announced that she did not have any goals. Furthermore, she never did set any goals for her very successful business or her personal life. Her opinion was that plans got in the way of opportunity. “Plans have a way of defining how we look at life and therefore we may miss something else.”

My immediate reply was that she had a goal of being open to opportunity without expectation.

My health in 2009 was a mountain to be climbed. I had three surgeries within 1 year. There was a period of time when I could not walk due to my illness and loss of strength. The staff at the hospital told me to get up four times a day and use the walker and drag the tree with me. I did not want to move. I used my will to get up everyday and do the four tours of the hospital wing. My husband remembers me zigzagging down the halls as fast as I could to get back into bed.

But I had a goal. I wanted to climb one more Colorado 14,000 foot mountain. When I went home, I began training. I got out of bed everyday, showered, dressed and climbed down the stairs to the couch. I would not use the restroom downstairs. I would climb the stairs up to my bedroom. Eventually I walked on the treadmill using the stairs to the basement gym to get to the machine. I began to run in Vibrams. I continued to do Pilates mat or equipment work everyday.

Last Sunday I climbed Grays Peak at 14,211 feet. I consider that this goal is important because I have regained the confidence to achieve and to be happy doing what I love to do. Business is not my life. I enjoy teaching Pilates. My goal is to do whatever I am doing and to be happy while doing it.

I could never have predicted that 2009, The Drama of the Appendix, would be part of the agenda. It was perfect. I have learned many things. Make plans, but always be open to change. Keep climbing your own mountains.

PS. Now I want to bag another Fourteener this summer.

Pilates and the Franklin-Method® - Bodies in Balance, NJ

2010-05-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

The Franklin Method® Level I Teacher Training has been invaluable in providing anatomy and imagery based on functional movement, health, and motivation. Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc was fortunate to offer the only Level I Teaching Training in English in 2009. Eric Franklin and Morten Dithmer have returned for Level II in 2010.

The Franklin Method has enabled me to teach with imagery that supports the functional movement within the Pilates repertoire. As a result, my students are able to understand why they are given certain images and cues. They also appreciate the exercise presented and the expected outcome. Occasionally I run for the pelvis, foot, or we migrate to the skeleton. People are able to understand and they appreciate a teacher taking time to educate. The toys also provide insight. I am very fond of the tensegrity toy, the breathing toy, as well as chains, clams, and spirals. The Franklin charts hang on the wall. The Franklin balls and rollers need cleaned as often as the Pilates equipment.

Marggi Vangeli hosted me in New Jersey at her studio, Bodies in Balance, I took two Franklin Method® workshops on the road. We did Liberate Your Shoulders and Release Your Neck and Pelvic Power. I also taught a Pilates workshop that is presented in a separate syllabus. Those who did Franklin were assimilating from a different perspective. Reports from Bodies in Balance tell me that the Pilates material with better imagery was employed the next day.

In 2011, Pat Guyton Pilates will host Franklin Method® Level III and Franklin Method® Level I Teacher Training. The trainings are three 7 day increments. I would recommend to all Pilates educators and movement teachers to think about this opportunity.

Pilates: Mind and Body: A few thoughts…

2010-05-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

The Mind is reading the title and is thinking, a mind activity, about the connection. The mind thinks that it is connected because the mind knows the definition of the word. The mind reads the dictionary. The body is waiting.

It is very difficult to calm thoughts and allow the sensations of the body speak to the mind. The body speaks in many different ways. Often there may be pain, discomfort, and emotional connections to thoughts. It is easy to understand why dissociation from these feelings might be an easy solution. The body can retreat to the mind in avoidance. Or the mind can exert effort to keep the feelings from invading life. Why bother? If the body is unable to be controlled, at least the mind is manageable. Or is that true?

The mind likes the idea that there is a mind body connection. It is a very hip thing to talk about, another mind activity. If the mind is very keen, it can present lectures, workshops and charge money talking about mind and body. The mind can inspire others and the audience leaves thinking about how wonderful those ideas were when spoken in the environment of health and wellness. The physical body can walk home and the mind can think about this wonderful enlightenment.

Then Monday arrives. I have been thinking about my workshop. Did I do a good job?

Maybe I should breathe and feel. This is very hard work.

Pilates for Runners: The Basics - Pilates Pro - Pilates-Pro.com: The Pulse of the Pilates Industry

2010-04-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

Pilates for Runners: The Basics - Pilates Pro - Pilates-Pro.com: The Pulse of the Pilates Industry

Pilates Center of Toledo - Pat Guyton

2010-04-07T16:41:00.000-07:00

Plopping at The Pilates Center of Toledo

2010-04-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

Pilates teachers have been challenged by the changing economy. Some areas of our country have been impacted more than others. The city of Toledo was an integral part of the automobile industry and is very close to Detroit. My host, Cynthia Taylor, gave me a tour of this remarkable city. Progressing Forward is a PMA CEC (12) hour workshop. Cynthia hosted me and gathered up a group of teachers and students. Many are using this time to study. They are investing in a future by learning new skills and sharing with other Pilates teachers. Everyone is positive that things will get better and the support for community is palpable.

We “plopped” often and thanked Jan Dunn who shared this with me. It is not a difficult skill but it has magical results. It is so true that one simple tool can often solve hours of talking, cuing, and demonstrating. People who were not able to attend are writing me about this little trick. If you are curious, ask me about it when you see me and I can show you in under a minute. Better yet, find one of the other teachers and they will be more than happy to teach you.

Thanks to Pilates Center of Toledo!

2010-03-16T10:27:00.001-07:00

2010-03-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

2010-02-28T19:27:00.000-08:00

Pat and Yuki

2010-02-23T22:11:00.001-08:00

Pilates: Pat Guyton’s Tree

2010-02-23T22:06:00.000-08:00

How many Pilates exercises are available in an economy airline seat? I am five hours from Narita airport near Tokyo. I started at 4:00 AM Boulder time and it is now 5:30 PM somewhere on the West Coast. At this spot over the Pacific, I begin to wonder if I know anything. What am I going to teach to these expectant students? I had a teacher who would often say at the beginning of a workshop that he wasn’t sure if he knew why he was there and he wasn’t sure if he knew anything. Of course, he did and still does.

Pilates is a tree that grows bigger with time. Eric Franklin asked a question in our Level I Teacher Training; “When do we think people began to train doing a prescribed routine of exercises?” The answer is based on human behavior. We began to train to hunt for food or when we went to war to take food from someone else. The roots of fitness preparation are deep in the past.

The past week the Olympic Winter Games have been exciting to watch. These are athletes that have spent years of preparation for an event. Each of them is a superior contender to have arrived as a participant. As a movement educator, I wonder how they will feel about sports, exercise, and recreation when the Olympic career is over. I have a friend who was a member of the USA Olympic team in swimming. She quit. Frank Shorter, an Olympic marathon runner still runs.

My vision is to look at Pilates as a tree that has grown. Joe and Clara planted the acorn. We can observe the tree from every angle. It is still the same tree, the same symmetry of branches, leaves and maybe flowers. The tree will look different is every season and it will be new from every angle. This will be my vision as I drift into sleep. If I am successful, I can bring a new view of the tree.

May your tree grow strong and true. At present I am envisioning a Royal Poinciana.

Master Pilates Teacher of Universe

2010-02-11T15:26:00.001-08:00

Progressing Forward Santa Barbara

2010-01-24T09:34:00.000-08:00

Pilates is a personal evolution for every serious teacher and student. The students of Pilates Conservatory® requested that I write a syllabus on how I have learned to adapt Pilates for each individual and how I continue to maintain my enthusiasm in daily teaching. The subject material includes the development of the critical thinking skills that are necessary to plan programs and classes. Critical thinking also allows the teacher to adapt to every person. There are many trails to climb the mountain and the diversity is what allows each person to arrive at the summit in a unique way. I was fortunate to have a phone conversation with Eve Gentry. She told me that each teacher would develop a particular path. However, it was important to study with our teachers first before beginning to try new things.

It is not surprising that Mat work review is essential. What I enjoy about teaching at this point in my career is flexibility and fluidity. I do not find that it is mandatory or useful to change any style or school of Pilates’ choreography. It is rewarding to share our work and find the common elements of each exercise.
In gymnastics, the students must learn a compulsory routine. This means that the skills and tricks that are expected for each developmental level of competition are defined in a choreographed sequence. The gymnast works hard to reach a consistent high score in competition. The personal reward is reaching an advanced level of individual interpretation. The required skills and tricks must be in the routine.
A Pilates teacher must know what the level of each student is. This awareness is reflected in a presentation of exercises that increases confidence and progress in the student. It is also respectful of the boundaries of psychology. And it is safe.

CenterPoint Pilates is one of my cheering sections. It is a wonderful feeling to be respected and expected to give and to receive. There are teachers in attendance from other lineages. One of them told me that she really appreciated that I remain neutral and give encouragement to everyone. She also felt embraced by the group immediately. I got an email from her telling me that some of the weekend exercises were on the floor Monday morning in Los Angeles.

Progressing forward is a good message for everyone. I bless each of my fellow teachers and students,

CenterPoint Pilates Hosts Franklin Pelvic Power

2010-01-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

Packing for travel is always a challenge. The bag for liquids is an ingrained habit, but sometimes the bag pops its zip and the contents meander through the contents of the personal items allowed on board the aircraft. I now have a greater appreciation for Eric Franklin and the intensity of his teaching and traveling schedule. My Friday evening debut as a Franklin Educator required packing bones, toys, markers, books and Franklin balls. I am now learning how to pad a tensegrity model with the lung sponge wedged in place by the sacrum.

Thirty people attended the Pelvic Power workshop. I am fortunate to be comfortable with group teaching, but presenting Franklin with the respect and honor of the originator is daunting. Eric is a tough act to follow. The only way to get better at a new skill is take a leap of faith. The first time I stepped on stage to dance, I was filled with an overwhelming fear of inadequacy. Sharing my trepidation of failure with a friend, a question was posed to me. Would my teacher ask someone who was abysmal to perform? If a teacher is leader and a student educator, would they choose to encourage another to present their work? The only way to answer that question will be time and practice.

CenterPoint Pilates studio is a home for me in Santa Barbara. Amy Havens has always provided a welcome environment for me and for the students. We had ordered 32 sets of the Franklin balls to be shipped to the studio. The skeleton was in the corner. I read Pelvic Power and Dynamic Alignment Through Imagery both by Eric Franklin many times and reviewed my Franklin Method™ Level I pelvic notes. I had a class outline prepared. On the flight, I had an inspiration to buy some wheels for the pelvic anatomy. (If you are curious, you must take Eric’s Pelvic Power workshop.) Amy drove me to a hardware store and we found the perfect set.

That night I prepared some of my drawings ahead of the workshop time. Eric does these in the moment, but he has more experience than I do sketching in front of the class with the colored markers. I find the drawings are fun. In my biology classes in college, I had the skill to look into the scope with the left eye and render cells and structures with skill and accuracy. Some of that zoology study is proving useful in this setting.

The evening was a success. I am far from the skill level of Eric and Morten Dithmer, his assistant. I am far from the skill of more practiced Franklin Method ™ Educators, but the experience was rewarding for me and the class responded with enthusiasm. I have an invitation to return to Santa Barbara to teach the dancers in conjunction with another workshop in the spring.

I do warn other Franklin teachers about the airport security checkpoints. They stopped me on the way home to search my luggage. I am not sure if it was the sacrum and femur or the toys, but they TSA did run the wheels through the X-ray a second time.

Pilates Conservatory on the Road 2010

2009-12-28T13:36:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
This year I will be teaching and sharing with many teachers and students. These are the locations of my workshops. Please go to www.patguytonpilates.com for more specific information and the contact phone numbers. There are a few more locations that are in the planning stages. They will be mounted on the website as those dates are verified.

Santa Barbara, CA: January
Japan: February
Toledo, Ohio: March
Body, Mind, Spirit, Santa Clara: April
Pilates Conservatory®: April
Singapore: May
Japan: June
Pilates Conservatory®: July
Pilates on Tour: August
Pilates Conservatory®: August
Switzerland: October
PMA – Long Beach: November
Pilates Conservatory®: November
Franklin Method® Level II Teacher Training: March, June, September

Pilates: Running Barefoot

2009-12-06T09:37:00.000-08:00

Joseph Pilates wrote about whole body health and whole body commitment in Return to Life. I have been teaching and practicing Pilates since 1984. I have been running since 1976. I was a dancer. Running was very hard. My legs hurt and my aerobic endurance was challenged. Dancers move very quickly across the dance floor everyday of class in every direction. When running forward became too painful, I would slide sideward or backward. That was easy. I continued to run. Current articles informed me that this was healthy. I assumed that it would become more comfortable as time passed.

I moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1982. Boulder is a center for high altitude training. I put on my shoes and set out within a few days. The thinner air at one mile high was a challenge, but I adapted. The legs still hurt, but this was good for heart rate and bone density. I kept going my distance. Elite runners would pass me on the paths. I noticed that some had posture that would only lead to injury. Would they run for health at 60 without a functional core and poor lower extremity alignment?

Running generates a feeling of power to know that distance can be covered without a car. I hiked and ran at elevation. My husband, who was an expedition climber, was astonished at how fast I could navigate a scree field. (Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders.) Scampering down a scree field, requires focus on the next footfall and immediate response to shifting balance.

Despite running for over thirty years, my doctors began to tell me that running was bad for older people. They also informed me to do some exercise that was aerobic and weight bearing. Is that confusing information? Running and Pilates are my preferred exercise forms. I can run anywhere and at any time. Runners have an opportunity to commune with nature. The Pilates studio has a flat terrain and the summit is the Trapeze Table. There are no foxes, coyotes and turtles under the Reformers.

Last year I had an unexpected health crisis. This involved a bowel resection and two surgeries. I was told that it might take me a year to recover. I began to walk on the treadmill. In four months I was doing the entire Pilates Mat series. Five months later, the running shoes were calling out.

After finishing the Franklin Method ® Teacher Training Level I, which includes the anatomy of the bones of the foot, I was questioning the concepts of stabilizing the functional movement of the foot with specialized shoes in sports. I discovered www.runBare.com and questions were answered. I bought my five fingers and set out for a short run. I had not run since early May. I ran faster, further, and without pain. My bunions did not complain. My feet felt fantastic. The MCL tear from skiing Avalanche Bowl was quiet. The achy hip from a 1991 car accident felt great. My lumbar and sacral spine felt fantastic. Pilates is my preferred method of exercise, but I can run again! Trust your feet.

Wisdom of Change: Pilates

2009-11-15T10:50:00.000-08:00

The leaves have fallen and it is snowing. I love Colorado because of the seasonal changes. Change in life is good and inevitable. Conscious change is difficult. It often feels as if one is stepping into a void. All things that were held precious disappear, often with pain and despair. The impetus to press forward can only come from a deep catharsis. Joy and freedom can follow.

Snakes experience ecdysis intermittently as they grow and thus the symbol of wisdom. Quetzalcoatl was worshiped as the serpent god by the Aztecs. Good teachers are bearers of wisdom from deep reflection. Good students continue the process to become the next generation of inspired teachers. When the snake can no longer change it dies. It is better to embrace the wisdom and bequeath our knowledge to others with generosity.

Joseph Pilates work is about change for every body. His First Generation students and teachers changed to meet a contemporary world.

Last week, was Unit I of Pilates Conservatory®, a comprehensive Pilates teacher training. The knowledge of the study deepens with every round of teaching. The students are new or they are revisiting the foundations of Pilates from many lineages of movement. The students wriggled out of an old skin like the snake.

Eric Franklin taught at Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. in 2007. The Franklin Method ® Level I Teacher Training was hosted in 2009. This education is an invaluable tool for reassessing the functional movement and the intension of the Pilates exercises. The Franklin Method® persists and thrives on change. Upon observation, a reformer class at Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. would not look much different on the surface. The voice of the teachers is precise and the clients enjoy the information. They also perform better with encouragement and knowledge.

Snakes wriggle across the dunes and leave a path in the sand. May the path lead us to the destination.

RIDING THE CADILLAC IN GENEVA

2009-10-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Geneva last week. It was so good to see Susan Pepper and Markus Siegenthaler again. We took a boat ride to Yvoir and caught up on our lives. Markus is enrolled in Franklin Method® Level I Teacher Training. We had good conversation regarding the integration of bone rhythms into our Pilates teaching. Susan and I shared the process of education and our vision of Pilates in the future.

The next five days were beginning and intermediate Cadillac. Susan and I have very similar styles of teaching and how to look at the inside of the “engine” of the Cadillac. I come home with new inspiration.

Pilates is very alive outside of the USA. The international teaching community is growing in expertise and embracing excellence. I am leaving tomorrow with a respect for the autonomy and individual identity that every culture brings to this work. When I started, there was no information that was easily discovered in the USA. The USA has had the opportunity to grow the industry into other countries. Now it is time to honor and acknowledge that we have planted seeds and they have grown into experts within their own worlds.

It is with great joy that I said goodbye to our Cadillac students. They will be better teachers, continue to study, and to bring Pilates into the community in which they live.

Pilates Conservatory® at Core Pilates, Louisville, Kentucky

2009-09-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

Looking Front – Working Back, a PMA 12 hour CEC workshop was a fantastic experience. I know more about the shoulder girdle from teaching this workshop in 2009. Yuuko Igarashi, from Alycea Ungaro’s Real Pilates, came as my assistant. Bear, Jo and Dawn provided a beautiful studio, great hospitality, and a group of teachers and students who were eager to learn. I love teaching this workshop because it relates to every aspect of Pilates performance on mat and equipment. The Franklin Method™ Training has given me new perspectives on Pilates. I am a missionary for movement education and I am more competent because of my continuing education.

This is the first workshop where I took SOS straps and had my book Shoulder Girdle and Arm Work as an adjunct for the workshop material. It is an overwhelming feeling to be signing my book. I wrote the initial material in May of 2008 and now the product is available from OPTP.

I am going to continue with this workshop in 2010 since I enjoy teaching the material. If anyone would like to book this workshop contact me.

Thanks to Core Pilates…it was a great opportunity to share my work with other professionals who were very well prepared.

Pat: Franklin Method ® Educator Level I

2009-09-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

Three weeks and 21 days of fantastic information was presented at Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. by Eric Franklin and Morten Dithmer. 37 students worked very hard. And with great courage, nerves on edge, and fellow student support, they presented individual topics taught within the Level I training.

This education has given me a new insight about my form of education which is Pilates. This does not mean that the choreography of the Pilates method has morphed into another syllabus. The information changes the anatomical understanding of functional movement. It gives the teacher new concepts of teaching from imagery that is functional anatomy. My past experience in Pilates, dance, weights, etc, often suggested cueing that was not anatomically accurate. I struggled to get people into a “correct position”. With the Franklin Method, the position will come naturally when the client is able to embody the feeling and purpose of the movement. This process has motivated my clients to work toward better form. They want to do what makes them feel better in everyday life.

It is not about the “burn”, it is about the “learn”.

BREATHING IN AND LETTING GO

2009-09-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

A baby does not require an explanation of how to breathe. Treading the path of life may change this process. It may require reevaluation. Events and circumstances can alter the natural flow and motion in respiration. Accidents, trauma, illness, social conditioning, poor choices of health habits (such as smoking) and imposed training may change the natural acceptance of the breath of life.

My Franklin-Method Teacher Training is answering questions that have been whirling in my brain. I am in process of integrating this information. I do not have a final answer and I am open to changing my mind and body as I grow in awareness.

My first teacher of the mechanics of breathing was Dr. Ed Stiles, DO. It was Ed who educated me about “Bucket Handle Rib Motion, Pump Handle Rib Motion, and Caliper Motion and the importance of breath within Osteopathy. I have taught this information to others for years. It is not new and does not belong to any community of medicine or discipline. It is how the body works. The interpretation of how to accomplish good breathing habits is defined in many different ways for many different reasons.

My exploration has been shared and exchanged with three good friends who also were exploring breath in motion. Alvin Giam, Pilates Bodyworks in Singapore, shared his experience with breathing and health. Alvin’s story is not mine to share, but I listened. Briala Silva, Briala Bodyworks, Lancaster, Pennsylvania also had a transformation of breath within her teaching that was inspired by many diverse sources. Stacey Dreisbach, Physical Methods Pilates, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was generous with her research. These three were not in communication with each other or me regarding their process. Like many, they were just breathing and noticing.

This is an invitation to breathe without too much mental effort. Fragrant perfume, good health, and ease float upon the air…let the breath in and let go of all preconceptions.

Franklin-Method®, Level I: June 15 - 21

2009-08-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

Eric Franklin was incredible. This course of study is not easy. I learned anatomy out of a book or in Power Point presentations. This is an anatomical view of how movement works in the body. In the first year of study we get into the bones and I am grateful to say that my whole view of teaching has changed and the way I look at the Pilates exercises has been transformed. Yes, the stomach massage still looks the same way on the outside, but the knowledge of how to teach from the inside to the outside is an exciting shift.

The 37 students will finish in September. This is a three year course and a huge commitment that is worth the time and the cost.

If any readers have not experienced this work, go to www.franklin-method.com and find a list of workshops in your area. If you have finished Level I, you can sign up for Level II which in 2010. That information is also present on Eric’s website.

Move your spines!

Kokyuu-ta-mo-tsu – Keep Breathing

2009-08-24T08:18:00.000-07:00

June was a busy month for me in many ways! Early in the month Yuki Kato and Misako Oba organized a group from Japan to come to Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. It was quite an experience for me to teach from a wheel chair and I am grateful to Yuki and Yuuko Igarashi for the assistance and support that they gave to me. Yuuko was the translator. The students were attentive and respectful.

I have been working on my breathing for the last three months. My surgeon has tattoos and runs marathons! She explained to me that the patient is strapped onto the table. (It is good that the patients are under anesthesia at that time.) Then the table is tilted for the advantage of the best field for the procedure. In my case, the table was tilted down and to the left, leaving the right side open. My lungs had to work uphill and under assistance so that the ribs and diaphragm need to be retrained.

My students were fantastic under the circumstances and I am looking forward to my travel to Japan in 2010. I hope to be standing and to Kokyuu-ta-mo-tsu.
Thank you to everyone who came despite the flu!

Pilates Bodyworks - May 2009

2009-08-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

Pilates Bodyworks was an incredible experience for me. Alvin Giam has assembled a group of very fine teachers. Colin Low just graduated from Core Dynamics. It is a testimony to Alvin that he encourages his students to study from excellent teachers and to keep the doors open to other lineages. The teaching evoked new ideas and the students taught me as much as I taught them. Exchange is always the best teaching experience. I am learning more about this process from Eric Franklin who speaks clearly about student centered teaching.

On the way home, my body insisted on having a dialogue regarding health, rest, and change. Consequently, I have had an enforced vacation. The Singapore trip to Pilates Bodywork was the refiner’s fire. Things change without control. I had to go through the fire and the is phoenix not quite ready to open the wings to fly.

Alvin supported me through this experience. When he called me in the hospital, I was so medicated, that I am not certain that the information that I gave him on the swan was clear! Thanks Alvin
I

TAMING THE DINOSAUR - PILATES

2009-05-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

This word “posture” is not a fun word for many clients. They tell me that they are aware that their posture is BAD. In my previous incarnation as a Pilates teacher, I might overlook that negative imagery and move right into whatever protocols seemed best to me to FIX the situation. Now I wonder if posture can be BAD . Do we discipline this naughty bunch of bones into normative behavior? Or, do I send for an ambulance to surgically repair the misfit?

My children’s father was a chiropractor. One day the girls came home from visiting the office and told me that Daddy had a dinosaur in his office, his skeleton model. They were four and six and perhaps much smarter than their parents. They were able to describe what they saw. They did not see a living, dynamic, replica of the human body in motion.

The image of the skeleton in my studio is useful as a generic visual map of the location of bones. It does not present the truth of movement. Without the connective tissue of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and cartilage, Mr. Joe, as we call our skeleton, would be a pile of bones on the floor.
I am stymied when clients arrive at Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. who have been chastised by a health care professional that the cause of all their problems in life is embedded in bad posture. “I am told by my therapist that I am sleeping wrong.” I wondered how you could be asleep and be vigilant regarding the position of the body while unconsciousness.

I have a posture evaluation that I use for screening of all new clients. I begin the Pilates education with some common anatomical landmarks and some anatomically inspired images. I use imagery that can be understood by anyone with life experience. It can be a geometric shape, a mechanical tool or a design to develop a common language for movement cuing that may be required in an exercise.
A student and teacher, look in the mirror and SEE what is there. Then we talk about choices for movement and how we can train new patterns. Most people are very grateful to be given guidance in an environment of education and support. I love telling people that they take their cars to the garage at the first hint of trouble. Cats and dogs in Boulder receive the best health care available. Our most important vehicle is the one and only body that we are given at birth. We can get several new cars and hopefully we all will do so when technology has engineered vehicles with dependable renewable resources.

For Pilates education to begin I must address the posture in a supportive and functional way that leads to movement. It helps me identify the map of what, where, and why the reflection in the mirror presents posture that is a unique reflection for each person. From this analysis, I can begin to make suggestions that optimize a central axis. Once this process has become a mutual endeavor, exercises can be selected that encourage the living body to move toward balance, strength, flexibility and health.

This is a continual process that requires daily practice. Events in life, such as emotional stress, accidents, and age urge the body to spiral down the drain toward entropy. This happens when we believe in the traditional view of diminished quality of movement and a consequent relinquishment of mental and physical activity. Thoughts of breathing life into everyday activity will vanquish the specter of age.

This does not take work. It requires commitment, dedication, and joyful thoughts.
I call this TAMING THE DINOSAUR, which allows the bones to assume their role and takes the focus from holding a position of tension. We no longer “hang off of our bones”, we live in harmony with the whole body. Muscles begin to work in balance. The mind and body connection are enhanced. T-REX can become a joyful puppy.

PAT TWITTERS

2009-04-28T06:51:00.000-07:00

PAT TWITTERS. SAY HELLO

PGUYTONPILATES

FRANKLIN METHOD TEACHER TRAINING LEVEL I

2009-03-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

On Saturday morning, March 21, 2009, thirty-seven students took in a deep breath and stepped into the circle with Eric Franklin.

Eric embodies his teaching and imbues the study of humanity and inner environment with wit, joy and dedication. I am unable, at this time, to define the Franklin Method. My attention is centered on my interior and the feeling of movement. My nose will be in the books and I am rattled to the bones with anatomy.

It is good to step out of my comfort zone.

The sacrum “rocks”!

PILATES AND SALSA DANCE

2009-03-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

Pilates is for everybody. Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. is fortunate to have Bantaba World Dance and Music at the studio. The good vibes from the Salsa dancers come alive in classes and workshops. Sam Gill PhD, has researched and taught world dance history for more than a decade at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Jenny Gill received her degree in Ethnomusicology from the University of Washington in 2000. Carlos Martin is from Venezuela and has grown up with a strong love for salsa dance and music.

Sam began his private Pilates sessions with me a year ago. We had fun sharing our teaching experiences and our mutual love of movement. Sam’s body began to change and some of the imbalances that he felt in his movement were allowing him to see the challenges his students were having in class. We began to consider an experiment of teaching Pilates to Salsa students to see how the Pilates movement education might enhance their enjoyment of dance.

I would not say that I taught Pilatesalsa. I taught beginning mat and reformer. As the students began to understand the exercise, I could introduce performance concepts within the exercise that applied to dancing. We arranged the six reformers so that they faced each other in partners of three. The group was doing Stomach Massage, the twist. Each of the students were working the twist and lifting the torso. They were not seeing their partner on the reformer on the opposite side of the room. I asked them to send energy to their partner as they returned from the twist to the center. The whole room elevated! The bodies got longer and the smiles erupted.

One of the difficulties that serious students of dance experience is the focus on technique within their body. Partnering requires matching energy with another person. Finding a good partner demands two people who have technique and an ability to create a movement relationship. The ability to teach Pilates and performance enhancement is intuitive and delightful.

This class has allowed the students to learn about their body and the limitations they have that cannot be addressed within a dance class. The students have expressed that understanding of individual physical imbalances can be one reason for struggle in mastering a dance technique. They have all agreed that Pilates education has given them tools outside of the classroom that bring greater freedom and ease when they are rocking to the Salsa rhythm.

Through his work with young people, Sam has developed an approach that teaches all dancers both “lead” and “follow” parts—a significant innovation in the form and in the benefits to the participants. SalsAmigos was recently awarded a multi-year grant from the Youth Opportunities Board of the City of Boulder. For more information go to blog.salsa-challenge.com

Loss of a Teacher

2009-03-01T09:54:00.000-08:00

Teaching is a gift to give to others and it is a responsibility to elevate the student’s proficiency and personal professional development. Mary Bowen, First Generation Master Teacher supported me in a time of a difficult journey. She told me that “we cannot be Joe or Clara”. We cannot be any of our teachers. We can only study and integrate the work into our individual psyche and our bodies. In this way, we can strive to become an individual expression of an authentic teacher.

Recently I discovered a blog site. The author is a thoughtful student and teacher who is sharing with others her journey of discovery and recovery. A necessary part of a deep transformation will often feel like a separation from those we trust, love, and cherish. The gift of the void can be an opportunity to look for the inner voice and learn to trust ourselves. Choices can be made from quiet reflection. Exploration of how to teach evokes new thoughts. Experience will lend the teacher flexibility to listen and grow in cycles which are continuing spirals upward.

Good teachers are chosen by the student. The teacher does not choose or control the student. The teacher gives and receives. The teacher must learn to release the student with love and kindness when the time for independence has arrived. The teacher can keep the door open and the relationship will transform to fruitful exchange and mutual respect.

I am joyful to say that this student sought my guidance many years ago and for a time we tread the same path. We had some great times together. Life changed. Our feelings of mutual respect remain intact. We share our passion for Pilates which includes our similar conclusions, our exploration within our respective journey of teaching, and we do not always agree. We do not find that we need to agree and we have fun disagreeing. We do support each other.

Students find teachers.

Teachers cherish students.

Congratulations! Stephanie Miller is a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher™

2009-02-26T17:58:00.000-08:00

I met Stephanie while working in a physical therapy clinic. She was excited and told me that she had studied some Pilates DVD’s. We began by reviewing the Mat list. Her big grin and enthusiasm were contagious. She shared that it was probably impossible to really learn Pilates from a product and she was excited to study. Stephanie traveled many roads on her journey of teacher training. I am proud to say that we were able to reconnect last summer and complete her comprehensive Pilates education at Pilates Conservatory. Today she passed the PMA Exam. Way to go Stef! May your teaching bring you joy and fulfillment.

Papa India Lima Alpha Tango Echo Sierra

2009-02-19T18:04:00.000-08:00

The NATO phonetic alphabet, is the most widely recognized system of spelling the letters of words that could be mistaken for other letters. My name is usually mistaken for Guiton instead of Guyton because “y” and “i” are not easy to distinguish due to pronunciation or hearing. The NATO alphabet is a spelling alphabet. Specific words have been designated for each letter of the English alphabet. This system was implemented acrophonically, which means the use of a word is has been designated as the name of the alphabetical symbol representing the initial sound of that word. This system is universal so that critical combinations of letters (and numbers) can be pronounced and understood by those who transmit and receive voice messages by radio or telephone regardless of their native language. The paramount reason is to ensure intelligibility of voice signals over radio links.

Therefore my name is acrophonically spelled: Golf-Uniform-Yankee-Tango-Oscar-November. It is not Gross-Underarm-Yucky-Tummy-Often-Neglected!

The Pilates Alphabet is the name of the exercises. The PMA Certification Examination has designated a specific name that is recognized within a system of exercises in English. These names are recognized in all languages. These names were designated by Joseph Pilates and the recollections of his students. Despite his intentions, names still have a way of changing within studios. Two of my sweet 20 something gals are calling exercises fun names like the Pops and the Inchworm. It is easy to see how things can morph. The girls may have chosen these names because it describes how they feel the movements at this time. They are new students.

The PMA researched and with careful consideration established the "letters" for my profession. This common system allows Pilates teachers to exchange information that is uniform and facilitates accurate communication in any language. Take some time to review The PMA Pilates Certification Exam Study Guide. You may find that your Pilates Alphabet has transformed. It is fun to notice these things and get back to the basics.

The Swan is not a Cobra.

SPINE CORRECTOR AT BODIES IN BALANCE: Marggi Vangeli Host

2009-02-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

New Jersey was cold, but the students were HOT! I learn many things when I have an opportunity to teach a workshop for Pilates professionals of different lineages. The Spine Corrector Mat syllabus that I present evokes some consideration for what Joe Pilates may have approved as a good evolution of his legacy. Many people quote Joe. I was not there and I doubt that Joe said the same things to each of his students. I don’t. If you are a teacher, you know that each student is an individual and the same information must be said often and in different ways over a long time of study.

I began teaching Mat work on the Spine Corrector to inspire other teachers to reconsider this deceptively simple piece of equipment. It appears simple due to the engineering that employs no springs or movable parts. I wanted to offer the Spine Corrector work as a choice for class and private teaching hours. The Spine Corrector has a unique geometry that facilitates thoracic extension, deeper “C” curve, and cervical spine support. It also can be very challenging. The application of the Mat work was a choice based on the ability to offer choreography that was inclusive of all good educational comprehensive programs and introduce familiar exercise to the anatomy of the curve. Resistance is often encountered when new patterns are introduced within Pilates work. I would suggest that this feeling derives from a respect for the classic work. It may arise from concern that the work has departed too far from the intension of Joe.

Our group discovered that the Spine Corrector allows participation for people who may have some dysfunction that precludes full participation within the Mat on the floor. We discovered that Mat work on the Spine Corrector can be a killer workout for the advanced student. We also discerned that personal practice is imperative for the teacher to apply critical thinking to the choices of the Mat list for each student. Often a piece of work on the Spine Corrector is easier or harder than the performance on the Mat.

We agreed that we did not know what Joe may have told us last weekend. We did agree that trusting what our teachers have imparted has given us tools to make intelligent choices. The goal of good practice is to offer a path of physical exercise that imparts health and vitality. Our choices of exercise and presentation may change over the years, but the goals are constant.

Thanks,
Bodies in Balance
21 Cook Avenue
Madison, NJ 07940
(973) 360-1000
www.bodiesinbalancenj.com

PILATES CONSERVATORY® WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 2009

2009-01-18T11:45:00.000-08:00

Centerpointe Pilates, Santa Barbara, California - January 8, 9, 10, 2009
The Old is New and The New is Old: 12 PMA CEC’s.
Contact: Amy Havens 805-560-6992

Pilates Center of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio - January 23, 24, 25, 2009
Looking Front – Working Back: 12 PMA CEC’s.
Contact: Cynthia Taylor 419-245-2243

Bodies in Balance, Madison, New Jersey - February 7, 8, 2009
The Old is New and The New is Old: 12 PMA CEC’s.
Contact: Marggi Vangeli (973) 360-1000

Franklin Method: Level I Teaching Training
March 21 – 27, 2009 - June 15 – 21, 2009 - September 14 – 20, 2009
12 PMA CEC’s.
Contact: Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. 303-449-7284

Pilates Bodyworks, Singapore - May 23, 24, 25, 26,27, 2009
Content to be announced.
Contact: 6538 8922

International Japanese Workshop, Boulder, CO. - June 3, 4, 5, 2009
Climb Upward From Your Plateau
Contact: Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. 303-449-7284

Core Pilates
Louisville, Kentucky - September 26,27, 2009
Looking Front - Working Back
Contact: 502-489-5422

San Antonio, Texas - October 2, 3, 4, 2009
Content to be announced.
Contact: Jean Bordelon 210-467-8143

Swissbody, Geneva, Switzerland – October 19 – 23, 2009
Beginning and Intermediate Trapeze Table
12 PMA CEC’s.
Contact: www.swissbody-pilates.com

PMA Annual Conference - November 5 - 8, 2009
Register Online: www.pilatesmethodalliance.org

CENTERPOINTE PILATES WORKSHOP: JANUARY 9, 10, 11 2009

2009-01-17T10:14:00.000-08:00

The Old is New and The New is Old, 12 PMA CEC’s, was the title of the workshop that was presented at Amy Haven’s beautiful studio on Victoria and State Streets.
I had a fantastic time, as usual, when I visit Santa Barbara. Amy had specifically asked me to approach the material with a perspective that would allow her teachers to begin to think critically and to choose material that was appropriate and beneficial for the individual student.

When students first begin to study, it is very important to follow a recipe and trust that our mentors have had more experience. We need to practice and trust the method of training that has been given to us. I was fortunate to have had a conversation with Eve Gentry in 1986. Her comment reflects this message. Practice the work as presented to you by a good teacher. Then, with care and consideration after many years of teaching, begin to add personal perspective into the work, if it made sense and had purpose.

The students were surprised that they could make decisions and they could develop rationale for teaching the choreography that is Pilates. It does not demand a change in the choreography but it does require thought, insightful presentation, and active listening and reflection in process with the student.
This group was great. Everyone participated and each shared idea reflected thought and curiosity for more insight.

A quote from a friend who coached Olympic swimmers: An instructor presents material as personal practice in teaching. A teacher presents material that reflects the needs of the student. I owe much gratitude to Amy Havens for inviting me to Centerpointe and many thanks to the students who came with enthusiasm and talent.

Guillotine/Tower Workshop at NoBo Pilates

2009-01-17T09:49:00.000-08:00

On January 3, 2009, Hayley Hobson invited me to NoBo Pilates to teach a workshop on the Guillotine. Mary Bowen told me that Joe Pilates called this equipment “Gym in a Doorway”. The name conjures images of a house in which we would wiggle from a kitchen to the living area while stopping for a moment to practice some arm work. It is not such a departure from Joe’s ideas regarding a bed with springs attached for a brisk workout before stepping onto the floor or a chair that could be used as a seat or turned into an exercise opportunity at a whim.
Haley arranged for a great group of students. A consistent comment regarding the Guillotine is amazement and appreciation for the diversity of the Pilates work and that each equipment element augments the syllabus.
Hayley Hobson is an intelligent, caring, and committed student. Hayley has created a studio environment that is comprehensive and comfortable. If you have not experienced the Guillotine, visit NoBo or Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc.
By the way does anyone have Joe’s “V” folding bed? I am curious.

Inspiration to Move

2008-12-10T20:30:00.001-08:00

Philadelphia In-Service at Inspiration to Movement

2008-12-10T13:00:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I had a new opportunity to do an In-Service Continuing Education for Inspiration to Movement in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. I have taught workshops that may be two hours at conferences and I have taught weekend workshops for many years. The difference between these education formats and an In- Service is the intension and purpose of the experience and the intimacy of one studio’s staff and teachers.

Rachel Nace is the owner and the artistic director of Inspiration to Movement. She is a very accomplished dancer and I featured her new career inclusion of professional ballroom dance competition in a former blog. Concurrent with this new opportunity, Rachel will continue to maintain and grow her Pilates studio. She has been fortunate to have developed a team that includes young teachers with boundless enthusiasm and some vintage teachers who have wisdom and business skills. These teachers have completed fine Pilates educations, but they have diverse lineages. My mission, as requested by Rachel, was the integration of each teacher’s unique skills with the energy and focus of a cohesive group.

Each teacher had gifts and talents to offer. The In-Service included:
Professional Resume Development
PMA Membership
PMA Certified Pilates Teacher™ Requirement by 2009
Review of the 34 Mat List Exercises from Return to Life through Contrology
Wunda Chair Review
Trapeze Table Review
Pedagogy: Active Listening, Active Reflection, Cueing
Recognition and Respect for client personality presentation.

Fantastic Weekend – Fantastic Host – Fantastic Staff!

Peace

2008-11-18T18:45:00.000-08:00

Posture is a Good Word!

2008-11-18T16:01:00.000-08:00

After teaching for many years, I recognized an unusual reaction to the word posture from many students. Bruce King told a group of workshop attendees in Boulder that, “Movement in correct alignment produces correct muscular development”. My doctor friends told me that the meaning of this was that postural correction was imperative within exercise to produce maximum therapeutic results. In gymnastics coaching and dance training, I often joked that the first five years were spent teaching the students how to stand up with good posture before beginning to take a step into a trick or onto the dance floor.
So how could something so basic and good evoke reactions ranging from emotional stress to intense rejection? Could it be that for some people the word posture is connected to an event or stress that is not perceived as good? I pondered.
My first postural correction when I complained about eating liver and onions, involved a disciplinary injunction to “Sit up straight and wipe that frown off of my face!” I am not certain how sitting “straight” would change my preference for a food that I found disgusting. The dissatisfaction of the food was the cause of the slump. Smiling was not going to help anything and I am stubborn. I still do not eat liver. Liver and the word posture in my psyche did not equal good feelings.
I have since learned that extreme emotional distress will cause poor posture that is often described as the body language. Frequently the communication is one of mistrust and repressed feelings. When teaching these people, care must be taken to evoke better posture by presenting movement and alignment with positive imagery and kindness. Pilates teachers are not qualified to treat any condition with therapy that involves emotional counseling unless we are licensed psychologists. We can become skillful in positive reinforcement and encouragement. Your teaching job will be easier and you will experience greater satisfaction and results.
Many psychologists and some psychiatrists have come to the studio for Pilates. In conversations, I have discovered that many of these therapists have similar maladaptive compensatory posture from job related activities. It is common knowledge that computer technicians will have poor posture from extended work in one position. I have discovered that many people who practice “active listening” assume a posture that is inviting and less threatening. This posture is a passive and intent slump. Think of this position as a satellite receiver, the body is concave and listening. This position is often not a conscious tool for patient treatment and it goes unnoticed. These therapists who know about Pilates consider the movement “cross training” for their jobs.
Posture is a good word and results in health, vitality and grace in movement. Pilates is a wonderful tool for strength, flexibility, mobility, and endurance in the physical body and in emotional and mental health.

Singapore – The Old is New and The New is Old: PMA CEC Workshop

2008-11-04T18:03:00.000-08:00

Alvin Giam, owner of Pilates Bodyworks in Singapore hosted a fantastic three-day workshop! Alvin and his wife, Jasmine, were generous and fastidious in management. Workshops require much work and preparation. The appearance that things were “seamless” was a testament to expert planning.

The staff at the studio is a cohesive collection of people who really like each other! Some were old friends and many were new. I was able to spend two days working with the staff before the workshop began. I am impressed with the education and growth of his teachers. Thank you to Mary Bowen, Dianne Miller and Michelle Larson! The teachers at Pilates Bodyworks are well grounded in the syllabus of Joe Pilates and they have had an advantage of study with other mentors.

The three-day workshop was a superb experience for me. Many of the students were old friends and they have matured in their chosen path of study. The new students were excited and very attentive. I am always impressed that students who have very little opportunity to study at home are so dedicated.

Thank you to everyone who attended! I had FUN!

Congratulations

2008-10-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

Matthew Deal successfully passed the examination and is now a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher! Way to go!

Birgit Fleurent: Swiss Mermaid

2008-10-13T15:47:00.001-07:00

Swissbody: Markus and Pat

2008-10-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

Swissbody® Pilates Academy: www.swissbody-pilates.com

2008-10-06T02:10:00.000-07:00

Susan Pepper and Swissbody® hosted me in their beautiful studio in Geneva. I am very impressed with the policy of continuing education. Swissbody ®Academy provides a quality school, mentors their graduates and encourages study with any and all other Pilates educational opportunities. Students become teachers. As they grow in knowledge, many develop an approach and a desire to open another Pilates facility. These teachers are encouraged and are welcomed back to Swissbody® for workshops and classes. This is a very inspiring attitude which reflects the PMA™’s mission of inclusivity.
Inclusivity and encouraging growth in former students and teachers can be a very difficult attitude to maintain. Many other schools and businesses are afraid of competition. When a student or employee leaves, an attitude of contempt, lack of respect, and disparagement of character are the reaction of fear and assumed rejection. I have been challenged to maintain a neutral and supportive view of my past. I have not been as successful as Susan, Birgit, and the Swissbody® staff. They embody the attitude of support without an effort to be seen as diplomacy. The depth of this spirit is inherent in the character and nature of their psyche. They cannot act in another manner because it is not a practice but the essential essence of the collective consciousness.
I had a wonderful experience sharing my work. The students were respectful, enthusiastic, and extended themselves to share and exchange with me. Again, this is a reflection of the spirit of Swissbody®. I learned from my experience and ideas are fomenting in my process of how to present, the content of my teaching, and integrating the exchange of information.
This workshop has afforded me the opportunity to observe the growth of Pilates in Europe. The level of education was beyond my expectation. These students have extended and reached deeply into every presentation of workshops, books, conversations, personal practice and long distance travel to reach into the well of knowledge. They also have an educational experience prior to study that has provided a foundation of application of the principles and the syllabus of Pilates.
I have much gratitude and respect for the invitation to present at Swissbody®. I am confident that each of these students will continue to practice and experience a deeper understanding of movement and teaching. I seek to learn from my experience on all levels of humanity.

Congratulations to Matthew Deal and Yuki Kato who have completed Pilates Conservatory™.

2008-09-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

Matt is enthusiastic regarding his process in Pilates. He also is motivated to teaching others. I have gotten very provocative questions from him throughout his case studies. As his teacher, I have needed to reach deeper into my critical thinking within the Pilates method. Matt plans to enter into Occupational Therapy, OT, training. I am proud of his personal transformation and wish him the best success in his future practice and study.

Yuuko Igarashi introduced Yuki Kato to me through a recommendation to attend a workshop. Yuki was trained in the Romana lineage. Her education was excellent. She was excited when the certificate of completion was awarded. At that point, the practicality of teaching and communication of ideas became an obvious hurdle. Yuki wanted to attend another program to understand what she had learned and how she could use the Pilates method to benefit people both in mind and body. Her questions were very specific regarding clients and she would apply my suggestions. Yuki also had the challenge of teaching in English. As the months progressed it was very clear that her classroom teaching and her conversation had improved. She is more confident.

I am grateful for the opportunity to mentor and teach these two fine people. My program is divided into four discreet Units. Students will choose dates and time between studies for integration of the material presented. Throughout the year people will graduate and begin preparation for the Pilates Method Alliance Certification Exam. I wish the best of Luck to Matt and Yuki and hope that other students are preparing, too.

SPACE and BREATH

2008-09-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

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Space has been defined in various ways. The variety is an incongruity in that space appears to be empty and therefore by definition “no thing”.

Simplesentenceswithoutspacesbetweenwordsaredifficulttoreadwhichdemonstratestheessentialelementoftheemptyspacetoaddclarityandpurposetotheprose.

The structure of our body when studied from the relative distance in each atom is mostly space. From our perception we exist as a solid object. Without the space that lives and moves within our bodies, we would not be alive!

I found a definition of space: "the unlimited expanse in which everything is located". In the practice of Pilates, the principle that Joe taught of Breath is the space within the movement. I am working on the integration of space and form. I would like to feel that there is no separation between the initiation of the breath evoking the movement and movement evoking the breath.

The picture of the Roll-Over is hilarious from one point of view. The environment of the infinite wilderness beyond takes the breath away...which allows me to take another breath into my inner space.

A HAPPY ENDING!

2008-08-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

Our First Generation Teachers, those who studied directly with Joe and Clara Pilates, will often exclaim that Pilates was not developed for rehabilitation. It was an exercise program designed to promote health and vitality for performing our daily activities and for enjoying our recreation. Good Pilates is rehabilitative due to the balance and control that are inherent in the practice. The practice of Pilates maintains health and promotes flexibility, strength, mobility, and endurance though proper execution of the movement and dedication over time. For many people, this outcome results in healing injury and restoring hope and joy.

I met Rachel Nace in 2000 at the first Pilates Method Alliance convention in Miami, Florida. Rachel's questions were intelligent and she shared her history of dance training and her subsequent injury that had diminished her quality of life and her ability to participate in dance. She was very sad and discouraged.

Her story was very sad.

Rachel, who owns Inspiration to Movement, Inc in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, has a new story to tell. “After my car accidents I could not move, sit, or lie down without pain. Massage Therapy helped. When I found you, Pat, I was able to begin the repatterning of the pain cycles and the muscle functions to learn to move, sit, stand and live without complete agony.” I must add to this statement that Rachel was an excellent technician of movement and Pilates. However, the only person that cannot benefit from a teacher’s own personal knowledge and eye for correction is the body they inhabit. The teaching perspective to look from the outside is not possible. I helped Rachel with the process of looking, giving suggestions, and encouragement. Rachel did the work!

The Happy Ending!

Rachel has returned to dancing. “I am so happy finally dancing again and it is the spirit and freedom that I found from the strength that I gained in Pilates that has allowed me to LIVE again in body and spirit.”
“My partner and teacher's name is Gene LaPierre and we won Top Solo in ballroom dancing last week in New Jersey. I have also won 29 individual golds in American Smooth (waltz, tango, fox trot, v. waltz), International Standard (waltz, tango, fox trot, v. waltz, quick step) and American Rhythm (cha cha, swing, rumba, bolero, mambo). I am proud to claim first place in the 3 dance championship and Top Student in the Gold Level (highest amateur level). My future plans include dancing for fundraising events, Competitions in Atlantic City in September and Ohio Star Ball in November. I have a personal goal, to go professional in a year and get back to a more steady ballet class routine. I am having so much fun”.

As Rachel’s teacher, I could see the training and the dedication that persisted despite discomfort. She would push through Pilates exercises with a painful countenance. When I would beg her to rest, she would relentlessly press ahead. In May, I saw her pictures and a video of her dancing. While she is an impeccable performer, it is the joy, beauty, and flawless grace that transfix my eye and elevate my spirit.

This is the truth of Pilates, the return to our lives so that we can each express our individual gifts.

NEW GRADUATES: PAT GUYTON PILATES, INC & PILATES CONSERVATORY TM

2008-08-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

Stef Miller: B.A. in psychology from Duke University. In addition to her Pilates practice, Stef is active in trail running, kite boarding, cycling, open-water swimming, telemark skiing and surfing. Stef’s Pilates practice augments her athletic interests and integrates with her career in alternative healing.

Djainiaty Ng, is a licensed chiropractor and has a practice in Singapore. She integrates her healing work with Pilates movement. Jainiaty’s experience has proven that exercise is imperative to restoration of health and healing.

Congratulations!

Pilates = Excellence in any Language

2008-07-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. is the home of Pilates Conservatory. I strive to deepen my knowledge of Pilates and to pass on the art of pedagogy to every student. I was deeply moved by this message from one of my Japanese students.

My student has studied the full Romana syllabus and is very well educated. Her intuition told her that she needed to learn how to apply what she had learned in her previous education so that she could teach with more knowledge. She is dedicated to helping her clients understand Pilates and achieve greater health. She also wanted to understand how to teach each student based on individual needs and goals. She emailed me about a referral that had her very worried. She had doubts about her ability to teach someone with superior movement experience as a dancer and an athlete. Her words inspired me.

Thank you. It was really challenging to teach her, but worked well.

I talked with my student. Our studio offers a "complementary session" to new members and it's only 30 minutes. I thought "shoot” and only 30 minutes?

She looked to be very cautious about people. At first she just told me she is a college student, has a dance and sports experience but is not doing any sports now.

She said she was taught some Pilates exercises before and sometimes she's doing those exercises on her own. She wanted to know if she's doing in "correct way".

So we started on Mat. Like as you said, she had an ached back and her spine doesn't bend forward very much. Oh yeah. Thank you, Pat!!! So I told her with a few reasons about importance to have limber spine for healthy body, making space and articulating. And for her it's very important doing exercise making correct C-curve.

After 20 minutes, she started to talk she used to do intense training as a professional athlete since childhood. I wish if we just had 1 hour not 30 minutes!

She didn't look to be ready to do short spine, or knee stretches, in fact she was not very strong. We were running out of time anyway, so we just worked on leg & footwork and elephant on reformer.

Overall it worked well. Hopefully she's coming back to studio but I don't know yet.
I appreciate Pat for reminding me of basic. I could have been in panic without your help. I was a little too worried about having professional athlete that I almost forgot that basic of Pilates is always same.

Thank you to my student for reinforcing my belief that we can help each other rise to excellence in practice and in teaching. Thanks, Yuuko for sending me this student!

PILATES AND THE PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS:

2008-07-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

People are often perplexed when they observe the Periodic Chart of Elements in my office. What application of information could engage Pat Guyton regarding the education of clients?

I like metaphors. The periodic chart of elements represents the building blocks of all chemical structure, the letters of a universal alphabet, and is based in fact. For chemists, the placement of atoms in the periodic table provides the most powerful guide for classifying the expected properties of molecules and solids made from these particular atoms. It is a mandala of the composition of the world, a circle of life. There is a predictable outcome under certain defined circumstances. We may not always understand these principles, but if we study, we can learn the logic and the science.

Pilates has a “chart” of exercises. When taught well and with understanding, the result can be an expected outcome of better health and vitality. It is the movement elements of Pilates that creates these changes. The art of the teacher, as the chemist of transformation, is to assess, teach and observe the progress towards increasing competency. The consistency of the expected change is a result of the law of correspondence. All humans have two arms, two legs, a trunk, a neck and a head. These are structures based on the chemistry of life and the evolutionary development of our species that we can observe as common to all people. We can learn the elements of Pilates, apply the elements in our teaching to the human body. With experience we can expect certain reliable outcomes. Occasionally, we are challenged when clients present with certain conditions or a missing limb, but the principle elements will still lead to improved lifestyle.

What if the periodic chart shifted? What would happen if every ten years the elements reacted differently with unexpected outcomes? Things would be in disarray, including the structure and physiology of our bodies! The molecules of our entire complex organism would present in physical forms that might look very different. The physical body might have three legs, one arm and antenna for eyes. The execution of the Mat work would need to be reconsidered! Thankfully, there are constants in our world that can be relied on for growth and depth through study and experimentation.

Pilates is a constant based on fact. It is imperative to master the tools we have been given. When told that an innovation to the method or the equipment is new and improved, it usually means that the market has created a demand increased sales of product, not teaching. Study should be the prerequisite for teaching and innovation that supports the system. Occasionally we will find a new element that is integrated into the chart, but the remaining elements are not obsolete.

Increased understanding of chemistry can lead to greater accuracy in the predictability of why things work and can provide greater understanding to the natural world. But, carbon is still #6 on the chart and has an atomic weight of 12.01.

Pilates is still movement. The syllabus contains all of the elements needed to increase commitment to health, to body and to breath. The elements do not change. Perhaps our understanding through practice of many years will lead to greater accuracy and precision in our work of assisting others in transformation. The tools do not need to change. The mind becomes more thoughtful through quiet practice and sharing. The transformation of the teacher is a gift to the students. This is the alchemy of practice over many years.

Pawnee Pass: Rain, Hail, & Fun

2008-07-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Happy July 4th, 2008

2008-07-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I traveled at home. My family hiked Arapahoe Pass to 11,942 feet. This hike is a 5,404 feet gain in elevation. It is one of my favorite destinations. The trailhead starts at “Fourth of July Campground” and that seemed like a good omen for the holiday. These are the conditioning trips for the 14,000+ feet elevations, known at The Fourteeners in Colorado. I have climbed 30 + of the 56 in the state and I hope to bag a few more or return to some former summits that I have done for lunch. Tomorrow is Pawnee Pass at 12,541 feet.

My Pilates practice helps with the heavy pack and the power required in the legs and core. The breathing practice is imperative to beat feet up the trails where the air is thin. The most difficult part is starting early in the morning to summit and get down below tree line before the thunderheads roll in at noon. There is no dawdle time and if you are not prepared for rain, sleet, hail, and blisters, you still need to walk out!

I think Joe might have considered this a balance of recreation and work! I get energized above tree line. It is the best HIGH!

The Franklin WOW!

2008-07-01T17:11:00.000-07:00

Eric Franklin was a delightful experience! Many people who have enjoyed his workshops and training for many years consider the information invaluable for a deeper understanding of the human body. Forty plus attendees came to Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. this past Sunday. It was wonderful to have the support and to share this workshop with my community. Eric is delightful, intelligent, full of humor and prepared. He is able to communicate very complex anatomical relationships regarding functional anatomy using imagery that everyone could understand. Eric is also respectful of each student. How pleasing to be told that we could do nothing wrong and that we could have fun! We learned about our bodies and then we moved and experienced what we learned.

The information is invaluable for Pilates teachers and anyone who wants to learn how to become aware of the body and choose a path that creates a positive change.

My clients are already benefiting from my expanded knowledge. And, I am very humble when I say that I have only consumed a small bite of information that he shared.

Eric is coming back to do another workshop this fall. The date will be announced soon!

Franklin Method Teacher Training is March 21st to 27th, June 15th to June 21st, September 14th to 20th in Boulder, Colorado at Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc.

This is the only Level I Franklin Training offered in English in 2009.
We are ½ way to maximum enrollment.
If you are interested, please register online at www.franklin-method.com.

Big Thanks:

Eric Franklin

Hosts and Coordination:
“Jan Dunn & Pat Guyton Duet”

Volunteers:
Carolyn Bell: www.pilatesforstylists.blogspot.com, www.thesynergystudio.com
Jean Bordelon: Studio C, San Antonio, Texas
Rende Brockwell: Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc.
Michelle Frank: Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc.

Attendees:
We cannot host anything without YOU!

2008-06-24T17:52:00.001-07:00

East Uphill in West

2008-06-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

EAST AND WEST ARE ONE

2008-06-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

The phrase “East meets West” may not describe the heartbeat of the NOW. This phase reminds me of the 1960’s. Excitement, change, and crisis shifted perceptions with Martin Luther King, John and Robert Kennedy, and the war in Vietnam. The moon landings, love beads, meditation practices, health food, and earth shoes may seem as innocent diversions, but they represented a deep desire for a shift in consciousness. The radical ideas of change caused many of my generation to look for alternatives in all dimensions of our lives. We were not certain if the values of our parents and grandparents were relevant to the changing world. In many ways, we rejected the best of our respective family values and fled to other cultures that seemed exotic, mystical, and just plain different from home!

When I first was invited as a guest teacher in Asia, my friends in Boulder were curious and astounded! Why would people of the East seek to study Pilates? These ancient cultures were resplendent with spiritual disciplines and knowledge such as yoga, qigong, martial arts, and alternative medicines. A client of mine from Bombay explained it simply. She and her husband had no interest in yoga. That was considered a pastime of the older generation. It was respected, but not necessary. These two highly educated people moved to the West to learn and experience another world. They were not rejecting India. They were reaching out to the wholeness of the world.

East meeting West:
Last weekend, I hosted a teacher of Qigong at Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. Daisy Lee is President of the educational non-profit, Kahuna Valley, on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i. This was my first experience with Qigong. Having never experienced this work, I was fascinated at the emphasis on breathing and the power of vibration of the voice with movement. I cannot say that I know much about this practice except that I would like to experience more with Daisy. I was intrigued that Qigong and Pilates include the control and study of breathing as an intrinsic part of the movement.

West meeting East:
After Daisy left, I was privileged to teach a group of Japanese students with Yuuko Igarashi as a translator. These students truly express a reverence of the tradition of Pilates. They travel a long distance to study. I feel honored that in a small measure, I am able to share with each of them my understanding of this western tradition.

My conclusion is simple and important in the development of world peace. Each of us must work to develop a mutual respect for the diversity of all cultures, respect for our heritage, and a sharing heart. I would like to think that it is not East meets West or West meets East. Perhaps:

East and West are One.

Pat on Maui

2008-06-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

Trying to do Pilates mat work definitely has advantages on a mat or floor. The lava flows onto the beaches of Maui lend themselves to the drama of sky and sea. What is not readily observable is the hollow dish, the bumps, and sharp spikes under my back. Sometimes art comes before comfort!

Eric Franklin - Teacher Training in 2009

2008-05-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

Pat Guyton and Jan Dunn are pleased to be hosting a workshop on June 29th at Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. All are welcome, but space is limited.

Please call 303-449-7284 or 310-909-9769 for information.

Or go to www.franklinmethod.com

NEXT YEAR THE FIRST LEVEL OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE TRAINING WILL BE HERE IN BOULDER AT PAT GUYTON PILATES, INC. JAN DUNN AND PAT GUYTON ARE VERY HONORED AND EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS WORK. TAKE THE WORKSHOP IN JUNE TO GET A FEEL AND SAVE THE DATES FOR NEXT YEAR:

Module A: 21-27 March
Module B: 15-21 June
Module C: 14-20 September

Pat Guyton Workshop: Looking Front - Working Back

2008-05-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

Alycea Ungaro’s Real Pilates was a wonderful teaching experience! The inspiration for the title evolved as the syllabus material unfolded. As a student I started by looking front at my teachers for a template of movement. I looked into the mirror to see myself, and it was not always a comforting experience. My body did not seem to organize into the image that was presented by the mentor. My attention would turn to the other students in the mirror and I noticed that some were experiencing the same difficulties and other seemed paragons of beauty in motion. All of these comparisons in the quality of the movement were from a perspective of the front view.

Joe Pilates taught his students uniform muscle development. My understanding of this from a perspective of teaching and taking class for over 35 years has grown more expansive. Looking Front – Working Back is about learning to feel the back and the relationship of that which can be seen to that which can only be felt. This workshop does focus on the shoulder girdle and the motion of the shoulder girdle to changes in spinal mechanics and the orientation of the core of each body to gravity.

It is not a coincidence that Looking Front – Working Back is can also be the inspiration for each of us to work back to the roots of Joe Pilates and Contrology. We should also encourage each person who engages in this practice to look forward and respect innovation and creativity that is still true to the Pilates method.

These students were very intelligent, respectful and well trained. Despite the different lineages, each student was able to relate the information to the syllabus that they teach. Each student was able to participate in partnership by doing and by assisting one another.

Our metaphor for this workshop was a fish. This will not make sense to anyone who was not in attendance, but we all had fun defining where the fish was in space. If you want to know more about this, come to the next workshop. I’d love to share.

I am grateful to extend much gratitude to Alycea Ungaro, Jan Phillips, Yuuko Igarashi and every wonderful student in attendance. NYC Rocks!

There is a Vedic saying, "The Mind is the slayer of the Real".

2008-04-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

Joseph Pilates wrote in Your Health, “neither the mind nor the body is supreme – one cannot be subordinated to the other. Both must be coordinated, in order not only to accomplish the maximum results with the minimum expenditure of mental and physical energy, but also to live as long as possible in normal health and enjoy the benefits of a useful and happy life.” (page 41)

A client arrived at Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. for her first lesson. A psychologist recommended this person to me. The client announced that she lived too much in her head and that it was hard for her to feel anything. As we began some simple centering and core work, we laughed as she immediately went into her thinking mode and forgot to feel her body. She was focused on her diagnosis, which is a mental construct.

I have also experienced in my teaching the other kind of student who feels everything related to emotional and physical trauma. These people can be so consumed with sensation that there is little room for movement education until there is mental focus with clarity. Eckhart Tolle describes this as identification with the “pain body”. The mind is still the manipulator of the feelings and it thinks that the perceptions of pain and anguish are real. The job of the teacher under these circumstances is to distract the mind from the preconceptions so that the body is tricked into feeling new movement sensation.

When I apply myself to new material, I need to understand why I am doing something. Understanding means different things at different times to different people. Some may need to simply understand the directions and patterns of the movement presented. Some may need clarification regarding the reason and outcome of the exercise. Others may even respond more fully if there is an anatomical explanation, a relationship to daily activity, or a guided imagery that helps direct the thoughts of the mind to the movement. Other people need to repeat the movement and feel the process. Others need to feel someone else doing the movement as if they were blind and cannot learn by seeing but though feeling. The goal is to guide these diverse learning styles into the experience of feeling the body.

Joseph Pilates continues to inspire me with mind and body exploration. By applying knowledge and guidance of a good teacher, we can direct our physical bodies to perform more efficiently and maximize our benefits. As our bodies become more proficient the nervous system reflexes into the brain. We are rewiring old habits, patterns and thoughts. This is followed by improved mental focus, which increases the performance of the Pilates movement principles. The richness of the Pilates practice is this continuous cycle of mind – body – mind – body in infinite repetition.

In practice the mind thinks and the body feels and each feeds the other with wisdom. If one takes control or becomes subordinate, Joe’s words, to the other, the cycle become concrete. It is for these reasons that all students and teachers must return to the basics. The mat series of exercises is not a race or competition. It is a thoughtful progression of flowing movement that leads to expansion of mind and body. It takes vigilance, perseverance, enthusiasm and joy in every repetition to reach this goal of mind and body.

The Real is Spirit. The focus of the mind and the feeling in the body are the paths to Spirit.

Why Join Pilates Method Alliance?

2008-04-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

The Pilates Method Alliance ® has been constantly responding to the rapid series of changes within the Pilates community. Some of these changes are good and perhaps some are bad, and nearly all of them are difficult. As a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher™, I am encouraged when I see the efforts that the PMA has taken to preserve this work and respond to the need of this community of professionals.

There are some changes that do not reflect the work of Joe and Clara Pilates. We all may see the Pilates method differently in our approach and style of teaching. Diversity with a common source is very good for our profession. However, there is a difference between diverting from the original syllabus, adding properties, and changing the intended use of equipment so that the entire workout is not SOURCE inspired. The PMA is seeking to set a standard for the basics of Pilates and encourage each of us to continue our own unique ways of teaching this incredible body of work. One of my teachers quotes Clara Pilates as saying “you must learn you’re A, B, C’s first”.

The preservation of the Pilates method is one of the many reasons that I remain a member and have been a member since the organization began. The establishment of a standard test and a baseline of common knowledge is another reason that I am inspired to support the PMA and the PMA Certification Examination. This is the A, B, C s. I have been teaching for 23 years and I can remember a time when some wanted to keep the name Pilates as a personal trademark and withhold the use of the word Pilates from other studios and teachers. This extended to some of the original students who paid and learned from Joe and Clara and are now known as The First Generation Master Teacher.

The PMA has been inclusive of all Pilates lineages, provided education through conferences and maintained excellence. I encourage everyone who loves this work and cherishes the memory of Joe and Clara to join and to contribute.

Please become a member!

“Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere."
Theodore Roosevelt

PILATES CONSERVATORY SCHEDULE™ FOR 2008

2008-03-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

LOCATION: PAT GUYTON PILATES, INC
Call for information: 303-449-7284

UNIT 1: APRIL, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
UNIT 2: JUNE, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
UNIT 3: JULY, 30,31, AUGUST 1, 2, 3
UNIT 4: SEPTEMBER, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Pat’s Struggle for Pilates Practice: Healthy Habits for Life!

2008-03-06T17:19:00.000-08:00

As a student, my study of Pilates was an attempt at the mastery of exercises called Contrology. I was an avid runner, skier, dancer, gymnastics coach, and hiked the 14,000 feet mountain peaks in Colorado.

As my teaching experience expanded I spent more time traveling, studying and teaching. Life offers continuous change and new opportunities. In 2005, I opened my studio, Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. This decision allowed me to be home with my family and to become more active in my own community. These circumstances also encouraged me to revisit Joseph H. Pilates’ books, Return to Life and Your Health. I wanted to become more credible with the history and rationale of the progenitor.

Pilates is more than just a good workout for the body. It is a philosophy of living that has relevance today. The practice of healthy living in a contemporary world seems anachronistic. Technology has created greater opportunity for communication and this has also added stress to the daily rigor of work and home. My new goal is to live my life as a Pilates practice and to inspire others to understand that Pilates includes every aspect of healthy living. This requires more than a Roll-Up or an Elephant.

Mary Bowen tells us that Joe had a shower in his gym. He taught Whole Body Health. Archival Pilates’ film has footage where Joe demonstrates the techniques of the shower, nasal irrigation and dental health routines. It was an expected part of the experience at Joe’s gym that the student would shower before leaving. John Steel, Joe’s attorney, who was also a student of Contrology, entertained the audience the PMA conference in Orlando. Mr. Steel related that Joe would walk into the shower regardless of the sex of the student and demonstrate the proper way to brush the skin and how to shower properly. At Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. our staff does not adhere to that practice. I have begun to think of my daily shower not as routine maintenance for acceptability in public, but as a practice of health. I do not use the floor brush that some describe at Joe’s gym, but I do use a shower brush and a pumice stone with consciousness and gratitude for my skin and my health. My skin is softer and I am not in such a rush.

Joe taught his students to breath fresh air. JUST BREATHE! I still like to run. There is a running machine in my basement gymnasium, but I prefer to be outside. Running through the seasons in the rain, snow, or sunshine keeps me in touch with the changing environment. Studio life can be invigorating but the indoor space is artificial, if comfortable. I try to run outside whenever I visit a new environment.

Joe and Clara ate well. Their diet was not a rigid discipline, but a pleasure of food that was typical of their German culture. Joe enjoyed a good cigar and a beer. I do not intend to take up the cigar. I may have a glass of wine. But I am insistent on good, wholesome food. My business schedule evokes the comment that the expense of the deli containers at Whole Foods “is the cost of doing business”.

Joe admonished his students to learn to balance work and play. We can see this in the outdoor wrestling at Jacob’s Pillow and the photos of Joe and Clara on skis. This practice has been very elusive for me. I like my work! I am most happy when teaching or when involved in creative process. It is good bet if you a Pilates teacher, that you will be working on how to play. You may not be aware that you need to play because you never stop working. Pilates practice demands focus and concentration. These are characteristics of people who understand the need to set goals, who work hard and diligently to attain goals, and who are relentless in demanding more from themselves.

Omphaloskepsis will not be a distraction if you are a workaholic. But the practice might help with insight regarding the balance of work and recreation. It would seem reasonable that another activity would be a good break from work. Unfortunately the characteristics that make me love Pilates, also cause me to become obsessed with other activities. I must work - to not work too hard - which is very hard work. This propensity is a continual challenge with new activities. I do not need another skill to assume professional status in the constellation of my world. Another activity that is joyful and is a vacation from my vocation would help me begin to feel the balance and to model this to other students and teachers. I am “working” on this.

Joe taught us that we should learn to master the physical body and the mind. He admonished us to start one exercise at a time. Have patience, practice, and expect to attain results over time. This is Whole Body Commitment. It is important to remember that the purpose of the practice of Pilates is the expanded joy and satisfaction that manifests in all of life. I am learning to look for the little pleasures that will complement the passion and devotion to my Pilates practice. When the body and mind are healthy, then the spirit is present in all activity.

Thanks, Joe!

Pilates Conservatory Congratulations to new PMA Certified Teacher

2008-03-05T20:55:00.000-08:00

Martha Sullivan also passed her PMA examination and is a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher. Martha lives in Boerne, Texas. She is also a massage therapist and a very kind person. Martha began her formal study at Pilates Conservatory in September 2008. She is a dedicated student and her insight for working with people and seeing the body is impeccable.
Her husband Michael Sullivan MPT passed earlier this year. I congratulate both of them and look forward to watching them grow their practice.

Pilates Conservatory Congratulations to New PMA Professionals

2008-02-27T12:04:00.000-08:00

Three students sat for the PMA Pilates Certification Exam. THEY PASSED!

Congratulations to three students who have worked very hard and applied themselves to study and practice. I am proud to announce three new Pilates professionals into the community. This is a very important step for all graduates of a comprehensive program. The PMA exam sets the standard for all Pilates Teachers. Yes, they were nervous but they did it!

Carolyn Bell: San Antonio, Texas
Carolyn brings organization and fresh thinking into her every endeavor. She is a thoughtful teacher and will continue to strive to give the highest and best to each student.

Jean Bordelon: Studio C, San Antonio, Texas
Jean is all heart. She brings empathy, light, and joy to others. Jean does much more than teach Pilates. She heals the body, mind and spirit.

Dana Gardner: San Antonio, Texas
Dana will hold the standard! This Texas gal is a warrior for truth, dedication, and honor. Don't mess with Dana. She will give you more than just physical workout.

Thank you for allowing me the honor and joy of seeing you succeed.

THE SHARED CIRCLE OF TEACHING: A PERFECT WHEEL OF LIFE

2008-02-21T08:05:00.000-08:00

My first serious commitment to dance was more than the first step onto the dance floor. My teachers were clear in giving homage to those pioneers who had gone before. The Pilates work is based on this tradition. Most of us never knew Joe. Many of us were born after he died. Our relationship to Joseph Pilates is based on The First Generation of Master Teachers and their devotion over many years to practice and teaching the gifts that were given to them by Joe and Clara. Each represents a lineage of the work we now call Pilates.

When I begin class on the first day we stand in a circle. I like to use the analogy of the wheel with the spokes radiating outward to form the wheel that is a perfect circle. Pilates, Joe and Clara represent the hub or center of the wheel. The major spokes that hold up the symmetry of the wheel are the First Generation.

The greater circle of community is each us as students who diligently practice and search for truth in teaching. If one spoke is weak, the whole wheel is not true. Therefore it is our responsibility to bear our share of the knowledge and to support all lineages.

The following poem has been with me since I was in my teens. I will share the last measures. For each of you who have taught me, I place you within the conceit or what is understood as extended metaphor from the last stanzas of John Donne’s poem
A Valediction Forbidding Mourning: Poems of John Donne, vol I. E.K. Chambers, ed.
London, Lawrence and Bullen, 1896. 51 –52.

Our two souls therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to aery thinness beat.

If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two;
Thy soul, the fix’d foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if th’ other do.

And though it in the center sit,
Yet, when the other far doth roam,
It leans and hearkens after it,
And grows erect, as that comes home.

So wilt thy be to me, who must,
Like th’ other foot, obliquely run;
Thy firmness makes my circle just,
And makes me end where I begun.

EACH OF YOU ARE MY TEACHERS... WE ARE CONNECTED... WE WORK TOGETHER OVER DISTANCE AND TIME...THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MY CIRCLE TRUE!

Eric Franklin at Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc June 29th 2008

2008-02-18T14:56:00.000-08:00

Jan Dunn has just moved back to Colorado. Thanks to Jan we will have a wonderful opportunity to host Eric Franklin as a guest workshop presenter in Boulder, Colorado. The date is June 29th, so mark this on your calendar. Jan will also be teaching a series of ten one hour Franklin classes on Tuesday's at 1:00 PM. Please check for dates and call for contact information. 303-449-7284 or 303-495-2325.

WORKSHOP TOPICS: There are two different workshops. You can select one or both.

IMAGERY FOR A HEALTHY SPINE and/or

PELVIC POWER CORE INTEGRATION

Thanks to Eric and Jan!

PILATES CONSERVATORY™ 2008: Comprehensive Pilates Education

2008-02-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

PILATES CONSERVATORY™ 2008: Comprehensive Pilates Education

UNIT 1 APRIL 2 – 6, 2008
UNIT 2 JUNE 4 – 8,2008
UNIT 3 JULY 30 – AUGUST 3, 2008
UNIT 4 SEPTEMBER 10- 14, 2008

In 2007, the Pilates Conservatory™ was pleased to award ten Certificates of Completion to ten diligent and talented teachers. These students completed all four Units and passed the required tests.

If you are interested in more information and costs, please call Pat Guyton Pilates, Inc. at 303-449-7284.

It is possible to take one Unit of study for review. You will receive a Certificate of Attendance for that Unit, but you will only receive a Certificate of Completion of a comprehensive Pilates program after taking all four Units of study.

Congratulations to Michael Sullivan MPT and PMA Certified Pilates Teacher™

2008-02-10T13:15:00.001-08:00

Michael Sullivan graduated from the Pilates Conservatory™ in December 2007. Yesterday, February 9, 2008, Michael sat for the PMA Pilates Certification Examination and passed. Michael is an individual of fine character and sensitivity. He will be an asset to our Pilates community and a wonderful liaison between the teacher of Pilates and the PT professional.

Both Michael and I will be presenting a pre-conference course at the American Physical Therapy Association in San Antonio on June 11th. Our workshop will be an introduction to Pilates for Physical Therapists who are new to Pilates.

Pat Guyton Remembers Bruce King

2008-02-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

In 1988, Bruce King came to Boulder, Colorado. I was fortunate to have my first experience with a First Generation Master Teacher. Bruce was very precise, detailed, and a consummate teacher employing an economy of words with exquisite demonstration. In our naivety all the Boulder students were very eager to show him our vast knowledge and our impeccable performance! I am certain that when Bruce retired to his room at night, he must have had some concerns about the quality of Pilates practice in Colorado. John Steel, Joseph Pilates’ attorney spoke at the PMA Conference in Orlando in 2007. Mr. Steel affirmed that Joe Pilates would be pleased with the growth in the practice and vision of his work. He also assured us that Joe would have gone about our studios correcting the work and informing us sternly how is was to be done. I imagine that this may have been Bruce’s reaction. He began to “fix” the situation. He was patient and in review of sharing with others and personal recollection, the workshop was a presentation of basic mat and basic equipment.

My notes from the workshop in 1988 include a quote from Bruce, “Movement in correct alignment produces correct muscular development”. That comment has never left my consciousness throughout the years. Bruce passed in 1993, so I cannot ask him more about this quote nor can I express my gratitude for the inspiration evoked from one simple sentence.

I have taught dance, coached gymnastics and many other athletes. A preponderance of my teaching hours involved the education of how to stand upright in correct posture. Static posture brings an awareness of centering, balance, and symmetry. In the process of training movement in art or athletics this stasis must evolve into motion. Thus the posture must change to adapt to gravity and momentum without conscious thought but due to innate response. This response comes from practice and perfection of simple movements. The student begins to move with grace, art and skill. Without this careful tutelage, Bruce King’s quote could be an inverse observation that movement in poor posture produces incorrect muscular development, faulty movement patterns, and artless exercises with little depth. These are not skills. They are maladaptive movement patterns that can be the result of injury, poor training, and can contribute to future injury, pain, and lack of joy in our chosen activities.

When I was coaching gymnastics and involved with the United States Gymnastic Federation’s recommendations for scoring performance, I recall a former men’s USA Olympic team member stating a similar observation. “The gymnast did the skill. However the form was so deficient that the deductions for the required movement would be greater than the amount of points for which the skill was valued”. Joe Pilates would have understood this comment immediately and would most certainly put the student on the mat.

I am reminded and teaching my students that it is not what we do, but how we do it! Thanks, Bruce!

A Career In Pilates: Are You Ready?

2008-01-25T14:51:00.000-08:00

The steps to becoming a Pilates teacher were more arcane in the past, and extremely rigorous. Sixty years ago, students went to Joe’s gym to learn Contrology as a means of recovering from injury or training for another career, such as dance. Many became committed to the technique, but it was only after decades of consistent training that a select few were chosen as teachers. This practice of study, apprenticeship and invitation by a master teacher was a remnant of the guild apprenticeship system of training practiced in Europe.

The education of a Pilates instructor is different today. As Pilates booms, the demand for teachers has morphed Joe’s tradition of serious, lengthy study into an age of instant development. Rather than dedicating years of practice and observation to bettering teaching skills, many programs turn out new instructors in a matter of months. And while the training of these instructors varies in comprehensiveness, an additional issue is at hand: The ease of entering a training program has resulted in many soon-to-be instructors enrolling without fully understanding what it takes to become—and continue to be—a good teacher.

Before investing time and money into a career you may not be suited for, you can take steps to explore all angles of life as a Pilates instructor. Here’s how:

To read this article by Pat Guyton in its entirety, visit Pilates Pro, the pulse of the industry online magazine for all Pilates professionals.

To learn about opportunities to mentor with Pat Guyton, student teacher training, continuing education or workshops in the US and abroad, visit the Conservatory page of Pat's website or note those listed in the left column of this blog.

Centerpointe Pilates Hosts Fantastic Workshop!

2008-01-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

Centerpointe Pilates was a wonderful experience for me. I have traveled to Santa Barbara many times in the past. Returning to familiar places such as State Street, the quaint restaurants, and the humidity was nostalgic and invigorating! Amy Havens has created a very unique environment. Centerpointe Pilates studio is situated in a very chic neighborhood. Her studio is arranged so that there is a big floor space for classes and two smaller rooms that are very intimate for private sessions or for presentations on equipment. Amy has a fully equipped studio and offers a great variety of classes and teachers. She was a gracious host. She is attentive to detail in both the studio and hosting me and other guests. Ken Gilbert is teaching at the studio. He is also traveling and presenting NIA. His blend of the theater arts, NIA movement and extensive Pilates’ education blends in with the environment of Centerpointe Pilates. The students were attentive, prepared, and enthusiastic! There could not have been a more delightful setting. The Mexican coffee in the little café also perked up the beginning of the day!

On the way into Santa Barbara, I found that my back was cranky. I tried to ignore this and sleep. That did not work. I tried to read. That did not work. Soon I remembered an old trick I have enjoyed since I was dancing. When I was younger and nothing hurt, while in public, I would try to see how much movement I could do without being observed as performing overt motion by others. So, I decided to do the mat work in the plane seat without being observed as doing anything other than sitting quietly. This is accomplished by moving the inside very slowly and in very small motions. The Spine Twist and Roll Up were quite fun. Suddenly this became an inspiration for a Pilates teaching message. It is the simple but difficult practice of waiting for the inside to respond. Waiting is the most important element. Waiting asks me to connect the thoughts and feelings not because I am told that this is Pilates. Waiting allows me to experience me. So this was part of my discovery before the plane landed. My message for the Centerpointe Pilates studio was revealed. The application of the simple into complex movement was harder. The students were very receptive and I will continue to explore this with other students and teachers. Everyone has been impressed with the beginner’s Cork-Screw.

California has been having some extreme weather patterns. It rained and rained and it was delightful. I was sad to leave when Ken dropped me off at the airport. We spoke of our visions and continued relationship so I look forward to visiting Santa Barbara again. Jumping into travel mode I cleared security to discover that United was predicting a six-hour delay home to Denver. I have no shame accommodating my needs when in an airport. I simply drop my bags and myself into a corner with limited traffic and nap or read. The time seems endless. Suddenly I was reminded that I could do my “invisible practice”. Time still passed slowly, but there was value in the peace and validation of this new direction. Welcome to my new world!

SELAH'S BIRTHDAY!

2008-01-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Rende and Burt did it! Today, January 7th, she arrived. I was blessed to be invited. She is beautiful and the experience was truly a miracle.

Christmas From the Studio Window

2007-12-24T12:05:00.000-08:00

Many Blessings to everyone who has brought joy to this studio.

I am grateful to have this environment where I can study and teach. Joe's message of Whole Body Health, Whole Body Commitment and Breath were sentient for his time and are principles for living a balanced lifestyle today. These truths are as timeless as the snow on the trees, the endurance of the mountains, and the beauty of sharing.

Happy Holidays

Unit 4: Congratulations

2007-12-10T20:05:00.000-08:00

Renovation and Transformation

2007-12-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

A teacher once told me that the inner work of the spirit is often reflected in the activities of the mundane. Cleaning, moving, and instigating change can stimulate transformation of the spirit. This transformation sometimes looks like total renovation.

My house is under renovation. The items of everyday life have been moved into places where they can be found only to be lost when they are most needed. The tile and carpet have been through demolition and the replacement is almost beginning. Change is never easy and we wonder why we thought this was a good idea when the toothbrush has disappeared. Things never change without chaos and loss. Things that never change are not alive, not renewed, and indicate crystallization of the spirit.

Many things in my life have changed. They were not easy. They were not bad things. It was time for my “house of the spirit” to be renovated. It is not surprising that one small change has been a cascade of healing and rejuvenation.

Pilates Conservatory was an act of creation. It was not easy. It was an immense amount of work and a renovation of my teaching life. The students who shared this journey with me are a joyful manifestation of this transformation. I thank them for the trust and earnest effort!

Happy Holidays to All!

PILATES CONSERVATORY™: UNIT 3

2007-11-21T13:34:00.000-08:00

This was definitely an intense weekend. The Wunda Chair syllabus is not easy on the physical body and there are exercises that defy execution for a student and a vintage teacher of Pilates. I remember my first Wunda Chair workshop from the Institute for the Pilates Method taught by Kathy Grant in Santa Fe in 1992. Some of the material presented and demonstrated by Kathy Grant looked easy. In student practice, there was much confusion and frustration because we could not do it!

The class had a wonderful time on the High Barrel! This group is has mental acuity. The physical strength and intelligence of the group combined with sheer determination allowed me to “get through the stuff” with relative ease. We were very tired at the end of five days.

Each of these students has brought special expertise and has shared with the group. My teaching effort has been less exhausting for my body and there has been more emphasis on doing, teaching, spotting, cueing, and the reason for each exercise.

Rende is the only student who has not improved her abdominal strength! Her belly gets bigger, but she has been there everyday to help and offer insight.

I would like to wish each of you Happy Thanksgiving. I am grateful for my family and friends. I am grateful for 23 years of teaching Pilates. I am grateful to all of my teachers who provided me with insight, joy, encouragement and respect. It takes years to be good at teaching Pilates. Without continued support, it is hard to keep motivated. Keep on teaching. It takes decades to make a real teacher. We can travel this path only one day at a time. It helps to have support.

Pilates Method Alliance Conference: Orlando 2007

2007-11-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

I need to express my appreciation to each presenter and sponsor of this conference! Everyone was friendly and respectful to me and to each other. Without combined forces, this would be impossible.

The PMA staff and volunteers do so much that is unseen and makes this event seamless for the attendees. Thank you. Thank you.

This is just a short post as I sit in my hotel room before having dinner with some international Pilates teachers that would not know except for the growth in community and sharing that the PMA Conference provides.

I am daunted! The presenters have so much to offer individually and as a group the sum is profound. John Steel, a student of Joe's and later his attorney, told us that Joe would be proud.

I am proud to belong to a fantastic group of people.

Gratitude to all,
Pat

Keeping Pilates True

2007-10-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

Joseph Pilates created a syllabus of work that he called Contrology. The syllabus is the entire Mat series of exercises in his book Return to Life and the original exercises on all of the equipment. Many Pilates teachers have other equipment in residence at their studios. There are balls, rollers, therabands, straps, balance boards and many other ingenious adjuncts to assist clients understand Contrology. It is important to remember that the Pilates movement principles applied to the original work are the source of the transformation for our clients. While other equipment may assist with understanding of the original work, it is critical that all teachers learn the foundation of Contrology with depth and understanding before introducing other elements. It is also very important that we educate with clarity about what is the Pilates method in historical content. We can acknowledge other tools and innovations, but we must start from the foundation.

Perhaps this sounds restrictive. The word Pilates has been “tagged” onto so many other products because it is a marketing tool. This does not do justice to the public understanding of the Pilates method. Clients do not know what Pilates is and what is not Pilates unless we are clear as teachers.

Injustice by not crediting teachers of other movement education is not honest and respectful. There are many other teachers of diversity who have spent a life of study and development in the contribution of their work and expertise.

One of my students told me that this “Pilates stuff” he was learning would be very good for golfers. I have been told this by climbers, runners, dancers, gymnasts, actors, musicians, injured people, seniors and the list is endless. I always tell them that it is the Pilates method that is good for every body.

Let us not forget as teachers that Contrology is an excellent program of education. We owe it to our community to keep the work clear and true.

Pilates Conservatory Unit 2

2007-10-17T20:19:00.000-07:00

We just completed the Unit 2 of Pilates Conservatory™. The experience was fantastic for me! We were lucky to have a new student and teacher from New York City who attended my workshop in September at Alycea Ungaro’s Real Pilates. This lady is a joyful and eager student. She brought another perspective to our group. Here in the West, we often focus on the schism of the different lineages and we refer to this as the East Coast or West Coast style. Our guest was concerned and a bit stymied about this aspect of consciousness expressed the Pilates community. She did not understand why the conversation regarding "this" versus "that" had any merit. Her perception was that all teachers and studio owners are hungry for ideas about exercise and teaching skills that can elevate the excellence of Pilates for every practioner. Good teaching from many different places and styles does exist and is very much a living and sharing process. Our group was able to communicate and to integrate many ideas from her contributions. She was very excited to return to her studio with some new ideas to present to her clients.

I choose the name Pilates Conservatory™ to honor and acknowledge that it is the work of Joseph and Clara Pilates that has inspired every teacher of each lineage. And these teachers in turn have inspired each of us to pass on knowledge with impeccability and dedication. The "United Students" this Fall are each very different and have many talents and gifts to share. They will choose different styles and employ different skill sets. The sum total of our group is infinite hope and infinite possibility.

Hun-Screwster! If you have to ask, you should have been there!

2007-09-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Hetzler hosted me in Cincinnati at her studio, Pilates Center of Cincinnati for another great teaching experience. Jennifer has an incredible attention to detail and organizational skills that are unparalleled. I am certain that these qualities are an integral part of the character of her mind and discipline that express within her technical ability to perform and teach the Pilates syllabus with precision, control, and art. Every necessary requirement needed to teach my syllabus: Integrating the Mat Language into the Equipment Work, was provided. This was done with apparent ease and lack of stress. However, I am very aware that this is an accomplished performance from each host. Underneath the flow, there is an immense amount of work and planning before and within the hours that comprise the days of workshop. I thank her and her staff for supporting me and the attendees. This preparation creates an environment for learning new material without stress and anxiety.

The group of students that were assembled for my pleasure were eager and attentive. Several lineages were represented. I am pleased that the teaching and sharing was inclusive. While some may have learned to do the Hundred in the slight “military stance” that Kathy Grant calls the small hip rotation with a “V”, others performed with a parallel leg position. We concluded that we were in agreement regarding the essence and were able to focus on the core of the Pilates work. We were able to keep our attention on the essential elements of the exercise and not become mired in our differences. There were good questions and good reflections that expanded diverse views. There is no right or wrong, there is only serious study and consideration. The work returns to a reflection of the exercises that Joe and Clara taught. These experiences allow for great educational opportunity. It was a joy to see that despite the differences in small detail, the essence of the work is the goal of each student. It is possible to look for the common agreement, reach for excellence, and respect one another. I learned much and I had an incredible time teaching!

Of course I was inventing on the spot! Nothing I invent is really new. It is just another reincarnation of the old goodies in a new presentation. Cynthia Taylor named a piece of Mat work the Pat’s Hun-Screwster. It contains the Hundred, Corkscrew, and a Teaser. I do not know if it will ever appear in exactly the same way or if it was just needed for fun yesterday. I do know that we had a good laugh and we felt our abdominal muscles and our balance and control were challenged.

Thank you to everyone who came and worked hard to make this a great two days. I always have a wonderful time at Jennifer’s studio. I am grateful to all teachers and students who continue to study and challenge those of us who teach to reach for value and inspiration.

Pat’s Prone Scissors on the Spine Corrector was fun, too! These exercises cannot be described. They must be seen and experienced. I welcome all who study to come to my studio or workshops if this presentation peaks your interest.

Pat's Trip to Alycea Ungaro's Real Pilates, NYC

2007-09-29T05:04:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was extended the gracious invitation to present at Real Pilates in New York City. There is always certain amount of trepidation that I pack in my suitcase for any destination. Serving on the PMA board of directors has shifted my attitude that there is a right or a wrong way of teaching Pilates. A syllabus for exercises on Mat and equipment was defined by JHP. There is a destination that is described historically, but each instructor and teacher from day one to day one thousand must delve deeply into experience and knowledge to convey information that is useful to others to make the journey. So, I was concerned. Would I be able to share with students from other lineages to expand the joy of teaching for each one and would I be acknowledged despite my different approach with a another lineage?

Alycea and her staff were very generous and kind to me. I was treated with respect and all concerns for my personal comfort were quickly addressed. The teachers were very well trained. I had some private sessions on Friday and everyone in the room could not help but take a peak at whatever was happening in the room, including me. I observed care, knowledge, and teaching. There were different styles but the sharing and education were very much alive in the space.

I am very grateful to all of the students who attended! Thank you for making my experience joyful. I also would like to extend special thanks to Alycea and Jan who really worked for months to make this happen. Thanks go to Yuuko. She did not translate from English to Japanese, but I think she translated from “Patspeak” to New York teachers!

I left the trepidation in the suitcase. I will not pack it again. The weight in the luggage does not allow for another pair of shoes!

Pilates Teachers Discover Pilates AGAIN!

2007-09-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

Two new Pilates Teachers have joined my studio. Many in the Pilates Community will know Deborah Iole and her reputation as a fine Pilates teacher. She has taught for 18 years and was trained in the first class that Romana taught at The Pilates Center. Sheri Kessler has studied for 7 years and was trained at Pilates of Boulder. I feel so fortunate to have benefited from the good education that these two teachers received from the studios where they were trained. It has given me new insight. Our clients like the diversity and energy that is present with the shift in styles and approach.

Deborah and I have been expanding our joy of teaching by watching each other. Pilates teachers are great at integrating new ideas quickly. We thrive in this profession because we love to teach and we love to learn. Every new presentation is another opportunity to see something old and friendly become fresh and exciting. I was surprised to see Deborah do an exercise sequence on the Push Through Bar on the Trapeze Table that I thought I had invented for tall men. She was doing the same sequence with the same body type! She watched me do a variation that I thought I had invented on the Wunda Chair. It is an accessible Swan that weaves well into the Cat. She exclaimed in joy, “I do that, too!” We have decided that all good teachers will discover very similar things by watching and doing over years of practice.

Sheri is like a sponge. She is such an attentive teacher. Sheri radiates love and caring to her students. She has begun to integrate some of our signature work into her beginning Mat class and it makes me feel so joyful to have teachers who are alive and intelligent. Her classes on the reformer are very challenging. Last night we had a great Wunda Chair class for a group of teachers. We were amazed again! This equipment can be adjusted to meet the needs of beginners and advanced students.

Sheri and Deborah have stolen the Guillotine! We have been spending some of our time together sharing the old syllabus that is new for many Pilates teachers. Deborah has engraved her name on the Guillotine. I am certain of this! She does not understand how she ever taught without one in the studio.

I am really proud to have these experienced teachers. I have learned that good Pilates teaching will require an open mind and continual inquiry. The PMA Pilates Certification Exam Study Guide has caused me to expand my exploration into the Head Harness, the Foot Corrector, the Pinwheel and the Bean Bag!

Can anyone tell me where to find the Finger Corrector? Alas I have looked with no success!

Pilates Gynasium - Studio for Health

2007-08-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

In the midst of syllabus construction, I have recovered some very interesting notes from workshops taken over the last twenty-two years. The first time I saw Pilates performed on a reformer, I was smitten. This work was resonant with the dance and gymnastics worlds in which I worked. The discipline and detail that every movement artist strives to achieve were present in the exercises presented that evening. I wanted to know more.

Joseph Pilates must have been a man consumed by his personal research into health and fitness. We can see this when we look at the photographs that document his work that he named Contrology. It was unusually fortunate that he had the prescience to preserve his work for future generations through film, photography, and writing.

I am particularly curious how the word studio became a common nomenclature for the place where we study Contrology. Joseph Pilates called his facility a gym. The definition of the word gymnasium is a school that educates between primary and secondary schools that usually means grades 1 through 12. A Gymnasium is a facility for the training and education of the physical body. However, it is clear in Return to Life, that Joseph Pilates was speaking more in terms of the classical German word gymnasium or place of study that encompassed many kinds of thought and discipline.

Another source for those of us who were not fortunate to study directly in the gym with Joe and Clara is the teaching that they passed to others. The First Generation Pilates Teachers have been very active in instruction and dissemination of their experience at Joe’s gym. Each of them had a different experience. Each of them had the same teacher as evidenced by the continuity that threads through the work as taught by each of these gifted teachers.

The next generation has a responsibility to remember it is our duty and privilege to continue to provide a facility for the training and education of the physical body through thoughtful practice and discipline. A studio or gym can be large or a small space. What makes the space alive is the energy of teaching. The consistency that is critical is the pursuit of health and excellence with commitment, personal practice, and relentless search for excellence.

It is my hope that the first definition of gym, where movement education from grades 1 through 12, will become the expectation of every parent so that each child develops the healthy habits that were part of Joseph Pilates’ mission. One of my clients is a retired snowboard competitor. He is now a husband and father of three children. He comes to Pilates because of his back injuries that were sustained as a competitive athlete. His feels that Pilates is the platform from which all athletic activity must begin. And he regrets that he was not taught school or within his sport. If so, he believes that would not be in chronic pain. He is 37. He is improving with his practice.

We have a job to fill as Pilates teachers. We must teach impeccably and continue to educate the public so that everyone learns the basics. The gym of study should return to the presentation physical training for everyone.

Bozone

2007-08-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

In June, I had the wonderful opportunity to present a workshop at Body in Balance in Bozeman, Montana. Liz Ann Kudrna has created a beautiful studio that sits on Main Street in the middle of cowboy country! I did not need to rent a car. The studio was a slow, easy, meander from my hotel as I passed coffee shops and mercantiles. I did wonder where my horse was hitched as I noticed the cowboy hats, boots, and silver buckles in the windows. Bozeman reminded me of the Boulder that existed twenty years ago and I hope that they have the foresight to keep the neighborhood the same. Liz Ann knew everyone. People would stop and say hello. There was time to ask about your health and that of your animals. The Bozeman people that I met have a great love of the outdoors. People hike, run, ride, climb, and even ride horses. Pilates is a perfect fit for these active citizens.

My collection of workshop students was fantastic! There were teachers of many different lineages and with various skill and length of study and practice. These students were eager and inquisitive. I was inspired that despite our differences in practices, equipment, and histories, we were all able to learn and grow together. The group shared experiences that they had with different approaches to exercises and were able to come to consensus regarding the need for different approaches for different solutions. We were practicing critical thinking with comfort and ease.

Teaching is an incredible gift for me in the moment. I never tire of seeing how each person learns a piece of movement. And I get very excited when someone has an epiphany concerning a difficult exercise. One cowgirl, Cincinnati Colby, and I had some great fun with The Control Balance in the Mat list! Another delightful student kept reminding me that she knew her shoulders were elevated. They were still elevated at the end of two days, but they were heading downward. She worked hard and her teacher had prepared her well. At the end, we did an improvisation inspired by Joseph Pilates at Jacob’s Pillow. It was a WOW!

Liz Ann was a spectacular host. She has worked diligently on her study of Pilates. She has built an environment that fosters education and community. I was so pleased that she reached out to invite many other teachers in the area and many who were from other cities. I would like to extend a warm thanks to all of those teachers who supported this workshop.

One disappointment was that I expected Jesse James to show. In the James branch of my family he is a bit of quaint folklore. He has been reported to have practiced too much horseback and not enough Spine Twist. So, if he shows up at a local restaurant looking a little off center, please advise him of my next visit. I liked being in the “Bozone.”