3 reasons to take your Pilates practice to a Paddle Board!

, ,

SUNP0035It’s summer in Iowa and there’s nothing I love better than getting outside and moving!  One of my new loves is doing my Pilates Mat Work on a stand up paddle board! Besides the fun of being outside and on the lake there’s a few things about it that really keep me coming back for more every time I do it!

1. Control and concentration … One of the things I love about the Pilates mat work is that once you start to learn the sequence of the exercises and the exercise technique you can really fine tune as you practice them. But like anything that you do over and over again I feel like it is also easy to just go into “automatic” mode when you already know an exercise and not give it your all.  The paddle board takes care of this.  In order to not fall off of the board you have to use the utmost control and concentration to do the exercise correctly, in a balanced way and at your working level!

2. Can you say core work?   Yes I know Pilates is always core work but there is no cheating on the Paddle Board!  When you find yourself fighting for balance, engaging those core muscles is the key to finding it!

20150807_191919(0)3.  Summer Arms.… The paddle board challenges your body in a way that you have to use everything to stabilize (which is what we want in Pilates… whole body engagement and work!). Every time I do my Pilates mat sequence on the paddle board I realize the day after how much I had to use my triceps to help stabilize my shoulders and my body on the board. (in a good sore kind of way..)

Want to try out paddle boarding but a little hesitant to go out on your own?  Join Rivercity Pilates on August 19th at the Terry Trueblood Recreation Center in Iowa City at 6pm for our free Life Inspired Paddle Boarding event.  You can rent a board or bring your own if you have one.  We’ll go out as a group and play on the paddle boards.  Do as little or as much as you want!  We’d love to have you join us!!

#PracticeWhatYouTeach: “Not Working out in the Studio Guilt”

scenery3Without even realizing it most days I find myself taking my Pilates practice outdoors.  As a Pilates teacher and studio owner who often ends up spending 8 plus hours at the studio I think that being able to take things outside allows me to get away from my work environment and have some “me time”.  After a full day of teaching the last thing I want to do is stay at the studio and workout. Not because I don’t love the studio or not because I don’t feel like moving, but more so because I need a change of scenery! Many days I come home from the studio wanting to take a walk, play with the kids outside and some days I just throw a blanket on the deck and do some mat work.

I was reflecting on how I used to feel a little guilty (ok a lot guilty!) about this.  As a studio owner and an instructor I used to believe that for me to be a good example for my clients I needed to be working out at the studio or taking classes or sessions at the studio on a regular basis.  Then I started looking at it in a different way.

scenery1I hear from my clients all the time…”I know I could do this stuff on my own, but I don’t.  It’s hard to get motivated to do it at home.  There’s something about coming to the studio that keeps me more committed and keeps me excited about doing it”.  Just like me they need a change a scenery!  The change of scenery gets them away from their day to day environment and into a space that allows them to focus on themselves, enjoy some “me time” and get their movement time in.  I get it…the studio for them is like the outdoors is for me.

If you are an instructor who has ever dealt with “not working out in the studio” guilt I’d love to hear from you!  What did it take for you to realize that being a great example for clients doesn’t have to happen in the studio walls?  Where do you go for your “me time”?

 

 

My Favorite things Mat Workout!

When it comes to Pilates exercises I think most people would admit that they have some favorites and they have some that they would skip if they had the option.  Today’s Mat Workout sequence is all my favorites.  Just like Oprah had her favorite things I have my favorite Pilates exercises!  And even though I often practice all of the Pilates Mat exercises, there are many days when I just want to be able to do the exercises I like…so I do!! Enjoy!

Practice What You Teach: Learning to not worry..

,

When people first learn that I am a Pilates instructor or that I own a Pilates studio I often find myself having conversations about fitness programs and working out.  I tend to be a listener first, so many times I find myself just taking in what they are saying.  Many times the conversation ends up being about the latest fitness program or plan, fitness or weight loss goals, or even what is considered the correct amount of cardio and strength training per week for a person.  I think many people would be surprised to know that what I’ve discovered is that I personally am not a “workout fanatic”.  I very rarely plan workouts and I really don’t love to work to the point of extreme soreness or pain (ever…!).  I do LOVE to move, movement is part of my life and you will find me including a lot of movement in each day.

This past year has been eye opening for me as I blog weekly about my own Pilates practice. I’m finding that I’m blogging a lot more about movement in my life than I am a particular workoutaha moment.  My career as a Pilates teacher has allowed me to create a life where movement is just part of what I do and who I am and I don’t even really think about it!  The “not really thinking about it” part was kind of a “a-ha” moment for me this week!

You see I almost never plan ahead a workout such as a walk, a Pilates workout, a bike ride, play time with my kids, jumping on the trampoline,etc…yet I do those things on a daily basis without even giving it a second thought! Even better than not ever truly planning ahead for it is that I don’t worry about it!  Yep that’s what I said…I don’t worry about it!

So many times I hear clients talking about missing their workouts, needing to get back on track and finding something to get them moving more.  I can sense just from their tone that this concerns them, they’ve spent some energy worrying about and probably created some unnecessary stress in their life. Sometimes I even start to question myself and think is there something wrong with me that I’m not worried about that stuff? I mean I am a fitness  professional…shouldn’t I  be worried about my own exercise time and stats, my weight fluctuation, my minutes of cardio, etc.?

And then I remember back when I was younger and that stuff mattered to me.  I used to force myself to do at least 30 minutes of cardio (that I didn’t really enjoy) every day just because that’s what someone told me I should do. (I easily do that now but I don’t even think about it because it’s something I enjoy!)   I used to only do the entire Pilates Mat sequence or take a class to do Pilates because I thought that was what you were supposed to do.   I used to jump on the scale and then have positive or negative reactions because of the 1 lb difference from the day before.

aha3I’m not exactly sure at what point in my life I quit “worrying” about my fitness workouts and just made movement part of my life…but I’m glad I did.  Life is crazy, chaotic and stressful enough without spending my time and energy worrying about trying to control things that in the days end really don’t matter.  I love that my Pilates journey has brought me to this place of “not worrying” about my physical fitness and I love that I get to help others who may be on a similar journey.  This reminds me as a Pilates teacher that even though it is important for me to know the Pilates movements, know how to adjust bodies, know how to modify exercises, and know how to progress clients… there are often lessons much bigger and more important that I get to teach.

Nine things to look for when researching Pilates Teacher Training Programs

,

pilates ttIf you want to become a Pilates instructor, you know how overwhelming it can be when you start looking at all of the different instructor training programs out there. Learning to instruct the Pilates method is a journey and it is important to find a training program that will best fit your needs and life. We encourage you to do your research and look at three or four different programs to find the best fit for you! Here are some tips to think about:

1. Get to know the instructors who will be teaching the training program and the instructors at the studio where you will be training. You are going to spend a lot of your time at workshops, taking lessons, and observing. Make sure that you enjoy the instructors’ teaching and are comfortable in the studio where you will be doing your training.

2. Many programs have a mentoring portion of their program. This simply means a particular person will guide you throughout the process. Your mentor will be there to answer questions and check in periodically on your progress. Ask who your mentor will be, how you can contact this person, and what the mentoring portion of the program entails.

3. Talk to other instructors who have completed the program. Firsthand experience is priceless and talking to instructors who have gone through the program will give you a good feel for what to expect.

4. Know what the program prerequisites are. Some programs require that you be at a certain level in your own Pilates practice before starting the program, while others may require previous movement or teaching experience.

5. Learn how many hours are required to complete the program. Depending on the type of program you are doing, you will be required to log in your hours and complete them in a timely fashion. Figure out how many hours you will need to dedicate to your training weekly and make sure this is reasonable and that you are able to schedule these hours. Many programs have a time limit. Ask how long you have to complete the program and what happens if you do not complete it in that time frame. If not completed within a certain time frame you may need to retake workshops or pay an extra fee to extend your time to finish the program.

6. Ask about the program costs. Be very specific and make sure you know what is included in the program price and what is not included. Sometimes training manuals and books are included in the pricing, but often times they are not. Ask if any of the required lessons are included in the price and if not, whether there are discounts on sessions while in the program. Some programs will include the use of the studio for your practice teaching in the program price, while others may charge you to use their space and equipment. Are tests included in the program price or will you have to pay extra?

7. If you are interested in teaching at the studio you will train at, be sure to ask about apprentice teaching opportunities as well as future employment opportunities after you finish your training. Many studios offer apprentice teaching positions. This is a great way to gain experience, get your required hours in, and make a little money to offset your costs.

8. Many Pilates programs offer a Certificate of Completion instead of a Certificate of Certification. The Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) has encouraged training programs to do this in order to encourage instructors to take the Pilates Method Alliance international professional exam, and as a way to create an international standard of Pilates instruction. Different studios, gyms, and fitness centers have different requirements for their Pilates instructors. If you are planning on teaching in a particular setting it, make sure you know which education requirements are necessary.

9. Most Pilates programs require some sort of continuing education to keep their certificate of completion current, and PMA certified instructors must complete sixteen hours every two years. Ask about continuing education requirements and inquire about continuing education opportunities offered at the training studio.