QUESTION: from Katie, Pilates student in Australia I loved your blog post on imagery cues. I would like to know what cue’s you’d use for helping a client understand core awareness, disassociation of hips and lower extremities organization for both leg circles and side to side. Can you help? ANSWER: from Penny Kennedy, Body Harmonics Trained instructor…
Fascia! Fascia! Fascia! That’s the buzzword these days. So much talk about fascia, but you’re still not sure what it is? Now’s your chance to find out! The first ever two-day introduction to the Fascial Fitness® training method is coming to Body Harmonics November 19-20, 2016. Fascial Fitness® has exploded in Europe but this is…
Tips to embrace your Pilates teaching style One of the most valuable things I have learned through my 20 plus years as a teacher, Pilates instructor and coach is that who you are and the way you express yourself is equally, if not more important, than what you teach. I’ve had the privilege of training…
Mastering private Pilates sessions is an absolute must if you are a career Pilates instructor and want to stay in the movement industry long-term. They’re not only a personally and professionally rewarding, but also a great way to fill the gaps in your day. When first starting out, private sessions can be a source of…
Working with private clients is an excellent way to fill the gaps in your schedule and make an even more meaningful difference to people’s lives. You get the chance to work with one client for an hour and give them your undivided attention. For some, this is an exciting adventure. And for others, a terrifying…
Dance is complex movement that integrates both artistry and physicality seamlessly. Dancers require the creativity and grace of an artist coupled with the strength and control of an athlete. Not an easy feat! Pilates is a movement system that prioritizes strength, power, whole body integration and immense amounts of mind body connection. It’s now widely…
Have you ever heard of Lagree? It is a killer workout done on a machine inspired by the Pilates Reformer. There is pumping music and on occasion a live DJ. Sebastien Lagree, who became a self-proclaimed fitness fanatic in his 20’s (he is 43 now), is the guru behind the technique. He taught Pilates and…
Nail the look and feel Really think about the look and feel you’re trying to present for your class Advanced classes should be a total body workout. You want to make sure that most exercises feel full body-esque and that people work to their maximum in a fluid way so transitions feel like breaks between…
I stumbled onto the TED Talk website a few months ago after reading about Amy Cuddy’s infamous TED Talk in Chatelaine. I ear-marked it to investigate later, got too busy to investigate it, lost the link, found the link and eventually and finally carved out the 20 minutes it takes to watch her video. Since…
The Pilates ring, or magic circle, is a fantastic way to add challenge to your classes and spice them up. The ring is light weight, inexpensive and amazing way to tone your muscles! Here’s a class plan you can use yourself or with clients. Supine Bend and stretch leg x 6 each side Crossover x 3…
An avid student of self-development, I’ve been reading books, listening to audios, taking part in mastermind groups and attending seminars on a wide variety of topics for more than 17 years. This weekend I had my first opportunity to volunteer at a Tony Robbins Unleash the Power Within (UPW) event and get a behind-the-scenes experience.…
Last weekend, Courtney Miller, one of the newest Pilates Celebrities presented Parts 1 & 2 of her Athletic Reformer – Full Body Integration workshop at CORE Studios in Toronto. Courtney is an International Pilates Educator, Teacher Trainer and Pilates Method Alliance Certified Pilates Instructor. She’s studied and pursued certifications in Pilates, Yoga, AntiGravity Fitness, TRX, prenatal…
A verb is a word that conveys action. When we use verbs in our Pilates cueing your language will be more clear, participants more engaged and the entire Pilates experience more meaningful all around. Below, I’ve listed 58 verbs you may hear in a Pilates studio. As a teacher, notice which you use most often.…
You have a great class plan, you know your Pilates exercises, you know your cueing formula that will make the movements safe and effective for your clients. You start to teach. The room full of people before you do the exercise as you planned but there is one person. She doesn’t get it. She doesn’t…
Sarah lived in a cycle of pain, fear, self-doubt and confusion. She had been treated for depression, warned that she needed back surgery and told that she would never move normally again. During the birth of her second child, she sustained nerve damage in her lower back and a fractured pelvis. Five years after the fact…
Class themes are a valuable practice you shouldn’t overlook. They’re not only a way to make classes more meaningful and interesting for your clients, but for you as an instructor as well. Today I’m sharing 53 of my favourite class themes. There are some for novice and experienced clients, as well as some to “wow”…
When I first came to Body Harmonics, there was a huge emphasis on themed classes and themes that lasted an entire 3-month season. I remember looking forward to each class I attended because I knew I’d learn or experience something new every time. Some days it was a concept, other days, a feeling in my…
I’ve always been interested in money. It’s been a tool that’s created the opportunity to study with outstanding people throughout the world in the areas of investing, personal growth, peak performance, and movement. It’s also provided many lessons to me in the game of life. Back in the late 90’s, my mother went to Harv…
My mother has Osteoarthritis in her hips. Several years ago she had a hip replacement. Last year, she had another hip replacement on the other side. When she talked about the recovery from her first hip replacement, it was very difficult for her and took a long time for her to heal. This second one…
The thing I love most about being a Pilates instructor is the possibilities seem endless when it comes to movement. I never feel confined by the original exercises Joseph Pilates created, because I know there are always new ways to build on each exercise as my practice advances. Likewise, I’ve watched clients go from beginner…
