Dear Students,
Hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July yesterday!
Here is an article on “Freedom of Movement” that I thought you might enjoy if you haven’t seen it already!
Also, coming up on July 29 will be the business 7 year anniversary!
Wishing you continued good health, joy and freedom of movement in every way!
With Best Wishes Always,
Shannon
Pilates Day is coming up on Saturday, May 6.
To celebrate, I thought you might enjoy this inspiring story from Ukraine.
A photo went viral last year of Pilates being practiced in bomb shelters.
Later an article was published in “The Core” on the Balanced Body website, it shares Halyna’s journey and how she stayed strong body and mind!
Happy Pilates Day!
Wishing you continued good health,
joy and peace!
Warmly,
Shannon
“Forever Young” is the title of a new book by Mark Hyman, MD. While this author is a new find for me, you might already have heard of him. He has written many books including 14 New York Times bestsellers!
The direction science is going is fascinating. The combination of biology and technology and the things they expect to be able to do in 10 years is mind-blowing and sounds like something out of science fiction.
But you don’t have to wait for new inventions.
There are important things you can do now to invest in yourself and in your health.
As you might have guessed, exercise and nutrition play a vital role.
If you would like to learn the “#1 Hack To Stop Aging”, here is a video by Dr. Hyman discussing his new book. The story about the 95 year old who walks 5 miles a day is especially inspiring!
And here is a longer interview with Dr. Hyman where he talks about “metabolic flexibility” (my favorite new term) and he shares his smoothie recipe from the book!
Wishing you continued good health!
Enjoy:)
Shannon
“The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They’d be happier” Joseph Pilates
In developing his method, Joseph Pilates’ goal wasn’t just to make people strong physically. He wanted people whole and at their best in every way – body, mind and spirit. He believed that if everyone practiced his method that they would not only be stronger, they would also be happier. The goal wasn’t just about six-pack abs, but joy and fulfillment.
He thought if people were happier the world would be a better place. A little Pilates practice might lead to world peace? Or so Mr. Pilates believed. An idealist, a dreamer and visionary, Mr. Pilates wanted the full development of each individual and the proper development for the planet.
As you carve you some time for self-care through the holiday season and through out the year, may you experience all the benefits Pilates has to offer – body, mind and spirit! May you find yourself strengthen and refreshed – even a little happier! May you have peace and joy and may that overflow to those closest to you.
Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed, beautiful season!
Merry Christmas &
Happy New Year!
Warmly,
Shannon
I’m going to let you in on a little secret. It’s a book that is a must have for Pilates Teachers and Exercise Professionals. If you ever wanted to discover more about human anatomy and movement in a way that has scientific insight and depth but is also easy to follow, then Anatomy of Movement by Blandine Calais-Germain is a gem.
Though you may not have heard the name Calais-Germain before, you are in for a treat. She is a dancer turned Physical Therapist, so she has a movement and solid science background. But what makes Calais-Germain’s work so special is that she is not only able to write but also able to draw.
Calais-Germain creates her own illustrations. Between the written text and the drawings, she is able to clarify concepts that might be harder to grasp otherwise. While educating on anatomy, her book almost becomes a little work of art.
Plus, the book is practical and useful. This is not just another old anatomy textbook. Calais-Germain focuses on both anatomy and movement. If you ever wondered how certain movements impact a particular area of the body or what movements you should and should not be doing and why, then Anatomy of Movement is a great resource to find the insights and answers you are looking for.
As you probably guessed, Calais-Germain is French. She has written over half a dozen books that have been translated into multiple languages. Her books Anatomy of Movement and its’ companion Anatomy of Movement Exercises are often required reading in Pilates and other fitness and exercise Teacher Training programs.
If you would like to do a deeper dive and learn more about Anatomy, then Anatomy of Movement by Calais-Germain is a great place to start. Pilates Teachers and many other Exercise Professionals are fans of this French author.
The New Year starts with good intentions, but by February most resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Whether or not you like to set goals for the New Year, developing new good habits can be challenging.
In his book, Atomic Habits, James Clear, presents a helpful and realistic approach. Based on Mr. Clear’s insights, here are a few quick tips for developing good habits anytime of year.
– A particularly useful concept is “Habit Stacking”. Add the new habit to something you already do. For example, when you brush your teeth or after you walk the dog, do a lower body stretch. Stacking it onto another habit you already have helps the new habit stick.
– You may be relieved to hear that “Motivation is overrated; environment often matters more.”* or at least that’s the title of one of the chapters in Mr. Clear’s book. It makes sense to set your environment with cues for the new habit (healthy food in the front of the fridge). This “makes it obvious”.
– Closely tying with another step “make it easy”. Convenience is important. If the healthy food is easy to access and the unhealthy food inconvenient, this can support you in creating better eating habits and eliminating bad ones.
Developing new habits doesn’t have to be extreme. It can be in small degrees or atomic. As Mr. Clear advocates, daily improving just one percent adds up over time and changes the whole trajectory.
While New Year’s resolutions might seem grand, it’s those small incremental consistent changes that can bring about the transformation that was truly the aim in the first place.
If you want to dive deeper, here is the link to Atomic Habits by James Clear. It is an easy, interesting read. This article summarized just a few of the ideas that are in his book.
*chapter 6, pages 80-90.
Continuing the theme from last month’s newsletter about “How To Stay on Track Through the Holidays”, this month we are shifting focus from the body to the mind and spirit.
Pilates said his method is the “complete coordination of body, mind and spirit.”*
It’s all the parts working together in harmony.
As the Holidays approach, practicing self-care will support you on all levels.
When you nourish your body through nutrition and exercise, you feel better. A good workout helps you not only physically but it also clears your mind. The increased circulation from working out benefits your body and your brain. Your awareness, focus, energy and concentration improve.
A regular Pilates practice also gives a little space for yourself – a retreat, a get-away and a reset. Some peace and quiet amidst all the activities.
As you care for yourself, body & mind, you can bring the best version of yourself to life.
You can enjoy more of the activities and people you love! And they can enjoy you – your presence is the best gift!
So nurture yourself as it lifts you and those around you. Your spirit will be elevated by quality time with your loved ones and their spirits will be brightened by your light.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas
And Happy New Year!
*Pilates, Joseph H. and William John Miller. Return to Life Through Contrology. Pilates’ Primer: The Millennium Edition. Presentation Dynamics, republished 1998, p 9.
As many of you know, the first Saturday of May is International Pilates Day. In the past, it had been a time to celebrate in large community gatherings. Obviously, it was a little different this past weekend.
Please enjoy this video from Balanced Body with greetings from around the world! If you have ever wondered what kind of exercises Pilates teachers make up on the equipment when they are bored, then wonder no more. (Do NOT try this at home!)
Cheers to Pilates Day…
Every Day!
“Breathing is the first act of life, and the last.
Our very life depends on it.
Since we cannot live without breathing…
above all, learn to breathe correctly.”*
~ Joseph Pilates
With all the changes in the world this past month, continuing the muscle groups theme did not seem appropriate at this time. Instead, sharing Mr. Pilates thoughts on breathing seems more beneficial during this historic season. The poignant quote above is from his book “Return to Life”.
To provide a little more context, this book was first published in 1945. Right after World War II, Mr. Pilates urges, “above all, learn to breathe correctly.” This likely wasn’t a feel good sentiment but a practical one. As a fitness expert who trained boxers and who is purported to have been invited to train the German army in the 1920s (before he immigrated to the U.S.) and trained police in Scotland yard, Mr. Pilates first recommendation to become physically hardy after wartime is – “learn to breathe correctly”!
Mr. Pilates survived both World Wars. As a German living in England, he was interned at the Isle of Man during the first World War. This would also mean Mr. Pilates would have been in Europe when the Spanish flu broke out in 1918. It is legend that the prisoners Mr. Pilates trained did not succumb to many of the diseases common in the camps at the time.
Though not much is confirmed in scholarly historical research on Mr. Pilates boyhood days, it has often been told that he was sickly as a child, even struggling with asthma. These early struggles and his subsequent studies are thought to have shaped both Mr. Pilates and his work.
Mr. Pilates emphasis on the importance of breathing rings true as the world is currently on pause due to a pandemic that is respiratory in nature. As many are starting to be mindful of nutrition as a way to boost immunity, it only makes sense to practice breathing exercises as a way to help the respiratory system into peak condition. For Mr. Pilates, the foundational element, even “core” piece to being physical fit starts with breathing.
Breathing can not only help calm the mind and emotions during stressful times but can also improve lung function. With stay-at-home order deadlines extending, it is important now more than ever to stay active. Enjoy a walk outdoors (while social distancing from others) and practice Pilates to stay strong on both the inside and the outside.
*Pilates, Joseph H. and William John Miller. Return to Life Through Contrology. Pilates’ Primer: The Millennium Edition. Presentation Dynamics, republished 1998, p 12 &13.
