~ From Wikipedia: Extrasensory perception, ESP, also called sixth sense, includes claimed reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses but sensed with the mind.
As instructors, we know that Pilates is magical. But at first, Pilates is anything but magical. In fact, some of it is just plain crazy business! In order to feel the “magic” of Pilates, several fundamental exercises need to be learned to lay down the foundation for success. While I was thinking about Pilates “magic” and how crazy some of these exercises are, I knew I needed to figure out a way to teach them more successfully. This is when I came up a system called “Pilates ESP.”
Looking back to my first apparatus training, the teacher trainer just ran us through each exercise, quickly, one right after another, because time was of the essence. Many of the fundamental exercises made zero sense to us “newbies” (Elephant, Knee Stretches, Short Box, Stomach Massage, etc.) and left us feeling confused, frustrated and crying in the parking lot (seriously!). It has taken me years, and many more trainings, to grasp these fundamental exercises that are at the core (pun intended) of the Pilates system as well as how to teach them quickly and efficiently to “newbies.”
Let’s keep in mind that most clients come to us with no experience in doing Pilates. While we as instructors don’t want to overwhelm these “newbies” or scare them, or worse yet, bore them, we still have to teach them some pretty damn crazy exercises! And we want to get them hooked straight away – like we are – and to continue their never-ending Pilates journey!
PILATES ESP… A System For Successful Teaching
When teaching newbies the fundamentals, less is more – less correcting, less cueing, less talking, and less perfection; we need to let them move! Remember, our job is to GET THEM MOVING and GET IT DONE, not make them feel like every move they make is wrong (even if it is at first!). They need to move so we as instructors can see what is happening in their bodies and so they get a workout!
In Pilates, the instruction (as well as the movements) should both be done in the most efficient way possible. As I thought about how to teach newbies in the most efficient way possible, I came up with a simple system for success. This method can be used to teach any exercise, but in this series, I will use it on the fundamentals. Allow me to introduce you to my less-is-more teaching methodology I created called Pilates ESP.
- Exercise – state the name of the exercise.
- Set Up – tell them the apparatus set up for the “ideal” form of the exercise.
- Points – give the three (THREE not 23!) most important points to execute the exercise.
Then GET THEM MOVING!!!
This simple system will get your newbie in motion and then you can really evaluate what is going on with the body in front of you. The next challenge will be for you to be QUIET and just watch this newbie move and ponder:
- What happens when this person moves?
- Does this body in front of you need any changes to the ideal?
- What would help make the execution be more successful, e.g. a prop or a modification?
- What if this person just needs more practice and that is all?
Make any adjustments in motion and GET IT DONE! Then move on to the next exercise.
The magic of Pilates is that over time the body will connect the dots and the fine tuning will begin, often on its own. But at first, we need to let our students just move and learn the rote movement patterns.
And to illustrate how the less-is-more approach of Pilates ESP works, here is the first exercise in my series of successfully teaching the fundamentals.
ELEPHANT
SCENARIO:
“Newbie” is standing upside down (inverted) on what resembles a moving medieval torture rack. Newbie is scared. Newbie thinks Pilates is nuts. And Newbie thinks you are nuts. And Newbie just paid money for this madness. You don’t have much time here to change Newbie’s mind, and the key is to have a less-is-more, ESP approach to getting Newbie moving and (you hope) understanding.
GET THEM MOVING! Now be quiet (that’s the hardest part), watch them move and ponder:
What is happening when they move? You may need to hang on to the upper body because newbie will push it back along with the legs. Newbie will lift the heels not the toes (every time!!!). Specific to the body in front of you:
- Do you need to move the legs in?
- How tight are the hamstrings and calves?
- Is the spine staying rounded?
- Is there a reason to modify? Or does the newbie just need to do this more and the magic will come?
Chose what to do differently, if anything, correct in motion if possible and GET IT DONE!Plain and simple, Elephant is an upside-down abdominal exercise. You need to find that deep scoop in an inverted position. And you need to stretch the hamstrings and segregate moving the legs from moving the upper body.
How many times do you need to be able to do these things in other exercises (scoop upside-down, have flexible hamstrings, segregate moving the lower body from the upper body and vice-versa)? You will see Elephant repeat over and over again in the system. Elephant is important.
In that first apparatus training I mentioned, after sort of doing Elephant, we all just looked at each other like “WHAT WAS THAT??? DISASTER!” It seems oh so easy when I type it up and share it with you. We all know this is not so.
What to do??? Approach Elephant with a less-is-more, Pilates ESP attitude – it is what it is, an upside-down abdominal exercise and a hamstring and calf stretch. I have taken several photos of my willing students and have suggestions for your “S” and your “P” to help your students be successful with the all-important fundamental Elephant. And if you need ideas to help them “get it”, I have them for you.
Many thanks to my fabulous clients for volunteering their elephants for this article!
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UNPOLICED PILATES PERSPECTIVES – Variations – Successes – Cues
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