From left to right: Forcius Marchus, Coiffus Perfectus, Antagonista Maxima with Whinius Caninus

Issue #298 – Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Go Back To Your Studio – Your Clients are Waiting

By Karena Thek

(during Covid-19 Crisis)

So. Here we are. A third of the planet on lockdown. And we’re only a tad envious of those not on lockdown ::read: injuriously jealous::. But, we’re making the best of it. For me, it’s been wonderful to have the whole family home. It’s like old times ::help::.
The 25-year-old is working from home and is a never-ending source of joy ::she’s started antagonizing the dog as a hobby. We sent her to her room for the first time in 20 years::. The 57-year-old, my husband, is also working from home. He’s taking the stress of the situation in stride and has been our rock ::he’s also taken to getting up at 3am every morning to comb his hair —what the H*LL?!:: The basset hound makes everyone feel loved and has been so much more cuddly than usual ::he whines all day like a cat in heat. He’s also been sent to his room::. And to end the day, we really enjoy going for a nice family walk through the neighborhood. The Spring flowers have been stunning and the weather so perfect ::I force them to march. No one is happy::.
So, like you, we have sought out the silver linings and I know we will look back on this confusing time with some really special ::strike that, they’re just going to be real:: memories.

And then there’s Pilates.

My job. My clients. My identity. My reason for being. And it’s … what? I have no idea what Pilates is now. Have we entered the Dark Ages? Will it be a Renaissance? My friend Suzanne Koucheravy says it’s an age of “Enlightenment”. I like that. But I don’t feel enlightened; I feel like planting flowers and beating the crap out of the garden until somebody says, “Wake up, it was all a bad dream. Go back to the studio, your clients are waiting.”

But she’s right, that Suzanne. I have been enlightened. Dragged like a toad buried deep in the mud, into the light of it all. I was deep in my way of doing things. I had a schedule and I had a plan and I definitely had places to be. I was supposed to teach in 6 countries this Spring. In fact, on this very day, I was supposed to be landing in China after teaching in Japan. And now, I’m trying to figure out what to do next: how to keep my clients from increased pain, how to answer students’ questions, how to keep learning, how to stay inspired and yes, like many of you, how to keep a business alive.

 

How to stay connected.

Enter Zoom. We’ve had 4 free online worldwide classes so far and the attendance has been off the charts. And to get to “see” people online that I don’t normally connect with regularly—awesome. I’m sure you’ve already figured out the online class techniques that are best for you, but here are a few suggestions that don’t have to do with technology:

  1. Your clients are there online to be with you. You. You. You. There are countless options that they could sign into right now. They could take a class half a planet away, but they want you. Be your regular self and know that their connection to you is what helps them heal, get stronger and thrive through it all. You are very important to their well-being right now. Don’t forget.
  1. Breathing. Focus more than usual on the breathing and slowing down the breath. When we are stressed, we may unconsciously increase the speed of our breath and decrease the depth. This will only lead to increased anxiety. But it also leads to other really uncomfortable health issues. You can see our free course on breathing and anxiety here: https://osteopilates.com/product/free-online-classes-for-the-time-we-are-in/
  1. Resources for the time we are in. For you and for your clients, we all need a mental break. Maybe several during the day. I’ve taken to keeping one computer screen open with a live cam of baby eagles. It’s awesome. And the best part? They make me laugh. They are a real source of happy moments. My baby eagle cam and more free escapism are here: https://osteopilates.com/resources-for-the-time-we-are-in/
  1. Speak with your elders. They have gone through tribulations in their lives and have developed coping mechanisms that have gotten them through those times. Ask them about it; ask for their help. Are you a cherished elder? Reach out to your young people. Their concern ktcovidfor you might be a hidden concern for the state of the world right now.
  1. Go dancing! My 80-something parents texted last weekend to say they were going dancing. What. The. What???!! Yes, on Facebook Live. In their kitchens. Everyone got dressed in ball gowns and tuxes and danced it out. Did you miss #4 above. Read it again.
  1. Book it. My niece formed an online book club. Our first book? The Immortalists. It gives us a focus in our down time: reading. And it gives us a topic to discuss when we get together, outside of the topic that everyone is talking about. Which is a really nice relief.

  1. Laugh. Join a challenge on TikTok. I know… I never thought I’d be on there either. But we put a wig on the basset hound last week and played Annie’s “The sun’ll come out tomorrow”. It was awesome. And super hilarious. I’ve watched that silly vid at least a dozen times now.
  1. Create. You are creative, so make something. I dug up a huge chunk of the garden and we currently call it the mud garden. But I planted seeds that my sister gave me, and I hope it will soon sprout so we can call it the “Sissy” garden. I’m waaaaiiiiting…

And then…

This is not a fun time. There’s no way around the uncertainty and the confusion. Yes, there are huge silver livings, but the sadness beneath it is so sticky that it can make watching the flowers bloom, baby eagles play, and time with friends seem like interruptions of happiness rather than a continuous hum of joy. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to those around you. And work hard. And someday you will hear, “Go back to your studio. Your clients are waiting.”

Screenshot from 2020-04-21 19-51-12

From left to right: Forcius Marchus, Coiffus Perfectus, Antagonista Maxima with Whinius Caninus

 

KarenaThek

Karena Thek is a Pilates Instructor with a passion for managing pathologies in the Pilates setting as well as disseminating information for those who are ready to change. Her work has led her to author OsteoPilates, Increase Bone Density, Reduce Fracture Risk, Look and Feel Great! (2003) and Scolio-Pilates, Exercise for Scoliosis, A Pro-Active Guide (2011). In addition to her books, she has numerous webinars and free YouTube videos on the topics that she teaches. Karena is the host of a women’s health talk radio show, Alive & Well Radio on AM1220 KHTS. You can listen live from anywhere on the planet at www.hometownstation.com. She previously hosted Pilates for Healthy Bodies on PBS (2009-2011). And when she’s not teaching, writing or thinking about Pilates? You can find her on Facebook and Twitter posting pics of daily adventures with her partner John and their furry little child, Gus T. Basset Hound. Learn more at osteopilates.com

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