Issue #393 – Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Evolutions of a Pilates Practice
by Tricia Whitlock
As a Pilates teacher, I always remain a student. I am insatiably curious and forever inquiring about the mysteries, dualities, and resistances within myself. I desire to unfold and embrace them and foster this ability for deep self-inquiry in others.
My second career as a Pilates teacher and studio owner has afforded me the opportunity to dive deep into what it means to inhabit a human body. My younger years were spent toiling away in a corporate job, in relatively poor physical health, not knowing the possibilities (and limitations) of my own mind and body. Discovering the Pilates world changed my mind and body in many ways, and was primarily responsible for reawakening my inquisitive nature as an adult.
Travel has been a fuel for this fiery curiosity for most of my life. As a child, I was fortunate enough to live and travel abroad thanks to my parents. As an adult, I continue to enjoy traveling which often includes an annual visit to friends and family in Sweden, where my mother was born and raised.
The last few years of mostly staying home and navigating the challenges of owning a Pilates studio during a pandemic resulted in a plateau. I was going through the motions and spinning my wheels, unsure of what decisions to make and feeling as though I was not really making any forward progress personally or professionally. I felt exhausted and began to lean towards self-criticism. In spite of the challenges, I endeavored to continue my movement practice, looking inward with an inquiring eye, evolving as a student and teacher in this beloved art of Pilates as well as in life.
Once travel restrictions finally eased, my Swedish family said “come on over”. Needless to say, I immediately booked my flight! I hoped that my return to international travel, spending time with family, and enjoying nature would be the catalyst I desperately needed to rekindle my deflated spirit. While I had been consistent with Pilates, dance, and other forms of movement that were pleasing to me during the pandemic years, the lack of regular interaction with (and exposure to) colleagues had left me feeling stale and stagnant. Online workshops, lessons, and courses were not truly fulfilling for me. Past experience has shown that in-person exposure to the wisdom of seasoned teachers and educators is my most effective path to knowledge and growth.
While in Sweden, I had the opportunity to take Pilates lessons with Brett Miller, whose teaching background, style, and apparatus differ from my own. After following his online publication and YouTube channel for several years, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided that taking lessons from him might be fun and interesting. Much like wandering down a side street when in an unfamiliar city, it felt like there could be something unexpectedly delightful in store…
Arriving with an open mind and no expectations, the lesson was a wonderful “meeting of the minds”, where Brett’s insightful instruction served as a catalyst to spring my practice forward.
Brett employs an innate understanding and knowledge of the human body and communicates it in simple, direct language, free from complex anatomical terminology and elaborately colorful analogies. His approach to teaching Pilates allowed me to think less and feel more, and I was guided to the precipice of what I felt my body could achieve. From that ledge, I went a bit further, looked a bit beyond; yet not so far that it took me outside the comfort and support of my current understanding. His informative touch and simple language kept me in the driver’s seat.
Brett did not give anatomical cues or alignment corrections in the way in which I am accustomed to; he did not fuss with this aspect at all. Expressing how profoundly this approach resonated with me is difficult to express with words. When the idea of being less critical on minutia was offered, the whole came into full focus, and I was able to tune into something much deeper. To my surprise and delight, my body achieved a greater range than ever before!
I knew that my consistent movement practice had prepared me and given me the strength and wisdom needed to attain this new level of understanding, this evolution of self. What a wonderful feeling that was!
When I had time to sit down and make my customary notes and return home to my studio for self-practice time, the full impact of the experience became evident. I was moving and teaching in a more relaxed, less critical way.
I have since incorporated Brett’s use of background classical music into my self-practice, another aspect of our lessons that was new to me. I find that it helps me to get more in touch with my instincts and recreate the deeper awareness of whole body movement which I had experienced during my lessons with him.
As many teachers can relate, this isn’t the first time in my Pilates journey that I’m seeing things with fresh eyes. By allowing space for discovery, my practice has evolved yet again. Each time it happens, I bathe in the warm sea of new knowledge and understanding. Sometimes I wonder, “How did I not see/realize/understand that before?” A wise teacher once replied to that question “You make the leap when it is time.” I suppose it really is all about the timing!
Now I am enjoying this evolution of my practice and teaching. I’ve arrived at this new place with an openness that is startling in its unexpectedness, and warmly welcome at a time when my human self is transitioning and searching for a simple, more peaceful way to teach and exist.
Tricia Whitlock, NCPT is the owner of Soul Body Works, a boutique Pilates studio in north Texas. She began her Pilates journey at the age of 42, having worked in corporate America for most of her adult life, transitioning into fitness after the untimely death of her mother changed her perspective on life. Discovering Pilates changed Tricia’s life in many ways – not only did it provide the fuel for her entrepreneurial spirit, it healed her body from many years of chronic infections, sciatica and lower back pain, as well as giving her the fluid, graceful ability to move that she had always desired. Tricia has a big heart for Pilates studio owners and instructors, and is the co-founder of PlankeApp, which uses technology to help instructors and studios connect and fill temporary, substitute, and permanent teaching jobs around the world.
Tricia enjoys travel, creating art, reading science fiction, and hiking. You can learn more at www.plankeapp.com. Information about Tricia’s studio can be find at www.soulbodyworks.com