Some Pilates History and a Pilates Myth

Issue #355 – Wednesday, December 15, 2021 Some Pilates History and a Pilates Myth A myth and some science from Adam McAtee Back when I was a novice Pilates teacher, I came from a belief that Pilates was limited to “the order” and “real teachers” not only knew the order and […]

When GOOD Teaching IS Your Business – by Chantill Lopez

Issue #352 – Wednesday, November 17, 2021 When GOOD Teaching IS Your Business(Whose Business is Bad Teaching? Part 3)Awareness of Other + Context by Chantill Lopez Being a teacher and being a parent are the two most transformative experiences I’ve ever had.   Both force you to be uncomfortable in the […]

Let’s Talk Springs – by Reiner Grootenhuis

Issue #350 – Wednesday, November 3, 2021 Let’s Talk Springs by Reiner Grootenhuis For us Pilates apparatus fans, springs are an essential part of the method. For each exercise and client, we try to choose the best spring setting for the body in front of us. Depending on the apparatus, […]

In Defense of the Diaphragm – by Karena Thek

Issue #349- Wednesday, October 20, 2021 In Defense of the Diaphragm by Karena Thek So, Brett, you say that focusing on the breath changes how we breathe automatically, sometimes not for the better. Agreed. You also said that focusing on breathing techniques can bring tension to the thoracic, shoulder girdle, […]

Mind The Gap! – by Clare Dunphy

Issue #348- Wednesday, October 13, 2021 Mind The Gap! by Clare Dunphy I’m really excited about how technology is connecting us and making it possible to share the work of Joe and Clara Pilates with each other across the globe. I’m grateful for the imaginative ways our community has found […]

Teasers For Tatas

Issue #347- Wednesday, October 6, 2021 Teasers For Tatas by Melissa Miles October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when dedicated organizations across the globe drape themselves in pink and remind women everywhere to screen via self-exams and mammograms since early detection is closely correlated with long term survivorship. It’s a time […]

The Wunda Chair – by Christina Maria Gadar

Issue #346- Wednesday, September 22, 2021 The Wunda Chair by Christina Maria Gadar Joseph Pilates described his method of exercise as the science of controlling the body, mind, and spirit, and coordinating all three. But in addition to being the genius who developed Contrology, he was also a furniture builder who […]

Teaching Eccentric Exercises, My 3 ‘goto’s – by Mara Sievers

Issue #342 – August 25, 2021 Teaching Eccentric Exercises, My 3 ‘goto’s by Mara Sievers You’ve probably learned about concentric, isometric and eccentric muscle contraction in your Pilates training. But do you feel confident that you can apply this information to the exercises you teach and how you cue the movement? […]

Pilates, No Matter What! – by Mia LaMarca

Issue #338 Wednesday June 16, 2021 Pilates, No Matter What! by Mia LaMarca I LOVE exercise and, lucky for me, I also teach it. If you are an instructor and you identify with that sentence, then you know where I’m coming from when I say that though I don’t earn […]

Sensing, Feeling…and Pilates. Somatics..What’s That? – by Patricia Issit

Issue #337 Wednesday June 2, 2021 Sensing, Feeling…and Pilates. Somatics..What’s That? by Patricia Issit Somatics is a “broad brush” term describing many approaches to embodied movement practices. Put briefly, a somatic approach develops perceptual, kinesthetic and proprioceptive sensitivity with the purpose of developing awareness of soma, the felt body self. […]

Coordination on the Reformer – by Brett Miller

Issue #332 – Wednesday April 21, 2021 Coordination on the Reformer – by Brett Miller by Brett Miller Whereas at first I found ‘Coordination on the Reformer’ to be a rather quirky exercise – even a little stupid, I have come to value it more and more as I have grown to know […]

Golden Gals – by Penelope Wasserman

Issue #331 – Wednesday April 7, 2021 Golden Gals by Penelope Wasserman My personal Pilates practice began in 1999 and it soon became clear to me that this was not like any gym or dance studio experience I had ever known. Although I never considered myself athletic – I had no interest in […]

Is Pilates an Embodied Practice? by Joanne Elphinston

Issue #329 – Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Is Pilates an Embodied Practice? by Joanne Elphinston The term “embodiment” is trending widely through the movement, psychology and emotional wellbeing fields at present; movement professionals in multiple professions have been quick to claim it as a benefit of their practice. Often promoted as […]

The Side Way Sitting Stretch – by Reiner Grootenhuis

Issue #325 – Wednesday, February 17, 2021 The Side Way Sitting Stretch by Reiner Grootenhuis   ”The Side Way Sitting Stretch” is the original name used by Carola Trier I first discovered this exercise in the archive pictures of Joseph Pilates‘s student Carola Trier. Shortly afterwards I was taught the […]

How to Create a Scoliosis Diagram – by Erin Myers

Issue #323 – Wednesday, January 27, 2021 How to Create a Scoliosis Diagram by Erin Myers This post is the second in a series of how to assess a client with scoliosis so you can work them out safely. Scoliosis can present very differently from client to client, and my hope […]

Active Opposition!! by Brett Miller

Issue #322 – Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Active Opposition (an exercise I was inspired to create by watching a video from Alycea Ungaro) by Brett Miller Today I am sharing an example of what I call “building block exercises”. These are simple, but by no means trivial, exercises that if […]

Hands-on Scoliosis Assessment – by Erin Myers

 Issue #320 – December 9, 2020 Hands-on Scoliosis Assessment by Erin Myers   Did you know there are millions of people living with scoliosis around the world? You may think it’s unlikely, but odds are one will walk into your studio someday. Are you prepared to work with them? I ask […]

What is Circular Pilates™ ? by Patti Kreiner NCPT

Issue #319 – December 2, 2020 What is Circular Pilates™ ? by Patti Kreiner NCPT Circular Pilates™ is a choreographed workout incorporating visually simple, but physically intensive, seated and standing exercises. The flowing, circular movements, combined with a certain symmetry and familiarity fueled by the breath, will free the body, […]

Pilates Wisdom from Jay Grimes – by Ana Caban

Issue #318 – November 18, 2020 Pilates Wisdom from Jay Grimes by Ana Caban When I sat down in Balanced Body Headquarters over 2 ½ years ago, I had no idea what an amazing and historical ride I was in for. I entered a conference room with managers of several […]

We’re Transitioning! – by Clare Dunphy Hemani

Issue #317 – Wednesday, November 11, 2020 We’re Transitioning! by Clare Dunphy Hemani It took me awhile to appreciate how powerfully transitions impact the work of Pilates. Their purpose and importance in our development as practitioners and teachers cannot be overstated. Let’s break it down and look closer at the […]

Review of Caged Lion – by Reiner Grootenhuis

Pic: Author John Steele with Joe and Clara Issue #316 – Wednesday, November 4, 2020 Review of Caged Lion by Reiner Grootenhuis As a Pilates Intel regular, you probably read the excerpt from John Howard Steel’s recently published “Caged Lion” here a few weeks ago. Time for a review and […]

Pandemic Pilates! – by Teri Lee Steele

Issue #312 – Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Pandemic Pilates! by Teri Lee Steele       On March 16th of this year, my husband and I packed our kids, pets and enough clothes for 2 weeks into our car and headed upstate to our house in the Catskills. We purchased […]