On Becoming Great – A Work in Progress by Colleen Wenrich I’ve been doing this a long time. Recently, I calculated that I’ve provided more than 17,000 hours of teaching. The book says that makes me an “Outlier”. Still, I know I’m not yet “perfect” in the kind of […]
Building My Bridge – by Tracy Maurstad
Building My Bridge – by Tracy Maurstad Like a lot of teachers, I picked my initial training program the same way many clients pick a Pilates studio – mostly because it was conveniently located. In 2007, BASI offered its first training in Las Vegas. They had a good reputation, I […]
On Writing “The Origins of Western Mind-Body Exercise Methods” – by Jonathan Hoffman
On Writing “The Origins of Western Mind-Body Exercise Methods” by Jonathan Hoffman In my eyes, honest sharing and honest challenging lead to unselfishness and clearer understanding. Pi-lates Intel has set this example in our field and therefore I was honoured when Brett read the recent article Phillip Gabel and […]
The “Industrialisation” of Pilates – by Mike Perry
I wonder if anyone would argue that there is a better way to train to be a Pilates teacher than to serve an apprenticeship under an experienced teacher within a Pilates studio. I imagine that modular training courses exist not because they have the best outcomes, but rather because they […]
Why I Quit Teaching Pilates – by Carol Robbins
Why I Quit Teaching Pilates by Carol Robbins Click Here to Subscribe and Receive Full Article I am one of those people inexplicably afflicted with the horse bug. None of my relatives or ancestors rode, although my mother’s mother was Irish, so it could have been in the […]
Some Science on Pilates and Depression – by Laurette Ryan
The Truth about Pilates and Depression – by Laurette Ryan Each day I am thankful for Pilates, for myself and countless others I know, for whom Pilates is a lifeline. I am a teacher of wellness and health – a Pilates teacher. 1 in 4 people can say “I have […]
Let’s Bring Fun Back to Pilates … Seriously – John Garey
Let’s Bring Fun Back to Pilates … Seriously – John Garey My mission is to provide fun, inspiring training for professionals. Less than a year ago, I launched John Garey TV – an on-line instructor resource for Pilates and fitness. I’ve taught Pilates and fitness instructors in more than 14 […]
Discover – Explore – Awaken – Part 2 by Amy Taylor Alpers
Discover – Explore – Awaken The Pilates Center Teacher Training Programs Part 2 In Part 1 of this article, we discussed the difference between knowledge and wisdom and how easy it is to confuse one for the other. Now, in Part 2, we ask you to consider the following questions […]
Discover – Explore – Awaken – Part 1 by Amy Taylor Alpers
Discover – Explore – Awaken The Pilates Center Teacher Training Programs – Part 1 Amy Taylor Alpers When my sister, Rachel Taylor Segel, and I decided to open The Pilates Center in Boulder, CO back in 1990, we were sure about two things: We LOVED Pilates and knew everyone needed […]
About Pilates, Ribs and Spirals by Anna Schrefl
About Pilates, Ribs and Spirals by Anna Schrefl When we walk and run, turn, twist, bend forward or to the side, our spine needs to be flexible in order to allow these movements. In addition to the spine, our ribs need to have mobility as well. In our Pilates training, […]
The Prime Male – by Kevin Bowen
The Prime Male – by Kevin Bowen You can count on men of a certain age to have acquired many things: life lessons, wisdom, knowledge, and (of course) material things. Along with those things, they more than likely have also acquired poor movement mechanics and a few injuries. These men […]
Why I Chose STOTT PILATES – by Alison Salmond
Why I Chose STOTT PILATES by Alison Salmond Choosing any training programme, whatever the subject area can be extremely time consuming and challenging for anyone. At present, there are many Pilates instructor training programmes; some offer mat-based courses, whilst others offer both mat- and equipment-based training programmes. Aspects to […]
Pilates Too Many Accidents and Injuries – by Siri Dharma Galliano
Pilates Too Many Accidents and Injuries – by Siri Dharma Galliano Helping people to be healthy is the reason we teach Pilates. Having people get injured while using Pilates equipment is something that we never intended. However, more and more accidents seem to be happening. Why? More people are practicing […]
Pilates Stopped Working For Me – by Karena Thek
Pic of Karena in the water – I had a great team to get me back in the ocean: Surgeon, physical therapists and Pilates Instructors! Pilates Stopped Working For Me by Karena Thek I’m one of those people. You know those people who credit Pilates with giving them back their lives, their […]
Giving in a Win-Win Way – by Dana Auriemma
Waiting to begin a pop-up class at a dance theatre studio Giving in a Win-Win Way by Dana Auriemma I’m stingy about sales. I’ll hardly every run a traditional discount or promotion in my studios (for reasons you can read about in this past Pilates Intel article). But that’s not […]
Resolutions, Goals, Intentions, and Objectives – by Marie Wittman, PhD
Resolutions, Goals, Intentions, and Objectives – by Marie Wittman, PhD We are several weeks deep into the new year now and that means it has been many days since the minds of many were bursting with excitement for a new year in which they would (finally) stick to their health […]
The Art of Breathing – by Kathy Corey
(Kathy Corey holding an original Pinwheel made by Joseph Pilates. Photo courtesy of Pilates Anytime) The Art of Breathing – by Kathy Corey In Return to Life (1945), Joseph Pilates wrote, “Breathing is the first act of life, and the last. Our very life depends on it.” Breath fuels our cells […]
A Little Change for ‘The 100’ With Big Results! – by Bob Hannum
A Little Change for ‘The 100’ With Big Results! – by Bob Hannum As a Pilates instructor for 40 years, specializing in the mat routine, I’ve taught the 100 to many people of all ages and fitness levels. I’ve noticed that more students complain about the 100 than any other […]
Don’t Be Afraid of the Nuts and Bolts: Easy equipment maintenance for Pilates Instructors – by Kaleen Canevari
Don’t Be Afraid of the Nuts and Bolts: Easy equipment maintenance for Pilates Instructors – by Kaleen Canevari One of the first things the professor in my college Introduction to Engineering course told the class was that that no mechanical invention is truly unique. Everything we make or work […]
My #Pilates45 – by Clare Dunphy
My #Pilates45 – by Clare Dunphy I love sharing the work of Pilates and consider myself to be a bit of a Pilates nerd. Most of you reading this article probably are too, so we are in good company. The problem is that we all live pretty far away […]
Pilates & ADHD – by Laura Browning Grant
Pilates & ADHD – by Laura Browning Grant Background Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was first classified in the 1920’s and was believed to be caused by a brain injury suffered at an early age. Though this theory has since been disproved, my personal research, observation and interaction with others […]
Belly Dance is the Perfect Complement to Pilates. But Why? – by Erin Mohr
Belly dance is the perfect complement to Pilates. But why? I started belly dancing in 1996 for two reasons: First, I already loved the art form and I had a shot at dancing at the world-famous Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Second, because I started having injuries from doing ballet, […]
Getting Started With Neuro-Pilates®: Mom Moments – by Karena Thek
I have one child. I should have had seven. I’m a big fan of kids and an even bigger fan of being a mom. We raised our child to think for himself, to be independent and to make his own way in life. And then when he did just that […]
Why Balanced Body? by Sylvia Byrd-Leitner
Justice for the body…Pilates for one and for all! Ken Endelman is the owner of Balanced Body. He is warm, friendly, approachable and quick to smile…quick to self deprecate. He is a man of his word. He is a family man. He is deeply protective. He is not to be […]
Take a Deep Breath – James Crader
Take a Deep Breath – James Crader When a new client walks into my studio, after taking an eval and having them walk around for me to observe movement patterns, the next order of business is to watch them breathe. I’m looking to see how their body processes the endeavor. […]
Scolio-Pilates – the Review by Rebekah Le Magny
Scolio-Pilates – the Review by Rebekah Le Magny Karena Thek Lineback, a former dancer and a sufferer of scoliosis, discovered Pilates while still a student. She has authored three books, The Pilates Golf Athlete, Osteo-Pilates and Scolio-Pilates, and is currently working on a new project, Neuro-Pilates. Karena travels the […]
Pilates and the Pelvic Floor – by Marie Wittman, PhD
Pilates and the Pelvic Floor – by Marie Wittman, PhD What is a “pelvic floor”? I don’t have a pelvic floor, do I? (Male client) Should I be doing Kegels to strengthen my pelvic floor? Is Pilates good for the pelvic floor? I just have to worry about my pelvic […]
Cueing Efficient Movement by Brent Anderson PhD, PT, OCS, PMA®-CPT
Cueing Efficient Movement – by Brent Anderson PhD, PT, OCS, PMA®-CPT The topic of cueing movement and coaching has been of deep interest to me for years. Many years ago, coming from a fitness and sport background, we thought of all movement coming from the muscles. So, we taught movement by […]
The Pilates Journey – by John Garey
The Pilates Journey – by John Garey I believe there is a reason we all discover Pilates. Pilates is not something most of us just happened to start to practice. In my experience, people start a Pilates program because of a very specific goal or challenge that forms the basis […]
Pilates and Feet – by Anna Schrefl and Cora K. Hiebinger
Pilates and Feet – by Anna Schrefl and Cora K. Hiebinger What we should know about our feet This time we want to address our feet and different ways to train them. Too small a body-part to spend much time on? Think again! By focusing on the basis, not only […]
Fred’s Vectors – by Brett Miller
Fred’s Vectors – by Brett Miller COME AND CHECK OUT FRED’S VECTORS – THE GALLERY Surprise! Surprise! Occasionally I like to waste some time browsing on Facebook. I can guess that like many of you, in my feed (that is an ugly word, feed, but indeed, that is the word […]
Why Don’t They Like Pilates? – By Dana Auriemma
Why Don’t They Like Pilates? – By Dana Auriemma I once had a woman leave my studio in tears. It was her first Pilates session ever. She was a fit woman in her late 30s with two young kids and a regular gym workout routine. She was scheduled with one […]
Balanced Body – A Game Changer – by Jana Danielsson
I started taking Pilates in the late 1990’s after seeing Madonna on the cover of Shape magazine – below her picture was the word ‘Pilates’. Being heavily influenced by pop culture – I needed to find out what this form of exercise was. I register for a mat class that […]
Why are props used in Pilates? – By Laura Browning Grant
What do I mean by props? Examples: Balls Weights Resistant Bands Yoga Block My question is… What is the real purpose of a prop? Were props designed to make a movement more challenging or complex? Or, were they supposed to add variety to a Pilates session? Or maybe they […]
No Side-Bending for Scoliosis? – by Karena Thek
It is logical, isn’t it? To side-bend for scoliosis? After all, if you see a curve in the upper back, or thoracic spine, that side-bends to the right, doesn’t it make perfect sense to reverse that by side-bending to the left? Yes, it makes perfect sense. And I’ve done it […]
When Teaching Pilates Is Not Enough – by Anastasiya Goers
Let’s play a game. I give you a list of words and you figure out the common thread. Russian Splits, Teaser, Snake, Star, Front Support, High Bridge, Control Balance Yes, all of these are Pilates exercises (you got that, I am sure) and all of them demonstrate muscular balance and […]
Getting Real with Deborah Lessen
Deborah Lessen has been around for a long, long time, and she is to me a cult figure in the Pilates world. I see her as the unofficial grand ‘teacher of teachers’ because she is sought after by many ‘big Pilates names’. I met Deborah last year at the PMA […]
The Pilates Wunda Chair™ – By Kathy Corey
Originally designed as the first piece of Pilates home exercise equipment and a living room chair for small New York apartments, the Wunda Chair is certainly one of the most challenging and effective pieces of Pilates equipment. Because Mr. Pilates wanted his program to be accessible to everyone, he created […]
Mental Matwork – by Eme Cole
Take a moment to sit relaxed on a mat with your legs straight out in front of you. Picture your favorite color and imagine that color filling your toes. Follow that color as it travels through your feet, your ankles up your shins, knees, hips, through your pelvis, abdomen and […]
My View of the Pilates Learning Process – by Christina Maria Gadar
When I was about fifteen years old my ballet school started to offer Pilates mat classes. This sounds great to me now, but back then I was a bunhead that only had time for ballet. I remember cutting many of those Pilates mat classes to practice my pointe work in […]