I was looking over my schedule for the day and I noticed I have two very different privates back to back: an 11-year-old boy who is excelling in both hockey and soccer and wants for find a core performance edge and an 87-year-old female lung cancer survivor. And once again a feeling of amazement washes over me.
To think that so many years ago [Joseph] Pilates created a system that is accessible to such diverse needs. I am struck by articles that purport that classical Pilates is dangerous and only suitable to the very fit; I believe these are written by individuals who have some hidden agenda to promote their own adaptation of Pilates or their own training program.
Currently I am leading a PPS-I that assesses this Friday. This group has inspired me. They are eager, committed, and open minded. Two of these individuals were previously certified through other programs and came to the InnerSpace as curious students. They fell in love with the flow and the beauty of the classical work and wanted to learn to teach it. There is a male gymnastics coach who wants to use Pilates to help his young competitors gain the benefit he feels in his lessons and an OB nurse who has a desire to help young mothers balance their lives and stay fit. There are others in the group – all with wonderful reasons for pursuing a deeper understanding of Pilates – all wanting to use it as a tool to help others as they have been helped.
As they have gone through observation hours here they have seen a diverse application of the classical work as it wields its transformational power. Because we do a large amount of doctor referral work they have been able to watch hip replacement pre-hab and rehabilitation: many different back and neck considerations, knee and footwork, breast cancer recovery, obese clients coming in for health benefits, osteoporosis, etc. They have seen both Olympic-level and recreational athletes, people wanting to lose weight, get fit, and improve their core. And they have seen that the introductory framework is the starting point for each and every person and that the classical work is adaptable to each and every student and each and every need.
This year I have had the pleasure of leading Peak Pilates workshops at conventions that focus in on how to work the system for less able backs and for obese clients. The attendees have been excited to see how simple concepts of breaking the exercise down to its lowest common denominator and progressing step at a time can make the work easily accessible. Working with the goal of the exercise in mind helps you set a compass point that keeps you on a clear pathway to progress.
So as I start another day here at the studio, I can truly say “there is no where else I would rather be right now than right here” with each and every one of my clients moment by moment, move by move!
Go with the flow!
- Zoey Trap, Peak Pilates Master Trainer