5 Things I Want My Students to Feel After Every Pilates Lesson
Principle: Balance
I rarely ever have dreams to report. I am a great sleeper, with no issues falling asleep even if I awake for a bathroom break. But I rarely recall dreams, so when I do, they stand out.
A few weeks ago I had this epiphany-like angelic dream where someone just kept repeating “balance & joy…balance & joy”
It was the coolest thing, and I feel it summarizes what my job in this world is.
One person at a time, one hour as a moment in the busy week- pass on and create balance and joy.
I feel grateful to know my purpose in this life, and I won’t go on a rant regarding all my deep feelings, but I will share what I want every student to feel after a Pilates lesson with me.
If you are a teacher, ask yourself: What do I want my students to FEEL?
1. A sense of where you are in space
How are you aligned within your own body, and how is that body in line with nature and the space around you?
This equates to posture and understanding how to work toward your plumb line for more effective and efficient movement qualities. It could be your entire spine, and/or segments of the body like the hip joint, shoulder girdle, or ankle-foot complex.
My goal is for you to feel more in tune with the homeostasis that lies within you.
2. The art of being present
How do we tune out the outside world?
How do we allow it to enter our practice and give us a charge? The goal is to turn busy or bored energy, positive or negative, into a charge that can drive your practice. Focusing on stability, strong mobility, choreography, directions, and building skill while keeping composure is my goal. You have to connect the mind to the body here, and the ripple effect after a session is where so many of the benefits happen.
My goal is for you to be more present in your day-to-day life and feel in control of your time.
3. Challenged while using the skill
How do we continuously challenge the skill and technique that we hold?
The goal in doing so is for this skill set to increase gradually. Maybe the springs are a little heavier; maybe lighter is harder on your stability; maybe more repetitions or a variation from the usual exercise. Maybe we add a balance onto one leg or movements in multiple planes.
My goal is for you to feel challenged within your scope on that particular day. And to feel the athletic mindset of being humbled by working deeper.
4. Activated strength throughout your body
How do we tune our entire body?
We follow the BASI block system, which is a filing cabinet of exercises. This allows us to move the spine in neutral, flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation while also targeting all of the major muscle groups.
It is important to differentiate between moving from your joints and moving from your muscles. You want control over this choice. One is not bad, but in a Pilates session I want you to move a muscle as far as the muscle can take you safely while stabilizing against it; this builds strength. Often we have a greater or lesser range in our joint than we have in our muscle, and that can cause us to misuse or underuse our strength.
My goal for you is to feel that you can move with strength.
5. Joy
How do we create joy?
Movement is joy. Connecting with your body and meeting it where it is at, determining if it needs a push or a restoration, is good for your body, mind, and most of all — your spirit.
Intermediate Wunda Chair Workout
FOLLOW US
For full length videos that benefit our scholarship program visit Virtualogic.earth