Amanda and her family

Here are some tips that I, and other teachers I know who wear multiple hats, have found to work:

1. Organization: Whether you have a paper planner or you use an electronic system, you MUST know where you are supposed to be and when, and with whom. I use an iPhone and have all of my classes and private lessons on my calendar so I don’t miss anything.  I also put important work meetings or other appointments on the same calendar so that if I need to adjust my schedule I already know when I have other commitments.
2. Flexibility: (And I don’t mean in my joints.)  My family, my various bosses, and I all need to be incredibly flexible.  In order for me to teach, some days my husband leaves work early to pick our daughter up from daycare; and sometimes I have to adjust my day job schedule to accommodate clients.
3. Understanding: Understanding from family and co-workers is almost as important as flexibility.  In addition to her job as a Physical Education teacher at a private school, Brenda Schumacher, runs InsideOut Pilates and Fitness Studio from her home.  “My kids and husband come first so I ask them to help me set the appointment availability for clients. We set out the number that we want to have on the books and we stick to that number and time slots. But even though I love both jobs it does get tiring juggling and changing gears from a job to clients. To stay motivated and intrigued, I read textbooks on the body as well as Pilates’ books—this also helps me to grow and that seems to keep the passion alive.”
4. “Me” Time: As a mother, this is one of the most difficult challenges. Because I have two jobs, time for me is often the easiest thing to cross off when my schedule becomes too full.  However, it is essential for my sanity, my teaching and my work as an employee and a mother.  I usually try to exercise for 30-45 minutes in the morning and then for 30-40 minutes during my lunch hour.  This gets my day going and gives me energy, and it also gets me away from my desk during the day without the expense (financial and nutritional) of eating out.  I also treat myself to at least one nap every weekend.

It is a lot like having your cake and eating it too. I enjoy my office work and I also enjoy teaching Pilates.  These tools have helped me balance two demanding jobs while enabling me to have a personal life too.

In recent years, triathlons have gained huge popularity. The ultimate fitness challenge, triathlons are major endurance competitions involving swimming, cycling, and running.  First seen in California in 1974, the triathlon finally made it into the Olympics, debuting in Sydney in 2000. Since its founding, triathlon has grown significantly and now includes thousands of races with hundreds of thousands of competitors worldwide each year.

In terms of their training, triathletes of all distances will be swimming, biking, and running. However, training those three triathlon components alone does not equal success. Much has to be thought of technique to be successful. In order to move faster in water, on a bike, or by foot, one must be able to move effectively. This can be affected by postural issues, pre-existing injuries, available range of motion, and core strength. The stronger and healthier these are, the better chances for success in performance. Obviously, these issues can be tackled and improved through Pilates training. Pam Kallio, a USA Triathlon Level 2 Coach and successful Ironman Competitor, believes that all triathletes should incorporate Pilates into their personal triathlon training regimen.  She believes that the benefit of Pilates training is “without out a doubt, core strength. Everything [the triathlete] does involves core strength. Triathletes can do all of the ab exercises in the world at the gym, but it doesn’t accomplish what Pilates can do. Better Core Strength equals better technique equals better performance.”  Transferring movement through a stronger core will allow the triathlete to move more effectively through each stroke and stride.

When planning a Pilates workout for a triathlete, there are many concepts to think about. The first, and most obvious, is the activities involved and the intensity of the activities performed. All three triathlon components include mainly movement solely in the sagittal (forward) plane.  This is going to result in an imbalance in the anterior and posterior sides of the body. It is important to assess the triathlete with both postural and functional tests. You will most likely see tight shoulder girdles and pectorals, a forward neck, tight hip flexors and hamstrings, and overdeveloped quadriceps. Pilates exercises should be chosen to alleviate these issues and rebalance the body. Chest Expansion, Long Box Series, and Eagle for example, help open the chest as well as strengthen the Posterior Deltoids, Rhomboids, and musculature of the lower back. Bottom Pelvic Lift and Leg Springs allow for a rebalancing of the quads and hamstrings, and help stabilize the pelvis.  Any extension exercise will help open the chest and correct kyphotic posture.  Be aware that most athletes will have a dominant side, and exercises will be better preformed using one leg or arm at a time.

Along with the general tightness, each triathlon component has its own set of issues as related to the sport. For example, most triathletes have a weakness in swimming.  “If you learn to swim as an adult rather than as a child, the big mistake is feet dragging. Proper body position is related to core strength,” says Coach Kallio. Spinal stability and trunk strength play a huge role in swimming, as the body is suspended in water.  The abdominal series and swam series on the Cadillac would be a benefit to the strength needed in the abdominals and lower back to swim properly. Also, rotational spinal and shoulder mobility can be greatly enhanced with Pilates. In running and cycling, the Illio-tibial Bands can become over-strengthened, and lead to knee and back injuries. Stretching the IT Band and strengthening its opposing muscles in the inner thigh are essential. Running also causes a tightening of the lumbar and hamstring musculature, as a result of the shock absorption from the pounding on the pavement and the effort of keeping the body upright and stable during forward movement. It is essential that length is cued during all exercises and to include lower back and hamstring stretches to combat this on-going problem.  In addition to all of the hard work and sport-specific training, Pilates can provide an active rest and recovery for triathletes, allowing their muscles to stretch and heal during their off-training days.

Pilates has proven itself once again to be beneficial to athletes. With proper Pilates training, the triathlete will experience a heightened performance. With improved posture, alignment, flexibility and core strength, the triathlete will be able to reach longer when swimming, and pedal powerfully when cycling, and a stride longer when running.

Sources: www.usatriathlon.org, www.trik2kalliocoaching.com

photo credit: Wendy LeBlanc Arbuckle Director of Pilates Center of Austin.

The psoas is not a hip flexor – okay, there I have said it!  Usually I warm my students to this idea before I spring it on them. However, I guess I am feeling bold.  Whether or not you agree with me that the psoas is something other then a flexor muscle, I invite you to test out my reasoning during your next practice.

The iliopsoas, fondly known as psoas (so-as), is the core muscle of the body and it is the only muscle to attach spine to leg.  The psoas is formally categorized as a hip flexor.  Flexors are defined as muscles that close a joint.  Major flexors are located in the front of the body. Because the psoas moves from the deepest core at the 12th thoracic (or 1st lumbar) vertebrae diagonally forward through the front of the body and over the hip sockets and then back into the lesser trocanter of the femur, it is classified as a hip flexor. This is the biomechanical story, however, there is another story.  This other story is embryonic; it is the story of how human life begins and develops in utero. It tells a story about an essential midline called the primitive streak from which everything emerges. Within this paradigm the psoas grows out of the human midline and is a messenger of the central nervous system; integral to primary reflexes, neurological proprioception, and personal integrity.

Even within the biomechanical model, it is worth noting that the psoas exerts an eccentric contraction, which is a confusing way of saying that the psoas doesn’t shorten.  Rather it falls back along the spine while lifting the legs, bringing knee to chest, curling the spine, or bending at the hips. During walking, the psoas moves like a pendulum through the core maintaining its full length as the leg swings forward and back.

The main reason why I believe redefining the psoas is so important is due to our behavior. If we think of this tissue as a muscle flexor then we will proceed in trying to stretch and strengthen it as we would any other flexor. However, if we think of the psoas primarily as neurological information, tender, supple, bio-intelligent tissue, we begin listening to it and recognizing it as a vital messenger. Although engaging the lower psoas as a flexor is definitely possible, doing so interferes with experiencing a deep, profound relaxation or neutrality within the core. Psoas muscles are not weak they are exhausted.  Ultimately it is a responsive psoas that helps free the hip flexors to function with just the right amount of exertion.

Test out my reasoning by starting your practice with constructive rest.  On your back, knees up, feet on the floor, (the width apart of your hip sockets).  This rest position lets gravity release tension from your psoas.  Roll to your side and get up slowly, take your time to sense the shifts and changes in weight through muscles, tendons and bones. Prepare for performing a runners lunge on the reformer.  When ready, notice how simply imaging your psoas neutral, rather than engaged (in both your hips), allows a deeper relaxation, which enhances your sense of skeletal weight. There is a major artery (and vein) directly on top of the lower psoas, thus a deeper sensation of relaxation in the psoas allows for increased blood circulation within the hip socket, pelvis, and leg.  Experiment in the same way while in the C curl.  It does not matter what direction the spine is moving, the psoas is responsive tissue, branching out, and sending proprioceptive information.  The spine or embryonic midline is always neutral – your core is the eye of the storm and your inner sanctuary does not react to every push or pull from external muscles, or life’s external demands for that matter.

It takes a quality of discernment to differentiate the psoas from the hip flexors.  If the quads are over developed or the tendons of the hip flexors excessively tense, it is necessary to first soften.  However once you do, I believe you will be amazed at what a paradigm shift can do to bring a deeper sense of and responsiveness from your sweet psoas.

For those who already sense their lower psoas soft and responsive, include your upper psoas by lifting one arm (on the same side as the straight thigh or in advanced lunges, the leg that is behind the pelvic basin), and place your hand on your head, turning slightly, look up towards your floating elbow. Psoas tissue moves spatially 360 degrees, but only when free to do so. Sensing your whole psoas spreading down towards the platform (earth) and freely up towards your heart (heaven) is simultaneously a feeling of fullness and emptiness. Experiencing complete core relaxation awakens a profound connection to breath and your heart’s desire.

The psoas is juicy, supple, and dynamic: a major player in full body orgasms.  It is the filet mignon, the finest cut of meat humans eat in other animals.  Chefs tell me the psoas tissue is a different color, texture, and quality from any other muscle meat.  This gets me thinking that perhaps the psoas is more like the tongue, an organ of perception… maybe it isn’t even a muscle!

This collection of Pilates DVDs is the work of well known presenter and teacher trainer, Jennifer Kries. The series offers 5 DVDs; 4 of which address the different Pilates apparatus (Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, and Ladder Barrel) and the fifth which addresses Pilates mat work.

Kries is a second generation instructor and teacher trainer and has studied with Romana Kryzanowska, Ron Fletcher and Eve Gentry. She has vast experience in dance, yoga and exercise and she is the owner/founder of the Hot Body Cool Mind studio in the Philadelphia area.  Kries is a certified Iyengar Yoga instructor and has studied other yoga disciplines as well. She has several other DVD titles as well some of which blend yoga, Pilates and other mind-body disciplines such as Chi Gong.

Kries has a very relaxed and confident teaching style. She clearly knows the material and presents viewers excellent cueing techniques. Kries offers succinct cueing options while also offering excellent tactile cues for instructors to use in guiding clients. The model for the series is Kim Reis who flawlessly demonstrates the exercises.

The Master Trainer Series is a great resource for new instructors but can benefit veteran instructors as well. Each of the DVDs addresses beginner, intermediate and advanced exercises. The Master Trainer Series DVDs can be purchased individually for $79.95 or $99 (plus shipping) or as a collection for $399 (plus shipping). This is on the higher end of the cost spectrum for instructional DVDs which may be cost prohibitive for some but the DVDs are an excellent resource for Studios to keep on hand in their libraries.

June Kahn is one of the pioneers of the fitness industry. She began working in fitness when it first took off in the late 1970s, early 80s. She also is a trained dancer and Pilates instructor (PhysicalMind Institute) and has been instrumental in bridging the gap between fitness and Pilates.

Kahn has seen the evolution of the fitness industry from the inside. As a Master Trainer for Reebok University, June saw the changes occur from floor aerobics to Step aerobics (with hand weights no less—anyone remember Heavy Hands?), to Spinning, to Kickboxing to Functional training and then the shift to Core training. Quite a metamorphosis the industry has undergone! It wasn’t until Functional and Core training came into focus that there was much recognition for Pilates and Yoga.

Specifically, June points to work done by Deborah Ellison, a physiotherapist who was also a Master Trainer for Reebok University. As part of Reebok University, master trainers were charged with development of new programming. Ellison developed a system called Reebok Flexible Strength which was based in the fundamentals of yoga and Pilates. This system was received well by trainers and instructors but club owners were reluctant to add this type of training to their schedules. However the Reebok University master trainers continued to utilize the program without saying that the roots of it were Yoga and Pilates.

June was already presenting for SCW Fitness when she was contacted by Sara Kooperman, founder and president, who asked June to develop a certification program in Pilates for SCW Education. Kooperman was aware of June’s background in dance and in Pilates and wanted to have a program that helped fitness instructors gain knowledge in Pilates. The course, called Matwork Fundamentals, was co-developed by Laurie Tuchman, a Pilates instructor and educator for Polestar Pilates. During the development of the program the lawsuit about the use of the word “Pilates” was still in progress therefore an alternative name was chosen.

Received well by the fitness world, Matwork Fundamentals was, and is, a highly successful program offered through SCW Fitness. In the beginning there were upwards of 200 participants in the day-long classes. However, Kahn was denigrated by the Pilates community for “certifying” instructors. Purists believed that a one day class would not suffice as training. Kahn says that in the beginning she got plenty of hate mail. Fundamentally Kahn agrees that a one day course would be insufficient to train a Pilates instructor however, the goal of the education program is to expose fitness professionals to Pilates. It was never intended to be a substitute for intensive types of Pilates education.

Health and Fitness Club owners are quick to add classes that are perceived as “hot” even if that means having an untrained instructor lead the class. It’s better for clients to have an instructor familiar with concepts and some exercises rather than have a person teaching who could potentially injure a client.

SCW Fitness offers many one day certifications which are springboards for fitness instructors to further their education and Kahn certainly encourages her attendees to further their Pilates education. Exposing fundamentals of any system of exercise is a great way for instructors to get their feet wet rather than spend the time, effort and expense of full-fledged certifications. They’re able to see if that is a path that they would want to pursue.

Further evidence of the bridge between Pilates and fitness is the introduction of Peak Pilates’ MVe (multiple versatility exercise) Chair and Reformer classes now being offered at gyms and big box fitness centers. Kahn does work for Peak in this capacity, helping train fitness professionals in the fundamentals of Chair and Reformer work. She debuted the program for Peak in Boulder, Colorado and continues to do education for Peak.

In addition to her education work with Peak Pilates and SCW Fitness, Kahn is the Education Manager for Stamina Products, a manufacturer and distributor of home and commercial Pilates equipment. Stamina offers a Pilates Reformer that has a patented rebounder/trampoline used for jumping rather than a traditional solid jump board. Stamina Reformers were used for several years in conjunction with the SCW Fitness conferences.

Kahn is also involved with a program called the Beamfit™ (Balance, Engage, Align, Move). “Beaming” is an exercise program developed by David Mesirow in which participants work on a balance beam made from high density foam and is 5’long x 6” wide x 2” high. Kahn serves on the executive team for Beamfit in addition to providing education for Beamfit™ . She has also developed “Beam-lates,” Beamfit’s Pilates based program. Beamfit™ was highlighted recently on the Martha Stewart show.

If all those things aren’t enough to keep her busy, June also works for Lifetime Fitness in Boulder, Colorado. She is the Life Studio Coordinator and is responsible for Lifetime’s private Pilates program. The studio in Boulder is the 4th highest producing in the chain of 84 units.

Most of us can only dream of having the energy that June Kahn seems to possess. She is on the road most of the time, but when at home, she enjoys all that a Colorado lifestyle has to offer—in the wintertime she skis and when there’s no snow she enjoys hiking. A native of New York, Kahn settled in Colorado by way of St. Louis, MO. She is full of energy and has great passion for all that she does. It’s no wonder that she has helped build the bridge between the fitness and Pilates worlds—she lives in and loves them both. Click here for more information about June and how to find her.

Editor’s note: On August 13, 2009 June Kahn received an award for IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year 2009. Congratulations June! Well done.

Introducing the Transformation Package . . . sell more sessions, make it affordable for clients. Where there is struggle, there is also opportunity.  Today’s economic climate leaves many studio owners struggling with their businesses and many clients and potential clients struggling with their fitness programs. Unique challenges call for unique strategies yet we can seize the moment!

Here’s a new idea that may turn your world upside down. Have you ever considered offering all of your different classes for one price?  For example, a reformer class would be the same price as a mat, same price as a chair or tower class.  What about tying this class idea into a program that offers a complete solution to clients struggling in reaching their fitness goals? Offering this “Transformation package” might just be the thing that could bring you and your clients GOOD FORTUNE.  The details are listed below.  The keys to making this a success and selling it is to make it all about the needs of your (potential) client.  They will want affordability, results driven progress with (this is the icing on the cake) a100% satisfaction guarantee.

Transformation package details

• 30 sessions (8 privates, 22 classes . . . any scheduled classes) over a period of 3 months.  The client’s goal is to attend 3 times per week.  They receive before and after pictures, nutritional consultations (2 separate 30 minute sessions) and $25 off their next package when they refer a friend who also buys a transformation package.
• First begin with the consultation.  Get to know the client’s specific needs and goals. Let them know how you can help them build awareness and control in their body.
• The first 3 sessions of the package are private training (to get the fundamentals down or work on progressing them further if they have been a client for 20+ sessions. We can always review the basics!)
• After their private training, the instructor guides them to the classes which would be best for them.  The client signs up for at least their next 5 classes then layers in a private class when they feel like they want/need one or when the class instructor notices that they could use some review.
• If they consistently come 3 times per week over the course of 12 week period they receive 36 sessions, a 6 class BONUS!  Let them know they are rewarded for being consistent and it doesn’t cost you any money.
• This package is on a payment plan. They are obligated to completing the 30 sessions and paying one time a month (3 total times) on a determined day each month.  The probable median price range is about $200- $260/month.  This is an easy way to space out their financial commitment, yet make them obligated to you for 30 sessions where you know they WILL see a whole new body!
• What if the interested client wants to do the Transformation package but the class times that are available just don’t work for their schedule?  Get them to find 4 friends and then they can create 3 classes a week.  Offer it to other students to, on a wait list basis if needed.

The important factors

1. There has to be at least a minimum of two people per class signed up 24 hours in advance or the class is canceled.  This covers the cost of your instructor.
2. The other thing is that this package invites referrals and the word spreads like wildfire!  Not only do you have some great marketing pieces 30 days after you begin to offer this package, (based on the testimonial before and after pictures) but you have happy mouths talking up their experience. The transformation package is an EXPERIENCE!  You get to walk them through their lifestyle habits and how they can make better choices (either with food or daily activities.) You can help clients become more aware of their bodies and all of this useful knowledge translates into confidence.

Have a make-over party after 45 days of offering the Transformation Package and ask clients who are on the package or who have just completed it to bring 3 friends to ensure they receive $25 off their next package. Offer wine, have some Triscuit crackers and a cheese & fruit plate to nibble on. You’ll be so satisfied at their results, the clients will have fun through their journey (choosing their classes ahead of time and when they want/need private training) and you’ll be sitting pretty with more cash flow in your pockets!

If you have further questions about the Transformation Package, please submit a contact form on www.wewantpbr.com (Website coming soon) and Alison will be happy to personally answer your questions.  Pilates Business Resource’s (PBR) online monthly subscription empowers instructors, energizes start-ups and current studios, eliminates industry secrets and gets Pilates back to the basics.  This service will be available September 2009.

Pilates and Rolfing are made for one another. They can interact synergistically to create profound change in the body and mind – in how we relate to ourselves and how we relate to the world around us. They both speak to many of the same aspects of living an embodied life: breath, strength, freedom, coordination, intention, and awareness to name a few. In the hands of a skilled Rolfer™, Pilates clients can deepen their understanding of the possibilities of the form and of their own bodies.

What is Rolfing?

As with Pilates, there are many misconceptions out there about what the work really is (“You know, Pilates, that super-intense ab workout on medieval torture machines.”) Despite what you may have heard, Rolfing is not a massage that pulls the muscles off the bone or a procedure that makes people break down into crying piles of goo. Rolfing® Structural Integration (its formal name) is a collaborative process of hands-on manipulation and movement education developed over 50 years ago by Ida P. Rolf, PhD and is designed to reorganize a person’s relationship to gravity. Over a series of sessions (typically 10-12) the Rolfer uses his or her fingers, soft fists, and even elbows in concert with gentle client movements to lengthen and unwind the investing connective tissue of the body in a systematic way. It can be intense and yet can also be amazingly pleasurable and even relaxing.

Rolfing is not so much a technique, though it has developed and appropriated many over the years. It is an approach to finding and uncovering what can be called “the animal body” – that innate somatic intelligence inside each of us that knows how to sit, stand, and move with ease and dynamic strength. At the beginning of every session Rolfers do a “body reading,” analyzing and kinesthetically empathizing with the resources, asymmetries, restrictions, and inhibitions in a client’s structure and function. This process certainly involves input from the client as well as the practitioner asks open-ended questions about what the client is perceiving in their body or in the environment.

Generally, the work then moves to the massage table. Dr. Rolf taught a 10 Session Recipe that has specific goals and territories of the body for each session. The first session, for instance, traditionally has the goal of freeing the breath. The second: to improve the function of the feet, ankles, and legs in order to land and push off (sounds like footwork on the Reformer to us!) Many practitioners continue to use Dr. Rolf’s recipe which is amazingly brilliant, or versions of it. Others have developed more principle-based models for where and when to work. But all look for increased integration and balance at the end of every session and at the end of a Series as a whole.

The Rolfing community

Like Pilates, the Rolfing community has gone through sad personal, political and legal schisms over the years. The generic term for this approach is actually Structural Integration (or SI) and there are now many heirs of Dr. Rolf teaching and practicing in various lineages of the work. The Rolf Institute® in Boulder, Colorado holds the service mark for Rolfing and only their graduates can legally call themselves Certified Rolfers™. There is also a community of other reputable SI schools including but not limited to the Guild for Structural Integration, Kinesis Myofascial Integration, and Hellerwork International. SI even has its own PMA-like umbrella organization, the IASI, which works to promote standards and scientific research.

We are lucky enough at our studio to have three SI Practitioners on staff so there is a great cross-fertilization between the two disciplines. When a Pilates client has plateaued, reached an impasse, or is in pain, we frequently recommend that they see a Rolfer. Hands-on work has a level of specificity and precision that can open things up like nothing else. Likewise, our SI practitioners see so much value in the stability, strength, process ownership, and joy that Pilates engenders that they frequently refer clients to the Pilates side of the studio. It’s a win-win for everyone, especially the clients!

We recently had the chance to experience the fit of Zobha yoga and fitness apparel line. The Zobha line is exactly as described on their website, “lightweight, high-performing fabrics with exceptional fit and thoughtful details.” As soon as I put the pants on, the fabric felt amazing to wear. It is a blend of pre-shrunk Supplex® and Lycra® which is soft on the skin, while providing moisture-wicking, breathability, quick-dry, shape retention and stretch recovery. See all the details of the Anatomy of Zobha on their website.

“Zobha” is a Sanskrit word meaning grace, beauty and brilliance. As stated by the founders of Zobha, “Zobha was born from a desire to create superior performance yoga and fitness apparel with a distinctive design aesthetic and a brand that inspires and fosters the grace that lives within each human heart.”

Zobha’s line is simple, stylish, functional and fashionable. The attention to detail is shown in each piece with a shelf bra liner for added support, size and care information is screen printed to avoid the scratchiness of labels, seams are designed to minimize itching and not only does the line look good but each piece performs exceptionally well. The designs and fabric are made for the movements of yoga, Pilates and fitness. The styles and colors are warm and comfortable. In addition, there is a maternity line that is made to feel and look just as good. Enjoy the full line of Zobha apparel at www.zobha.com.

It’s not often you get to have your very own Pilates fantasy.  If you could dream of an ideal Pilates Conference setup, I’m guessing a few of these ingredients would be part of the mix: An intimate setting with you, the master teacher trainer and five of your friends, throw in palm trees, free shuttles to fun nightlife, amazing restaurants and essential shopping, add a dash of non-stop educational opportunities with a combo of workout classes, lectures, open-minded ideas of the “ideal” and approaches to teaching.  Of course, you still have to deal with the freezing indoor AC in the meeting rooms as your brain intently attempts to savor every word that comes out of the presenter’s mouth. But what else would there be to complain about? Let’s be honest.  A good conference doesn’t go off without a glitch unless you can accommodate the varying appetites of many hungry Pilates instructors. Once those sugar levels drop, forget about it—the claws will come out. It’s not unusual to hear complaints about the food but in this case, the meal options were plentiful, the variety of fruits, vegetables and proteins agreeable, and cocktail hour proved substantial.  Bravo!

The Pre-Convention Workshops kicked off the conference on Thursday night.  Rachel Lowe and I from Pilates Business Resource (PBR) hosted “Confidential Trade Secrets of a Studio Owner Exposed.” This purpose of this workshop was to provide a platform to discuss ways in which studios can bring in more money. Everything from package prices, customer service, service offerings and unique selling strategies were discussed.  For more information about this subject, check out the website for Pilates Business Resource (PBR).

The conference structure was unique in that each presenter presented one to two early morning workouts and one specific two hour lecture that would repeat throughout the conference. This would allow for “no guilt” decision making for the attendees.  You always knew you could catch your instructor’s workshop later on that day or the next. The reviews from each session were extremely favorable. I can best speak to the sessions that I attended.  For example, some attending Rebecca Leone’s “Flexion of the Hip” workshop attended up to four times to be able to take away something different each session because the information was so eye-opening.  All attendees of Lolita San Miguel’s course had the opportunity to get up-close and personal with her as well as demonstrate for her on the Cadillac.

Participants of Michael Collins’s workshop were able to experience pure Pilates Zen as he reviewed the principles of breathing and concentration and how those intertwine to create his personal one rep drill daily to reconnect the muscles and get your body ready for the day.  His daily repertoire consisted of 20 different exercises with focus on the breath.  Each movement linked to an inhalation or exhalation.  He asked that we try to experiment with the flow depending on the day and how your body feels but noted the importance of maintaining our practice as teachers.  We have to take care of ourselves first to feel satisfied and complete.

Attendees almost drew emotional tears of enlightenment from Brent Anderson’s intimate Chronic Pain revelations. I received a royal booty kicking workout from Julian Littleford on “Shoulder Stabilization” when he brought the arm chair out from the living dead!

What I enjoyed the most about the lectures was the ever-present reminder of our rich Pilates heritage and our responsibility to keep the integrity of the work within our means.  This reinforced that we are all working together on this mission to REFORM bodies, minds and spirits.

The most brilliant part of the conference that has remained behind the scenes is the perseverance and willingness of our conference host: Bernie Nelson. Bernie put all of this together from start to finish over a year’s time. In May 2009 he went on a personal campaign through parts of the Midwest (Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska) to spread the word about this conference opportunity. This is a part of the country that normally becomes forgotten when drawing conference awareness.  His passion for continuing the work that Joe began with a personalized touch is very admirable.  He and I traveled around Iowa to personally invite studios and ask them “What do you need?”  This type of personal outreach is definitely needed to keep our community close and assure the standards of our teachings are at the highest level we can offer.

Below is a snapshot and review of this opportunity.  I was pleased to be an attendee, Pre-Con Presenter, Peak Pilates MVe Chair class Instructor, Business/Vendor Sponsor and fan of this “open-minded” quality conference.

Pilates Round Table Report Card

• Atmosphere    B
• Learning Opp A-
• Food B+
• Setting B-
• Personalized Attention A+
• Cost for Attending A

A running registration for next year’s conference is open now.  Sign up today.  There is a limit on the number of participants. E-mail Bernie with your questions, comments and thank you’s: bernie@pilatesroundtable.com

There is a reason Pilates is called “mind-body” work.  Not only does the mind work in conjunction with the body to create flowing movements and firing specific muscles, it also sets the tone for how a session proceeds.  But what happens when your client’s mind is:

• Dead set on being negative
• Insistent upon speaking, through complaints or otherwise, throughout an entire class
• Convinced he or she does not or will not move beyond the comfort zone of familiarity

Any of the above situations can set the tone for a long 55 minutes. Running out the door isn’t an option when a client comes in with a huff and a, “I guess I’m ready for you to torture me now.”  This is where the instructor’s mind-body work begins.

Even when I stick to modified movements built in to a fluid exercise plan, not a week goes by when a client doesn’t call me a name.  A name not fit for print.  It took some time for me to realize that there are people out there who could be lying down getting a massage for an hour in the studio and would still complain.  I just assumed that everyone loved doing Pilates just as I do.  Not true.

To counter trying clients, implement the 3 Ps – being present, prepared and positive.  Rather than fall in to the frustration trap the client falls in to with, “I can’t do that”, “I don’t want to do that” or even “I’m NOT going to do that”, take a breath and refocus those people on the task at hand.  It is not enough to take the body on a journey through Pilates, we have to also take the mind with it – the instructor’s mind, that is.  Here are the three ways to mentally tackle those students who tax us, even if we don’t want to admit to being mentally strained.

1. Be present for each session. It’s easier to mentally check-out when a client’s complaining begins.  By staying focused you not only cue better, you may also change the atmosphere of the session.  When an instructor really is present, the opportunity arises to change a downbeat direction with positive reinforcement before the negativity starts. Praise the exercise performance before it’s delivered with a “You always do this one so nicely” to counteract the potential huff and sigh that usually accompanies the movement.
2. Be prepared for class, but not too prepared.  While instructors should go in to a session with at least an idea of where the hour will go, it never fails that you’ll veer off what you had designed.  The idea is to be prepared but not stringent in the preparations. By being willing to have “teachable moments” you just might make a breakthrough with a student. The series you wanted to tackle before the hour is up can take a backseat if you are working through a particularly difficult exercise for that person.  Take the moment and be open to the joy of that one exercise.  Peel it back and, for instance, show the student how the bridge can assist in the roll up and then practice it for the last five minutes.  You’ll both feel like you made positive progress.  All that work will result in more pride, less protesting.
3. Finally, share your excitement about movement with your clients and encourage them to find their own understanding of Pilates.  Use technical terms and invite the clients to own their workouts by using the “big words” themselves.  By fully understanding the exercise, why they are doing the exercise and how to perform it, students focus more on the why of the workout and less on the whine of the workout.  Be excited for them when they get past their sticking point in the Teaser and they will be more inclined to try harder and complain less.

By being present, prepared and positive, you’ll be more aware of what brings on the negativity and you’ll be able to stop it before it starts.  Here’s to positive Pilates!

Pilates Digest releases the first in a series of specialized golf fitness programs for Pilates instructors.  The Pilates for Golfers manual is a step-by-step guide to identify and correct golf swing faults using the Pilates Method.  It is 140 pages filled with golf fitness information to assess your golf clients, identify their swing faults and detailed Pilates exercises for golf that will correct the swing faults.

Pilates for Golfers is a program for Pilates professionals. Golf clients have different needs which are specific to their own swing faults and body issues.  As a trainer with golf-specific knowledge, you can help your golf clients improve their game while decreasing their risk of injury.  Additionally they will be able to play longer and without the pain that affects many golfers.

This program will increase your knowledge regarding clients who enjoy playing golf and increase business opportunities as you capitalize on a unique market segment. Golfers are a niche market that can help increase your client base and revenue stream.

When purchasing the program, you will also receive bonuses including Pre-Round Stretches and a Golf Fitness Assessment Scoring Sheet to aid in your programming for golfers.  Get the complete program today!

Delightful, dynamic and dedicated are some adjectives that describe twin sisters Katherine and Kimberly Corp, the owners and operators of Pilates on Fifth, a very successful Pilates studio in the heart of New York City. I had the opportunity to speak with them in April and found them to also be forthcoming, entrepreneurial and fun.

There don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to accomplish all that the Corp sisters manage. Not only do they own their studio, a nearly 6,000 square foot facility, they also train clients, are educators of Pilates instructors and they also own an internet driven company called Ultimate Pilates Workouts, a membership site where one can gain access to a multitude of Pilates workouts. And there is so much more!

Highly educated and very passionate about their work, Katherine and Kimberly each holds degrees from both Duke and Columbia Universities. They are both fluent in Japanese and have spent time in Japan working for multinational companies. Introduced to Pilates as dancers (New York City Rockettes!), Katherine and Kimberly certified as instructors with STOTT PILATES® in 2000. In 2001, they became Instructor Trainers with STOTT PILATES® and continued as a New York License Center until January 2006 when they launched their own training program, The Pilates Academy International. They describe their program as contemporary, similar to STOTT PILATES® but with the added benefit of creating Instructors who leave their program being confident as well as competent. Those of us who are certified instructors understand the difficulty in transitioning from being an “instructor trainee” to being a fully-fledged and confident trainer. The Corps feel that this was a missing component and therefore one of the reasons they began their own certification program.

Several of the nearly 40 trainers employed at Pilates on Fifth are also instructor trainers for The Pilates Academy International. This allows Katherine and Kimberly to teach their program to trainers from Japan; a market otherwise untapped and untouched. It is this unique entrepreneurial spirit that has helped the Corp twins break into other areas that at one time were on the fringe of the Pilates world and are now more mainstream. Their use of video marketing, being viewed frequently on YouTube has enabled them to build Ultimate Pilates Workouts. This membership based website, where many videos are available to download or view free of charge, offers a wide array of options for many different exercisers. For example, if one is unfamiliar with Pilates there are video clips in which the viewer can learn the basic movements and principles of Pilates. For the more experienced Pilates practitioner, there are more challenging workout options. It is the perfect companion for people who travel or who prefer to work out in the privacy of their own homes. Additionally, experienced Pilates instructors can use Ultimate Pilates Workouts for ideas on which to build classes or private sessions—it’s a great resource.

Another example of Katherine and Kimberly’s entrepreneurial ways is their creation of Cardiolates®, a workout system based in Pilates movement with the addition of rebounding for cardiovascular benefits. Cardiolates® was highlighted in a segment of the Martha Stewart show with Katherine and Kimberly demonstrating.

Cardiolates® and the Gyrotonic® Expansion System are unique offerings at Pilates on Fifth as well as ActivCore FEX (also known as Redcord,) a method of movement utilizing a suspension training system (ropes and slings.) It allows instructors to help clients activate muscles they have difficulty accessing. Katherine and Kimberly have found it to be an excellent addition to their repertoire of offerings. The Corp sisters also hold certifications in Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® as well as ACE and NASM. They have also developed programs for cancer patients and those who suffer from cardiovascular disease.

It’s hard to believe that Katherine and Kimberly have accomplished so much personal and professional growth and success in such a relatively short period of time. Maybe their next offering will be a business school to teach the rest of us the secrets of their success! If you have the opportunity to visit New York City, make sure you save time to go to Pilates on Fifth for a class or private session—you’ll be glad you did and it’s likely that you’ll learn something too from the Dynamic Duo!

Easier said than done, right?  Not exactly, and I’ll tell you why.  When I first decided to open my studio in 2004, I was so pumped up and excited the last thing I was thinking about was the business side of it – I thought it would just fall into place.  It didn’t quite happen that way.

Let me explain. I believed everyone charged clients according to Joseph Pilates’ quote of 10…20…30…sessions.  You know the one. I firmly stand behind this quote which is why I originally used the same pricing guidelines that many Pilates studios used, I charged by packages of sessions. However, it was stressful every time clients’ packages were due. This created other issues too. I wasn’t sure if they were committed to continue.  What if they forgot their sessions were used up or they forgot their check or credit card? This happened to me plenty of times and I felt like a collections representative trying to get my money. It was very frustrating and I’ve spoken with many other business owners and instructors who also dreaded when their clients are on session 8 of a 10 package series.

I finally realized it would be much easier if we only had to deal with signing up clients for billing one time. Rather than charge by the package I switched over to monthly billing. Not only was I able to better track monthly income, my clients benefited by being more committed to their workout schedule so they could achieve their fitness goals.

Monthly billing enabled me to set goals and understand what was needed to attain those goals. For example, if you have 5 clients paying $200 a month, and they are debited on the first of each month, you know that every 1st of the month that $1000 would be deposited into your account.  If your goal is to bring in $3500 per month and you charge $200 a month (assuming 2 sessions per week) you would need approximately 17.5 clients per month.

Recurring Revenue Benefits

Other benefits to using monthly billing, which is also known as electronic funds transfer (EFT) are:

• Avoiding the problem of late cancellations—it is written into my agreement that if clients do not give 24 hour notification of cancellations then that session is forfeited.  Before, it could be awkward when these situations arose.

• Being able to track my monthly income and earning more money. When clients were paying based on packages, monthly income was sporadic and unpredictable. If they had a 10 session package, it could carry over into one month or two which didn’t benefit them or my business. EFT helps the client by keeping them consistently working out and helps the business by having consistent, predictable income.

• Reduced stress for me and my instructors—no one has to worry about the financial side of things after the client’s initial visit.

• It allows me to concentrate on teaching Pilates which is what I love to do.

Recurring Revenue Resources

Setting up EFT is fairly simple, here are a couple of EFT companies I personally have used:

• ASF international (www.asfinternational.com) – online auto debit (EFT) system

• U.S. Merchant Systems (www.usms.com) -online auto debit (EFT) system

• Merchant Services (www.usmerchantservices.net) – Or you can have a terminal that you can personally process credit cards

You don’t have to lock your clients into a long-term contract.  You can offer it to them on a month-to-month basis.  Best of all, you can set goals for yourself and know exactly how many clients and sessions you need to achieve it!  Pilates is a lifestyle so let’s set it up that way.

The PhysicalMind Institute recently issued an updated version of its Chair Encyclopedia. The original book was published in 2004 and the latest edition within the last month or so. Since the original book was issued, Peak Pilates became a licensee for the patented Chair design which was created by and is owned by Joan Breibart. Peak has brought chair work to the masses with their MVe program which is offered in many gym settings in addition to Pilates studios.

The books are nearly identical with the newer edition offering photographs in color. Photographs in the older version are black and white. Comparing the two, photographs in the new book are much clearer and in some cases, the view is slightly different which better demonstrates the exercises.

There are clear and concise instructions for 60 exercises. Defined with each exercise are Purpose, Fundamentals, Muscles, Position, Movement and Breath, Cues, what to “Watch for” and Variations. Exercises are broken down in chapters defined by position on the apparatus; Supine and Prone, Seated, Kneeling, and Standing. Also included are three workouts; the Essentials workout consists of 16 exercises moving in all positions; the Fluidity workout is 18 exercises featuring flow; and the Energetic workout is a more challenging sequence featuring position change between exercises.

This book is a must have resource for studios with Chairs, particularly MVe chairs but many of the exercises can be done on the original Wunda chair. The Chair Encyclopedia is available through The PhysicalMind Institute’s website. It retails for $39.95 plus shipping but is available with a $10 discount through May 15.

The 1st Annual Pilates Round Table Conference will be held in West Palm Beach, Florida, June 5-7, 2009.  This is exciting news for the Pilates community to have a new and fresh conference on the scene.  You will find amazing education from some of Pilates’ very best, including some of Joseph’s very own students!

Presenters include Lolita San Miguel, Julian Littleford, Rebecca Leone, Michele Larsson, Michael Collins, Kevin Bowen, Brent Anderson, Kristi Cooper White, and Matthew Comer.   Topics include:

• Lolita shares her Cadillac
• Working with the Shoulder Girdle
• Basics of proper hip flexion
• Pilates and Scoliosis
• Concentration and Breath: The framework of the Pilates System
• Group Reformer Class for All
• Pilates for Chronic Pain
• The BASI Flow Sequence™: Power Mat Work
• STOTT PILATES® Ultimate Body Sculpting

There are already numerous Sponsors that will be represented at the Conference.  For more information visit the Pilates Round Table website.  It looks to be a great event!

April Conferences

If you are looking for something sooner, the Body-Mind-Spirit Conference in Santa Clara, California is starting in a few days.  If it is too late for you, join their webinars, which are available from April 20- May 20, 2009.  You can still save $50 through April 20th.

The Live Healthy Expo is an event for the entire family also in Santa Clara, California beginning April 17.   This sounds like a fun, healthy and educational event for everyone in the family as you learn alternative approaches to health and wellness.

The IDEA Fitness Fusion Conference begins April 23 in Rosemont, Illinois.

Internationally, FIBO takes place April 23-26 in Germany.  This is a trade show for fitness, wellness and health.

May Conferences

Florida MANIA , presented by SCW Fitness, begins May 15 in Orlando combining personal training, Pilates, yoga, aquatics, spinning, nutrition and more. Read more on our interview with Sara Kooperman and MANIA Conventions.

Pilates of Boulder announces Pilates Masters “Rock the Rockies” May 15-17 in Boulder, Colorado.  Jay Grimes, Siri Galliano and Kathryn Ross-Nash are coming together to take you closer to the original work of Joseph and Clara Pilates.

June Conferences

As we described above, the 1st Annual Pilates Round Table Conference will be held in West Palm Beach, Florida, June 5-7, 2009.

Atlanta Mania, presented by SCW Fitness, begins June 12 in Atlanta, Georgia combining personal training, Pilates, yoga, aquatics, spinning, nutrition and more.

Start planning your continuing education for 2009.  Opportunities are endless.  Once you commit, tell them you found their conference at Pilates Digest.  Let us know of other conferences coming over the next few months.  Happy Learning!

The talk of the slow economy isn’t leaving anytime soon.  The news has covered it for over a year and we now know it is going to take a lot more time to recover.  It is hard to be positive with the news surrounding businesses these days, but what do you do?  In order for your business to hang on through this long downturn, you have to be hopeful.  You can’t let the worry consume your energy.  It will get better…it will take time…so right now you have to get out there and control what you can.

A recent article in the April 2009 issue of Entrepreneur magazine explains that you have to take personal control to feel in charge of your destiny.  During these uncertain times, your perspective on what is going on in the world is entirely up to you.  You need to perceive a positive future and keep working hard to arrive there.  Focusing only on the negative will take your sights off the long term goals you want to reach.

With the stress of the economy, most people still want to take care of their health, which is good for us.  A survey done by Zobha yoga and fitness apparel showed that “despite the economic environment, nearly all women surveyed who currently exercise say they will continue, with two-thirds saying they will scale back financially in some way”.

Pilates Pro recently had an article showing a strong outlook for Pilates jobs in the future…another positive sign.  So how can we take personal control of our business during these times and help control our destiny.

1. Don’t only attend the hottest Pilates classes at conferences this year.  Check out the Business Lectures.  More conferences are adding business informational sessions which provide great resources to instructors.  The IDEA World Fitness Convention™ in August this year is offering a pre-conference session that is a full day of business seminars.  It is the Fitness Business Forum with a few of the sessions specifically geared to the current economic situation.
2. Take care of your current clients.  It is easier to keep current clients than to find new ones, so don’t take them for granted.  Maintain great customer service, add new classes, keep them up on the latest research from the industry and follow-up with phone calls or emails to check on them.
3. Find affordable marketing techniques.  Check out Peak Pilates instructor Connie Borho’s article on making this an “opportunistic economy”.  She gives great ideas that are working for her in Sarasota, Florida.  There are ways of getting your name out there, other than spending a fortune on advertising.  Approach local chiropractors, massage therapists or physical therapists to create a relationship for referrals.  Donate gift certificates to silent auctions in your town.  Call clients you haven’t seen in awhile.  Offer a warm-up stretch at a local 5K or golf tournament.  Become a contributing writer to a local paper or magazine.
4. Another great tip from Connie’s article is to spend time every day working on your business, not in your business.  She says to take one hour per day and focus on the business.
5. Many clients want to continue, but need more affordable options, so beef up your group class schedule.  Research the needs of these clients, so you won’t lose them.
6. Without reducing your prices, offer specials to new clients when they buy their first package.  Offer specials to current clients when they buy multiple packages.
7. Web presence is a must.  Our Pilates Studio gets more clients through our website than any other marketing technique we use.  Your website has to be user friendly and offer as much information as possible.  Don’t miss this prime marketing opportunity to show yourself off to the world.  We get visitors from other cities through our website when they are vacationing as well.

Remember not to sacrifice quality or customer service during these times.  Also, don’t give in on your policies and pricing structure that has brought you this far.  This is not a time to cheapen your business.  Your clients know you provide a valuable service.  They just need more options.  There are more clients out there that need your services as well.   Stay positive, they just haven’t found you yet…so help them.