Cracking the Code
October 16, 2022
Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate Pilates as a lifestyle choice providing an opportunity to meet ourselves in the moment and reconnect with our inner energy, life force, and commitment to well-being. And I find it difficult to explain or describe what it is and how it feels. So I hope this article captures the feeling and gives some thoughts on leading our students into a space where they can feel likewise.
Here’s a simplified way I have found helpful to break it down. Start with the groundwork by building our sessions from a simple foundation - the A, B, and C’s of all good movement: Alignment, Breathing, and Conscious Awareness (movement with purpose). Then weave these qualities into each session with a balance of fun, humor, and discipline. I like to view Pilates as recreation or “re-creation.” A time to re-create ourselves and get a break from the routine stressors of our lives, and I firmly believe that it’s through re-creation that we keep our inner spark alive. I also like to capitalize on spontaneous moments that might trigger a laugh, a flash of inspiration, or an ah-ha experience and not let those moments whoosh away.
Regardless of your teaching experience or background, helping others keep their S.P.A.R.K. alive and thriving attracts them back to you and their Pilates. Because at the end of the day, we can’t really “teach” anyone Pilates; we can only guide them to finding it (and the rest of the goodies that come with it) for themselves. And once they “get” it, they’re usually hooked for life. So here’s what S.P.A.R.K. means to me.
S: Self-discovery (being inspired, taking risks, trying new things)
P: Passion (igniting the imagination, awakening the senses)
A: Accountability (taking responsibility for one’s health in body, mind & spirit)
R: Recreate (keeping fitness fun, fulfilling, and playful)
K: Karma (keeping ourselves fit and healthy to have more to give back to our family, friends, community, and work)
Did you know that our clients perceive only 7 percent of our actual words, and the remaining communication comes from our tone of voice and body language? You can see how vital is our non-verbal communication! Our body language, facial expression, and intention, all offered with positive cueing, being in the present moment, and capitalizing on opportunities can turn an everyday moment into a magic moment. Hold the possibility open for clients to do their best each day, to reach just a little further than they thought they could. Hold the belief that they can do it and never allow negativity, self-doubt, or the word “can’t” to be part of the experience.
Come with me on this mini ski experience…..imagine we’re skiing down a mountain in a ski lesson. We both agree that our goal is to go down to the bottom, right? It’s certainly logical, and our ski teacher explains that we must lean into the place we’re going (which is down the mountain) and not lean away from where we want to go. Yet it can be scary to lean down the hill; it feels counter-intuitive. It requires us to trust ourselves, our equipment, and our teacher and often take the risk to try something new and different. It’s not that we don’t want to; it’s just that our minds can get in the way. We might feel fearful of the unknown, yet it’s hard for us to understand that on the other side of fear is, well… often nothing horrible, maybe something extraordinary. It is about our mindset. So actually, the most valuable real estate in the world is the 6 inches between our ears! We aren’t our worst enemy; we are our only enemy; far too often, we are hard on ourselves. When we recognize this is true for most people, we can be that cheerful voice for our clients until they adopt that positivity and own it for themselves.
Supportive and encouraging words go far in creating a bond with our students. Be that person. Step into the shoes that set you apart. Be clear and confident in expressing how Pilates feels in your body and about the positive experience, feeling, and result we experience. Be in the moment, be present enough to check in with the individual or class, and regroup when needed to pull it back together. From time to time, we all need to be pulled back to our center, our midline, our rhythm, and flow, so we aren’t flailing about but in dynamic flow….in freedom of movement, with the musicality of the movement, without fighting the apparatus or gravity. Being in the life flow, rhythm, and breath is exhilarating and powerful, and it’s here for all of us. And the best part about our relationship with Pilates is that it can always grow, expand and deepen. I hope your Pilates journey reveals the wonders of the work to you.
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