Join us for a Skillful Teaching Seva Teleclass and get a preview of our upcoming Body Brain Foundations Series coming to the studio on Feb. 25th and 26th. This is a donation-only fee teleclass presented by Chantill Lopez and Ann Bishop.

February 15th
10am, PST

Improving observation and imitation while learning movement: a neuroscience perspective

Tele-class outline:

• What are mirror neurons? How can they help you improve learning or teaching movement?
• If you believe a movement is impossible can you “see” it?
• Is it better to teach a beginner in the first or third person perspective?
• Incorporating theory, research and practice

Sign up now and get a taste of the cutting edge material defining our teaching profession!

Learn more about Ann Bishop and Body Brain Connect: BodyBrainConnect.com

(For your homework assignment, please respond to this post. Juliana was quicker on the draw than me — because I am a dork — and her post can be found as a comment from the previous post “July Mentoring In-service”. Please make sure to read it below.)

So, once again, thanks to all of you for your presence and willingness on Friday. I too, left feeling energized and excited. I always feel incredibly blessed to be here and now doing what I do and surrounded by all of you. You light the way for my journey just as I hope to be a light on yours. I hope that you will not forget what an integral part you are to the process and learning of every other teacher you come into contact with.

We all have something unique and amazing to offer no matter where we are along the way. If we allow ourselves to both see and be seen we open up to all the wonderful gifts we each offer.

I look forward to reading your thoughts and learning how I and we, as a group, can help make this journey rewarding and fulfilling for you.

Be well and stay in touch. I will be posting occasionally as we go along and ask that you make at least an effort to comment to each post. Don’t worry it won’t be too often and it’s a nice way of us staying connected between workshops.

c

It feels like we are really getting tech savvy! We hope you enjoy the abbreviated audio recording our our Gratitude Class from Thanksgiving morning. It is always so a touching and invigorating experience.

Enjoy!

Download and listen here …
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(Download) this music.

Fill the gap in your mind body knowledge through an educational series about how the brain learns movement and how this information can make you a better instructor.

Body Brain Education Foundations Series

Saturday & Sunday, Feb. 25th/26th

10 am – 5 pm (1 hour lunch break)

Saturday – Session 1: body & movement 
Learn how motor and sensory pathways inform the body & brain
Practice implications for mind body teaching in the fight or flight & the relaxation response

Sunday – Session 2: brain & movement
Learn how the brain “sees” the body
Practice implications for mind body teaching using principles of neuroplasticity
Learn how the mind influences movement and the concept of mirror neurons
Practice implications for mind body teaching using neuroscientific research for observation/demonstration and motor imagery.

Cost: $240
Material Fee: $20 

10 hours of classroom instruction

Taught by Anne Bishop 10 + year mind body educator & Master’s Degree in Mind, Brain and Education & Founder of Body Brain Education.

Books used in the course include Anatomy Coloring Book (the nervous system section), Beyond the Relaxation Response: How to harness the healing power of your personal beliefs by Herb Benson and various neuroscientific research articles.

Sign Up Here!

Online – CLICK HERE

or by emailing pilateswithanne@gmail.com

GET THE FLYER 

Although we will keep the  process very informal – no application required — potential Seva students must be referred by current students or teachers and sessions will be given on a first come, first serve basis. Each candidate will be gifted 1-2 sessions. We will have 1 rotating spot that will include up to 10 or more sessions. Please ask us for more information.

Examples of Seva candidates (including but not limited to):

* Those with chronic illness

* Those recovering from traumatic injury

* Cancer survivors or those in the midst of cancer treatment

* Those going through any kind of life trauma, illness or upheaval

* Someone you love and want to give the gift of a healthier body to who would not otherwise be able to make it happen…

Things to consider when referring someone for a Seva session:

* Is Pilates something that could make a powerful impact on their recovery or life?

* Could they afford Pilates otherwise?

* Would they benefit from 1 or 2 sessions to get them started on a home practice?

Call us at 829-8746 or email

chantill@pilatescollective.com 

On the path

Alfred E. Smith from Tipton, Kansas. I met him on Friday, Oct. 9, at 5:30 pm and by 9 pm knew he was a person I would never forget. Fred is a rancher, a retired cop, the father of four grown children – two boys, two girls – part owner of a restaurant, editor and founder of his small-town newspaper The Tipton Times, a Christian, a seminary school graduate, a gifted writer, and a Buddhist; and since last week, my dear friend.

Fred has a statue of the Buddha sitting by the stream that runs through his property. It sits under a Cottonwood tree you can see from his front porch. Every time he drives his big blue Ford four-door off to Colorado his friends say, “Fred’s gone lookin’ for the Buddha again.” They mean it in jest and yet it is their way of acknowledging they don’t understand, but they don’t mind. They love him. Fred draws strength from his faith in God, but his faith allows him to see the depth of joy and open-heartedness that is fostered by his Buddhism. Like no other person I’ve ever met, Fred knows his own heart.

The fact that he exists in Tipton – an anomaly – speaks infinitely to his boundless sense of self, to his courage to accept himself without shame, quilt, or influence from those who might not understand him or want him to be otherwise.

Being on retreat at Shambhala showed me a lot about myself that hadn’t been clear: that I could trust myself more, that in fact I was beginning to already; that I didn’t have to listen to self-doubt or internal shame and let it lead me; and that if we are compelled to create or make an offering that is up to us and the rest is not really our business. But more than any of those things there was Fred.

On our last night at the center, Fred and I walked up the long path to the Stupa (that’s what is behind us in the picture up top.) This was Fred’s fourth visit to Shambhala and he took great pleasure in pointing out all of his favorite things along the way: the expansive growth of fragrant sage, the beautiful turning Aspen leaves, the lacquered, honey-colored bridge, and the small Japanese shrine resting in a grove just before the the Stupa.

He told us, although we weren’t supposed to pick the flora and fauna, he had clipped a bunch of sage on his first visit; he just couldn’t resist the sweet smell of it. This was, of course, before he knew it was against the rules. “As a cop I’d never accept ‘I didn’t know’ as an excuse but I made an offering, asked for blessings, and dedicated the merit so I figured it was okay this one time.”

He was burning the sage at home to cleanse the space before meditation.

As we walked we came upon a woman who was attending another program. I’d met her a few days before wondering around looking for my room. Her name was Karen. Fred was pointing out a pair of beautiful winding Aspens that had grown together – he’d takea picture of them the last time he was there. We all looked. I took a picture. The woman Karen turned and stared. She was crying.

“My niece just committed suicide.” Fred went to her, but said nothing. He just held her gaze and her hands.

It is rare that you see a person so wholly present in the face of someone else’s grief. Instead we often hide behind condolences and awkward silences, an opportunity to look away. What happens when we are afraid to see grief? What good are we to the other person? We seek to exaggerate our potential for helping or undervalue our ability to be enough without doing anything. We don’t trust ourselves.

Fred knew. He stepped into her grief without hesitation, yet it wasn’t grief he was holding, it was kindness, compassion and a willingness to be himself – cheerful, grateful, at ease – and simply witness the pain someone else was experiencing, without taking it on or pitying it. He seemed to me a true and perfect reflection of the moment.

We walked back with her then and it dawned on me what a gift this was, what a gift Fred was. He’d shown me what true trust in yourself can look like; gentle, confident, kind and without pretense or reluctance. This is the kind of person I want to be in every aspect of my life, as a teacher, a mother, a friend, a wife, a sister, a leader, a boss, a writer, a person no better and no worse than anyone else, simply trusting.

And for our own part as Pilates practitioners and teachers I would ask you:

What does it mean to trust your body?

Do you trust your body enough to let it find it’s way to greater ease and efficiency, greater vitality?

Instead of looking at this as an opportunity to find all the ways in which we do not trust ourselves, I see it as a chance to look at how we do trust. I think you will find that the seeds of trust are much bigger than you think.

May you have a brilliant and nurturing fall season — a great time to turn inward and honor what and who you are. Perhaps you will find new wells of trust in your body and in your practice. I look forward to seeing it!

With gratitude,

Chantill

“Ultimately, that is the definition of bravery: not being afraid of yourself.” –Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche from his book “The Sacred Path of the Warrior“ 

Saturdays, 11am – Noon, Starting October 1, 2011.

Class rates: 1/$20, 5/$90/ 10/$150. Group/Springboard class packages can be used.

Classic Mat class is a dynamic, flowing workout utilizing your own body weight for resistance rather than springs and straps. This is a fast paced workout that focuses on centering, breath and precision. It’s great fun and a great challenge. Modifications and advancements will be given for each exercise, keeping the rhythm of class while being appropriate for all levels.  This is an excellent way to advance your existing practice plus learn a home practice.

Register online at pilatescollective.com or contact Colleen: 486-0516, colleen@pilatescollective.com

Cardio Mat Class with Michal Victoria

Mondays 12 Noon. Located next door at Core-In-Motion

Special Starter Rate: 10 class package $80, drop-ins $14

Our long awaited Fundamentals Videos are ready for you to watch. This is designed to help beginners learn the foundational movements and concepts of Pilates and to offer an opportunity for those who have been practicing to revisit the fundamental work.

There are 12 exercises, but 16 videos in total including the Intro.

You’ll find links to each one on our Pilates Video Downloads page.

We hope you enjoy them.

July In-service
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(Download) this music.(To me this is also a quality of leadership… “Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple, and it is also that difficult.” – Warren Bennis)

What is an expert?

Expert: –noun

a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field; specialist; authority: a language expert.

–adjective

possessing special skill or knowledge; trained by practice; skillful or skilled (often followed by in  or at ): an expert driver; to be expert at driving a car.

Authority: –noun,

the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine.

Leader: –noun

a person or thing that leads.

a guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or political group.

Do you meet these criteria?

Insight:

Above all being a teacher is a learning path! This means that he most important part of being and becoming the expert is about acknowledging what you do know and standing just where you are, never being afraid to say you don’t have the answers (but always willing to get them!)

Get grounded in what you know:

1. Make a list of all the things you feel confident sharing: any knowledge you have
2. Make a list of all the reasons why you think someone should do Pilates. What excites and inspires you about Pilates?

Be curious and be proactive:

1. What things do you wish to know or feel like are major pieces missing to make you an effective expert?

Insight:

Being the expert is about being able to share your excitement honestly and clearly, and taking steps to fill the gaps. This means:

-       Preparation:

• Make sure you know the studio systems, prices, class and session options, how to use the computer as well as being prepared from a repertoire perspective
• Do the necessary research

-       Investigation:

• Ask another teacher when you have a question
  • Always follow up with insights and answers to questions you weren’t able to answer originally (and this means going out of your way)
• Closely observe and get multiple perspectives to find a style that works for you

-       Articulation:

• Write down your 30 second commercial
  • Take the list you created earlier and turn it into a statement that tells someone what you do and why they should not miss the opportunity to do it too.

Note: Of course what you will say to each client varies, but it is so extremely important to be able to articulate why they should do Pilates!!

Insight:

In the studio, being the expert is about being a true and honest guide. You do that by:

-       Having a system in place with which you can evaluate and asses a clients needs (The introductory Session and Intake/Assessment process)

-       Having a clear outcome/basic formula in mind before meeting with the client: This pertains to the studio’s mission and vision:

Our Studio Mission:  Movement. Practice. Joy.

Pilates Collective is a community of students and teachers dedicated to the practice of mindful movement; inspiring people of all ages and fitness levels to build strength, balance and vitality in their bodies. 

Our Vision:

To create a thriving, self-sustaining collective of teachers and students attaining excellence in our field with a multi-level approach to practice through education and exploration.

Goals and Outcomes:

• The ultimate outcome:
  • To help student’s establish a long term or lifelong practice
  • To help them integrate Pilates as a lifestyle, to build and maintain strength and mobility and prevent injury as well as continuously increase their vitality and wellbeing!
• Short term or immediate objectives:
  • Evaluate what kind of teacher would be best suited for the student
  • Evaluate what the most effective next step is:
    • 1^st option: New Student 5 pack
      • You need to be able to decide if that should be with you or another teacher who has necessary or appropriate skill level
        • Progressions:
          • Continue privates
          • Into Trios
          • Springboard Classes
          • A combination of these plus Self-Practice
          • 2^nd option: 30 minute Free Fundamentals session
            • Feed into 10 Day Trial and into classes

Pilates Collective Functional/Experiential Anatomy – August 2011

            Taught by Chantill Lopez

1. What happens to disks with age/disuse? How to effect change?

With age and disuse disks will begin to loose their ability to cushion the vertebrae and become more prone to herniation and other injury.

Disks do not have the ability to repair themselves or regenerate. How we can affect change is through movement – strengthening the surrounding muscles, improving posture and creating greater stability during movement. Movement brings healthy nutrients to disks and will prevent injury when done in a balanced fashion with appropriate symmetrical recruitment.

2.   Describe muscles of the pelvis as a dynamic system:

As we discussed, the pelvic floor, pelvic wall and two of the external rotators of the hip support the pelvis intrinsically. These muscles work within the framework of all muscles, through eccentric and concentric contraction and interplay with the adductors of the legs and the transversus abdominus as well as the multifidi, the deep spinal muscles.

3.   How does the body build or create neuromuscular patterns?

Primarily this is done through a 2 step process of education and then integration. There are many different philosophies on how and how long it takes to build or re-build healthy neuromuscular patterns and the topic is complex. I have found accessible and in-depth information on Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_memory

To my knowledge typically we see a difference in a student’s ability after 2-3 attempts at a movement or movement sequence. Strength building time lines take more like 3 months on average to take hold.

Further reading:

Kinesiology: The Mechanics and Pathomechanics of Human Movement, (Recall Series) by Carol A. Oatis (Hardcover - Feb 2008)

Manual of Structural Kinesiology by R. T. Floyd and Clem Thompson (Paperback - Jul 12, 2011)

4.   More about Degenerative Disk Disease:

First of all, there are lots of disagreements about what constitutes DDD. It’s not really a disease, a condition. Very little blood supply to discs so they lack reparative ability.

Pain associated: Can be from the annulus when there is a tear pain radiates from the nerves on the very outer layer of the annulus. With further degeneration, the nerves from this outer layer can actually grow into the disc space causing pain.

Or inflammation - from the high level of inflammatory proteins in the disc. Which if they leak out and come into contact with the nerve or nerve fibers of the outer annulus there is pain.

Or from micromotion instability – when the disc cannot help absorb and distribute shock the area around the disc can be very painful.

Pain associated often subsides as the inflammatory proteins are exposed and die.

Additional reference: http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/what-degenerative-disc-disease

5.   We discussed breathing in depth and the choices around what patterns to utilize given what the client needs. Now that you know more about how breathing works and the effect good breathing has on the core and what muscles are recruiting this should make more sense. Please use the forum to explore any other questions you have. A good resource is the Balanced Body Mat 1 manual (or any of the manuals really).

6.   Neutral spine or pelvis is a dynamic, ever-changing position depending on the body’s orientation and what movement it is involved in. Calling this position “optimal spine” is an appropriate synonym. I would encourage you to use whatever term feels to best represent this concept to you, but be clear about how neutral is found during standing, sitting and lying down and that it changes subtly even with breathing, with the movement of the spine, femurs, ribcage and shoulder curdle – even with the movement or position of the head.

7.   Regarding muscle atrophy: Atrophy is the overall degradation of a muscle. The reason for degradation will largely determine whether or not the muscle can be recovered. If it is due to disease it may not be reversible. If it is due to disuse then largely, yes, muscles can be restored. The resources below should be helpful, but I have not found any information to confirm that the multifidi cannot be strengthened or that they atrophy irreversibly.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_atrophy

http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/003188.htm

8.   When dealing with apparent or actual leg-length discrepancies, the best we can do is get as much information as possible as to the cause of the discrepancy. Actual boney leg-length discrepancy is fairly uncommon and usually stems from a misalignment of the pelvis or spine. In the latter case, we can address alignment through stretching and strengthening and teaching the student to use their bodies to promote more balance.