Recently, I have taught many MVe workshops which have provided an opportunity to share the “Pilates World” with many fitness instructors. I just recently delivered a three-day workshop and to a wonderful group of instructors out in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Besides Pilates instructors, this group was comprised of yoga instructors, personal trainers, kickboxing instructors and aerobics instructors.
As these instructors became more exposed to Pilates, they began to realize that the Pilates concepts and connections should be applied to the exercises they are already teaching in their fitness classes: Pilates is not just for Pilates! How about Pilates for personal training, Pilates for aerobics, or Pilates for kickboxing? It is powerful to see how the Pilates concepts, for example, working into the centerline, keeping the box square, scooping the powerhouse and lengthening with opposition could be applied to all other forms of exercise and our daily movement.
Yes, Pilates is about movement and flow, not just individual concepts and connections. However, these concepts and connections provide an opportunity to share the beauty of efficient and effective movement with the fitness world. I love the fitness world and the opportunity to be able to contribute something to it is exciting.
So, next time you have a fitness instructor in your Pilates group class or you are giving a fitness instructor a private session, point out a connection that they can apply to the warrior pose in Yoga, a bicep curl in personal training, or even a front-snap-kick in kickboxing. Pass the gift on and they can pass it on, too. And remember, Pilates is not just for Pilates - it is for 'EveryBody'!
“If you would thoroughly know anything, teach it to others.” - Tyron Edwards (1809-1894)
- Sonia Rodriguez, Peak Pilates Master Trainer