The Peak Blog

This summer we will feature Trinity Fitness + Spa’s CEO Amy Kelly as a special guest contributor. Amy opened Trinity Fitness + Spa in 2005 after she lost her mother to pancreatic cancer. Trinity has partnered with Peak Pilates to explore new ways that Pilates can make a positive impact on the quality of life for cancer patients.

This past weekend I was away from my normal stomping grounds at Trinity Fitness + Spa in Northern Virginia because the Trinity team was in Dallas, Texas where we partnered with Peak Pilates to debut Pilates-sage at the eWomen Network Conference. Janette from the Education Team at Peak Pilates accompanied our staff and helped us spread the word to participants and encourage them to try Pilates-sage and/or Pilates - whether they were beginners or current Pilates enthusiasts.
 
Women executives of all different fitness levels came to the "make-shift" spa to try Pilates and experience it on Peak Pilates equipment first hand. The women were so surprised at how easy, yet challenging Pilates is. People talked about feeling taller, longer, leaner - but most of all - they wanted more!
 
The "looks" that we got as people walked past the reformers and cadillacs were almost humorous in their interest and trepidation. I think that we forget sometime as Pilates professionals that a good portion of the general population has never seen Pilates equipment. They only know Pilates from a tape or other media information. Watching so many women catch the Pilates "fever" reinvigorates us as well.
 
The story about Pilates-sage and its creation captivated women, because they all want to support women dealing with cancer. Pilates-sage is appropriate for everyone, but its application for people dealing with cancer or other chronic debilitative disease really touched the attendees. All the money we raised when people paid to try Pilates or Pilates-sage was donated to the eWomen Network Foundation, and the list of charities they support is so inspiring. They all touch your heart in some way, and focus particularly on women and children.
 
I think that all Pilates and fitness professionals believe in helping others and inspiring their clients to lead healthier, fuller lives. It was exhilirating to work as a team to inspire people and get to do what we love at the same time.
 
I believe that most people in the world want to help, and I was honored to be there with Peak Pilates furthering that goal through something we all love... Pilates! I want to thank Julie Lobdell and the entire staff at Peak Pilates for being a part of this amazing experience!

This summer we will feature Trinity Fitness + Spa’s CEO Amy Kelly as a special guest contributor. Amy opened Trinity Fitness + Spa in 2005 after she lost her mother to pancreatic cancer. Trinity has partnered with Peak Pilates to explore new ways that Pilates can make a positive impact on the quality of life for cancer patients.

On September 1, 2005 my business partner and I opened Trinity Fitness + Spa.

Inspired by my mother – who had passed away two years before following a tremendous battle with pancreatic cancer, and my husband's brother, who died one year before from cancer – Trinity's mission is to inspire women to be healthier: mind, body + spirit, and every person and program at Trinity is created to further that goal.
 
Our one-of-a-kind "Lois Membership" http://www.trinityfitnessandspa.com/lois_member.html provides a free fitness membership, spa discounts and personal training to ANY woman currently undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment for cancer.

Our slogan, "We're not just lifting weights, we're lifting spirits!" is at the very heart of everything we do at Trinity to help women battling disease or PREVENT it.
 
I recently became one of the first trainers in the nation to receive the new ACSM certification to work specifically with cancer patients.

At Trinity, we are always looking for new ways to make it easier for clients to work out during their cancer treatment and receive the associated benefits. Pilates has become an integral part of the programming we offer in this area.

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

I was looking over my schedule for the day and I noticed I have two very different privates back to back: an 11-year-old boy who is excelling in both hockey and soccer and wants for find a core performance edge and an 87-year-old female lung cancer survivor.  And once again a feeling of amazement washes over me. 

To think that so many years ago [Joseph] Pilates created a system that is accessible to such diverse needs. I am struck by articles that purport that classical Pilates is dangerous and only suitable to the very fit; I believe these are written by individuals who have some hidden agenda to promote their own adaptation of Pilates or their own training program. 

Currently I am leading a PPS-I that assesses this Friday. This group has inspired me. They are eager, committed, and open minded. Two of these individuals were previously certified through other programs and came to the InnerSpace as curious students. They fell in love with the flow and the beauty of the classical work and wanted to learn to teach it. There is a male gymnastics coach who wants to use Pilates to help his young competitors gain the benefit he feels in his lessons and an OB nurse who has a desire to help young mothers balance their lives and stay fit. There are others in the group – all with wonderful reasons for pursuing a deeper understanding of Pilates – all wanting to use it as a tool to help others as they have been helped.

As they have gone through observation hours here they have seen a diverse application of the classical work as it wields its transformational power. Because we do a large amount of doctor referral work they have been able to watch hip replacement pre-hab and rehabilitation: many different back and neck considerations, knee and footwork, *** cancer recovery, obese clients coming in for health benefits, osteoporosis, etc. They have seen both Olympic-level and recreational athletes, people wanting to lose weight, get fit, and improve their core. And they have seen that the introductory framework is the starting point for each and every person and that the classical work is adaptable to each and every student and each and every need.

This year I have had the pleasure of leading Peak Pilates workshops at conventions that focus in on how to work the system for less able backs and for obese clients. The attendees have been excited to see how simple concepts of breaking the exercise down to its lowest common denominator and progressing step at a time can make the work easily accessible. Working with the goal of the exercise in mind helps you set a compass point that keeps you on a clear pathway to progress.

So as I start another day here at the studio, I can truly say “there is no where else I would rather be right now than right here” with each and every one of my clients moment by moment, move by move!

Go with the flow!

- Zoey Trap, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

This past April, I had the privilege of leading demonstrations and working with attendees at our Peak Pilates booth at FIBO. FIBO is one of the world’s largest fitness trade shows and this year it was held in Essen, Germany. I was also very honored to work along side our International Peak Pilates Teacher Trainers. It was a heart-warming and incredible cultural experience.

We had a great response and a great showing at our booth. I have never been surrounded by so many languages at one time! I worked with people from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, India, Japan, Czechoslovakia, Russia and the list goes on… Wow!

It’s amazing how the international Pilates market is catching momentum and growing.  We spoke to an Arabian customer who said he had resisted Pilates for years, and now, he says, “Here I am asking you for a demonstration on the equipment.” He spent about forty-five minutes at our booth asking all the right questions. People are realizing that Pilates is here to stay!

As many of you know, Peak Pilates offers Classical Pilates and our fitness line, MVe Fitness Fusion. It is so smart to offer both because the reality is that both are in demand.  The market demands the ingenuity of our equipment and the clarity of our education. Because we have upheld the integrity of the traditions of Joseph Pilates, we are the single source solution for any studio owner or any club franchise entrepreneur. The positive response we received at FIBO provides evidence that there is a need for all we have to offer.

I encourage all Pilates professionals to experience both the “Classical” and “Fitness World” of Pilates. Be smart and expose yourself to all the Pilates industry has to offer.

- Sonia Rodriguez, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

One of the most impressionable teachers I ever had was a dance teacher, Thomas Molinaro, who was not only a brilliant dancer but had an extremely keen eye. I was in my early twenties before my introduction to Pilates, and Thomas would incorporate Pilates mat work into our ballet and stretch classes. His disciplined approach to ballet training included the required back or pink attire only and classes were conducted with a high degree of formality. Class was held every weekday from 9 - 11:45 a.m. Each day was the same format with the same students, same music, and same work each day – and yet in some way, everyday something was different; our alertness, energy, strength, balance, emotional state, etc. 

I’ll never forget how Thomas would slowly and closely walk by us all lined up, simply observing our individual qualities that day. He would occasionally quietly ask how someone how they were doing and politely we would always respond we were doing “fine.” I was very surprised the first time he poignantly said, and a lesson that remains with me today, that our bodies don’t lie, our mouths do. I found it fascinating how accurately Thomas could see how we really felt on the inside based on how we were expressing on the outside. Even when our mouths said everything was “fine,” it was clear as a bell to Thomas when our inside state and outward report were out of sync. Without judgment or a single word he would raise an eyebrow and in that instant we both knew the truth.

But it didn’t stop there. He held out an olive branch to each of us, an invitation that very moment and each moment during class to change our minds choose a different reality. Once class was underway, each of us had a chance to start anew; not only to meet ourselves in the newly created moment, but to learn to trust our ability to use movement as a way to transform our mood or inner state. He always held the door open for possibility. In subtle ways he was teaching us powerful life lessons: we are responsible for our own reality, we alone create our reality, and we have a choice in the matter - and all of this for the price of class admission!

Reflecting on the teacher-student relationship and the non-verbal messaging that transpires during a session I am reminded again that we can always re-choose our reality in the moment both as teachers and as students. Today when I teach I will have my olive branch ready.

- Clare Dunphy, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

Sitting here enjoying this beautiful spring day in my garden, I’m soaking up all the positive energy – the birds, the breeze, the daffodils, the river, the sun – and feeling positively peaceful. That sense of ease, or well-being, is so healing it is wise to think about how we cultivate that in our studios with our clients.

Many people come to Pilates seeking something. Some know exactly what they are looking for – they come to help their aching backs, to get stronger, to gain flexibility, to breathe movement into their lives. Others want to look better or are just curious to see what the buzz is all about. Regardless of why people start Pilates, it is a joy to share their journey of discovery.

New students discover what they can do that they thought they could not. They discover new reserves of energy and reconnect with their bodies. One of the things I love most about the classical work is the quiet environment. By removing the frills of music and external noise, we help students to reach inward in order to rediscover themselves from the inside out. By tying one movement onto the next with the discipline of the order and the transition we bring them out of themselves and into a new tradition. By bringing the Peak Principles to light through teaching, we help them understand not only movement quality, but how to take Pilates out into the world to do anything better.

Our Peak Pilates 5-Part Formula for Success lists “teacher mindfulness” among the elements. It is the cultivation of this ability to be totally present that helps to elevate Pilates from mere exercise to a mind-body-spirit experience for both teacher and student alike. Have you worked to bring this element to life in your own teaching? If so, your students are benefiting from your total focus and are able to more fully focus themselves. Your students are benefiting from a holistic approach that is transforming.

If you want to improve your “teacher mindfulness,” here are some ideas to help:

• Create a quiet time in the morning. Use this space to simply be. Resist the urge to ‘do’ – simply enjoy some quiet. You can meditate or simply enjoy a special time for you and allow thoughts to simply float by.

• Consider your clients’ full experience: Mentally are they stimulate and learning about their bodies? About Pilates? Are they progressing physically? Spiritually? Do they the lesson leave feeling uplifted and better about themselves? Are you meeting them energetically?

• You want to find the balance in your teaching of providing your students not just cues, but energy. If they are tired are you able to energize them a bit? When they come in overly stimulated and scattered can you bring them some calm? Teaching is like a dance; it takes at least two.

• Is the studio environment conducive to a mindful experience? Is it clean and uncluttered, quiet? Is it a peaceful place that provides a bit of respite from the hectic pace of life?

• Finally, if you have been teaching a while, respect your intuition. Learn to listen through other avenues than your ears to gain a sense of where to go and when.

I frequently share with people that I feel so lucky. I appreciate that everyday I get to contribute in some way to others health and happiness! At my studio in Avon, the InnerSpace, we say “may the inward and outward be one.” When this happens we move towards health and harmony! 

Wishing you a springtime filled with growth,

- Zoey Trap, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

Is fashion dangerous? Well, with platform shoes once again in vogue one might think so! Certainly they can make legs look long and sexy however equally awkward they can make the walk look. Let’s consider other fashion trends and possible hidden or unknown dangers there. What about body piercing? It seems these days I see body piercing elegantly implanted on everyone from young teenagers to middle-aged individuals. For example teeny, tiny elegant diamonds nestled in the nose to more elaborate schemes boarding on outrageous but supposedly cool. But are they an innocuously cool thing? After you hear the story I’m about to tell, you might be more cautious with your cool.  

A student taking the Living Anatomy Series class in Boulder would take private lessons with me a day or two before each course. She had challenges in thoracic articulation and the upper thoracic curl with corresponding tight erector spinae and protruding ribs. A fairly common duo, however, this student was very strong and fluid in her movements. Like most accomplished students, she was both aware of and a little frustrated with her situation.

During one of the LAS courses Lori Hayne, PT spoke about the dangers of body piercing, their disturbance to the meridians and the consequences. It was fascinating. Originally when Lori and I spoke about what to deliver in this particular course, she wasn’t sure if her research on body piercing would be important. But because so many of us (teachers) work with a variety of clients – many of whom have body piercings, I thought it pertinent. 

During the course Lori asked if anyone had body piercing and a student raised her hand affirming she did. She had a navel ring. Lori worked with this student through several movement patterns with the navel ring in and with it out.  Resulting patterns without the ring was markedly different and the student was brought to tears. She felt energetically different and her movements were greatly altered. We could all see it too; it was quite an instantaneous and obvious change. The ring had been in for 18 years! Lori spoke about other problems navel ring wearers’ exhibit and privately this student confirmed that she too had many of them. She never in her wildest dreams contributed it to her navel ring. 

Since that time I have worked with this student once again and the lesson was quite different than previous ones. She was working to her ability and potential fully. A week ago I had the opportunity to see this student at a conference. I couldn’t help but notice the difference in the shape of her body from just six weeks prior. She’s not a big person, but rather lean. I used her as a demonstrator for advanced exercises and it felt like I was working with a completely different person both physically and energetically. She confided afterwards that everything has changed for her and that her body is continuing to process, that taking out the navel ring was life-altering.

If I hadn’t been a witness to this transformation I’m not sure I would have believed it could be so great. Lori Hayne reportedly works with athletes and sees improved performance, such as was experienced from this student, from taking out body piercings including those found up the outside of the ear, on the tip of the tongue, nipples and other areas.
 
If you or a client is having specific challenges and you have body piercing, consider taking them out and getting some real body work done. You might be surprised and pleased at the results. Yet fashion does call, so keep your earrings on, at least the ones on the lowest part of the earlobe. It appears that is an innocuous spot so fashion can prevail there…thank goodness!

- Colleen Glenn, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

While in San Diego this past March, I had the grand opportunity of launching our new MVe DVDs at the IHRSA tradeshow. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity of creating the choreography and leading two of those DVDs, “MVe Latin Dance Fusion” and “MVe Perfect Pair.” 

After the tradeshow, as I was flying back to my home town of El Paso, I had time to reflect on where I am in my career and on the journey it has been, I realized that although I have worked hard to get where I am at, I was never introduced to the possibilities in the Pilates and Fitness industry before I started my journey… I never had anyone truly open my eyes to the opportunities that are out there. 

Based on this experience, I would like to share some thoughts. I would encourage all Pilates instructors to take the time to think about where you want your career to go. Do not leave it up to chance. Here are some simple, but effective recommended steps:

• First define all of your personal talents and skills. One of them will be Pilates, of course, but how about other skills? For example, are you good at business, marketing, sales, etc? You might want to go as far as to define whether you are analytical or creative.
  
• Research all the different career opportunties that are available in the Pilates/Fitness Industries. I would recommend that you use the internet, books and interview individuals who are already in the industry. Also, attending a tradeshow like IHRSA would be a great way to see first-hand what the industry may have to offer you.
  
• Decide what your career goals are.
  
• Put together a strategy of how to get there.

Here are some sectors in the industry that go hand-in-hand with your Pilates skills:

- Sales
- Marketing
- Business Consulting
- Education provider
- Education Development
- Publishing
- Convention Presenter
- Convention Coordinator
- Research
- Web Site Development
- Product Development (i.e. equipment, accessories, DVDs, apparel, etc.)
- Management
- Advertising

Although my success was not as thoroughly mapped out as I have proposed above, I can say that I have been blessed with success due to hard work, dedication, persistence and also because of the wonderful teachers and mentors that I have had in my life.  

I encourage everyone to stay true to who you are and the gifts that you have been given. Your gifts and talents should be used to help others, not to elevate yourself. If you do this, you will become more than you ever dreamed. Happy journey!

- Sonia Rodriguez, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

I just got home from the San Diego Convention Center for IHRSA, and it was a great few days. The last time I was there was for IDEA World and it looked totally different with major equipment manufacturers all promoting their equipment to facilities all over the world. People were in from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and North America—literally every corner of the globe to catch a glimpse of what is “new.”

Peak was in the middle of the hall with an eye-catching booth that showcased both sides of our work – classic studio equipment on one side, and MVe on the other. The MVe side was complete with stage, screen projector and neon MVe green floor! It was the talk of the show.
 
Sonia, Stacey and I kept busy teaching half-hour demo classes that showcased the chair and new MVe Reformer programs. With the new MVe DVDs just released, it was fun to finally showcase some of the new classes. The MVe “Latin Dance” was a blast with a chance to get a little dance action in between MVe sets and Sonia and Ricco sent the booth spinning with some impromptu salsa dancing! We also premiered “Balance and Control,” which is an MVe solution for the active aging population – those demos were pretty funny, as none of us are quite in that demographic! Our classes were consistently packed and people were eager to get a taste of the workouts and experience the equipment. It was great to see so many men in every group… it shows that the MVe has taken cross-gender appeal to a whole new level.
 
The morning workout was a challenge as Sonia and I had to co-teach an MVe Chair and Reformer Circuit. It was full and we had our hands full with a sound system that was not hooked up quite right and was sending my voice to Sonia’s group and Sonia’s to mine! But on a positive note, our students did a great job following along regardless, which shows the power of the programs! It was fun to move people through four alternating bouts that were choreographed to compliment one another with sequences for upper body on the Reformer, lower body on the chair and then upper body on the chair, with integrated workouts on the Reformer.
 
It is always such a great opportunity to see what’s going on outside of Peak and to feel great about being part of such a great team. It was notable that so many companies are following in our footsteps creating chairs and programs of their own, and knowing that we were the original pioneers.
 
After a fun (but tiring) few days, I have to say that my favorite part of IHRSA continues to be the chance to reconnect with old friends and catch up! We may be a global industry, but it’s a small, small world.

- Zoey Trap, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

The IHRSA show is the biggest one of the year for Peak Pilates, and this year’s show was full of excitement. Peak had its largest booth ever on the main aisle with 1500 square feet of exhibit space. The Peak Pilates Marketing Team worked hard to create a bold, eye-catching booth that included a large tower with green lighting at the top, a stage for booth demonstrations, flat screen TVs with scrolling video, lit greeting desks, new merchandising stands and dramatic signage above. Many attendees and fellow exhibitors made comments that the Peak booth was the most impressive looking booth at the show. 

During expo hours we ran many booth demonstrations that highlighted our brand-new product, the MVe Fitness Reformer, as well as the MVe Fitness Chair, PPS Deluxe and Studio equipment. Many of the demos mirrored the brand-new workout DVDs that were released at the show including "Latin Dance Fusion" and "Perfect Pair."

During the early morning workout times in the expo hall, we saw a huge turnout of participants waiting to attend one of our hour-long workouts. We also saw a great turnout for a sponsored education class that featured a circuit on the Chair and Reformer.

What a great launch of our new product and new booth! 

- Ben Rippe, Peak Pilates Event Coordinator

Lately I’ve been enjoying my preparations for the upcoming conferences in Austin (“Spread Your Wings”) and Santa Clara (“Mind Body Spirit”), as well as Peak Pilates’ premiere specialty CEC course, “Living Anatomy Series.” The latter has been most interesting but I try to consolidate my efforts by tying the different workshops, conferences and sometimes media material I’m currently working on, together in a cohesive manner. It keeps me focused and helps me with my research.  

The “Living Anatomy” series underpins everything created because it’s such a rich, three-dimensional experience that affects all aspects of my work. It is a really, really cool course. It’s where students use their hands to build parts of the body in clay. Later the same day, students see the respective parts of the body dissected, in an unprecedented opportunity; at the Enlightenment Cadaver Labs facility outside of Boulder (it is enlightening by the way). Lastly, I take the students in the Pilates Studio and work the practical side rounding off the course with real life stuff. 

Speaking about real life, I can’t help but think about one of the cadavers in the lab, I think his name was Pete, who lived to a ripe old age and he did that with considerable physical pain. How can I tell? As “Master Dissector” Todd Garcia – speaking like a Pilates instructor – said, the body speaks. One can see how an individual has lived their life through what is retained in the tissue of the organs, muscles and bones. For instance, with Pete it was easy to see he was a sedentary man because of his pot belly, lack of muscular development and degeneration in the spine. But more interesting and telling was the massive adhesions through his colon which surely affected his health and well-being at all levels. Pete had had surgery in his colon and with careful skill Todd took the group through the pathway of his adhesions. 

I could literally see how like a “cancer web,” the adhesions had spread to surrounding areas creating a tight mass of weird looking tissue. One could assume it was simply due to lack of movement after the surgery and, what I suspect was lack of proper follow-up care. I don’t really know the latter for sure, but I do know if adhesions aren’t worked through to healthy mobility by bringing circulation to the affected area, that area becomes stiff and restrictive. This restriction is contagious.  Well not literally, of course, but as an area stops moving and getting blood flow, the surrounding area takes the heat and begins to become restrictive as adhesions continue to build up. This underpins the importance of massage and appropriate exercise after an injury or surgery.

In the case of surgery, these things are not traditionally prescribed therapy. Certainly with Pete it was obvious he didn’t do much after his surgery. If he had done Pilates or something of that nature, massaging and moving his internal organs, the adhesions would not have been as prolific. I can assume elimination was altered as well as other normal activities and even his posture. One could extrapolate the effect of his internal health to his mood and personality. It’s fascinating.

Pete was quite a specimen to view and I am thankful for his contribution to my education and to the students in the course. In fact, participating in the Enlightenment Cadaver Lab makes me appreciate the value of what I do, what we all do as movement specialist as Pilates’ teachers. We help people at so many levels achieve health, much of which we aren’t aware of at all, it just happens through what we do. 

- Colleen Glenn, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

I like to think of fun as a renewable resource because it's always in limitless supply. It is a frame of mind. If you ask some people if exercise is fun or if they think studying for an exam is fun, you will inevitably get different view points. As a Master Trainer, I serve as a mentor to our Teacher Trainers and I review the course evaluations from our students in order to find out what they have to say about their learning experience. I am always curious to discover the end result, which is ultimately the students’ overall experience. Our collective goal at Peak is to exceed our students’ expectations on every level. It’s a tall order, but for me it is also fun. 
 
At the onset of developing the PPS Instructor Training program, Colleen, Zoey and I had a crystal clear vision of creating a unique Pilates educational experience that was compassionate, respectful of different learning styles, honored the stages of learning and most importantly, kept learning FUN. We built specific tools into the lesson plans to enable the trainer delivering the course to carry out our mission. From time to time, and lately a lot more often, we’ve received calls and letters from students which reminds us that the work we put into the PPS courses and the attention that we paid to our original intentions, has really made our program stand out. They share that the experience has not only made a difference in their lives, but also the lives of their clients. Their stories are gratifying to hear, and I both laugh and cry as victories, blunders and struggles are shared. I can always relate. 
 
The Development Team at Peak Pilates constantly makes program improvements by paying close attention to feedback from our students as well as our trainers, which I believe is a testimony of Peak’s dedication to excellence. However, the commitment to excellence doesn’t end there.

What students in the courses don’t know is that what goes on behind the scenes to create an unforgettable learning experience. Great trainings don’t just happen and great trainers aren’t just born that way! Skills are cultivated, solutions are discovered, strengths are celebrated and built upon and areas of opportunity are made stronger with compassion and hard work. We take care to support our Teacher Trainer’s growth, improve their presenting and communication skills and give on-going mentoring, so that the Peak message continues to be unified and clear for our students all over the globe. 

The pathway to become a Teacher Trainer is a long and on-going process. As a mentor, I am closely involved with trainer’s on-going development through video tape review of courses, regular communication via phone and email as well as annual meetings. Each trainer on the network has a designated coach, plus me or Zoey as their mentor. We all grow together and our message filters from the top at a corporate level down to the final experience of not only the teachers we educate through our courses, but to their clients as well. And so our Pilates family grows… now that’s what I call fun.

- Clare Dunphy, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

The ECA show in NY has been a great show for us to attend over the past few years. In 2006 there was a great initial response to the MVe Fitness Chair during the three sessions that were taught at the show. In 2007, Peak had a larger presence with nearly triple the number of sessions ranging from MVe Chair workouts, to workshops on the reformer and traditional mat workouts. 

Many of the attendees made comments that they were excited to see Peak offer some very unique sessions at the show this year. Peak's Master Trainers Zoey Trap and Sonia Rodriguez were excited to provide the ECA attendees with some fresh presentations this year on subjects like Pilates for Overweight Clients, Spotting Techniques and Reformer on the Mat. Additionally, MVe Trainer Stacey Lei Krauss led attendees in an exciting Hard Core workout on the MVe Chairs. 

The sessions were so full that we often had too many people to handle. To improve for next year, we will have a larger classroom as well as more sessions offered to accommodate the growing interest in Peak education.
The show was a huge success in generating interest in Peak education and further promoting the MVe line of products. 

We can’t wait for the 2009 show! 

- Ben Rippe, Peak Pilates Event Coordinator

As a Peak Pilates Master Trainer, one of the great opportunities I’ve had has been presenting at conventions. Teaching at conventions really gives me a sense of what it going on out there in the industry and a chance to make a difference.

I've just returned from ECA New York where I had the opportunity to teach some workshops. One of the workshops I presented was “Peak Pilates Spotting Techniques.” The workshop covered information on how to touch and also eight different types of touch that can be used with students. The workshop was successful and effective and the attendees walked away with a great deal of applicable knowledge while I walked away with some incredible observations based on the feedback I had received afterwards.

Many of the attendees thanked me for “giving them permission to touch” and I was very surprised. It seemed like the majority of them have not been using touch techniques in their practices. It makes me wonder if this is true across the map. Another attendee came up to me, a bit emotional, and said that she had not been comfortable with receiving touch and hadn’t realized that it was the reason she had not been using touch techniques with her clients. She shared with me that the workshop had changed her level of comfort with touch!

These comments inspired me to take this opportunity to remind all instructors of importance of developing good touch technique skills. This is vital to any Pilates instructor, as usually instructors are not using a touch technique because they do not have the skills and do not understand how to touch so I would like to provide you with a couple of questions that will help you to develop your skills. First understand that improving your touch techniques will be a process of discovery, observation and practical application. To develop a better sense of touching and how it is used in Pilates consider the following:

When you take or observe a lesson, and ask yourself these questions:

• What kinds of touches were used?
• What was the purpose of the touch?
• How was touch delivered?
• Was it helpful or distracting?
• How did the teacher use biomechanics and positioning to protect their own body?

When you give your lessons, examine your own use of touch with your students:

• How do I feel about touching? Am I comfortable or uncomfortable with it? Why?
• Do I touch with purpose and intent—to achieve a specific goal? What is an example of this?
• What is the pressure of my touch?
• Do my touch techniques create the desired result?
• Which technique do I feel most comfortable using?
• Which technique am I least comfortable with using? (Focus on this technique for a few sessions.)

With thoughtful practice, you will grow in your ability to use touch techniques to enhance your teaching abilities. So, make a commitment to yourself and your students and practice your touch! And remember: “Every day we touch lives and lives touch us.”

- Sonia Rodriguez, Peak Pilates Master Trainer