AASI Contributions

What's New

2011-06-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

Recent UPDATES & Edits:

As of June 21, 2011, the AIM Academy Forum has been Archived on the PCDB.
It's exciting that a new thread has begun on the PCDB called Cueing Styles: Classical vs. Contemporary. It was split off from the Strange Popping in Back thread.

6-25-11 Revised 6-21-11 UPDATE on Counting Our Blessings...and/or...Agree to Disagree

6-25-11 New comment under Coming Full-Circle and Summer Spirals and PMA Victory? Is that so?

6-24-11 Edit on Coming Full-Circle and Summer Spirals

6-22-11 UPDATE on Counting Our Blessings...and/or...Agree to Disagree

6-20-11 New comment with new informational links on Yoga's New Law...absolutely WiCKED!

6-13-11 Just thought I'd mention that the New Comment on The Earth and the Heavens on the AASI Blog might be of interest

6/1/11 New comments on PMA Victory? Is that so?

5/24/11 New comments on Is there a line between Sea and Shore? from 2/27/09 and on Surviving in the Pilates Jungle from 9/2/09 and on Legislation: South Africa from 7/6/10

5/21/11 New comment on What's New from 5/14/09 and on UPC: Bay Area Chapter Meeting tomorrow night! from 7/9/09

4/26/11 UPDATE PMA Certification: Recent Online Discussions Link to Is pilates closer to yoga or massage? Thread on the AIM Academy Forum
Also 5/10/11 UPDATE

Coming Full-Circle and Summer Spirals

2011-06-21T07:39:00.001-07:00

The Google Doodle today was in honor of the summer solstice, and it was created by Japanese hipster-turned-multimillionaire artist Takashi Murakami. I just love the spiral swirl...they are all over my house, my shower curtain, my headboard (see my Twit Pic account).

It's kind of interesting (cosmic, really!) that back in February 2009, I used another image of Murakami's on my AASI Blog, entitled Conversations Coming Soon. I just loved the wide-smiling flower-power faces! So, I'm having one of those "it's all meant to be," full-circle, symmetrical moments.

(I remember back in 2009, I didn't even know how to use the link icon! I was a novice to blogger and didn't figure it out until months later; felt a little silly when I figured that out.)

As my 2-18-09 blog shows, I had high hopes:

Respectful comments and questions from many viewpoints are encouraged, and, in fact, "opposing" insights are welcomed, since, ultimately, our work here is to integrate all perspectives.

As it turned out, the PCDB began hosting the AIM Academy Forum in June, 2009. It wasn't quite the conversation I imagined, however, it was a two-year-long, enriching, and empowering process for me. Here is a comment from October 30, 2009, which I made on the On the Future of Pilates, Part 2 thread, explaining how technical and pilatical issues had dovetailed, and how the AIM Academy Forum came to be a place which "Offers information, insights, and discussion in support of the pilates professionalization effort."

Almost a year later, on October 13. 2010, I found myself writing an entry on my PCDB Blog entitled, The Aim of the Amend Integrative Model (AIM), because it was clear that my intentions were being questioned; comment #1 under that blog links to recent discussions which reveal that there might be hope for understanding sometime soon. Also, the What's Your Take: Have Relations Improved? thread on the AIM Academy Forum, begun October 31, 2010, was A Prayer Answered. Fourteen participants contributed to the respectful, yet honest discussion about defining pilates as "classical" or "contemporary."

I had been contemplating how to proceed with the AIM Academy Forum since December 2010. I came back to participate once again on the PCDB in March, 2011 after a three and half month hiatus. After I revealed AASI's plan for exemption in the PCDB's Pma Certification thread, I felt that the Forum had served its purpose, educating through open discussion and dialogue. With eighteen participants, the thread was a record-breaker that ran the entire gamut in perspective. Nowhere else has such a discussion ever been possible. Bringing all the major questions concerning the PMA Certification, i.e. a major professionalization issue that we currently face, to fore in this way fulfilled my hopes for this AIM Academy Forum.

Indeed, the pilatical atmosphere on the PCDB was already somewhat tumultuous before I began participating. As participant of the PCDB, I hope to help relations between pilates teachers, not create more tension or to attract more discord to the board. Unfortunately, on the heels of the PCDB's Pma Certification discussion, more discord came.

Background: In November/early December, 2010, during the AIM Academy Forum's Tensegrity Vs Biomechanics thread, I realized the limitations of such a technical, cross-disciplinary, online "discussion," where there were no prior agreements as to the boundaries of the discussion, thus encumbering full disclosure, sharing of technical material, and member participation (I describe more on the lack of boundary agreements in comment #1 below). Oddly enough, the misunderstanding/disagreement was not between pilates teachers, but between myself and a participant who is not a pilates teacher. So, as moderator, I closed the thread.

More discord then came months later in April, 2011: The participant was obviously still disgruntled enough to make incriminating public accusations* regarding my moderation of the thread (as well as to imply, albeit incorrectly, culpability of the PCDB). The end result, for this* and apparently other reasons as well, was that the member/participant was banned by the PCDB team.

A week later, the PCDB team informed me of its decision to no longer host the AIM Academy Forum, and of course, I was in complete agreement. Readers might remember the PMA Certification Exam Post on Pilates Pro back in November 2008; I had been hoping for an uninterrupted discussion between pilates teachers since that time. Finally, we were able to have it on the PCDB; of course, we have further to go, however, I do not wish to place the PCDB in jeopardy in any way.

I am wholeheartedly grateful to Tom Floyd and the PCDB team for allowing me the opportunity to share information concerning the professionalization process in an effort to enhance communication between perspectives and disciplines. The outcome was definitely worth the effort. I hope that the discussions on the AIM Academy Forum as well as the PCDB's Pma Certification discussion (which I also mentioned in the On the Future of Pilates, Part 2 thread) serve to inform and inspire for a long time to come.

So, after a productive two year run, it is a bittersweet moment for me to share with you my "farewell" statement, and to announce this AIM Academy Forum's new resting place in the Archives of the PCDB. Like the summer solstice, this is a tipping point for AASI, however, we remain steadfast and forward-moving towards our vision.

Happy Summer Solstice, all! (:

PS Be sure to read the comments....

Counting Our Blessings...and/or...Agree to Disagree

2011-06-18T18:54:00.001-07:00

In the midst of a total lunar eclipse and the summer solstice, the AIM Academy Forum will soon be archived on the PCDB. Just having passed its two year anniversary, I am grateful for the opportunity to have shared information on the professionalization process. More info will be coming soon on the new AASI website.

The video below is a look at a perspective that seeks to explain the global overwhelm as well as gives a few pointers on the personal level ("...a good time to publish a book or an article..." hmmm....).

Warm wishes to all :)

6/22/11 UPDATE:
Also, in this comment in the Rowings thread, and in this comment in the Strange Popping in Back thread, on the PCDB, I have been compared to Michael Miller in different ways.
Go figure!
The first is by a teacher who has studied with him, and the second by a pilates enthusiast.
In these discussions, it is very difficult for the public to sort out the difference between what we call relational dynamics and technical dynamics.
As I am an empath, I am not into negating anyone's felt-sense. I am, however, committed to articulating these kinds of distinctions to forward respectful communication between teachers and between teachers and their clients as well.

6/25/11 UPDATE:
Interesting that, six months earlier, there was a lunar eclipse, during the Rowings thread on the PCDB. The energy ran high at that time and led to much confusion and misunderstanding.
I believe in the power of communication and so I am knowing that it all happens for a reason, despite appearances.
Also:
Six months after the Rowings thread, enter this lunar eclipse and the Strange Popping in Back thread.
My comments in both threads were towards the relational dynamics end of the AIM dynamics spectrum, and, unfortunately, those comments were misunderstood by a few in those threads.

The thing to note here about online discussions, is that it is quite difficult in these discussions to speak to both teachers and enthusiasts at the same time. I am hoping that teachers have come around to understanding me, but, in both threads, an enthusiast was still unable to catch my drift. Luckily, I know that there are other enthusiasts who do.
During the Strange Popping in Back thread, I was reminded of a lovely conversation between myself and an enthusiast in the What are People Teaching Out There? discussion, which inspired me to share this comment in that thread.

For now, the advice in the above video is quite apropos here concerning those who cannot yet hear me: "Are we going to be willing to just agree to disagree, now, rather than forcing other people to our way or viewpoint?"
My answer expressed here: "I still agree (to disagree)!"
And I still have faith that all will be revealed in good timing.

Back to writing! :)

What's New

2011-06-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

Recent UPDATES & Edits:

In case anyone has been following the PCDB lately, there are a few comments of mine on this blog that I'd like to direct people towards. Please note the new comments under the PMA Victory? Is that so? post beginning May 18, 2011.
And, yes!, the information that backs up the theories which support me in my work with clients each day is "scientific" (however, I would never limit my work to that!). We are fully aware of the scientific model and how its proponents are quite used to challenging/defending proposed theories and we are aware of the "rules for science and talking about science." We offer this (scientific) information and much more* at AASI Free Gatherings and look forward to some* of the information being published soon.

5/24/11 New comments on Is there a line between Sea and Shore? from 2/27/09 and on Surviving in the Pilates Jungle from 9/2/09 and on Legislation: South Africa from 7/6/10

5/21/11 New comment on What's New from 5/14/09 and on UPC: Bay Area Chapter Meeting tomorrow night! from 7/9/09

4/26/11 UPDATE PMA Certification: Recent Online Discussions Link to Is pilates closer to yoga or massage? Thread on the AIM Academy Forum. Also 5/10/11 UPDATE

Feel Free!

2011-05-31T09:17:00.001-07:00

Click here for video!
It's all good!

"You Learn"
by Alanis Morissette

Ooh, ooh, ooh...

I, recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone, yeah
I, recommend walking around naked in your living room, yeah

Swallow it down
(what a jagged little pill)
It feels so good (swimming in your stomach)
Wait until the dust settles

1-You live you learn, you love you learn
You cry you learn, you lose you learn
You bleed you learn, you scream you learn

I, recommend biting off more than you can chew to anyone
I certainly do
I, recommend sticking your foot in your mouth at any time
Feel free

Throw it down (the caution blocks you from the wind)
Hold it up (to the rays)
You wait and see when the smoke clears
(repeat 1)

I, I, oh, oh

Wear it out (the way a three-year-old would do)
Melt it down (you're gonna have to eventually, anyway)
The fire trucks are coming up around the bend
(rpt 1)

You grieve you learn, you choke you learn
You laugh you learn, you choose you learn
You pray you learn, you ask you learn
You live you learn

AASI's 12-word Statement on "Certification"

2011-05-15T02:20:00.000-07:00

Last week, I wrote on my PCDB Blog, On Keeping It Simple, that I had narrowed down weeks of writing to a 12-word Statement on "Certification."

The thing to protect and to defend is the client-teacher relationship.

You can find the statement in post #124 of the Pma Certification thread on the PCDB.
Also, post #3 on the Pilates in South Africa thread on the AIM Academy Forum points to the dovetailing discussions which led to the statement. My hope is that those in the global community will take the time to understand the difference in philosophy between those who feel a need to protect the public and those who wish to educate the public. Legislative options do exist to support that difference!
Stay tuned for the launch of the new AASI website, coming soon!

"I say Love, it is a flower, and you, its only seed"

2011-04-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to my favorite video version of The Rose, but embedding was enabled. ("Come on, girls!") Enjoy!

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!
Keep the faith,
Love,
Carole

PMA Certification: Recent Online Discussions

2011-04-21T22:46:00.000-07:00

It was quite a week for discussions about the PMA and its Certification.

Back in the middle of March, a prospective teacher posted a thread on the PCDB, Pma Certification, Good or bad?, asking whether the PMA Certification is looked down upon or seen as a good credential. A lengthy discussion ensued. Then, after almost a two week lull, this 11/05/2010 Public Declaration of withdrawl from the PMA membership by the Performing Arts Physical Therapy/ The Pilates Studio® of Los Angeles was brought to my attention by a colleague. A few days later, the PMA's response was posted on the PCDB thread and the PMA entered into the discussion--a first (kind of funny that it was Elizabeth Anderson who responded, but the PMA's gender is listed as male on its profile...: /). I did respond, and I don't expect an answer from E. Anderson; no surprise there--my questions were rhetorical anyway.

Meanwhile, on twitter, Marguerite Ogle cited her PMA-Clearing Muddy Waters, Again blog entry on pilates.about.com. I commented there in response to a comment from Alycea Ungaro.
In that blog, Marguerite cited a discussion between Jonathan Urla (of Yogilates fame), Elizabeth Anderson (PMA), and Rael Isacowitz (basipilates) entitled Certification Pros and Cons (I responded there also) as well as links to the new PMA blog, where the PMA responds to the PAPT declaration.

The interesting thing is that Jonathan Urla and PAPT, who are highly knowledgeable teachers, brought up many of the same issues. Perhaps teachers are now finally understanding what the PMA has been up to. I am so glad that fellow teachers are speaking up. I hope it brings them around to viewing this AASI Contributions Blog as my colleagues and I have shared the same concerns for many years.

If this is your first time visiting this blog, or, if you haven't been here in a while, welcome and welcome back! We've been keeping the faith since 2008, when these blogs and our online writings began. Many, many discussions between teachers and enthusiasts and those from our cooperative networks have taken place, all leading us to where we are today. So...grab a cup of tea and peruse all of the above, and all the links within the discussions. You'll find some of the clearest, most succinct explanations to date from the PMA, and hear some of AASI's crystalizing perspective in relation to all of that.

You'll notice that I haven't posted anything since September 14, 2010. That was a "coming full circle" post, as some of the concerns I had in my January 5, 2009 The AASI Online Blog Begins Post had been addressed with the launch of the PMA's new website. It also brought up a host of other issues. As evidenced here...the conversation continues....

Also: Lately, I've been busy working on updating our websites and writing several publications to make further distinctions between AASI and the Bodies Mind® Program (soon ready to be launched!). Again, if you are new to this blog, and after reading the above discussions, you may have questions about what AASI is up to. For now, go to the AASI website (link on right) and read the history page, and be sure to read the links from when this blog began; that should give you an idea of how all this came about. We are preparing to put out a statement from AASI soon.

I have also been writing some blog posts and I may post some of those post-dated entries later on.

Cheers! : )
-Carole

4/26/11 UPDATE: Concerning this issue, I thought I would post a link to the Is pilates closer to yoga or massage? Thread on the AIM Academy Forum. I welcome any and all comments.

5/10/11 UPDATE: I posted on my PCDB Blog On Keeping It Simple and told of how I'll make a statement next week and that the new AASI website will follow shortly thereafter.

What's New

2010-10-10T02:53:00.000-07:00

Recent UPDATES and Edits:

10-10-10 UPDATE PMA's new website Link to post on PCDB about PMA Registry of Schools

7-09-10, 7-14-10 UPDATE and 7-15-10 comment on
Legislation: South Africa

PMA's New Website

2010-09-14T04:21:00.000-07:00

I have time for a just a quick post. Viewing the Announcement: The AASI Online Blog begins post from December 2008:

Points 1 and 2 in bold have been clarified (Good!).
1) Clear now that the PMA's main focus is its Exam. It seems only Certified PMA teachers are listed. Student and individual members are not.
2) There is no mention of the "Gold" Certified mark; those individuals are now listed under the "First PMA Certified Teachers" page as "PMA Pioneers."
*Still, some members seem not to have gotten that memo, because they are still promoting themselves as "internationally "Gold-Certified" Pilates Method Alliance teacher"s. Last year teacher trainers finally (nine years coming) got the memo on how to use the term "certified" properly (as if that truly alluded them!).
*Also on this point:
In The PMA Certification Exam Post on Pilates Pro, Sherri Betz, PMA board member, on November 24, 2008, stated,

"This exam is BASIC competency. It does not show or prove expertise that teachers of 15 years would have. The vision of the PMA is to create a master or advanced credential that this caliber of teacher would be able to take to show competency to the public at a higher level. The barrier to this higher level exam is money of course...when enough teachers have taken the basic exam then we can pay back the $300,000 debt for creating it and begin to work on the advanced exam."

It's important to note that Elizabeth Anderson, PMA Executive Director, stated on February 19, 2010, in the News from PMA Weekend? Post,

"The PMA has no plans to create a practical exam. It’s completely impractical."

Clearly, this shows a change in agenda, and not only discounts, but ignores, the input of longtime teachers who are not satisfied with the quality and scope of the PMA Exam as we envisioned it long ago. In other words, I now have little hope that the PMA will someday ask AASI for its input as I recommended in the Announcement Post long ago. The PMA Exam is a done deal, and the PMA's hope, if not agenda, may well be to see it mandated for all teachers (see PMA Cert Exam "MANDATORY"? Is that so?), without including all teachers.

--------

The new PMA website will show a "Registry of Schools" that have agreed to its terms, a result of the Summit meeting last year.

But, obviously, the PMA will not be listing those who have not agreed.
Marguerite Ogle of Pilates.About.com wrote a blog entitiled Pilates Training Programs Dropping "Certification." (My responses are #3 and 6. A link to the AIM Academy Forum's On the Future of Pilates, Part 2 Post is included.) Here it's important to note that, at that time, Peak, Romana's Pilates (now True Pilates), STOTT, and Physicalmind had not agreed.

That's all I have time for today.
Have a good one...: )

PS See the PCCB's What's the Difference Betw. Gratz and Basil's? Post, where I shared my view today on corporate sponsors, etc.

10/10/10 UPDATE: Another post on that PCCB thread to give the link to the list of schools and to call attention to a noticeable addition of a new criteria is #6: "The Program must promote and participate in PMA's FFP (Fostering Future Professionals Program)." This is no longer voluntary, but mandatory.
NOTE: You can now view the Summit '09 Report document on the PMA Registry of Schools page as well as the Registry of Schools Application.

Legislation: South Africa

2010-07-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

This in from South Africa today, an editorial on the Pilates Innovation and Evolution site signed by SAPEPA - South African Pilates Education Providers Alliance. The editorial includes a petition, which states:

"We, the undersigned, support the above letter to stop the proposed inclusion of Pilates in the Fitness Legislation."

I applaud this effort! I hope that the petition is a success and that "pilates" is excluded from this impending legislation (as it was in New Jersey, and I hope it goes that easily as well! : ).

I have to say that I was quite surprised, though, to see that Alycea Ungaro has written the following on facebook today referencing the editorial:

"Take note: there are issues surrounding legislation of Pilates education both abroad and domestically. This is the exact issue the PMA was set up to protect us from. South Africa is an example of where we are headed. Rally your troops ........"

Well, Alycea, actually, the issues are much more involved than that. I would not say that is why/how the PMA was set up and I don't agree with your statement that "South Africa is an example of where we are headed." I have been writing about legislation and competency issues online since the fall of 2008 in an attempt to set that record straight and provide support for teachers who believe/understand that pilates is a unique movement practice. Those of you reading this blog are aware of the AIM Academy Forum, and also my many writings on the PCDB and Pilates Pro.

I agree that troop rallying may be in order, however, it's not with the US government at this time.

It is a different situation in South Africa, it seems. In this post, THETA UPDATE! (THETA: Tourism, Hospitality, And Sport Education Training Authority; see, also SETA: Sector Education and Training Authority, overseen by the Government of South Africa's Department of Labour). Yasmin Lambat suggests forming "a separate Movement Education Board that includes representatives from Every discipline to regulate the industry." That's a wonderful vision, which I know is shared by many "movement" educators and therapists, who believe that our work has a more primary place in the field of "Human Sciences" as opposed to the field of "Hard Sciences." While the reality is that many pilates teachers have yet to recognize this, many do/would recognize that pilates needs its own category. That said, I would say that, first, simply a coming together of pilates teachers for the purpose of standing up to the impending regulation, whether that is to be excluded altogether or to be given more voice within that structure, is a tall enough order in itself and would be plenty for now.

The idea of bringing together all disciplines has been around in the US since at least the 1980s. The Federation of Therapeutic Massage, Bodywork, and Somatic Practice Organizations has been in existence since 1991 in the US. It is not a competency board, rather a group that is committed to supporting the evolutionary growth of its member organizations, and therefore is watchful for legislative issues that may affect the Federation's values and agreements. It is a model for communication and excellence in our industry, so I hope that those in South Africa and elsewhere find its website as helpful and supportive as I have.
Its website's mission page begins with:

"The Federation is a forum for dealing with differences and finding commonalities through communication and mutual support among its members.
This mission may be fulfilled in many ways including networking, sharing expertise, and creating programs that advance the field of touch and movement generally and the individual and collective goals of the member associations."

Keep the faith!

7-09-10 UPDATE: I thought I'd mention post #23 in the On the Future of Pilates, Part 2 thread, on the AIM Academy Forum, to reveal a parallel between South Africa's Organizing Framework for Occupations (OFO), which is based on similar international development done by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Statistics New Zealand, and the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), developed by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and other agencies (see article mentioned in this issue of the Occupational Outlook Quarterly Online). Both the OFO (go to #4>45>452) and Occupational Outlook Handbook, the OOH (go to service>personal care and service>fitness workers), organize "pilates" under a "fitness” and personal care heading, and the global issue we face is that not all pilates teachers agree with that label.

The SA Department of Labour, with the assistance of German Technical Co-operation (GTZ), introduced the OFO in February 2005 "to align all skills development activities in South Africa." The SOC was not developed for that reason, rather it is "used by Federal statistical agencies to classify workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data." In the US, there are options for quality control, even while "pilates" is placed under the fitness heading. The road to skills assessment, standardization, and quality control is a longer and more winding road in the US, especially for the Movement Education field; that fact alone makes the case to keep US government intervention in that process at bay. (This is one instance where we as an emerging profession can be grateful for the bureaucracy. : )

In South Africa, however, teachers will apparently immediately fall subject to regulations already outlined by Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA), unless they oppose inclusion in the SRSA's Fitness Legislation (based on the 2009 Fitness Industry Regulations under the National Sport and Recreation Act, 1998) now. Of course, the issue pertains to those wanting to work in fitness facilities, however, such legislation would obviously limit the definition of pilates and should be avoided at all costs. As SAPEPA says, "We are opposing the proposed Fitness legislation because we do not feel that it truly represents our profession nor does it give us the confidence that these regulations adequately protect the public."

Now, where have you heard those exact words before..? Right! from me, with regards to how the PMA defined pilates in its 2006 Position Statement. In the past few years, from online discussions alone, it is more than evident that pilates teachers around the globe are still not on the same page as to what a competency standard would/should look like. I've also mentioned that some US pilates teacher training programs are currently not properly following standard state business license practices. The fact is there is no one government body charged with overseeing pilates in the US, at this time, that is on the level of what THETA is trying to do.

Given knowledge of the above, it should, therefore, be evident to the powers that be at THETA and the SRSA that the idea of lumping pilates into an overall sport and fitness category seems entirely ill-founded and inappropriate to those of us who understand the nature of pilates. To begin with, it ought to be understood that more specific regulations are needed for pilates offerings than those presently recommended for fitness professionals and "establishments" in the 2009 document. One solution here (given an impossibility of being left to their own devices in deciding by whom and how the profession should be regulated in their own country) might be for pilates teachers to model and form a management board parallel to Fitness SA's Board, especially when there exists an active and qualified core group of individuals from various pilates backgrounds committed to developing such a community effort! At the very least, South African pilates teachers ought to be duly represented in Fitness SA Board operations, helping to sort out the regulation process that is upon them at this time.

The viewpoints on pilates vary greatly in the US; it may be true that they may not run such a gamut in South Africa. Still, with the presence of a global, internal debate so clear, most teachers would agree that pilates should not be solely placed under a fitness category at this time. I wrote this blog to show my support and I hope you'll join me.

As for "protecting" the public? We need to remember and have faith in the fact that, while teachers continue to articulate the depth and breadth of pilates as a discipline in its own right, the public (which includes the cooperative network) is steadily stepping up to the self-education and responsibility that pilates requires to safely reap its many benefits.

7-14-10 UPDATE: Please read my latest post on the AIM Academy Forum, URGENT: Call to Action by SAPEPA, which requests that teachers from the greater pilates community, the international community, sign the petition. This is time-sensitive, so please, don't delay! Thanks!

I also wrote today about The Global Pilates Spirit on the AASI blog, explaining more about somatic integration and its relation to these current events. Please give it a read!

"Contemporary Contrology"??

2010-05-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention that an attempt* at trademarking the term "Contemporary Contrology" has been made.

I believe that an appropriate response to this, at this time, would be to state my deep regard for the term, "Contrology," as it was named and defined by Joseph H. Pilates in his books, Your Health and Return to Life. Here are just a few quotes:

20 - That for over 25 years, the writer has conducted progressive experiments along the scientific and practical lines with his own body and those of his pupils, and the complete results of his extensive research along these lines, are now incorporated in the writer's work under his coined name of "Contrology." YH p11Contrology is complete coordination of body, mind, and spirit. Through Contrology, you first purposefully acquire complete control of your own body and then through proper repetition of its exercises you gradually and progressively acquire that natural rhythm and coordination associated with all of your subconscious activities. RtL p9

Contrology develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit. RtL p9

One of the major results of Contrology is gaining the mastery of your mind over the complete control of your body. RtL p9

Contrology is not a fatiguing system of dull, boring, abhorred exercises repeated daily "ad-nauseum."RtL p10

Self-confidence, poise, consciousness of possessing the power to accomplish our desires, with renewed lively interest in life are the natural results of the practice of Contrology. RtL p23-4Here is my statement:
I am an independent pilates teacher (practicing since 1981, teaching since 1986), following the work of J.H.Pilates and its evolution. I respect and revere the term "Contrology" and the body of work it represents, by recognizing the original historical publications, Your Health and Return to Life, and by also acknowledging that the credit for naming the term belongs solely to its founder, Joseph H. Pilates. Therefore, I believe that the term should be used only in cases of historical reference to the work of Joseph H. Pilates, without change or addition to the term, and that the term should be assigned solely to Joseph H. Pilates.

Carole Amend
Mill Valley, CA

*Please also see:
Can't we all just get along?, a Pilates Pro Community Post.
Be sure to check out profiles of the authors. My replies are numbers 2, and 5.

What's New

2010-04-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

Recent UPDATES and Edits:

4-03-10 UPDATE Yoga's New Law...absolutely WiCKED!

3-26-10 UPDATE NYTimes Article: Regulation and Yoga Teacher Train... Video of VA yoga teachers who won the lawsuit in VA to amend the definition of "vocational."

3-17-10 UPDATE NYTimes Article: Regulation and Yoga Teacher Train...

3-3-10 Edited The Resolve to state my view on the "folly" of anyone who uses "PMA Gold Certified" or "PMA Certified" as an exclusive marketing ploy at this time, since doing so falsely suggests a mark of prestige and/or public safety.

2-28-10 New comment (#5) under NYTimes Article: Regulation and Yoga Teacher Train...

11-19-09 Edited 7am Parallels and Positioning New Note 11-21

Yoga's New Law...absolutely WiCKED!

2010-03-26T23:21:00.000-07:00

Wow!
I got to see WICKED in SF and NY Governor Paterson signed the bill redefining the term vocational, "witch" benefits yoga teacher trainings and the entire yoga community, all in the same week.
I'm "flying high," and yet, I feel, finally, amazingly "grounded." :)

On March 17, 2010, I posted an entry on the AIM Academy Forum entitled Yoga and Licensing: Parallels to Pilates? There you will find links to court cases in NY and VA, which challenged the idea of yoga teacher training regulation. Both NY and VA were successful in overturning previous regulation.

Business license laws for those who teach teachers are not universal. Laws and exemption possibilities differ from state to state. For more info on recent happenings in the NY and VA yoga communities, view my 7-13-09 entry, NYTimes Article: Regulation and Yoga Teacher Trainings and its recent UPDATES.

Not everyone might agree with the new legislation. But, though they "can't imagine how" or why anyone would want to claim an exemption, I would hope to hear them say, "I hope you're happy!"
So, these beginning lyrics were just too apropos to leave out!:

GLINDA
(spoken) Elphaba - why couldn't you have stayed calm for
once, instead of flying off the handle!
(sung) I hope you're happy!
I hope you're happy now
I hope you're happy how you
Hurt your cause forever
I hope you think you're clever!

ELPHABA
I hope you're happy
I hope you're happy, too
I hope you're proud how you
Would grovel in submission
To feed your own ambition

BOTH
So though I can't imagine how
I hope you're happy right now

GLINDA
Don't be afraid.

ELPHABA
I'm not. It's the Wizard who should be afraid...of me.

GLINDA
(spoken) Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry:
before it's too late!
(sung) You can still be with the Wizard
What you've worked and waited for
You can have all you ever wanted:

ELPHABA
(spoken) I know:
(sung) But I don't want it -
No - I can't want it...Anymore:

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!

It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!

GLINDA
Can't I make you understand?
You're having delusions of grandeur:

ELPHABA
I'm through accepting limits
'Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost
I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down...
(spoken) Quick...get on!

GLINDA
(spoken) What?

ELPHABA
(spoken) Come with me.
Think of what we could do: together.
(sung)Unlimited
Together we're unlimited....
Together we'll be the greatest team
There's ever been, Glinda -
Dreams, the way we planned 'em

GLINDA
If we work in tandem:

BOTH
There's no fight we cannot win
Just you and I
Defying gravity
With you and I
Defying gravity

ELPHABA
They'll never bring us down!
(spoken) Well? Are you coming?

GLINDA
(spoken) Oh, Elphie, you're trembling.
Here, put this around you.
(sung)I hope you're happy
Now that you're choosing this

ELPHABA
(spoken) You too
(sung) I hope it brings you bliss

BOTH
I really hope you get it
And you don't live to regret it
I hope you're happy in the end
I hope you're happy, my friend:

ELPHABA
So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately:
"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!

GLINDA
I hope you're happy!

CITIZENS OF OZ
Look at her, she's wicked!
Get her!

ELPHABA
:Bring me down!

CITIZENS OF OZ
No one mourns the wicked
So we've got to bring her

ELPHABA
Ahhh!

CITIZENS OF OZ
Down!

UPDATE: 4-03-10
See also the Pilates Pro Community Post Yoga's Regulation Battle, especially the response I posted today:

Excerpt:
"The fact that so many involved in the diverse yoga community in NY, which includes the public, came together to solve an issue is heartening. They “played by the rules,” in that they followed proper legislative channels and the revised bill became law. In VA, a few teachers filed a suit to change the law and won. I am happy and encouraged to hear that the concerns of citizens and small business owners were heard and supported.

Those who are interested in following the state-level laws, which differ from state to state, can do so by adhering to business license laws already in place (which in some states do allow for exemption when certain criteria are met) or by petitioning for a new exemption, as in the case of the NY yoga community...."

"I couldn't be happier. Right, dear?" (you just gotta see WiCKED!!)

Yoga Licensing Rebellion

2010-03-15T09:28:00.001-07:00

Concerning VA:

Victory for Virginia Yoga Entrepreneurs is a link to the Institute for Justice's March 10, 2010 Web Release explaining the process which resulted in VA Bill H.B. 703 being signed into law on March 9, 2010. VA yoga-instructor programs are now exempt from state-licensing requirements.

FYI: Here you can find definitions of the following terms as used in VA Bill H.B. 703:
"Academic-Vocational"
"Certificate" or "diploma"
"Degree"
"Noncollege degree school"
"Postsecondary school" or "school"
"Program"
"Vocational"
and more...

Concerning NY:

Many are waiting for the Governor of NY to sign the NY bill into law exempting yoga teacher training programs!

The following is a quote from an article that appeared in the New York Times yesterday, Yoga License Rebellion May Soon Claim Victory:
"In the next 10 days, almost a year after the dispute began, Gov. David A. Paterson is expected to approve a bill that would exempt training programs for yoga teachers from state regulation under laws intended to provide oversight of vocational schools. "

UPDATE: 3-24-10
It's signed! Kudos to Yoga for NY (If you're on facebook, you can become a fan)!
From the Governor's website:

Governor Paterson also signed A.8678-A/S.5701-A, which is a bill that would exempt yoga and martial arts instructors from State licensing requirements. In 2009, the SED’s Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision ordered yoga instructors who train others to become a yoga teacher to obtain a license. Such requirements would have imposed unnecessary expenses on local governments, as well as over-restrictive mandates on yoga studios. As a result, in August 2009, SED announced the suspension of the licensure requirements for these yoga instructors, pending action by the Legislature. This bill will codify in statute SED’s decision not to regulate yoga instruction or other schools operating for the purpose of leisure, hobby, or personal enrichment. “This legislation is important in that it will not place added expenses on our local governments, in addition to not enacting stricter requirements on New York’s yoga studios during these difficult times,” Governor Paterson said.

The Times They Are A-Changin'

2010-02-26T00:34:00.000-08:00

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

With gratitude...
: )

The Resolve

2010-02-25T10:25:00.000-08:00

I changed my flight plans to Philadelphia today due to snow, which has left me with a few extra moments.

I was thinking about finishing up those hidden entries I wrote about yesterday. However, after the chat I had with my phenomenologist last evening, suddenly it doesn't seem all that important. That is, it is important (otherwise I would not have embarked on this project), it's just not important right now. Why?

Because I am resting in this illuminating quote from Elizabeth Anderson, PMA Executive Director:
"We cannot be all things to all people; we respect any teacher’s choice to participate or not as they see fit. Participation with the PMA is voluntary, and it is appropriate for those who are in alignment with its goals."

This, in black and white on the News from PMA Weekend? Community Post on Pilates Pro, succinctly states all we will need to show legislators, if ever it comes time to for them to consider the PMA Exam as the adopted measure.

Clearly, my online writing has not changed the dismissals, the jabs, and the false premise (of which so many are unaware) which are present in Ms. Anderson's remarks. I am grateful, in fact, that those remarks will remain in black and white for all to see when they need and wish to see it. Right now, I choose not to focus on those remarks. And, I choose to keep the hidden entries hidden. Those who need to see them...will.

I must remember that there is much more that has changed and will continue to change.
Oh, I know, there will also continue to be "folly," in fact, it's already rampant, but Joe dealt with this also: go and read page 64 of Joe's book, Your Health. : )
The most well-known case in point is that it's ok for some to falsely advertise themselves as "maintain(ing) one of the highest rankings in the Pilates Profession as a Gold Certified Teacher through the Pilates Method Alliance" even though they are aware that such a statement misrepresents the Exam (it's only entry level), causes confusion for the public, and most of all, serves to split the pilates community, not unite it, thereby thwarting meaningful technical discussion between teachers on safety issues.

I absolutely still plan to share about the topics of those hidden entries: the job market, CECs, mentoring, and technical issues, which all dovetail with the pilatical issues.
However, now I am choosing a different audience, the one that has supported me all along, and it's enough that different ears will serve to change the tone.

My professional resolve to move forward as I see fit for my good and for the good of my fellow teachers and the public I believe in is stronger than ever. : )

I know that pilates "(assures us our) birthright to 'mental and physical balance'."*
I know that pilates is about principle, not personality.
I know that pilates, in its simplicity, is profound.
I know that pilates enthusiasts are everywhere.

"Self-confidence, poise, consciousness of possessing the power to accomplish our desires, with renewed lively interest in life are the natural results of the practice of Contrology."
JHPilates
Return to Life
page23

It's cold and snowing back east, but, with a little luck, I may even get to the beach today...
Here's to happiness and gratitude : )

*(still my favorite quote of Joe's, Your Health, page 24)

PMA Cert Exam "MANDATORY"? Is that so?

2010-02-24T06:19:00.000-08:00

Hi all,
You haven't heard from me in a while on this blog (since November 16, 2009, in fact), but I have been making entries on the AASI Blog and my PCDB Blog, Carole's Blog/Riding the Dynamic Wave (you like that title? yeah, I thought it fitting : ). Check 'em out!

Anyhoo...
I have also been writing here behind the scenes, and today I'm just logging in again to let you know that more will be coming soon. In fact, I have five or six entries that I've been working on in the last months that I have kept hidden because things have been moving fairly quickly...and as you know, life happens when you're making plans. : )
I'll be ready to make them public soon.

Until then, I thought you all might be interested in a Community Post on Pilates Pro: News from PMA Weekend? Once again, Elizabeth Anderson came online to "clarify" and here is my reply:

Elizabeth Anderson writes:

"PMA certification would/could only become mandatory if/when all employers require it, or if teaching Pilates became a licensed profession. Until/unless either of those things occurs, PMA certification is a choice."

Exactly. Thank you for finally stating this. In my estimation, "UNTIL/UNLESS" are the operative words here and clarifies the PMA's hope and agenda.

Teachers please take note of this important distinction: The PMA is working towards making pilates a licensed profession. As Ms. Anderson all but admits in so many words, the end result of the PMA's efforts is to ensure that its Exam WILL BE MANDATORY for licensure as a pilates professional.

Most teachers would agree that pilates should not be classified as a subset of personal trainers and group exercise instructors and should not be regulated by those outside the field. However, most DO NOT agree that legislators should, instead, believe that the PMA has the FULL support of the pilates community and/or accept the PMA Exam as the standard.

The PMA continues in this effort even though many, many teachers do not agree with its terms at this time; the PMA continues in this effort even though in Elizabeth Anderson's own words (PMA Exec Dir, Nov 25, 2008 comment on the PPro PMA Certification Exam Post by Carole Amend):

"The Schools never sat down and agreed on what they all believed to be necessary for the training of a competent Pilates teacher, and they never agreed on how to measure these skills. Their syllabi can differ radically."

FACT: The PMA Certification Exam is no measure of these skills and does not ensure consistency or safety standards.

And so, here we are. AASI is glad that the PMA is forthcoming in its agenda and hopes that the PMA will, at some point, consider the efforts of AASI, as it asked in the premier statement on the AASI Online Blog on December 30, 2008 (Please see: Announcement: The AASI Online Blog begins).*

I look forward to further communication and discussion through aboveboard, public online vehicles.

Thank you.
Sincerely,

Carole Amend
Founder/Facilitator
AIM Academy for Somatic Integration
www.aim-academy.org

PS Please note yet another link as you click my name.

February 19, 2010 | Carole Amend

*Wow...look at all that's happened in 16 months, this being the most salient to mention here:
Again, to quote Ms. Anderson, "In our effort to refine and improve our materials, we have recently taken down the 2006 Position Paper on Pilates. There were sections of that paper that needed to be updated and/or revised."
No kidding?! But, at this point, will changing your materials change your direction? Doubtful.

Oh, and...as far as all employers (health clubs, etc) "requiring" the PMA Certification Exam: I think it's safe to say that the PMA has been hard at work on that as well, since it states on its website in its "new" (well, not so new, but that's another story...see this post on the AIM Academy Forum's On the Future of Pilates, Part 2) PMA Official Position Statement - On Pilates...:

"The PMA strongly recommends that as of this date** all studios or facilities, including health clubs have at least one PMA Pilates Certified Teacher or a comprehensively trained instructor on staff at all times when the facility is open for business."

**...which by my records was July 2003.

For a discussion on that on the PCDB, please go to New Pma Position Statement, begun by Geniusall (Deborah Watson).

As for the title of this entry, I figure...
Since the PMA allows its members to publicize the PMA Certification Exam as "a" (meaning "the") national credential
even though it is not accepted by the entire pilates community,
and before it has even earned accreditation,
thus promulgating an unwarranted marketing buzz,
which only serves to further split the community
and further confuse the public,
then the PMA might as well prematurely publicize the Exam as being "MANDATORY" for the right to say you teach "pilates"!

Am I right? I mean...why wait to tell the "truth"?...
IF that's the PMA's intention.

And, IF you believe that the PMA serves all teachers, and that the PMA tells the whole "truth," then I have a bridge in Brooklyn* that I'd like to sell you.

*Please see PMA Victory? Is that so?"

Emergence of the AASI Contrology Coalition

2009-12-20T21:09:00.000-08:00

The AASI Contrology Coalition has emerged to support those pilates teachers potentially affected by legislation, namely those who follow the philosophy of J. H. Pilates, who named his work Contrology, and who also do not fully agree with the Pilates Method Alliance's 2006 Position Statement: On Pilates.

The AASI Contrology Coalition is committed to becoming familiar with and understanding how the legal environment in a specific state affects practitioners, educators, and schools. It provides a space for community interaction and unification in response to the legal environment in any state.

Our first course of action is to promote awareness of the Coalition and the reasons for its emergence. Hopefully, the need will attract the talents of those who share our commitment to preserve the original intent of Contrology, that is "to see the old order cast aside" and "to acknowledge the benefits of (J.H. Pilates') system." Your Health p. 8

"Radically different research is necessary in order to discover and apply the laws of nature assuring man of his birthright to "Mental and Physical Balance."
"NOT MIND OR BODY BUT MIND AND BODY!" Your Health p. 24
To start, please explore the Associated Links on the side bar, especially the AIM Academy Forum's On the Future of Pilates, Part 2 Post and the PMA's 2006 Position Statement pdf, found on the website link.

Parallels and Positioning

2009-11-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

I have found the professionalization process fascinating, ever since the early 90s, when I watched what the Trager community went through. Tom Myers, made a post on his Anatomy Trains Blog a few days ago, On the SI Exam. It's definitely worth the read. The pilates community may face similar-seeming issues when talking about accreditation, which is what the PMA Certification Exam hopes to attain. However, I am also writing today because I think there are major differences between massage and pilates, not the least of which begins with organizational structure.

Both the AMTA and the IASI are professional associations that require certain criteria for membership, including completion of an approved program. The memberships of both organizations created boards to oversee the certification process. And both organizations have members who care about the process and speak up when they feel the need. I happen to think that's healthy for any organization/field, whether the speaking up comes from within or not. For example, last July, the AMTA published a statement on its website: AMTA Views NCBTMB Decision Not in Best Interest of the Profession. AMTA President Judy Stahl says, "For NCBTMB to shift focus to attempt to compete as a type of membership association selling liability insurance is counterproductive for the profession’s advancement.”

I see a parallel here, but, I am not sure how relevant it actually is. IASI clearly wants a distinction between SI and massage. So, I really question why the PMA is following a model for massage.

In the professionalization arena,* pilates is only related to massage practices in that both are presently organized under "Service" in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, under "personal care and service" and "healthcare support," respectively. Pilates teachers are classified as "fitness workers" in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (and if you read the OOH fitness workers page, you will know who is consulting the government on that). In this regard, I have noted at least eight different NCCA accredited fitness certifications under NOCA.** And, there is no licensure for fitness workers at this time. I get why the PMA wants its Exam to be the only one. It certainly would make things easier if we had a united pilates community and everyone agreed that accreditation was the way to go. However, the views in the greater pilates community on whether this is the right thing to do~for all teachers~are still diverse.

When I began this blog, one of my hopes in speaking up was that the PMA would finally get clear and state their intentions publicly as far as the structure of its organization goes. I am glad to see that the PMA has begun that process, having stated its view to a crowd of Teacher Trainers at its recent Summit and through its recent emails. It may allow anyone to join, however, the PMA has specific operational goals. The PMA's specific mission is to "establish certification and continuing education standards." PMA Executive Director Elizabeth Anderson also stated, on Pilates Pro in a recent comment under The Growth of Pilates Collectives article, that the criteria for attending the soon-to-be set-up regional PMA chapter events is current PMA membership. Clarity is a good thing and will help in connecting with those who support its mission.

It will also help those who may have a different sensibility, at this time, with understanding the current available options. The structure of the UNITED PILATES COLLECTIVE is, obviously, simply different. UPC co-founder Tracey Sylvester states in her comment: "The PMA has different goals. That being said the UPC has members who are also PMA members. The UPC is fully inclusive and does not discriminate against any training or studio affiliation, philosophy or group affiliation."

What is most important, at this time, is to respect~and to celebrate~the wonderful diversity in the greater pilates community. Everyone wants to do their best work. Everyone wants to be recognized for the gifts they bring to the mix. With a bit of reading up on policy issues that may face us, we will all be able to take our positions in that arena. And hopefully, someday, we'll be standing side by side, if not in unity, at least in respect and synchronicity, to the benefit of the public we love to serve.

*How we view this in the cooperative networks is different. Of course, to me, we'd all be listed under movement practices under somatic integration in their AIM broad-based definitions (see side bar). ;) Someday....

**11/21/09 I noticed that NOCA has changed its name to ICE: Institute for Credentialing Excellence

Don't you know you have a voice?

2009-11-06T02:59:00.001-08:00

Susan Tedeschi "People"at Warren Haynes Xmas Jam 2008

People, People
Don’t you know you have a voice?
People, People
Don’t you know you have a choice?

TV screens and corrupt magazines
Man on the radio
Says he knows what you need
Planting seeds that just mislead
Can’t be taken back
You watch them grow and then you’ll know
How much you’ve been lead
Oh how can you say there’s nothing wrong
when it’s gone on too long?

People, People
What more can I say?
Let’s get ourselves together
Too much at stake to look away

Don’t buy him don’t bump for her
She’s likely to be bought
Don’t buy her don’t bump for him
Power’s his only thought
Confusion and disillusion
Proud of your mind
Until a big decision is too hard to find
How can you say there’s nothing wrong?
When it’s going on too long

People, People
They said you’d free your mind
People, People
Don’t you think it’s about time?

[solo]

How can you say there’s nothing wrong?
When its gone on too long
People, People
Don’t you know you have a voice?
People, People
Don’t you know you have a choice

People, People
People, people, people
People, People
People, people

The Process of Professionalizing Pilates

2009-11-05T05:25:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to make a quick post here to say that I had originally planned to go to the PMA Teacher Training Summit in Dallas this weekend. However, in late August, upon news of the agenda, I changed my mind, as I have been fully aware of the goals of the PMA with respect to its Certification Exam for many years now. It is clear that there is only room on the agenda to explore the PMA's approach to professionalization, which is third-party accreditation ("and that's OK!" : ). So, as I've heard it all before, many times, I don't need to go.

I began the On the Future of Pilates, Part 2 Post on the AIM Academy Forum to inform those interested in the professionalization process. Included within the post and the responses are links to important resources that are helpful in understanding what we may be headed towards on a legislative level.

Here is my last post (10-30-09):

"The AIM Academy Forum came as an opportunity to continue conversations that I had originally envisioned on the AASI Blog between pilates teachers and their cooperative networks, in a much more protected way. When I began the AIM Academy Forum, my intention was to reserve the AASI Blog's sister blog, AASI Contributions for the purpose of bringing pilatical issues to fore. However, as discussions have progressed here and on the PCDB, technical and pilatical issues have dovetailed, which is further evidence that we do not operate as pilates teachers in a vacuum. A lack of knowledge of the professionalization front has the potential to encumber meaningful technical dialogue and growth, and so I began this post.

I urge everyone to educate themselves and make decisions from a informed stance.

Part of AASI's mission has always been to promote cooperation and understanding between all styles of pilates professional excellence through unique concepts and facilitation. Soon, AASI will be stating its position in/on the "pilates world" on its website, so that it can move forward. AASI is a work-in-progress; what we do has always depended upon who shows up to participate. Thanks to all on the PCDB for your contributions to our growing conversation. I look forward to presenting more of our viewpoint to the benefit of teachers, the public, and our cooperative networks."

I will be heading to PA this weekend to meet with AASI colleagues. I am glad that the UPC will be present at the PMA Summit.

I am sending my gratitude out to Pilates Pro, The PCDB, and the UNITED PILATES COLLECTIVE for their commitment to growth of the pilates community.

What's New

2009-11-01T06:40:00.001-08:00

Recent UPDATES and Edits:

10-30-09 UPDATE UPC Meeting and UPC CCC Update: Announcing...

10-11-09 addition Thank you & Think again

10-09-09 UPDATE Chronology of the Pilates Pro Posts

10-09-09 New Comment Surviving in the Pilates Jungle

Funny Bones

2009-10-20T07:16:00.001-07:00

I couldn't choose between these two today, so I'm posting both!

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Werner Heisenberg: We are not sure which side of the road the chicken was on, but it was moving very fast.

Ralph Waldo Emerson: It didn't cross the road; it transcended it.

Thank you & Think again

2009-10-07T22:55:00.000-07:00

Thank you:
I wanted to thank Hila Paldi so much for her response on Pilates Pro Community Post, PMA Certification Exam:

1.I have been there when the PMA was just a twinkle in Kevin's eye (...) but after a few years, it became clear that the PMA has failed the long term teachers who have already been teaching for years and kept Pilates alive.
I am sorry to see that, because I originally believed the PMA could have been a great idea.

2. I second Carol's correction of ["the idea that classical pilates makes "no leeway for modification." ] The whole of the method is Joe's modifications for particular situations, he kept making new exercises for the people who came to him, and that is how it was passed on to me by Romana and Kathy Grant. Modifications for the person IS Pilates!

Think again:
(I refer to a commenter's response to Hila's post)
To anyone who thinks that the PMA represents all pilates teachers, that we are all working toward the same thing, or that the whole debate over the PMA seems to be over a spinal position:
There are definitely some "underlying things" of which you are not aware:

(addition 10-11-09)
In Elizabeth Anderson's own words (PMA Exec Dir, Nov 25, 2008 comment):
"The Schools never sat down and agreed on what they all believed to be necessary for the training of a competent Pilates teacher, and they never agreed on how to measure these skills. Their syllabi can differ radically."
The PMA sure is capitalizing on that!

And so are many upstart new teachers who haven't a clue as far as the pilatical landscape is concerned and who don't really care because they are blinded by the marketing hype. Alignment, for them, apparently has more to do with marketing clout than Principle. This pitting of teachers against one another only adds to the already difficult mission of maintaining the integrity of the method. In this way, practitioners from other modalities in my cooperative network support me more than these "fellow" teachers, and I am thankful for that.

Thank goodness there are open minds, and some very smart newbies as well as seasoned practitioners, on the PCDB who are in the know! Please read On The Future of Pilates, Part 2 on the AIM Academy Forum.

PS I am reminding myself: Thank goodness that soooo much can happen in a year's time. : )

9/26/09 UPC Meeting and UPC CCC Update: Announcing the AASI Client Care Coalition

2009-09-27T07:35:00.001-07:00

Since my last post, quite a bit has shifted. I went to Big Bear, decided not to go to the PMA Summit, I taught in PA and also met up with my mentor/colleague whom I hadn't seen in four years, and I made a big decision about AASI (more later; website coming soon). Then, last week, when I got the email for the UPC meeting that was held last night in SF, I could see the shifting is going to continue. Listed on the agenda: III. UPC will be represented in Dallas at the PMA Education Summit.

Ok, so, tell me again why the UPC needs representation at the Dallas Summit...? It's not a Teacher Training Organization. It's a business. Right. Because I believe in Nancy Myers' & Tracey Sylvester's intention to keep the UPC all-inclusive, and in their commitment to keeping EHS Pilates' recently new involvement with Balanced Body University separate, and because I know that the UPC is set up as business to "enhance business practices as well as advance the profession," I can understand that Nancy & Tracey would want to keep informed, and report back to their members (who evidently asked for representation). It's their business and their dime and I have no judgment there.

However, I would find it kind of interesting to know why the UPC members who are involved in Teacher Training would not go themselves, or why they aren't spending some hours reading up on NOCA or the NCCA and whoever is involved with them and what that has to do with the PMA, or reading my blog to find out how they are affecting the greater pilates community. I've done my homework*(see below), and I do not even own a "Pilates Teacher Training Organization" (I have, however, taught a select few by apprenticeship, and now consider them colleagues). Haven't they done theirs? Apparently, they see no link between taking money from students for a teacher training and the need for at least a little understanding of what's happening on the professionalization front. Hmm.

An update from the Summit in Dallas is on the agenda for the next UPC meeting, so, I asked Nancy if it would be a problem if I also had some floor time to share my perspective for those who might be interested. There was no hesitation. Of course. Good. Thank you!

I made a half-minute announcement last night that I would be writing a statement for the UPC about why the Client Care Committee is no longer a committee for the UPC, so here it is:

I still believe that the UPC is an all-inclusive business community; why wouldn't it be, that's just good business! I was offered a free membership in exchange for heading the committee, a benefit of membership in the UPC: Knowing what I had planned/the vision, and how much work it will be, and thinking that all would benefit from that hard work, I accepted that idea.

I knew that the UPC would be a great place to talk about issues that face us professionally on a business level. I am grateful because Nancy and Tracey have made it possible for people like Chatille Lopez and Kristen Luppenlatz to give a call to action presentation for their Philanthropy and Scholarship Committee that was very inspiring. Terrific! (And, btw, there was an informative presentation on osteoporosis as well last night.)

However, as the structure of the UPC has progressed, it has become clear to me that the idea of tackling some of the technical issues in our community is going to be tricky. It seems that some of the other committees were being set up to support only specific ways of dealing with clients, i.e. the Scope of Practice and Preggo Pilates committees. If I'm not mistaken, the idea of the Scope of Practice committee is to come up with a common language for SOAP notes (not everyone has a perspective that soap notes are needed), and I imagine that Preggo Pilates will offer information based on the work of their director. I don't have a problem with people getting together around common interests through the UPC, but then, why should some get free membership for that? Just my opinion, since, again, the UPC is a business owned by Nancy and Tracey.

The idea behind the UPC Client Care Committee was different. As we do not have one set standard or protocol system in our profession, the UPC CCCC was set up for all perspectives to discuss ways of working with say, pregnant women, for example and to find a common ground. The model of facilitation that I have developed encourages a range of perspective. I am uniquely qualified to head such a facilitation, since I have been offering Free AASI Gatherings since AASI's inception in 2001. The vision was that this facilitation would lead to conversations within the UPC towards a "collective" statement on pilates that would be more inclusive than the 2006 PMA Position Statement: On Pilates (click link for the PMA website, then go to Download it! in the right hand column). I saw this as a process that would grow as the UPC grew.

Those of you who were at the meeting last November when Deborah Lessen stated to me in front of the whole group that I did not "need to be a member of the PMA" can understand why I was happy to find a place where I could voice my opinions and not be shut down. At the time, I was still hoping that the PMA, AASI, and the UPC could work together, but I dissented from the PMA shortly after that meeting. My experience is that the PMA has never been able to find a way to welcome other viewpoints unless it directly support its way/the way that caters to a specific orientation towards pilates, which is characterized in their Position Statement; the PMA now requires that conference presenters support the PMA Certification Exam, which wasn't the case in the first eight years of its existence. The PMA has always, since day one, had a difficult time hearing AASI's viewpoint. To be fair, I will admit that the viewpoint is difficult unless you have the same vision or expertise. I am so glad to have met people in the last year who have very quickly come to understand what I am talking about, and some I have met through the UPC.

To conclude: I am still committed to the original idea of the Client Care Committee. AASI has technology to help all pilates teachers serve their clients better and I am happy to share it generously. I have decided that, at this time, however, it is best that I offer the intended CCC service "provision" through AASI and its Free Gatherings instead of the UPC. I will now get the benefit of free listings of events as a paying member of the UPC. AASI is once again planning to formally offer its curriculum, which is not available in any Pilates Teacher Training Program, and Bodies Mind Studio is also unique in its offerings. As people become aware of AASI's vision and perspective, I hope that interested individuals will become involved in what we'll now call the AASI Client Care Coalition. Interested individuals can contact me or follow our blog, http://aasiclientcarecoalition.blogspot.com, formerly http://upcccc.blogspot.com.

UPDATE: 10-30-09
Please view On the Future of Pilates, Part 2 to see some of my homework!

What's New

2009-09-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

Recent UPDATES and Edits:

8-21-09 UPDATE Surviving in the Pilates Jungle

8-18-09 UPDATE Stop the Mad-Ness

8-11-09, 8-12-09 New comments "Unbelievable" Part 1

8-11-09 UPDATE PPro, AASI Blogs, PCDB, AIM Academy Forum Dovetail...

8-09-09 Reposted "Unbelievable" Part 1 UPDATE and new comment

8-09-09 Posted Missing UPDATE from 3-04-09 Chronology of the Pilates Pro Posts

8-08-09 Edited links on Pilates-pro Yoga and Pilates comment

8-08-09 Edited links on PTs on PPro continued....

Update on PMA Dallas Summit

2009-08-27T03:39:00.000-07:00

I got my email from the PMA regarding the agenda for the summit meeting in Dallas last weekend, just as I got to Big Bear for the Classical Pilates Intensive.

Talk about opposite ends of the poles.

I think I'll divulge here that I was seriously considering going to the Dallas meeting. I was hopeful about the prospect of the teacher trainers finally communicating on the technical debates in our community. I can't say that I was very surprised at the announced agenda; I am, however, continually surprised at my incessant hopefulness that a shift in consciousness might actually occur in the PMA. From the agenda, it appears that is not case.

It appears the PMA will, again, be using a facilitator from outside the community. This is exactly how it was set up at the onset of the PMA. It made no sense to me then, and it still makes no sense to me now, ten years later.

For more info check out my post PMA announces Teacher Training Meeting in Dallas from June 27, 2009. I let off some steam in comment #1. The Dallas summit agenda (click for the PMA website) has now simply left me cold on that score.

And so, I write on to warm my senses....
: )

6/29/11 UPDATE:
The Dallas Summit agenda is no longer available since the PMA website has changed. Click here to read the Teacher Training Summit '09 Final Report now located under the Registry of Schools tab or under the Teacher Training Summit tab (also includes info from the 2011 summit) on the left side pull-down bar.

Paradox and the Flat Back Debate

2009-08-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

Here I am at Big Bear. I wrote a post on my PCDB Blog (Please read the link: I am happy today that I got to mention a Pilates Pro discussion where Oriane and Justwondering were quite eloquent). Here's the skit I mentioned:

By now, maybe you've read the Yoga & Pilates: What's the Difference post. On the first page of comments, under my January 7, 2009 comment, I state:
"I am reminded of Ace Ventura and "LACES OUT" "LACES OUT"!!! (funny movie!!) I was walking my dogs getting a giggle from "BACK Flat, SPINE Straight" "Back Flat, Spine straight"!!!"
Movie-goers might find this to resonate even better than Who's on First!

I hope that those from the cooperative networks will go to my PCDB Blog and read all the links on the PCDB in their entirety. We are now in full-tilt dovetail.
I shamelessly dangle the Stuart McGill carrot before your noses....

Stop the Mad-Ness

2009-08-15T16:11:00.001-07:00

I was just remembering the article on the IDEA website, An IDEA Whose Time Has Come, that I cited back in a January post, The Crux of Our Dilemma. IDEA stated that "we need to reach the more than 70-percent of adult women and 60-percent of adult men who get no regular exercise and nearly half of young people aged 12-21 who do not participate in any sort of vigorous physical activity."

Pilates Pro recently congratulated June Kahn, IDEA's Fitness Instructor of the Year. The operative term here is "fitness Instructor." Ms. Kahn promotes "Beaming™" touted as The Future of Fitness!

Short and simple, because is this still not obvious?:
Pilates teachers, especially those in private, small studios, serve a whole different crowd who don't go to gyms. We are not interested in becoming fitness celebrities.

Is it Pilates Pro or just Pilates Hype?

Stop the Mad-Ness. Where's the "Pro" in Pilates Pro?

UPDATE: 8/18/09
Here's my point: All the hype is a big distraction from our work. Why wasn't more said about the BEAMFIT exercise beam? Thanks to luann on the PCDB who told us about her experience with Beamlates, which led me to investigate. The new beam seems to be a wonderful idea and something we all could use. Here, I am simply resisting the growing incessant need for the media to focus on the hype and on personalities.
We need a professional journal.

PPro, AASI Blogs, PCDB, AIM Academy Forum Dovetail!

2009-08-08T15:50:00.001-07:00

Today was such a good day on the PCDB. The Whole "flat Back", "neutral" Thing Post has turned out to be a pivotal discussion.

pilates07 had remembered the discussions on this blog between JW and myself on flat back and more, and asked if there has been any resolution. I remember my comment about leaving the SIs alone, and how I was promptly disagreed with by JW, "justwondering," who is not a pilates teacher, in the Phil/Ideo/Biomech Contemplations Post. I read through the Pilates Pro Yoga and Pilates: What's the Difference? Post (where it began) again, and was reminded of my post here, Pilates-pro Yoga and Pilates comment, in response. In the last comment, I mentioned that I had archived the four "Unbelievable" Posts that I had written and that I intended to summarize at some point; I basically already have in the Chronology of the Pilates Pro Posts entry.

UPDATE: 8-11-09

Well, in reading the archives again, I realized that the Pilates Pro post, 5 Ways to Combine Cardio with Pilates, was not in the Chronology and there was info there that dovetails into The Whole "flat Back"... conversation. So, I edited the Chronology and brought the 2-2-09 "Unbelievable" Part 1 Post out from the archives. Give it a reread along with the UPDATE and the new comment I posted yesterday.

Bottom line:

pilates is a mind/body process.

Here's my last post from the PCDB's The Whole "flat Back"... Post:

On being safe:
I love to impart "that feeling" the apparatus gives a body as soon as I possibly can, but I won't do it if there is a chance it will compromise the body in front of me. There are cases when this is so, and that's where I think the discussion needs to go in the classical community. We can make the necessary and noteworthy distinctions for working with "special needs" clients. And, imo, it can be done without compromising our stance on the non-pathological viewpoint, OR de-valuing the intuitive, sensory, and experiential gifts that we bring to pilates.

Imo, the flat back/straight spine issue is the common ground in our community, where different perspectives meet and diverge. The term "pilates" has been compromised, but there's time to take back the original intention.

See the 8-09-09 comment under the AASI Contributions Blog "Unbelievable" Part 1 Post:

This is how I heard/hear Stacey's comment under the Cardio post (just a few words missing, but Lee and I knew what she meant):
Joe Pilates described the benefits of his work being done in a reclined position so as not to stress the heart. However, what he was referring to, as central to his work, was the Central Nervous System.

The point here that I was making was that the PT model won't or can't see that as pilates teachers we have a different focus...
I disagree with aPTslant's comment on p4 of the Yoga & Pilates article.

This is~absolutely~about a PT approach versus a somatic approach versus an exercise approach."

After all the "effects of forces" are neutralized and understood (if, in fact, they aren't already), the fact will remain that PTs still operate under a different mindset.

What I am hoping is that this distinction can be made and that bridges can finally be built between perspectives.

And also the 8-11-09 comment:

There is some kind of demand on all systems during exercise, as LA related. Joe wanted to reduce the demand on the heart and focus elsewhere.

I agree with Stacey that JHPilates was not specifically after a cardio event in his work. He was focused on the CNS.

After a discussion of the AIM Academy Forum, On the Future of Pilates, I answered the response posted by Michael Miller in his blog entry, The Common Ground is the Idea, as in "Michael Miller Pilates says, 'Pilates is an idea'", (the idea, his idea, direct from the writings of JHPilates):

..a "common" ground needs to include more than the Ideal....

To reach a "common" ground, we must, in the spirit of community, listen to the concerns of our cooperative networks. I hear the main concern to be that the use of the spine/torso in pilates is, let's say, "not optimal." We hear you. Safety first. And we can set your minds at ease. Promise. : )

What's New

2009-08-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Recent UPDATES and Edits:

8-4-09 NOTE: Surviving in the Pilates Jungle

6-24 & 25-09 UPDATE The PTs on Pilates Pro or............................

8-08-09 edited links on Pilates-pro Yoga and Pilates comment

5-29-09 UPDATE From a Distance

5-014-09 UPDATE Book Review: Peter Fiasca's New Book

On our "common sense" of humor....

2009-08-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

Conversations on the PCDB have dovetailed into discussions on the AIM Academy Forum on defining the classical pilates method, as differentiated from the PT model. [Please see "On the Future of Pilates"(7/26) and "Ideas on Body, Mind, Spirit"(7/31)].

I answered a discussion on the PCDB, called "The Whole 'flat back', neutral Thing..."(8/2) by DancingPilatesMama. This is, imo, the safety topic in our field as it concerns proper body alignment and appropriate dynamic intention. I made a comment that it is now "the new generation of teachers who will be validating the longtimers."

For this, I am so grateful, and I'm all verklempt!!!
And so....: )

The following is from a Saturday Night Live show called "Coffee Talk" starring Mike Myers as host "Linda Richman", and guest starring Madonna as Linda's waterproof Lancome-wearing best friend, "Liz Rosenberg", and also Roseanne Barr as "Liz's mother", who is "visiting from Scottsdale."

Linda Richman was famous for her "Discussion Topics."

From Wikipedia:
"Whenever Linda would get upset, she would put her hand on her chest and say 'I'm all verklempt' or 'I'm a little verklempt.' Then she would say, 'Talk amongst yourselves', sometimes waving her hand in a dismissive gesture toward the audience. She would often follow this with an example by saying, 'I'll give you a topic.' The topic would usually follow this format: '[two- or three-part phrase] is neither [first part] nor [second part] (nor [occasional third part]). Discuss.' ...She would then recover after a beat."

Some of my favorites:
"The peanut is neither a pea nor a nut. Discuss."
"The Thighmaster is neither a thigh nor a master. Discuss."

There are more listed on the wikipedia link. Enjoy!!!

I am a sucker for distinctions and comedy--both contribute to the lighter side of life!
On that note, I'll just say, let's get this whole flat back, neutral thing over with, so I can die* already!

*Of course, I'm joking on both counts! Lighten-up!...hey, isn't that where this all started, Lee? (Please click here for a chronology of the Pilates Pro Posts and for a link to this enlightening discussion begun by Lee Artur.)

Surviving in the Pilates Jungle

2009-08-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Michael Miller to me:

"To me you now qualify as condescending, sanctimonious and supercilious."

Ahhhh, communication. Don't you love it?

The AIM Academy Forum Post, "On the Future of Pilates; Perspectives on defining pilates," has taken many twists and turns (spirals...?), including a swing over to Michael Miller's Blog, where he made that lovely statement (I'm picturing monkey bars for some reason; must be Lynda's 7/31 comment on body, mind, spirit : ).
Please read the entire post to get the flow....

I resonate with much of what Michael Miller says. I absolutely agree with his statement (from the Pilates Pro Community Post Fitness vs. Bodywork? p.2):
"Ask anyone who knew him, and they will tell you that Joseph Pilates was a survivor. His training is survival training to survive in a gravity jungle."
He also states, "The promise of uniform development demands uniform usage. In uniform usage we swim like a fish in an ocean of air."

As Director of AASI, and initial head of the UPC Client Care Committee(see comment #1 below), I am trying to survive in the pilates jungle.

I call upon all teachers of the method to join in the conversation, namely about how we remain true to the classical method, while also addressing a client's issues.

Michael Miller states, "If Pilates were only a tradition, this is where we would all be headed, towards being a PT and taking what we know to help a client with their issues."
I begged to differ and began a conversation about it.

And, unfortunately in conversations like this, someone always seems to be made out to be either the monkey or the shark...not to mix metaphors....: )

Michael Miller states:
"I don't want a conversation. I want to communicate the idea while I have the breath to try. You act dense, as though me saying the common ground is the idea somehow contradicts the target of fluorescense. I suggest you take some privates from me or one of my teachers so you can feel the idea in your body."
and
"Am I interested in other people’s viewpoints? (Well, you’ll love this answer.) No, I’m not. I am consumed with communicating my view. My message. If you’re not interested in understanding my message, that’s okay. Leave me alone. Of course, there’s only one problem with doing that—the desperate ground you say is so important right now to come to—the idea is it. Don’t think so? Wanna go find some relativistic, group agreed upon ground, have at it. Eventually, the ground you want and the people that want it will have to understand the idea, before they build anything on that common ground. And that’s not my humble opinion. It’s my heart felt, arrogant, egotistical opinion.* And it wouldn’t be that way if I didn’t have so much confidence in what I am talking about."

I absolutely believe in Mr. Miller's choice to forgo conversation about other people's ideas on pilates. Michael Miller says his "gig is autonomy" (From his book, THE ELEMENTS OF PILATES AND THE MICHAEL MILLER VIEW).

A part of my "teaching clients gig," which falls under the AIM Micro Model, is to focus on teaching clients to become independent in the pilates method in its fullest capacity as far as the conversation between my clients and myself goes.
I also have several "community gigs," which fall under the AIM Macro Model, one of which is helping to make sure that the classical viewpoint is acknowledged in the process of professionalizing pilates. I believe it will take more than just one person's insight into the essence of pilates to clarify a profession that has as huge a scope as pilates.

I think it would be great if Mr. Miller were able to lend his idea(s) to the mix. That's all. And, he did, to a degree, and it was very helpful.

As Michael Miller says, "you have to press the flow to find the fusion." I agree that is absolutely sometimes necessary. And...it is also a personal choice.
As I would never press or override a client's personal process, so would I also never press a fellow teacher towards something he/she is not interested in. That would never be my intention.

So, here's my response to Mr. Miller's above comment:

Dear Michael,
Please allow me to clarify.

I heard tell that you are an inspiration to pilates teachers globally. This gave me the understanding I have about your work: that your idea, taken directly from the words of JHPilates, is helping teachers to come into their own. I also hear this as your main mission (and I sense others as well) when I hear, “Pilates is an idea.” What a wonderful gift that is to the world. I wish you every success in bringing your message to many, many teachers out there.

I, myself, have taught only a few wonderful individuals as apprentices in pilates. They all now have their own studios. My focus, and their focus, has always been in teaching our varied clientele the work, as we have come to know it, as appropriate to the client’s needs, goals, and desires.

I have, however, met some wonderful teachers at the PMA and other conferences. I am coming to know many wonderful teachers through the PCDB and the United Pilates Collective and I am so happy about that. The UPC is open to all teachers of the method and there I am heading a committee on client care. Many teachers from all disciplines are finding their way to the classical viewpoint, regardless of where they first studied and have come to the PCDB. My interest is in asking all fellow teachers their opinions.

One of my missions has to do with how the work of JH and Clara Pilates lands in the minds of the public. For that, I am going about my passionate (not personal) mission as a fellow pilates teacher, in the AIM Academy (AASI) Forum, a subforum of the PCDB, and through the UPC Client Care Committee, asking all teachers and enthusiasts their ideas about pilates towards a definition of the classical viewpoint. I see this as a first step towards consensus on the classical community perspective on the teaching of pilates.

To me, you are clear in what your idea is. As you say, you have been “…coming from the same place (you’ve) always been coming from, at least for the last 20 years.” I am sure that many will resonate with it to a degree at some point, whether they hear it from you first or not, and I thank you for your work and for this conversation. I believe it has really helped.

What some of your teachers and even others who have only read your book have written on the PCDB has also helped. Perhaps some of them would like to join in the conversation, if you are unavailable for further discussion in relation to my post.

Please hear me when I say that I am sorry if I, in any way, have distracted you from your mission. It was not my intention.

Sincere best wishes,
Carole

PS As I have never studied with you, all I can do is to try and resonate with what you are saying. I understand Michael Miller Pilates to be a brand, and therfore a type of model. If you are ever interested in how I believe* it resonates with AIM, a model for communication about movement and embodiment practices, I would be happy** to have a conversation.

* Of course, this is only what I perceive thus far, with only limited exposure to your idea. I would never assume to understand its relation to AIM and of course, there is absolutely no intention to absorb or approve your model in any way. AIM doesn’t change models; it just helps to communicate about them.

**I am not so happy with your characterization of me and/or my intention; it was quite annoying to read that. However, as a professional, I can let it go and let it flow….Peace.

You know, there is that teacher training summit in Dallas...presumably open to all...just sayin'....

Ciao for now.
: )
This mermaid's off to the beach!

Note 8/4/09:
*MM wrote on his blog to me 7/31/09: "(I wish you’d drop the acronym IMHO. The connotation does not match the denotation. Just have an opinion and don’t try to convince me of your attitude towards your self.)"
My sensibility on the term IMHO is different. It is a courtesy to whom I am speaking as I am aware that mine is not the only truth; "A disclaimer of sorts, used on blogs, message boards, forums etc.; used to clarify that the statement being made should not be quoted as a fact, but only as an opinion." I, like Michael Miller, am also abundantly confident in my perspective, however, I would never characterize myself as egotistical and arrogant in relation to others.
To me, it's not all about control. Coordination comes more to my mind...: )

MM writes:"Their problem, your problem, is that you can not clearly and lucidly explain the ideal...."
(and btw, I never claimed to have mastered anything). Oh, that's my problem. Really? Those interested please click here: Amend Integrative Model (AIM) More information coming soon on the AASI Online Blog. (not available at this time; please see comment #2)

UPDATE: 8-21-09
Michael Miller writes: "A brand is not a model. No, not “therefore”; it’s a gross assumption on your part, made primarily to drag my “brand” into your use and interest of models."
I absolutely agree that it was a gross assumption! (but not to drag....)
Therein lies the paradox!!!
I am fascinated....fascinated to no end....
Michael is right about a lot of things, but he is reading me all wrong!

On the Future of Pilates

2009-07-27T14:29:00.001-07:00

I posted a topic called On the Future of Pilates; perspectives on defining pilates yesterday on the AIM Academy Forum in response to a post by Michael Miller on Pilates Pro. Please give it a read and chime in.

Michael Miller says:
"If Pilates were only a tradition, this is where we would all be headed, towards being a PT and taking what we know to help a client with their issues."

Really? Not me! I think this view is a bit off, and I attempted to relate exactly how in my post. I might agree with some of his points, but not his conclusions. I am, however, in agreement with Michael in that it's all good in this "wonderful, wacky world of Pilates"!

Lee Artur posed the question:
"Is this a Patriachal view taken to it's zenith? I wonder..."

Edgar Tirado, who I always count on for a sound philosophical gem, posted the following:
"On patriarchy: it appears that MM's irony sensors are off.
'you got to speak out against the madness, but don't try to get yourself elected..' Crosby Stills Nash and Young"
Thank you, Edgar!

So, I couldn't resist: enjoy!

Long, Time, Gone
Crosby, 1968

It's been a long time comin'
It's goin' to be a long time gone.
Appears to be a long time,
Yes, a long, long, long time
Before the dawn.
Turn, turn any corner.
Hear, you must hear what the people say,
You know there's something that's goin' on here,
That surely, surely, surely won't stand the light of day.
And it appears to be a long,
Such a long, long, long time before the dawn.
Speak out, you got to speak out against
The madness, you got to speak your mind,
If you dare.
But don't try to get yourself elected.
If you do you had better cut your hair.
'Cause it appears to be a long time,
Before the dawn.
It's been a long time comin',
It's been a long time gone.
But you know, the darkest hour,
Is always just before the dawn.
And it appears to be a long time,
Such a long, long, long time before the dawn.

NYTimes Article: Regulation and Yoga Teacher Trainings

2009-07-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yoga Faces Regulation, and Firmly Pushes Back came out in the NYTimes over the weekend (July 10, 2009). It was passed out at the UPC meeting on Saturday.

Click on the link and there you will also find many reader comments. The issues are all similar to the ones in the pilates community and worth the read. From the NYTimes Article (It's important to note that this regulation is not for teachers; it is directed at the teacher trainings.):

"The teachers formed a coalition and enlisted a state senator, Eric T. Schneiderman of Manhattan, to take up their cause, hoping that New York would buck the national trend. “It’s really kind of historic in the yoga community,” Ms. Popper said.
...
Within days, Joseph P. Frey, an associate commissioner with the State Education Department, said in an interview that the department would suspend the licensing effort, allow the classes to continue and instead lobby for legislation adding yoga to a list of activities that are exempt from regulation."

Knowing that the yoga community was able to accomplish this is wonderful for all pilates teachers, as it is in the same mind/body movement category.

Many thanks to the yoga community for their efforts! : )

On a related note, Pilates Pro posted today about the meeting in Dallas: Teacher Training Providers Invited to PMA Summit (see also my 6/27/09 post PMA announces Teacher Training Meeting in Dallas). Here is the link:

My issue is with the idea of having to call the meeting in the first place. The fact is that the big teacher training organizations knew the language issue from the start, yet they continued to go ahead and use the word "certification." So, how can they truly say that they have supported/are in support of the PMA? It is a shame, I think, that there is so much double-talking, but, I guess that's pilatics for you.

I'd rather concentrate on/participate in issues like the ones the UPC is talking about in their committees or the discussions on the PCDB. That's where all teachers are heard...you needn't be a teacher trainer.

Concerning the NJ Bill, see also PMA Victory? Is that so?
Here again, the yoga and martial arts communities alone deserve the credit and our thanks! : )

UPDATE: 3-17-10
Please read the 3-14-10 NYTimes Article Yoga License Rebellion May Soon Claim Victory.
(My thanks to Hila Paldi for the heads-up!)
"Gov. David A. Paterson is expected to approve a bill that would exempt training programs for yoga teachers from state regulation under laws intended to provide oversight of vocational schools." (Senator Schneiderman’s bill was passed on March 1, 2010 by the state senate; find archived release here.)
Kudos and Congratulations go out to Yoga for NY, the organization that lobbied for the exemption.
I began a post today on the AIM Academy Forum entitled "Yoga and Licensing: Parallels to Pilates?" to inform the greater pilates community and to encourage further discussion.
Where does it parallel our situation and where might it not apply?

UPDATE: 3-26-10
Well, the Governor of NY did sign the bill, which amended the definition of "vocational," into law this week. You can find the links to this and also recent overturned legislation involving yoga teachers in VA in the "Yoga and Licensing: Parallels to Pilates" on the AIM Academy Forum mentioned above. To view it, you can also click the link below.

Confusion remains rampant when discussing this issue because the terms "licensure" and "regulation" are used in relation to both business practice requirements and competency standards. This specific post on the AIM Academy Forum also helps to explain the confusion.

And here's a video from the yoga teachers in VA that helps to explain how the Yoga Alliance may be helping with competency, but small businesses in VA had to fend for themselves in this lawsuit (click twice to go to you tube for full screen):

More parallels?
Here's something else to consider:
Do you think there will ever be a third-party accreditation and a related competency "licensure" for yoga?

See also: Entry on 3-26-10 Yoga's New Law...absolutely WICKED!

UPC: Bay Area Chapter Meeting tomorrow night!

2009-07-10T05:32:00.000-07:00

From: Nancy Myers & Tracey Sylvester
Date: July 7, 2009 3:30:10 PM PDT
Subject: UPC Bay Area Chapter meeting this weekend!
Reply-To: nancy@unitedpilatescollective.com

Next Meeting:
EHS Pilates
1452 Valencia Street @ 25th
San Francisco, CA 94110
July 11, 2009 5:30-7:30pm
7:30-9:30pm artist reception
Please rsvp to nancy@unitedpilates collective.com

Hello all,
We look forward to seeing you at the next meeting of the UPC! PLEASE call or e-mail if you plan to attend. (415-285-5808 or nancy@ehspilates.com)

We will be discussing business forms (such as intake) and what forms you would like to see available for download through the UPC. Please call or e-mail me with anything you would like added to the proposed agenda.

Please join us immediately after for a wine and cheese mix and mingle and more relaxed discussion outside the formal meeting.

Proposed Agenda

I. Organization of the Collective:
A. Recap of meetings so far and meet and greet
B. Goals and objectives of collective
1. Uniting the pilates community
2. Information sharing
3. Power in numbers
4. Relationship to PMA

C. Regional chapters
1. NYC: Michelle Fama and Kim Villanueva
2. Report from their last meeting- Nancy attended

II. Member benefit package
A. Feedback on current package and proposals for future

III. Committees
A. Further define Committees, research and develop areas that would be important to the pilates profession; information sharing, how to's and resources
1. Greening your studio--Carol LeMaitre
2. Client Care Committee--Carole Amend
3. Scope of Practice--Marcelle Parry
4. PR and Special Events--Jessica Fudim and Jessica Glickstrom
5. Philathropy and Scholarship--Chantil Lopez
6. Pilates and Pregnancy--Stephanie Forster
7. Member benefits--Tracey Sylvester
8. Regional Chapter development and coordination
9. Pilates and kids--Candice Brown
IV. Future vision:
A. Website development
1. Page and Blog for each Committee
2. Information sharing
a. developments within the industry and community
3. Events Calendar
4. Studio Finder
5. Page for each chapter

Next meeting scheduled for Saturday, September 26th at Bay Club with Elizabeth Larkam

PMA announces Teacher Training Meeting in Dallas

2009-06-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

Regarding the PMA announcement, I posted under the PMA Certification Exam Community Post on Pilates Pro today:

And speaking of being fair, I'd like acknowledge the email that I received from the PMA:

The following teacher training organizations have agreed to attend a meeting in Dallas (since the 2009 PMA conference was cancelled) in November 2009:
Balanced Body University
BASI Pilates
Peak Pilates
Pilates Center of Boulder
Pilates Center of Vancouver
Polestar Pilates
Power Pilates
Ron Fletcher Program of Study
STOTT PILATES
They will discuss the importance of a ‘professional credential’ and specifically about the difference between ‘certificate’ and ‘certification.’ All teacher training providers, from the largest to the smallest, are invited to participate for an open discussion. The PMA's goal is to solve the languaging issue that has caused major confusion and upset over the past few years within our profession.
Deborah Lessen writes: "Please contact Maly De Jesus at the PMA, maly@pilatesmethodalliance.org (305 573 4946 x 201) and let her know that we can count you in."

I wrote in my January 5, 2009 blog entry:( AASI Blog begins )

"Hopefully the PMA has benefited from the Pilates-pro post. AASI hopes that the PMA will:....
2) Clear up current incongruencies (this includes asking current members to adhere to policies and nomenclature)...."

I look forward to a resolution toward a common language concerning this issue (and others) in our community to the benefit of the public. I hope that everyone in the greater community will get involved.

-Carole : )

PTs on PPro continued....

2009-06-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

My response to Jessica regarding her 6/24/09 post (below under PS) on p.2 of the Pilates Pro post Pilates On Call: Core Conditioning PTs:

Simply stated: Consider that the topic of treating "injuries" requires us to first acknowledge which paradigm we are working under as "pilates" teachers.

It is not about being "at a higher level." The PT perspective is only a different "level," and I don't believe that "level" is even an appropriate word to use here.

The PT model, IMHO, is not a model that includes or even understands what I would consider to be "the basics of Pilates." It is clear that you have no idea what I am talking about, Jessica, and your post makes very clear the direction in which some pilates teachers are being trained these days.

It won't last, or even better, it will progress, if I have anything to say or do about it.

It is easy to hide behind anonymity, isn't it? I am so glad to have met some wonderful people lately who are interested in an actual conversation and who get the essence of pilates. I'd be happy to give you my view, Jessica. Or, for starters, I could just direct you to JHPilates' books. If you've been through a reputable training, you should have read them, but it doesn't sound like you have.

Have a good day everybody! Keep the faith....

Carole : )

PS Here is Jessica's Comment:

Hi Ladies, thank you all the hard work you've put into these posts, the amount of detail and specificity shows clearly how dedicated you are to getting information out to the Pilates community. I don't have a question, I really just wanted to comment to those people who have posted regarding scope of practice and the whole "fundamentals of core stability" discussion. This is supposed to be a forum for Pilates professionals who are looking for information about specific body conditions and ways to help clients. I think that there is a basic understanding that we all (should) share, thus allowing the discussion to be at a higher level. The Core ladies did not agree to write a column on "the basics of Pilates."* If someone doesn't understand those basics, they should be pursuing their education elsewhere. I think the ladies indicated that very politely, but there was some definite hostility which is very unbecoming in this forum. Likewise, any good Pilates instructor knows that if a client comes in with severe problems, that client should be referred to a medical professional. No one wants to cause injury or exacerbate existing problems. However, within the scope of many of our practices we get clients who have been discharged from physical therapy or referred to pilates by their physicians. We cannot treat them the same as all other clients,** therefore we need to expand our understandings of the human body with each new client and condition.
I feel like this month's Pilates on call has included a lot of judgmental postings that don't show appreciation for how intelligent the experts are and how much they are trying to help. I just wanted to let them know how much the rest of us appreciate their contributions.

June 24, 2009 | Jessica

*Actually, Jessica, yes, they did agree to that:

Hi Carole,
The information in this forum is designed to answer troubleshooting-based questions for Pilates professionals and THEIR understanding of the concepts of Pilates in the most basic form. I will add that the general public may educate themselves on the basic fundamentals of core stability via the internet or professionals in their area.

Thanks,
Dawn-Marie, Allyson, Gabrielle June 11, 2009 | Core Conditioning

**And actually, Jessica, yes, you can, and I do!

PPS I also left an update yesterday under The PTs on Pilates Pro or............................

Jean-Claude : )

2009-06-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

click here Jean-Claude's website

Last Tuesday in particular was a decidedly pilatical day, but the week progressed and unwound. I did take time to have brunch with my son this am, went back to work thereafter, and the plans smoothed out by this afternoon. I'm seeing fairly clearly now how it might all go and feeling some relief. There was enough light left to grab a take-out from the Market, meet Jeff, and go to take a walk with the doggies. Lovely as usual to sit by the falls on the old carved-up bench at Cascade.

I was just coming back from the outing and I was thinking what a cosmic day it had been, when "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel came on the radio. As I'm driving out of Mill Valley, I pass the old Jennie Lowe's and not ten feet from my car was our Jean-Claude, out and about using his walker. As many may know, last fall, he had a biking accident that triggered a pre-condition and it left him paralyzed. Thank God for miracles. : ) J-C has touched so many lives (two who've come up in conversation this week...Irene Dowd and Mary Bowen). I keep up with the news from several of his friends who come to see Jeff. I still think it so amazing that J-C and I ended up in the same town. We have lived parallel lives since we met years ago at an exclusive gym on the east side of New York City. ~sigh~Life. I wonder if we're meant to cross paths again....

Just then, I passed a woman from my Sunday evening group. I am constantly reminded of how blessed and connected we all are, even when we are out on a limb, hanging on for dear life. Faith. We all have our awakenings...one way or another. : )

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill /I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still /Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe /Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve /Had to listen had no choice
I did not believe the information /I just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom boom
"Son," he said "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."

To keep in silence I resigned /My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine /Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day /Tho' my life was in a rut
'til I thought of what I'd say /Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery /I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" he said "Grab your things, I've come to take you home."

When illusion spin her net /I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette /When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouette /Who close their eyes but still can see

No one taught them etiquette /I will show another me

Today I don't need a replacement /I'll show them what the smile on my face meant

My heart going boom boom boom
"Son" he said "Grab your things, I've come to take you home.

I'll soon be home...I'll soon be home...I'll soon be home....

Funny Bones

2009-06-19T06:16:00.000-07:00

This one goes out to our dear Mary Bowen:

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Carl Jung: The confluence of events in the cultural gestalt necessitated that individual chickens cross roads at this historical juncture, and therefore synchronously brought such occurrences into being.

You say An-at-omy, I say A-not-omy...

2009-06-14T05:53:00.000-07:00

There is a terrific discussion on the PCDB called Start of a Session/Warming-up. Please check it out.

UPDATE: 6-17-09
So much is happening right now. I took a break and even closed down my blogs for a day, yesterday. Over the next few days, I will write a chronology of the PCDB posts, Here's the last one that I posted under the "I Like It Here" post (see links at page bottom and read the entire thread):

I prefer to look at PPro (let's name it straight out, OK?) as a good idea with limited options; it's really only a blog, not a forum. This site has amazing capabilities due to the hard work and vision of Tom and his crew. I am happy to have found it.

However, that doesn't make me any less appreciative of PPro or upset at all about my process there. Those of us who have been in the business a long time see what is coming legislative front and we are passionate about building a future that means something for all teachers who have been touched by pilates. That includes the people on this site, whether you'd like to include yourselves or not.

We may disagree, very strongly, in fact, but I know my peers and their love for pilates. The post I began did inspire honest communication and I hope we will look back on it someday and see that it did some good. I also need to note that some voices were present on PPro who were not pilates teachers, which was confusing and at times very challenging at this point in our profession when we are still not all on the same page. Another reason why we need to at least support each other, because outside forces will and should have their say and we must be ready with intelligent answers.

It's easy, I guess, to go about your day unencumbered by thoughts of how your profession is making its way into the mainstream. Lucky you! I'm glad that you can all do the usual compare and contrast here that is a necessary part of finding your place. You don't need to be a part of the "pilatical" process, but I would hope that responsible teachers will at some point want to start at least opening their eyes and ears to what's going on in what I what I call the Macro Professional Environment. Naming it that was part of my process and not done in a vacuum....just as you all are having your conversations, there are others going on as well.

I don't mean to interrupt with pilatical issues, but there it is. It was worth posting to me...I always ask myself if it's really something I need to say. I tried a different approach on my earlier post...oh well.
I am taking a break for a bit. Bye for now.
Take care and Good luck to all. : )

The PTs on Pilates Pro or................................ Another Good Reason to Meditate

2009-06-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

Regarding Pilates On Call: Core Conditioning PTs on Pilates Pro:

Can I say

CART BEFORE THE HORSE

any louder

and still not be heard????

Please look up ASSUMPTION in the dictionary. And, while you are at it, look up JUDGMENT.

Enough said.

~sigh~

Have a nice day : )

UPDATE (later on in the day): OK, so, I had put this under comment #1, because I really don't want to give it energy, but it actually deserves front and center attention. Here's what I'm referring to:

Core Conditioning writes to Anne:
"Reiterate frequently to your client that the fundamentals of core stability will support his body's spinal integrity and are the foundation of what high-level athletes need to have to be truly effective at whatever endeavor they pursue."

To the experts:

I am just curious to know if you all believe that the "fundamentals of core stability" of which you speak are universally known and agreed-upon in the pilates professional community; that is, that the underlying assumptions of your approach need not be at least briefly acknowledged first (as Pilates Pro is a public forum)?

I look forward to your insights.
Thanks,
Carole Amend
June 10, 2009 | Carole Amend

Hi Carole,
The information in this forum is designed to answer troubleshooting-based questions for Pilates professionals and THEIR understanding of the concepts of Pilates in the most basic form. I will add that the general public may educate themselves on the basic fundamentals of core stability via the internet or professionals in their area.

Thanks,
Dawn-Marie, Allyson, Gabrielle
June 11, 2009 | Core Conditioning

Hi Dawn-Marie, Allyson, Gabrielle,

Yes, I am aware this is for Pilates professionals, but professionals of ALL kinds.
Therefore, I asked about the underlying ASSUMPTIONS of YOUR work. You are all Physical Therapists.

Most pilates teachers are probably not, and I wouldn't want the public to be led to think that this is necessary, nor would I want people to believe that pilates concepts were the same as basic fundamentals of core stability you can find on the internet (although that's also helpful). I believe the two are different. Just my two cents.

Thanks,
Carole
June 11, 2009 | Carole Amend

Oh, how I wish that people could just answer the question posed. Apparently, there is a huge assumption in the PT model of pilates that scope of practice issues have all been worked out. From where I sit, they have not.

This month will be quite a meditation for me, as a pilates teacher who knows that the PT version of pilates is vastly different from the perspective to which I attend on a daily basis.

To discerning minds, there is an alternate way than that being expressed on Pilates Pro by the so-called "experts." Please note: I said another way. "Experts" tend to think their way is the only way. I think it should be stated up front that there are other ways, however, I guess this an unfair expectation on my part, since the PT-Powers-that-be have yet to acknowledge that there just might be another viewpoint that's viable.

Or will they say, well, sure, this is just our viewpoint...doesn't that go without saying?

From where I sit, it does not.

I think JHP is "churning in his urn" (a phrase coined by Siri Galliano).

Be Still and Know. Breathe.

UPDATE: 6-12-09
Wow. That was fast! Joe can rest easy. At least there's hope for some communication.

They answered (OK, so they didn't answer me directly or fully, whatever, it's a start...)! Here's the Q&A:

[Question:]
I am not a professional but love pilates and some yoga. I've also had a few rounds of physical therapy in my life. Why are we, the public, seeing more integration of PT exercises with Pilates rather than Yoga? Just curious.

Amy

Hi Amy,

Pilates encompasses the fundamentals of physical therapy of core stabilization. As much as some of the exercises have choreography that can potentially be harmful to some diagnoses, the basic concept of pelvic and scapula stability for distal mobility is inherent in the work. Yoga tends to lean more toward end range movements and stretching (dura mater as well as muscles) - which is also an important aspect for overall health, but is more likely to flare up some of the basic diagnoses we see in the rehabilitation world.

Thanks,
Dawn-Marie, Allyson and Gabrielle

June 11, 2009 | Core Conditioning

Core Conditioning states to Amy:
"Pilates encompasses the fundamentals of physical therapy of core stabilization. As much as some of the exercises have choreography that can potentially be harmful to some diagnoses, the basic concept of pelvic and scapula stability for distal mobility is inherent in the work. Yoga tends to lean more toward end range movements and stretching (dura mater as well as muscles) - which is also an important aspect for overall health, but is more likely to flare up some of the basic diagnoses we see in the rehabilitation world."

Hi Dawn-Marie, Allyson and Gabrielle,

And therein you state the underlying assumptions with respect to pilates from your vantage point as physical therapists. Thank you answering my question and thanks to Amy, too, for posing the question in a better way.

Best wishes and thank you for your work!

Carole :)

June 12, 2009 |Carole Amend

That works for me!
It's great when people just say what they do, isn't it?
And btw, I have a different view.
And it's all good.

UPDATE: 6-13-09
Please read comments #1-6 below. I just mentioned this post on the PCDB (see Start of a Session/Warming up below). Hierarchy exists on both sides of the fence, but I believe the classical side is inherently geared towards autonomy of the client and is moving in the direction of community cooperation. Still, the classical view's "training mode" can be mistaken for expert stance. Stay tuned....

UPDATE: 6-14-09
I received an email from Amy Leibrock with a forwarded message for me from the Core Conditioning PTs.
I thought that their answer to Amy was sufficient, but, suffice it to say, for now, that the forwarded message was a "gift."
It's still all good, however, the "gift" has given me another reason to meditate.

And the beat goes on....

UPDATE: 6-24-09
Ok, I've just read the PPro post. ~sigh~
To Jessica:
I sincerely believe that your comments are misdirected and misconstrued.
No one is putting down the PTs' knowledge or expertise; I simply was asking for the distinction to be made regarding the PT perspective on pilates and the inherent assumptions (which, btw, they did not fully answer), in order to be fair to all pilates teachers.

FACT: We have no consensus on scope of practice. Period.

Furthermore: If the PT perspective continues to pervade the profession, you can bet that I will continue to speak out.

The questions posed to the PTs speak worlds about how pilates is being taught these days, and I, for one, can tell you, that there is a large sector of the pilates community that adheres to a "different" viewpoint. I speak from a position of nearly 30 years in the profession, however, one need not be teaching that long to understand what I am saying.
This "different" viewpoint has to do with one's approach to LIFE ITSELF!

Suffice it to say this: IMHO, from "another" viewpoint, I speak specifically concerning the usage of the apparatus and approach towards the exercises,

Cueing for therapeutic reasons equals
Cueing for high performance

Think about it.

UPDATE: 6-25-09

I wrote a response to Jessica this am and posted the following link on Pilates Pro: PTs on PPro continued....

I responded privately (cc: Amy) to the forwarded message (see 6-14-09 UPDATE) from the PTs. I was informed by Amy that they are too busy to respond. I guess it's a good thing because we can now continue to hear-from commenters like Jessica and Kathy-how the PT perspective has pervaded the profession. I was apparently too hopeful to think that a simple admission from the PTs about the underlying assumptions of their work is all that is needed. It seems that the PTs actually believe that their perspective is the only perspective (I wonder if they can step out of their model for even a second to see that other viewpoints exist) and they believe it is superior to boot. Therefore, they don't have time to "educate" someone like me, who obviously cannot grok what they are saying (so they think).

Not only do I get it, but I am well-studied and have subsequently rejected the PT stance (when it comes to pilates) for my own life and for the lives and spirits of my clients and students. A long time ago, I chose to teach pilates in its fullest form, dynamic, and spirit. For that, I need not be a PT, and I do not need to ask their advice on what to do when clients have issues. I don't mind hearing their language or viewpoint and it is obvious that there are those who need it and value it; however, it is not the language of the perspective of JHPilates as I understand it.

Assumptions by definition are not truths, ladies. Amazing!

Merce Cunningham Sets Plan for His Dance Legacy

2009-06-10T05:59:00.001-07:00

Click entry title for NYT link

A Juilliard classmate of mine put this NYT article up on Facebook today. Definitely a must read.

"The plan is Mr. Cunningham’s effort to confront the vexing problem of how choreography created by a lone master and interpreted by a dedicated company should be treated once the master has died. He turned 90 on April 16."

"At the least, it should help Mr. Cunningham’s body of work avoid the ugliness that surrounded the legacy of Martha Graham (who gave Mr. Cunningham his start in dance) after her death in 1991. The Graham foundation fought a bitter legal battle with Ron Protas, Ms. Graham’s heir, over rights to her ballets and was eventually awarded most of them."

Sound familiar? That story was all over the news a few years back. Amazing, that idea of "ownership." It's so interesting to me to ponder what must motivate people to choose that way of thinking.

" 'It’s really a concern about how do you preserve the elements of an art which is really evanescent, which is really like water,' Mr. Cunningham said in an interview last week. 'It can disappear. This is a way of keeping it — at least with our experience here — of keeping it alive.' "

Dance history offers us so much in terms of understanding style and its grip, its allure.

"That is the plan, he acknowledged. 'But I hope that in its own way it can go on,' he said. 'I’m under no illusions about things not changing. I would like it mostly if the ideas we explored were continued, not only with the present people but with other companies.' "

I take that as an implication that, in the end, we all realize that Life itself was just an idea.

Works for me.

What's New

2009-06-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

The AASI Online Forum! (Also see page bottom under Forums Mentioned)

AASI Online now has a new home on the PCDB Trainers' Discussion Forum. Many, many thanks go out the Tom Floyd and all the readers and participants on the PCBD Forum.

Tom set it up on Saturday, June 6th. And I have just posted the welcome statement today.

Thank you, thank you, to all of you who have given feedback and participated in AASI conversations thus far. Let's keep moving!

Have a great day!
Carole : )

Love is the sweet surprise.
Peacekeeper
by Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac

We make all of our suns the same
Every one will suffer the fire we've made
They all explode just the same
And there's no going back on the plans we've LAID

Peacekeeper take your time
Wait for the dark of night
Soon all the suns will rise
Peacekeeper don't tell why
Don't be afraid to fight
Love is the sweet surprise

Only creatures who are on their way
Ever poison their own well
But we still have time to hate
And there's still something we can sell

Peacekeeper take your time....

When the night is cold and still
When you thought you'd had your fill
Take all the time you will
This is not a test, it's not a drill
Take no prisoners, (break their will)

You know all of our friends are gods
And they all tell us how to paint our face
But there's only one brush we need
It's the one that never leaves a trace

Peacekeeper take your time....

Peacekeeper take your time....

When the night is cold and still
When you thought you'd had your fill
This is not a test, it's not a drill
Take no prisoners, (break their will)

Welcome to my world

2009-06-06T04:08:00.000-07:00

From yesterday's "Romana's Pilates, Certified by Roma's Pilates" post under Pilates Certification on the PCDB yesterday:

AASI (that's me) writes:

QUOTE (Siri Galliano @ Jun 4 2009, 06:43 PM)
I have been teaching in the local high school for 10 years. today was exhausting, as usual, 55 kids, but there was a substitute teacher(I am a guest and dont have a teaching degree) I suggested to her she get certified in the mat, though, the answer to teaching in the school system(I know Kevin Bowen who stepped down from the PMA said it was his vision, Joe said it was his vision, if you ever read Hitler, it was also HIS vision) is to train educational teachers in Pilates so they can offer it as an elective or P.E. alternative. END QUOTE

This is a ways away from the original post...sorry, but couldn't let this one go....please let's not have any confusion around common visions!

As a daughter(paternal) and grandaughter(maternal) of German immigrants, I just need to comment: Would it be too much to ask if you could refrain from using the two names in the same sentence? It would be a shame if pilates had to answer to any more scrutiny that is based on misinformation (we have enough of that to deal with). Not all are aware that JHP left Germany in the early-mid 1920's.

Thanks : ) Carole

This from the Associated Press just yesterday(no longer available):

...Obama became the first U.S. president to visit the Buchenwald concentration camp.

...Earlier in Dresden alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama pressed for progress toward Mideast peace. The U.S. "can't force peace upon the parties," he said, but America has "at least created the space, the atmosphere, in which talks can restart."

And a video from the New York Times:

"Buchenwald teaches us that we must be ever-vigilant about the spread of evil in our own time, that we must reject the false comfort that others' suffering is not our problem, and commit ourselves to resisting those who would subjugate others to serve their own interests," Obama said.

From today's : Review of Peter Fiasca's "Discovering Pure Classical Pilates" Post on the PCDB:

AASI writes:

QUOTE (Siri Galliano @ Jun 4 2009, 09:20 PM) So at least we are talking about something new and stimulating, other than neutral spine or traditional vs contemporary! END QUOTE

It's only my opinion, however, I happen to think that the discussions around neutral spine and trad vs contemp are very necessary. The "classical" form could use a more detailed explanation, imho. And I find that conversation quite stimulating and it would be new to most reading this. (end post)

To comment on the above: I am sure there are more than a few classical teachers whose students/clients jokingly called the style, "Nazi Pilates," no? Here's the beginning of a different definition from me:

From today's "I Like It Here" Post on the PCDB:

AASI writes:

What pilates is: Primary physical support for all faculties.

The amazing thing about pilates is that it is a neutral, external source for feedback of what is happening internally. However,

What pilates is not: A religion.

Religions claim "the" way. The body has many ways.

I am always so happy when people are no longer fooled into thinking that there is something to compare, something to claim as better than. There is only preference, and preference is a physical reality inside of mental limits, self-imposed or otherwise. No more, no less.

Peace,
Carole Amend (end post)

Understanding what Rathbone Patterns are all about helps with understanding style and preference, which would help us to appreciate the different approaches and applications of pilates. The (almost religious) debates over neutral spine/pelvis and traditional vs contemporary will not end until we realize that it is not a question of a "right" or "wrong" way.

Lastly, I was watching “Charmed” yesterday. I’m a big fan. It was the one where Leo wants to tell Piper that he’s an avatar, but he is warned not to. The Avatars think they have the way to creating a demon-free society; along with that awareness comes the knowledge that if they try to tell people that they have “the” way that they are going to be in for a range of resistance from people.

So, Leo tells Piper, and she’s skeptical at first, but comes around to attempting to listen to him. However, she also, in her doubtful moments, says to others, “Leo’s an avatar” in a way that breeds contempt from disbelievers. The amount of disbelief ranges from non-emotional to the desire to kill Leo (as in kill the “messenger”). In the end, someone tries to kill Leo, but, of course, the avatars save him, time is turned back to before Leo told Piper, they go back to their lives of good/evil duality, and everybody’s happy.

The questions remain: Do people want to know about Rathbone? Do they care about how pilates is perceived by the public and the cooperative networks? Do they want a real conversation with fellow teachers on the issues that face us or will they continue to allow, coax, or even force those competitive wheels to keep spinning?

Welcome to my world.

Dealing with duality is an inside job. -Carole

IDEA Fitness Journal Misquoted: The Bar Method vs. Pilates?

2009-05-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

Lee Artur has debunked another misrepresentation of pilates via a quote out of context, this time one made by The Bar Method's Burr Leonard about an article in the Nov-Dec 2005 IDEA Fitness Journal.

See the statement at the end of Leonard's blog entry entitled "What's Wrong With Pilates" (second to last paragraph).

Then click here to go to the PCDB to read LAville's comment from today, 5-28-09, in The Bar Method/Dailey Method discussion.

Re: "Crash Course for personal trainers" Post on PCDB

2009-05-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

Click entry title for link to PCDB.

by Lee Artur (for AASI)

When I began my career in fitness in 1981, it was during the heady days of the Jane Fonda workout, Joanie Greggains, and the 20 minute workout, where 4 sexy vixens jumped around performing wild donkey kicks and doggie hydrants that were accepted back then as exercise. In 1982, Kathy Davis and her husband Peter founded IDEA, The International Dance Exercise Association, in an effort to professionalize a burgeoning health/fitness industry that was like the Wild West in those days. There were no certifications available and most of the instructors were either dancers (if you were lucky), or moms who took a couple of classes in Jazzercise and started up an exercise class in the local church basement, or, worse yet, Slimnastics instructors, whose flailing limbs could take your eye out. The WMCA did train their instructors, though, and that program was nationally based.

In 1985-86, IDEA presented the first organized National Exercise Instructor certification test (ACE was founded later). It was to be the gold standard, the "PMA of its day," with no practical application necessary to pass. Prior to this, the only place offering Exercise Group Instructor training and certification was The Kenneth Cooper Research Institute in Dallas, Texas, however, it required a trip to the Institute in Dallas for at least one week of training before you could take the test and it was very expensive.

Within the next few years, AFFA came out with a test and certification process that actually required a practical test. By this time, the Personal Trainer branch had sprouted from the Group Exercise tree, so along came ACSM. ACSM was supposed to be the real gold standard of knowledge, but wait…here comes NSCA, that wanted to set itself apart as the ultimate gold standard. A college degree was required to take the NSCA test, however, the degree was just for show, as it did not have to be a degree in “Exercise Science”; any ole degree would do. So, we had English Majors who liked to lift weights becoming personal trainers (but as least they could spell). None of these organizations required prior training to take the exams and few required a practical test to pass. Although some did offer a one or two day workshop, attending was not required to take the test.

Here is a quote from David Herbert J.D. Senior partner of Herbert and Benson, Attorneys at Law. You can find it at here under Press Releases: “Certification Myth vs. Fiction”:

“The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) began (an) effort some years ago when it first developed and published its standards of practice, see, http://www.nsca-lift.org/Publications/standards.shtml. IHRSA, the American Heart Association (AHA) with ACSM, the Medical Fitness Association (MFA) and others have all similarly engaged in some standards development. Each of the foregoing efforts however, to one degree or another has not resulted in a consistent, uniform expression of the standard of care to be expected from and delivered by personal fitness trainers.

It is hoped that the effort now being undertaken by the NBFE* will result in a uniform, national standards statement which can be used and applied in a very consistent way not only to test the qualifications of various fitness professionals, starting with personal fitness trainers, but also to be used as a benchmark for expected service delivery by such professionals.”

(*National Board of Fitness Examiners)

After 30 years and all the legal mumbo jumbo, the fitness industry is still rife with no real standards. Weekend certifications abound, spewing out Personal Trainers and Fitness Instructors by the dozens because that’s where the money is to be made. I fear that this is where the Pilates profession is heading as we merge with and become more like Group Fitness, rather than a unique and specialized field that is an entity unto itself.

There is nothing wrong with having to or wanting to answer to a higher standard of training. If there is a national test, however, it should be developed by an elected group of our peers, who are working for the betterment of our profession, not a (for all intents and purposes) self-appointed board looking to forward to their own agenda and the benefits of their own interests. The fact that the PMA may have had good intentions at the inception of the organization has been overshadowed by what they have not done for us and how they are trying to move us toward a myopic interpretation of what we should or shouldn’t know and/or teach as instructors of this method.

It was a community effort that resulted in the landmark lawsuit that took the name rights away from one individual, who tried to enforce a strict code of who could or could not claim to be a Pilates Instructor. The PMA was formed on the tails of winning the lawsuit, and it was in a position to do better things for an industry that was bound to expand due to the release of the name “pilates” into the public domain. However, the PMA has done nothing except to rewrite the rules. So, it’s ironic that after all the money and aggravation of the lawsuit, in reality nothing has changed, except that now it’s an organization (not just one individual) that decides who is worthy. And being worthy depends on two things: 1) if you subscribe to their ideas by paying money to take their test, or 2) if you are an esteemed first or second generation teacher, with a big following, who will draw paying participants to the annual conventions.

“If Joe and Clara were alive today they'd be aghast at the myriad of mat classes being taught by inexperienced teachers and the collectivized group reformer classes. These diminish what Pilates essentially was and still is. Pilates is primarily and exquisitely one to one, in depth, geared to each individual's needs and condition, taking in the whole person, supporting as deep a journey into the body, mind and spirit as each person (teacher and client) is capable of experiencing with room for experimentation, imagination, fantasy, endless inner dialogue and whatever comes up in teaching and learning. There is plenty of room for creative expression. Pilates as an education is even more so now as biomechanical knowledge has joined and integrated with it.”

Mary Bowen
(in response to an article that appeared in the New York Times about Pilates)

As a professional group of our stature, we should strive for a universally accepted standard for communicating, so that we can all translate our words into a movement language that is a shared experience between the instructor and client, no matter what school or training program we attended. The PMA Certification Exam has not addressed this issue. We will address it by striving for a collective mindset to work toward a higher degree of education and training. We need to produce viable information forums for instructors, creating a better way for understanding each other, as well as uniting movement education with the advancements in technology and science that are available today, as Mary Bowen said “ Pilates as an education is even more so with all the biomechanical knowledge that has joined and integrated with it.”

My Heroes

2009-05-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

I see nurses and doctors, therapists, dancers, teachers, consultants, spiritual counselors, bodyworkers, and pilates teachers....we are all answering the needs of the body, and the call of the spirit.

From a distance, I see people helping other people
move and breathe and converse and love.

To all my Somatic Integration Heroes: Joe, Milton, all my teachers, and all the dancers who have passed,

Happy Memorial Day!

Here's Bette in honor of those who have gone before us:

From a Distance

2009-05-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

The following is excerpted from the discussion on PCDB on Apprenticeship under Pilates Certifications.

Posted by AASI on May 22:

At Anderson/Kasakove, we had NYC ballet dancers in full leg casts and clients who had suffered polio next to each other, going for the same moves because we finessed the alignment and support appropriately.

Pilates is, among other things, about how the weight of the limbs challenges the torso. Everyone talks about how pilates is about the core, however, on the apparatus, it is primarily a peripheral exercise, i.e. feet and hands in straps or on the bar. The torso self-organizes, and that means that the spine finds balance/strength/weight as the hips and shoulders release and fall into place as directed by the hands and feet. This is to prepare the body as it learns opposition for mat exercises.

...The pilates apparatus should actually be too heavy to do some site-specific rehab. That's why the apparatus has changed over the years, in my opinion....

Posted by AASI on May 23:

So, you both bring up the idea that site or spot specific is possible with the pilates apparatus (different styles have been manufactured). I also hear your concerns about safely progressing clients. I also hear the concern to not injure clients in the first place. I do understand the option of lighter springs and their use, both to make exercises easier as well as more difficult.

I would attempt to make several distinctions, however, by posing a question: How do you define pilates, then: if you are using the apparatus, then you are doing pilates?

(This is a huge issue as it touches upon how we treat fellow professionals and thereby market our services to the public-at-large. You know by now that is my bent when speaking with instructors. : )

Posted by AASI today:

Throw away the words "classical" and "contemporary" and the separatist viewpoint. These words are a set-up, defined by people who were more interested in how to market services to prospective teachers to get them into their programs than come to agreement on what is important to teach in them. That is PMA history, unfortunately (make it a capital U). There was no need to call it "classical" pilates before the "contemporary" came alone. This was more about separating people because of ego not ideology.

Pilates is still pilates and those in power love it when the public is scared of something or is made to feel that they need to be wary of something. Think about it. That's ego. That's marketing.

Both "sides" are now resorting to this.

How can a new prospective teacher possibly tell the difference in what they are going to learn in a program? It's verbiage. And there are excellent and sub-optimal teachers in every training. And some only have the option of what's closest in proximity or price range.

For the most part, every training knows what the apparatus exercises are, call them what you will--that's mostly agreed upon (which is the amazing testimony to the work itself). For the most part, it is "somewhat obvious' where the body is moving on particular exercises and where it is stable in any training. However, there are many things to focus on at any given moment during an exercise.

We all teach on the apparatus. The question is "how do we teach?" (And part of that actually has quite a bit to do with the apparatus and how it was manufactured; the profession is moving in its current direction because of this.)
The question is not how many hours you did in an apprenticeship, but what were you made to see, think, feel, sensate, observe, ponder, resolve....

And another post today:

Unity doesn't mean that everyone is/does the same thing.
This site is already unity in action, am I right?
Unity is about a common interest, goal, or vision.
Unity is about translation, not labeling.
Unity is about having enough insight or at least the simple courtesy to make distinctions rather than naming "disagreements" outright (there is another word to throw out save for very specific instances that have to do with safety, for one thing).

Unity is seeing things from a distance, and, from a distance, all I see are people helping other people move using this amazing apparatus and performing these integrative forms.
(Can you hear Bette Midler?: )

The answers are in the dynamics of the body, human relationship, and language usage.

UPDATE: 5-29-09
The discussion continues as of today.
So much to discuss in this post in terms of AIM. What is clear to me is that "contemporary" and "classical" styles are splitting fundamental hairs at the moment. There are way more similarities than differences from my vantage point. There is more to the full potential of the CNS than meets the eye. To me, pilates "evolved" is more than modifying the exercises or teaching anatomy, and if the original form and dynamics are not in the game plan at some point, then we have to call it something other than pilates.

We Can Work It Out

2009-05-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

We Can Work It Out
by The Beatles

Try to see it my way,
Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?
While you see it your way,
Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.

Think of what you're saying.
You can get it wrong and still you think that it's alright.
Think of what I'm saying,
We can work it out and get it straight, or say good night.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.

Life is very short, and there's no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend.
I have always thought that it's a crime,
So I will ask you once again.

Try to see it my way,
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong.
While you see it your way
There's a chance that we may fall apart before too long.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.

Life is very short, and there's no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend.
I have always thought that it's a crime,
So I will ask you once again.

Try to see it my way,
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong.
While you see it your way
There's a chance that we may fall apart before too long.
We can work it out,
We can work it out.

Photo: found on http://www.blogotop.com/Beatles

What's New

2009-05-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

The UPC Website Forum, that's what! Cheers and thanks to the UPC!

The UPC will be providing a Forum for the Committees, which is way better than what I could accomplish on the AASI Online Blog. It will be implemented soon. I'll keep you posted.

This blog will continue to provide a critical view of the happenings in our community, so that AASI Online can focus on providing information that will unite the greater pilates community and its cooperative networks. Once the UPC Forum gets rolling, I'll have lots of info to share, so sign up to be a member and participate in the Client Care Committee.

Notice that I have changed the tagline for this blog from "Free Gatherings. Education. Articles....with a scoop of pilatics" to "Embodiment News, Reviews, & Events...with a scoop of pilatics." The AASI website may once again evolve if/when the demand for education increases. Right now, it's one foot in front of the other....

On another Note:
Readers can check out the post on PCDB that discusses the topic of BREATHING re: Fiasca's new book (click the entry title for link or Forums Mentioned below).

PS Happy 80th Birthday to my Dad!!! XO

The UPC Client Care Committee Blog Begins

2009-05-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

Click on entry title for link

The UNITED PILATES COLLECTIVE is unique in that it is neither a governing nor a certifying body. UPC meetings are open to all. The UPC's cultural values of inclusivity, strength in numbers, and information sharing indicate its acknowledgment of the reality that no organization exists in a vacuum. Its dedication to all pilates teachers, providing business services as well as an inclusive, neutral environment for professional dialogue, has renewed my faith in the possibility of a diverse, yet unified pilates community. A unified pilates community means greater benefit to the public through pilates! In this way, AIM Academy for Somatic Integration and the UPC are mutually supportive organizations.

I proposed this collective endeavor to support and encourage community fellowship through conversation and cooperation between pilates teachers on a favorite topic: our clients! The UPC Client Care Committee will serve to organize, compile, and share information and inspiration of all kinds, on all levels of the client/teacher experience, from all styles of pilates practice. The UPC offers members a chance to participate in the CCC's online theoretical discussions as well as free gatherings for physical practice for all pilates professionals, members or not. I invite anyone interested, including those in the Greater Pilates Community, to share their time and talents towards further defining/developing the vision.

We are just in the beginning stages and the tasks necessary for advancement of the conversations will become evident as we come together. I will soon propose a date and time for an AASI (we say AIM Academy) Free Gathering, open to all, specifically geared towards the topic of client care and to organizing the CCC to serve both the UPC and Greater Pilates Community. I look forward to facilitating the group towards our common needs and goals as teachers to benefit our clients, thereby defining the UPC CCC's vision and mission. Until then, please bookmark the UPC CCC Blog.

Many thanks,
Carole

Book Review: Peter Fiasca's New Book

2009-05-02T06:58:00.000-07:00

I just received Peter Fiasca’s book, Discovering Pure Classical Pilates, Theory and Practice as Joseph Pilates Intended/The Traditional Method vs, The Lies for Sale on Tuesday. In short, I would absolutely recommend buying the book, as I am a proponent of keeping the original pilates forms and dynamics alive and informing the public about the rewards brought on by pilates practice. It is definitely a great attempt at beginning to articulate the traditional method.

There is a Review and discussion on the PCDB begun by Tom Floyd (click on entry title for link). I appreciate Tom’s review, summarizing the main important points, so please have a look. I’ll add a few comments that are near and dear to my heart as they address issues pertinent to our profession at this stage in its development.

I agreed with much of what Peter stated about “flat back.” He states, “…when reading Joseph Pilates’ book, it is crucial to correctly interpret his phrasing.” An emphatic YES to that! As you know from reading this blog, there was an article on Pilates Pro on Yoga and Pilates (See link below under Forums Mentioned). J.H. Pilates was misquoted in that article, and the discussion which followed shows that this topic is widely misunderstood in our community. I think that the info in Peter's book is a wonderful start/base to that “debate.”

It’s interesting to see Peter’s take on “derivations” to the traditional method. He labeled that chapter “the Great Decline.” Understanding those derivations (btw, I like that word) and integrating helpful concepts, while not diluting the method is what much of my work has been about over the last 17 years, beginning when I moved from New York/Princeton to California. I am using this blog to relate those ideas.

There is also discussion about gender imbalance in our profession today. Most teachers of the method are women. It’s interesting to note, though, that four of the “Big 5”, that is, Stott, Peak, Power, Balanced Body, and BASI, are male run (and now Peak has been acquired by the male run SPIN Fitness). Hmmm....

Peter suggests “It will be instrumental for Pure Classical Pilates instructors to play an active role in legislative initiatives that seek to limit, or protect, our practice and livelihood.” Absolutely. In fact, I feel every teacher ought to be in the know about these issues. Again, readers of this blog are no strangers to my views on that (see Forums Mentioned below on the PMA Exam and NJ Bill and related entries under Labels).

Peter proposes a Code of Ethics, which he states, is “…a beginning point for instructors, to discuss the merits and limitations of these conditions and refine the concepts over time.” (p.173) Terrific.

The mind aspect of the body/mind inquiry has been a major part of my work. So, lastly, regarding the Body and Mind chapter where Peter writes about psychology and pilates, I wish to recognize that just as physical derivations have “diluted pilates,” it is also important to understand and begin debate on J.H.Pilates’ idea of mental conditioning. I think that Peter’s take on the psychological side could have been an entirely separate book, especially since I am sure that Peter could probably expound more and it would be so helpful, yet perhaps it's not “pure” pilates...?

Get the book. It's a keeper.

UPDATE 5-04-09:
The following is from a comment I made today in the discussion on PCDB
When I started in 1981, the only book available was the Friedman and Eisen. Then, not another book until Siler's in 2000 (Pilates' Return to Life/Your Health were reprinted in 1998, and that was the first time I learned of them). Now there's lots of books on the exercises. This book is more on Peter's take on the theory and history. The reason I think people should read Peter's book is so that we all can discuss it.

For example, I read the section on psychology and pilates and I had to put the book down for a bit... I had a real uncomfortable visceral response, since it does not include most of how I approach pilates. But, I did go back to it, and read it again, and it is helpful in the way that I know what I think about it, what my stand is, and that's a good outcome of being open to other viewpoints. I don't have to agree with him in every instance, and I also don't need to make him wrong. There are clients for whom that approach works.

I do realize that we are in the business of finding body/mind autonomy and it shouldn't matter what others think. However, we are also in a time that writing about what we do is important, if only for crediting sources (which is rarely done in this "business"--when people claim reinvention) and getting the history right. And, as a few commenters mentioned, pilates is still misunderstood. Not surprising, I suppose, when, within our own community, derivations are not seen as progressions with a valid purpose and the derivative methods possibly forget or even fail to understand the original forms and dynamic from which they came and both think they're the best. Then they market their services by creating distinction through competitive comparison rather than by cooperative articulation.

As teachers, we can simply define what we do, regardless of how our initial training programs are marketed/perceived. The PCDB forum and the generosity of spirit there is a testimony to that. As teachers begin to write their experiences in teaching, I think that we will come to a different understanding of the possibilities of pilates practice.

UPDATE: 5-11-09
Make sure you continue reading the post on the PCDB. It's a doozy! I also posted on AASI Online, as it pertains to ethics, a HOT TOPIC, in my opinion.

UPDATE: 5-14-09

The discussion continues. From what I have now both heard from his comments in the discussion and read in his book, perhaps "Fundamental Pilates" is a better term for Mr. Fiasca's approach to the work of J.H.Pilates. He may perform the classic moves, but the approach I would call fundamental, as in elitist when it comes to accepting the views of fellow pilates teachers. Funny how he will interject ideas from other disciplines, but not from other pilates teaching styles. So why is the tagline "as Joseph Pilates Intended"?

UNITED PILATES COLLECTIVE Official Launch

2009-04-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

The UNITED PILATES COLLECTIVE launched this evening in San Francisco. Congratulations and many thanks to UPC founders Nancy Myers and Tracey Sylvester of EHS Pilates in San Francisco on a job well done. A full room at the San Francisco Bay Club, the attendees came from all over the Bay Area, the East Bay, and from down the coast.

Details were given on benefits and insurance packages and committee heads gave updates. Also, the website is now up. It provides info on all of the benefits of membership for professionals. Nancy and Tracey are an awesome team. This is truly a great day for pilates teachers!

The UPC is unique in that it is neither a governing nor a certifying body. UPC meetings are open to all. The UPC's cultural values of inclusivity, strength in numbers, and information sharing indicate its acknowledgment of the reality that no organization exists in a vacuum. Its dedication to all pilates teachers, providing business services as well as an inclusive, neutral environment for professional dialogue, has renewed my faith in the possibility of a diverse, yet unified pilates community. A unified pilates community means greater benefit to the public through pilates!

In this way, AIM Academy for Somatic Integration (AASI) and the UPC are mutually supportive organizations. AASI is a community of dialogue dedicated to the vision of embodiment and societal change inspired by J. H. Pilates and to enhancing communication in the cooperative networks of pilates teachers and enthusiasts everywhere.

I look forward to developing the mission and vision of the Client Care Committee with the help of others in the UPC and the Greater Pilates Community alike, who are passionate about serving the diverse needs and goals of the public through pilates.

Photo credit: http://www.starfleetyachts.com/images/fireworks.jpg

What's New

2009-04-21T05:30:00.001-07:00

Here are recent UPDATES and Edits:

4-19-09 UPDATE PMA Victory? Is that so?

4-14-09 Edited UPC CCC: Worth the Wait

3-29-09, 4-11-09, 4-14-09 UPDATES and comment #6 Chronology of the Pilates Pro Posts

4-6-09 "Boggled" new comments

4-01-09 UPDATE Three Picassos

3-28-09 Four Little Words comment #1

3-28-09 Food for Thought: Supporting the Shift

Funny Bones

2009-04-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Jerry Seinfeld: Why does anyone cross a road? I mean, why doesn't anyone ever think to ask, "What the heck was this chicken doing walking around all over the place, anyway?"

PMA Victory? Is that so?

2009-04-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

Anyone in the market for a Bridge in Brooklyn? (complete with tensegrity! :)

Don't believe everything you read.

The following is an email I received from the PMA's NewsFlash on 04/13/2009:

We've had a victory in New Jersey with regard to the proposed Fitness Professionals Licensing Act!

Dear Carole,
Last week we informed our members about our victory in New Jersey with regard to the proposed Fitness Professionals Licensing Act. This information is so important we wanted to share it with the whole community at large!

The PMA has been very aware of the proposed bill in New Jersey which was designed to license 'fitness professionals'. Unfortunately, the bill included Pilates teachers as a subset of personal trainers and fitness instructors. As the professional association and certification organization for the Pilates Method, we felt it was imperative to respond to this situation. The bill's authors appeared to presume that the body of knowledge and skills of a personal trainer, as well as personal training certification, should be required of New Jersey Pilates teachers. The PMA has been deeply concerned about the negative effect the bill would have on New Jersey Pilates teachers and their clients. We have been encouraging New Jersey-based Pilates teachers to lobby the bill's sponsors, Senator Paul A. Sarlo, and Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. against the passage of this bill.

On March 23, we sent an extensive package of materials to both the Senator and Assemblyman containing the following:

An Issue Brief delineating our key concerns, and identifying key factors in distinguishing Pilates from personal training
The PMA document 'What is Pilates?
The 'PMA Role Delineation Study' conforming to US Department of Labor Standards for job definition and workforce testing that demonstrates the critical differences between personal trainers and PMA Certified Pilates Teachers
PMA Code of Ethics & Scope of Practice
A copy of the proposed Fitness Professionals Licensing Act, with our suggested amendments, in order that they could most easily see where our concerns lay

The great news is that yesterday we spoke to Senator Sarlo's Legislative Director, Kelly McGahn, who said that as a result of all the phone calls and emails they received from New Jersey Pilates teachers, which was followed by the package from the PMA, they have made the decision to remove any mention of Pilates from their bill. They assured us that this would be done, and that the bill would not go through its current form.

Pilates teachers who do not live in New Jersey may be inclined to dismiss this issue. However, it is important to remember that as Pilates continues to permeate mainstream consciousness, and with state and local governments desperate to find ways to bring in revenue, it may be a matter of time until regulation and licensure takes hold somewhere in the U.S. The likelihood is that when a state does eventually establish a license for "Fitness Professionals", it could set a precedent that other states will follow. Therefore it's essential that the PMA, its members, and everyone in our industry respond in unison when these bills are proposed, to protect Pilates teachers and their clients, and to educate those outside our industry about the distinctions between Pilates and other exercise methods. The PMA's psychometrically validated 'Role Delineation Study' is the ultimate way to establish this.

PMA membership dues support our ability to do this essential work on behalf of Pilates teachers and their clients. We invite anyone who is not currently a PMA member to join our industry association, and support this essential work to protect the viability of the Pilates teaching profession.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Anderson
Executive Director

Ok, so, in all that hype, there are two intentional implications and one huge accusation.

1."'The PMA Role Delineation Study' conforming to US Department of Labor Standards for job definition and workforce testing...."
Says who? I am fairly certain that most pilates teachers know that there is no federal standard for pilates instruction. This tricky wording is an implication by the PMA that there is a document somewhere with requirements that they are following, which is false.

"...the ultimate way...."? Basically, the PMA's very expensive Role Delineation Study was compiled by the psychometric analysts hired by the PMA, who interviewed PMA members. Newsflash! The greater pilates community is not part of the PMA membership. There are 49 pilates instructors in New Jersey listed as members of the PMA on their website, of which only 19 are PMA certified, meaning they have taken the PMA Certification Exam. I've stated many times that I do not believe the PMA Exam to be representative of the pilates profession at large.

The reality is that the idea of licensure is a long way away. If that day does ever come, chances are the government (mostly likely a Senator's office or a citizen's organization, not the Department of Labor, which is mostly interested in employer/employee issues) will look to organizations like NOCA, considered the gold standard in accrediting organizations. There is a lot of free info on the NOCA website (see links below). The PMA is only a member of NOCA; anyone can be a member and use NOCA's educational services. The PMA has not met the requirements for NOCA's NCCA accreditation at this time and info on whether the PMA has applied for such is not public. Anyone can file for such an accreditation, in fact, there is another pilates organization that is a NOCA member.

2. It would seem that the PMA is intentionally suggesting that the packet the PMA sent to the Senator's office was, in part, responsible for the amendment. Again, tricky wording. Some have even been led to believe that the amendment was entirely the result of its efforts. Neither is true. I personally spoke (twice) with Kelly McGahn on the phone today and I am relating this to you with her permission.

Ms. McGahn did confirm for me that the Senator's office did indeed produce an amendment to the bill, which removed yoga, martial arts, and pilates from the bill, and that it was a result of all the phone calls they received. However, the phone calls were mostly from yoga teachers and martial artists. Ms. McGahn stated that only a "handful of pilates teachers, ten or less" had actually called the office. Also, the amendment was produced in February, and the PMA sent the packet in March, after the fact.

So, what huge effort was done on the PMA's part? There was no petition by the PMA, signed by its "many" members, was there? And the packet was a month too late!

Basically, the bill was amended on the premise that there is an "artistic quality" (again to quote Ms. McGahn) to the teaching of yoga as opposed to the curricula for personal trainers, and it happens that pilates is the same category as yoga, so they removed pilates as well. The fact that the Committee Chairwoman is a pilates enthusiast also helped.

Ms. McGahn related to me that the PMA is only one of approximately 30,000 (yes that's the correct number of zeros) so-called "certifying" organizations for fitness of which the Senator's office is aware.

3. Lastly, to say that the state and local governments produced the bill because they are "desperate to find ways to bring in revenue" is a huge accusation. In fact, the Senator's office, which is there to serve the constituency by supporting industry standards, was persuaded by that constituency to amend the bill. If anyone could be accused of being desperate for more revenue, and not actually serving the public (let alone of not listening to its membership, and of being unaware of its affect on the greater pilates community), it's the PMA.

Oh, if only the PMA had simply sent out the update and had not claimed credit. But, would it also have foregone the chance to peddle more of its fear-based attitude?

To imply that the "victory" of having pilates removed from the bill was a direct result of the PMA's efforts, calling it "essential work to protect the viability of the Pilates teaching profession," would be a gross exaggeration on both counts, if it were true. But since it is an outright lie used as a marketing scheme to get members, the statement falls clearly under false advertising. And, heck, I might have believed the victory was the PMA's. Good thing I have the essential skill of knowing how to use a telephone.

So, again, please don't believe everything you read.

UPDATE: 4/19/09
See also the link under Forums Mentioned below:
Pilates Pro: New Jersey Strikes Mention of Pilates from Licensure Bill

Funny Bones

2009-04-13T03:56:00.000-07:00

Mother ducks everywhere give thanks!
What else would ensure survival across that busy street?

Have a happy Monday! :-)

Photo source: unknown

UPC CCC: Worth the Wait

2009-04-11T04:18:00.000-07:00

NOTE: The following was written on 3-29-09 and placed under the Chronology of Pilates Pro posts (see LABELS). I have moved it today (and made a few minor edits), since there is a meeting of the UPC committees in San Francisco, and, alas, I am in PA. For those that are interested, I will ask Nancy Myers to direct them to this site, and, in particular this entry. It is a good summary of what has transpired over the last few months on Pilates Pro, where I started The PMA Certifcation Exam Community Post last November. I am sorry that I cannot be there today and that I have not yet been in contact with those who responded to my call for committee participants. I promise to be in touch soon.

When practitioners speak across disciplines, it's helpful if 1) they have a common technical ground and 2) if not a common technical ground, then, at least, a common appreciation for the modality under discussion. Why would a bodyworker consistently question pilates people hoping to either hear the answer in his language or in agreement with his concerns, when his preference for exercise is clearly not pilates? Is there some benefit in considering comments about what we are supposedly doing "wrong"? Actually, YES, in my opinion. Style preference or disturbing tone aside, any modality that cannot meet the concerns of its neighboring disciplines by entering into meaningful conversation is not worth its weight.

I know a bit about this. The fact that the PMA cannot or is unwilling to hear me due to my "tone" or communication style is moot. (That's the way it's put to me. What I truly believe, is that the PMA is only interested in listening to those who will support its viewpoint, which is now misguided and short-sighted at best, outright duplicitous and self-serving at worst, as far as I can tell.) If it is a personal issue with me and the top PMA people, well, then it's really a sad state we're in.

Principle means something to me and I think there are many teachers like me who feel the same. However, how many are following the PMA blindly or just using that organization to get insurance? A very small percentage of members have actually taken the test! It is a pilatical game and I cannot in good conscience continue playing. If my tone sounds disturbed to you----YOU ARE CORRECT!!!
But do not imagine that I lose sleep over this. My upset and frustration are quickly transmuted into energy to meet my purpose. Thank you, PMA. There are things that we agree upon. However, through the communications on Pilates Pro, I have only become more certain that the way towards community cooperation is in recognizing what is "good" about this phenomenon called pilates and how it has manifested. I agree we need to bring standards up to par, but I prefer to do it in through education, validation, and support rather than criticism, lectures, and mandates.

All along, I have stated that AIM does not negate the old paradigm, nor does it wish to take away the individuality of the perspectives on pilates. It only seeks to work as a translation tool for the different styles. I see now why I was met with dismissal when I approached every major "certifier" years ago. It is ironic that those coming from a competitive viewpoint feel safer with other competitive types, rather than with someone who might suggest how what they do is similar. I feel that there is no place for competition when a lack of standard aims to drive the method into the dirt. Organizations have now to play the fitness game, coming up with newer, more enticing forms to compete for the interest of the public--instead of educating the public and newbie professionals on the thing itself!! Personally, I am not cut from that kind of competitive cloth. Furthermore, I feel it distracts from the essence of pilates and some amazing applications that have more to do with the under-served markets, which need to be recognized.

I am all for keeping people moving, but I can see that the method runs the risk of losing its original dynamic to the fitness modifications that have developed from it. Not every client is ready for that dynamic, and we need to teach teachers to recognize the pitfalls, while maintaining that the original dynamic is something people need to continue to aspire towards by progressing clients safely. I also believe that the client's personal process is very important as they have so many more options available to them today.

The fact is that the PMA Certification Exam does not help with this issue. At the very least, the PMA Exam should call for an understanding of the safety issues involved with the public undertaking pilates. It does not and as far as I can tell, the PMA has no intention of looking at what teachers need to be taught in this respect. I was a member for eight years and I am not aware of any discussion in the PMA about what the teacher training organizations need to include in the trainings to ensure client safety (this needs to go further than just equipment maintenance). A 450 hour program is all that is stated. The behind-closed doors nature of the PMA needs to be exposed and if it is worth its weight, the accusation needs to be answered by the PMA.

I will reiterate once more, so as not to be misunderstood, that I am not against what the PMA has done thus far, and it needs to continue its efforts. However, it has admitted, on one hand, where it is willing to put its focus and begs pardon that it has no money to do more. So, on the other hand, at the moment, it runs a risk of outward false-advertisement because it negates to see that withdrawing the focus from client care jeopardizes scope of practice and safety issues. I will find a way to keep expressing my viewpoint, until sensible and sensitive individuals are able to hear me. THINK!!! Why are so many REPUTABLE teachers NOT JOINING the PMA???

How are money-making schemes like pretty posters with quotes from Joe going to "protect" the public? And do you really believe that the need to "protect" the public is even a common viewpoint of all pilates teachers, Ms. Anderson?

We have dealt with the repercussions of this in the pilates profession for many years. Practitioners of PT, Fitness, Rolfing, Kinesiology, Feldenkrais, Laban, Aston Patterning, AT, etc. all have courses to further enlighten the pilates teacher, but suspiciously under the implication that pilates is somehow missing the boat. The PTs are now deeply anchored in the marketing river rapids and are at present in protection mode of their esteemed position in the PMA.

Well, pilates was around for a long time and working just fine before everyone wanted to get on board and had to hurry to get there first. Each time, pilates has changed a little bit more, and as pilates teachers, we must realize that we have lost our common ground--the essence of pilates.

Defining that essence now requires a community effort of those who "get" why the PMA is not working. Please get involved in the UNITED PILATES COLLECTIVE's Client Care Committee.

A Special Day

2009-04-10T19:16:00.001-07:00

I traveled to the east coast this weekend for a family gathering (my dad's 80th!) and I had the chance to meet up with some people that I've been "speaking" with for the past few months. We met on Pilates Pro.

Lee Artur (LA) and I met up with Stacey Dreisbach Redfield at her studio in Bethlehem, PA. We have all talked on the phone these past few months, relating to each other our perspectives, and I am sure, sometimes perplexed about the idea of common ground. But, we all have pilates in common, and so the conversations continued, enough for us to plan to meet. If I had had any, I would say that the meeting went far beyond my expectations, which I will continue to relate.

Lee and I then went on to visit Tracey Tancredi, a colleague of mine who has been involved with me in learning about Rathbone's patterns through the work of Betsy Wetzig and Wetzig Coordination Pattern Training. I am so glad that Lee met Tracey (Stacey and Tracey were already acquainted, yet not in touch for many years until these recent events). The pattern work, which is what I have been trying to bring to fore through writing on this blog, is a missing piece that caused many others to fall into place for me. I believe the same will be true for many other pilates people. It provides validation for the intuitive processes at work when we practice, which I have been observing and outlining for years with AIM.

The connections continue to unfold, and Stacey has a lot to contribute, as it turns out. She is a go-getter and the research she has been doing, as far as I know, is quite unique; and to show the serendipitous timing of all this, just this past week, she connected Rathbone and J. H. Pilates, not to each other, but to roots in the medico-mechanical movement that began in Sweden in the 1800s. What I know is there is some reason why we have all come together and that it is due to our collective efforts and intention towards open communication and sharing.

I love seeing the pattern which connects and I feel I met a kindred spirit today in Lee. I am touched and a bit embarrassed by, yet have much gratitude for, her post on Pilates Pro about today (click on entry title for link); it's great for me--and rare--when I get validation from a fellow teacher outside my tiny circle!:) I have felt quite out on a limb for many years in my work, as only a few committed colleagues have dared to brave the rocky waters with me. Today I feel for certain that it was worth it. Then again, I couldn't have done it any other way. Without conversation, nothing is gained.

It's amazing what brings people together. So, lastly, I wanted to mention that today was a special day for me for another reason. My Mom passed away fourteen years ago today, much too soon. She was only 63. I will share more on my wonderful Mom soon (right now, she is so full in my heart and I need to keep her all to myself, while I savor these last few hours, with my wonderful son nearby), but I'll tell you that she loved carnations. The flowers are for her and for the four of us who shared so much on this very special day.

I am a pilates teacher

2009-04-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

First "published" October 23, 2008 on Pilates Pro Fitness vs. Bodywork Community Post

I am a pilates teacher.
I am so fortunate that I get to get up each day and contemplate the human body in its fullest capacity and I am so grateful to LIFE and a man named Joe.
I get to converse with my clients about their fears, hopes, and dreams about their bodies.
Empathy and education are paramount in my life and I humbly ask to be guided on my path each day.
I have explored other movement and touch modalities for my own healing, self-awareness, and enjoyment.
I recognize, after years of study and experiential evidence, how all movement is on a continuum and how I have gravitated at different times in my life towards different points on that continuum, out of necessity or desire for my own body or the needs, goals, and desires of my clients…that has been/continues to be my path to wholeness.

I am a pilates teacher.
I have come to respect the pilates form and dynamic all the more because of its scientific adaptability and creative artistry.
I have plenty to do all day teaching those forms and find there is always more to learn and integrate…ways to teach pilates better.
I respect all ways of working and can hear all perspectives respectfully because I know there is a public that drives the need for that scope and I am just answering a call to service.
I also believe that the public is not as educated as it could be and that it is my responsibility to share what I have learned about the possibilities of pilates practice, even if I may come up against doubt, fear, or scrutiny.

I am a pilates teacher.
I operate with integrity, not necessarily because of a mandated doctrine, but because I follow the body…in all its beauty and flow, trauma and imbalance; I am present in the moment and act appropriately.
I have made “mistakes,” but there is forgiveness because my intention is clear and I have committed to an open and truthful dialogue and communication: I take responsibility for and learn from my shortcomings, which has helped me shape my idea of the boundaries of my practice and my evolution as a teacher.
No one can push me into another way of being or doing other than what I believe is my truth, because I would never attempt to do that to anyone else.
I move, express and communicate freely, always with an intention to do no harm.

I am a pilates teacher.
My language is movement, progression, and evolution.
I believe I am part of a larger, emerging community that shares my intentions and together we are defining our scopes of practice to their fullest, appropriate extents.
I steer clear of fear and have the audacity to hope and to dream.
I imagine a world with no war, no impassable boundaries, and a healthy, living planet because we have taught our children to revere and be guided by the human body, mind, and heart and to respect and care for all living things and sentient beings.

I am a pilates teacher and I am a work-in-progress.

"onebody" aka Carole Amend

Funny Bones

2009-04-04T19:23:00.001-07:00

In JW's honor (he keeps going and going and...), here's another one:

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Scully: It was a simple bio-mechanical reflex* that is commonly found in chickens.

(*probably "feeling the connection and integration of the movement from the feet on upward through the pelvis and spine")

Please also refer to the February 18, 2009 Funny Bones, as well. lol.

Funny Bones

2009-04-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

This one is dedicated to Anny Lange, my maternal Grandmother, who left us 29 years ago today. She knew the meaning of "heaven on earth" and modeled it every day of her life. She was and remains the kindest, gentlest, most devout person I have ever known. She had the cutest laugh.

Tomorrow...make it a good one. :)

Funny Bones

2009-03-31T22:43:00.001-07:00

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Special Agent Fox Mulder: Scully, you saw the chicken cross the road with your own eyes. How many more chickens have to cross the road before you will believe it???

What's New

2009-03-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

I have added a What's New LABEL and also added a box to the column on the right for "Recent Edits, Comments." This also includes entry updates.

Of interest right now are the entries labeled "United Pilates Collective." I want to thank everyone bold enough to participate in the discussions. Our collective efforts are making a difference.

CHECK IT OUT:
I recently wrote about the difference between Pilates and Gyrotonic on the ANATOMY TRAINS Forum (Link below) and on AASI Online (Link on side bar). I like to write about how similar they are even more--coming soon on AASI Online!

Funny Bones

2009-03-26T15:15:00.001-07:00

A duck walks into a hardware store and says to the clerk "Got any grapes?"

The clerk says, patiently, "No, this is a hardware store, we don't have any grapes, try a grocery."

The duck leaves.

The next day the same duck walks into to the same hardware store and says to the clerk (who is, coincidentally, the same clerk) "Got any grapes?"

The clerk says, a little less patiently, "No! Like I told you yesterday, this is a hardware store, we don't sell grapes here."

The duck leaves.

The next day the duck walks into the store again and says to the clerk, "Got any grapes?"

By this time the clerk is thoroughly pissed off with the duck and says "No! We don't have any grapes! This is a hardware store! If you come in here and ask me again I'm going to nail your feet to the floor!"

The duck leaves.

The next day the duck walks into the hardware store and says to the clerk, "Got any nails?"

The clerk, relieved, says, "Finally! A sensable question! But no, I'm sorry, we're all out of nails, I just sold the last package."

And then the duck says, "Good. In that case ... got any grapes?"

(Go to surgeon and he probably won't tell you about a movement solution. The above sounds like some of the discussions on Pilates Pro.:)

Food for Thought: Supporting the Shift

2009-03-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

Here's a blog entry entitled: Study Shows Pilates to Help Low Back Pain from Elaine Ewing's Heads Up on Your Body (HYUB) blog from Rhinebeck, NY. I highly recommend HYUB.

People have different pain thresholds. Because of the accessibility of pilates, pilates professionals are privileged to witness clients coming into their sense of responsibility, as Elaine mentions. We* teach clients to be in charge of their own unique path of embodiment. Maybe that includes manual therapists, maybe not.

Preference for movement style also includes preference for modality style. Here, the intention of the professional is key. As practitioners, we might believe that a certain route is best for the "condition" we see, however, I am a firm believer in honoring the client's right to an educated choice. The emerging awareness of a client wishing to step into responsibility must be nurtured and supported at all costs. The "expert" stance must belong, most importantly, to the client.

It is time for manual therapists, physical therapists, and the like to recognize which clients are ready to make that shift and to allow it, to encourage it. The scope of that shift may swing wide along the pain threshold continuum. To say that:
"It's probably more appropriate to target populations of people who are generally healthy to do pilates"
is like saying:
Only people with diagnosed pathology should see "a PT or the like."
That leaves many people out of the picture. In other words, non-specific back pain covers a wide margin.

Many experts seem, at this time, to be resistant to letting-loose their stronghold, which means that there is an odd sense of fear in that perspective. After all, aren't the "experts" supposed to understand this?

In any event, the public is getting smarter. Pilates works. Well said/done, Elaine.

*I want to be clear that I am speaking here for myself, as a seasoned practitioner. Please read the comments below, especially #3 & 4. The public needs to know there is no consensus on this and many other points in the pilates community.

Pensée

2009-03-23T13:23:00.001-07:00

Flower of the day: pansy |ˈpanzē|
ORIGIN late Middle English : from French pensée ‘thought; pansy,’ from penser ‘think,’ from Latin pensare, frequentative of pendere ‘weigh, consider.’

Knowing is all at once a somatically integrated experience. When we know something deeply, suddenly, nothing can shake us. We can weigh what would shake us, we can consider it, but there is no consequence to it. It also has a right to be.
Suddenly, everything seems strangely familiar.
Suddenly, we appreciate everything.
Suddenly, we are enough.
Suddenly, unfavorable comments only affirm our knowing all the more.

Quote:
I am so filled with Love, that no fear can enter my thought.
The Science of Mind, 1926

Four Little Words

2009-03-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

I recently had a chance to spend a little time with Mary Bowen. She is a Jungian analyst and is one of the last few teachers around that studied with Joe Pilates. What a gal! I appreciate her work very much. She's bringing awareness to a part of the mental side of the mind/body method of Pilates. I hope that pilates teachers of all kinds are lucky enough to “get a whiff of her”—to use a phrase she used with me!

Jungian analysis is a wonderful thing. Its typology creates a model for conversation that is inclusive and validating. It’s one of the best models I have seen that, by its own virtue, resists getting stuck on itself. Amazing what framing a part of your mind around four little words—intuiting, feeling, thinking, sensating—can do for your mental health. I owe a personal debt to it and a kind, gentle, masterful soul who led me out of some annoying spaces years ago (my dark spaces are soothed more wholly by a different model). On a professional note, I have had the pleasure of having several Jungians as clients.

“Sound mind in a sound body”....
You can’t separate the two. A mantra of mine is that I don’t just teach exercise, I teach movement, and I don’t just teach movement, I teach human beings movement. Seeing the connection between how our minds and bodies work is a very personal endeavor.

Where you come from is a great place to start knowing where you are going. Growing up, I had an architect Dad, a nurse Mom, an engineer Opa and a dear, devout Oma on my Mom’s side, living close by, and a postman Opa and homemaker Oma, back in Germany, with whom I had the chance to spend quite a bit if time, considering the distance. Looking back, I see how my ideas were shaped early on.

It’s interesting how I’ve decided to fill in the rest of my life—personally and professionally—so far. The Amend Integrative Model (AIM) is about putting the pieces of the embodiment puzzle together in a way that suits the individual. It’s another model that doesn’t claim all the answers…and it resists classification. To say that AIM provides the main ingredients and you have to cook up the meal is close, but, more precisely stated, with AIM, you get to share a meal with others—POTLUCK!

PS And there's usually recipe swapping at potlucks!

"Boggled"

2009-03-05T01:30:00.000-08:00

From the dictionary:
the paradox of war is that you have to kill people in order to stop people from killing each other

I have to say that my favorite book is the dictionary. To me, it's simply fascinating. I was thrilled when those little post-it tabs came out...in different colors. If I had to do it over again, I'd probably be a linguist.

To keep a promise to myself, I am not going to get caught up in a long article about this. Sometimes just a few words are enough.

semantics
paradox
riddle

Instead of laying out the definitions here, I'll just say what my Dad said to me and what I say to my son: Look them up. There's enough there for days of contemplations, if you need a diversion from the usual ponderings. My job is to work with the body, it's true, and every body I know comes with a mind and heart attached. It's a package deal.

Words are so important. And, they aren't important.
Maybe it's how they "land" (now there's a word).
A word can soften the toughest of tissues, and cut deeper than the sharpest scalpel.

....scalpel, scapula, shoulder "blade", hmm the next word is scar....interesting....

....maybe better words for "tough" are taut, tight, and tense....even more interesting....

And here it is 2009, and people want to spend time arguing over what J.H. meant by "flat back" and make him wrong for it. Not to mention, deem it the basis of and justification for their pilatical stance. I'm Boggled.

Is there a line between Sea and Shore?

2009-02-27T05:26:00.000-08:00

Now we are getting to the heart of the matter. Boundaries.

Dictionary
bound•a•ry |ˈbound(ə)rē|
noun ( pl. -ries)
a line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line : the eastern boundary of the wilderness | the boundary between the U.S. and Canada | [as adj. ] a boundary wall.
• (often boundaries) figurative a limit of a subject or sphere of activity : a community without class or political boundaries.

ORIGIN early 17th cent.: variant of dialect bounder, from BOUND2 + -ER1 , perhaps on the pattern of limitary.

Thesaurus
boundary
noun
1 the boundary between Alaska and the Yukon Territory BORDER, frontier, borderline, partition; fenceline.
2 the boundary between art and advertising DIVIDING LINE, divide, division, borderline, cutoff point.
3 the boundary of his estate BOUNDS, confines, limits, margins, edges, fringes; border, periphery, perimeter.
4 (boundaries): the boundaries of acceptable behavior LIMITS, parameters, bounds, confines; ambit, compass.

You can get a good idea of the variety of perspectives in pilates by looking at the different teacher trainings and what they offer, speaking with pilates teachers, reading internet material and online forums, and by asking the public or other types of practitioners what pilates is and does.

I find that pilates has become more defined by what others think outside of our field than those within.

Where do we draw the line?

I ask: Where is the line between Sea and Shore?
I think it's interesting that the homophone of Shore is Sure....

How sure are you/we of where the line has been/should be drawn?

between fellow teachers
between teachers and clients
between teachers and the different modalities in the cooperative networks

Is the boundary fluid or a more like a brick wall?

Pilates is pilates. Yes. And, like all types of movement or somatic integration practices, it evokes a variety of opportunities on all levels of our being. We are getting closer to defining our role in the client's process as pilates teachers, but we are not there yet. No matter what the experts from other fields think, no matter how it has supposedly been defined for us already, the choices are still ours to make as a community. Isn't it worth a conversation at a Free Gathering?

From principles to practice, from interaction to integrative issues, we have our work cut out. Stay tuned for more information about upcoming AASI Free Gathering events.

Sign up by emailing me today.
Carole :)
info@aim-academy.org

Funny Bones

2009-02-24T21:06:00.001-08:00

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Grandpa: In my day, we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Someone told us that the chicken had crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.

To cue or not to cue? Is that the Question?

2009-02-23T05:52:00.000-08:00

To view the PPro Post with Siri Galliano, see Forums Mentioned below
Specifically, see comment 4 below for the original questions and Siri's answers

I commented on Pilates Pro today. The topic was the pelvic floor. However, the issue for me, as always, is communication first.

When a strong answer is given to a statement, do we take it as gospel? Is that because we value the person's background: i.e. reputation as a PT, celebrity teacher, Elder, or Teacher trainer? or as doctor, anatomist, chiropractor, etc? Can we recognize the difference between beliefs, traditions, facts, investigations, theories, and presumptions?

Perhaps "To be or not to be?" is not the question.

Perhaps it has more to do with:
What to be
Who to be
How to be
When to be
and Why to be?

On any topic, but especially those concerning technical material about cueing, it’s also important to ask the following:

Who?
What? Why?
When is it appropriate for the client?
How can you recognize the need?
and other How questions.

Most importantly, how does all of this affect your teaching and does it lead you to have biases/judgments towards other ways of teaching?

The immediate intention of AASI is to bring to light the diversity in pilates that is driven by the client’s needs and the teacher’s investigations. The above questions are helpful in any conversation on any topic to clarify the perspective and to ultimately promote a sense of unity and fellowship, rather than separation by beliefs or traditions. This is important, as we attempt to clarify our collective integrity and expertise as a profession to our cooperative networks and the public.

"Unbelievable" Part 3

2009-02-21T06:21:00.000-08:00

If you are thinking, "oh, no, not this again," you should maybe just skip this one.

Still reading? Ok, then, thanks: I do appreciate you taking the time. I have hidden the recent "Unbelievable" Part 2 post (under "On Netiquette"); several comments went back and forth between Jw and I, which resulted in my removal of his/her posts. I am writing here again in hopes to clarify a few points for Jw and others who may have been reading the (now deleted) "Getting Out of the Hip Flexors" post on Pilates Pro.

My desire here is to reach out to Justwondering (who is obviously a righteous practitioner, who expresses relevant concerns, otherwise I would not give this another thought). Some might say, "Why bother?" or "What is it serving?"*

You mean, aside from the my mission of supporting unity in the pilates profession? If it has anything to do with that, somebody needs to bother with it.

These* are similar to responses I got when I decided to confront the PMA. Well, I truly believe that good will come of my speaking out about important issues. The United Pilates Collective and its founders, Nancy and Tracey, are doing good work in SF and I hope it all circles back around again at least to friendship and professional cooperation, whether along with or alongside of the PMA. At this time, I am drawn to the Collective because it is addressing the needs of all kinds of pilates teachers, classical and multidisciplinary included.

An old friend of mine, Deane Juhan, apparently delivered the keynote address to the inaugural convention of the IASI in Bellevue, Washington, on October 14, 2005. It was entitled, "Integration: Working in Bodywork's Big Tent." He talked about growing pains in evolving organizations. This was eleven years after he made a similar speech at the 1994 Trager Convention (I was a presenter that year). Milton died shortly after, and the years before were challenging for the Trager organization. Being close to that process was probably why I hung in with the PMA for so long and have felt considerable sadness in doing what I had to do. I can't, with certainty, speak to why several PMA board members suddenly stopped replying to my emails, but I suspect it is because I struck a chord.

I am attending to this issue because chords are-still-also struck between pilates teachers and their cooperative networks. Jw, I'd like to respond to your comment (see your 2/26/09 9:53 comment under Part 2), "You're absolutely unbelievable! Did I strike a cord or two in the posts you deleted?"
Answer: Yes, you did. However, not in the way you might believe. Please allow me to clarify.

I have made a list of "FORMULAS FOR COMMUNICATION DISASTER" and have posted it under Chronology of the Pilates Pro Posts (comment #1). The primary point is that, to me, the level of value that Jw places on pilates practice or most pilates teachers is questionable. There at least needs to be a desire to hear what others find is valuable about pilates for any conversation to ensue. IMHO (a netiquette term for "in my humble opinion" as I just found out), Jw's comments sometimes suggest that this is not the case. Please beg to differ, Jw, if I am incorrect. This may have simply to do with a preferred style, what I have begun to write about in my 2/20/09 entry.

I understand the frustration with "wrong" information that is clear cut as in "endorphine" vs. "adrenaline." I also understand and actually share the concern that pilates, in somes cases, may do more harm than good, and for what it might do in the long run, if teachers are not properly educated (although we might somewhat disagree about which cases, as well as about what that education needs to be on a movement level). I have no problem with anyone stating those concerns or making those corrections when applicable or appropriate, if done in a spirit of cooperation. I have stated this more this once.

Communication can get tricky. Jw and I have had conversations on Pilates Pro that have led to a place where we were actually in agreement on a movement level (whether Jw believes this to be true or not). I am not saying that, as practitioners, we will always agree, but it is manageable, if the conversation is kept on a movement level as opposed to an emotional or pilatical level. On the movement front, from my perspective, many misunderstandings happen because there is not a common language on the subject of movement behavior/style and how that relates to what I (at the moment) call the co-contractions at the joint-level. That is our work at this time in our profession as I see it. I am busy writing about this, while working as fast as I can to build a cooperative online environment for a conversation about it as well.

The chord is, therefore, this: If "FORMULAS FOR COMMUNICATION DISASTER" are mixed in with what would be otherwise very helpful conversation material, the conversation will be lost to us. Please hear, Jw, that I believe it would be a loss to all, and it would be unfortunate if your (or anyone's) knowledge/perspective is unable to be heard because of online manners or because of a lack of understanding of the way in which we use the term movement behavior/style. This needn't chip away at the perceived belief in intentions, but it might, which would be a shame. Let's call it "having a bad day", as we all have them, and move forward on our internet learning edges.

So, I humbly submit comment #1 under this Part 3 entry as evidence of (another) example of how something you stated, salvaged from the past deleted comments on Part 2, is basically the same as what I had stated (to a point; then there seems to be a place of discord in the example that has to do with muscle activation/usage). I respectfully offer that this is about co-contraction in perhaps a different way than you are thinking of it, JW, and so I hope that you will suspend judgment, until we can converse in a productive manner. That is the purpose of AASI Online.

It's ironic, actually, that we spend our days helping to educate others on embodiment and that this process of writing, while staring at a screen, may be part of what helps us all to better connect. It would really help Jw, if you took back the comment you made to me: "I don't honestly think you could have a conversation with me on co-contractions...." As somebody once stated before on Pilates Pro: an apology goes a long way.

P.S. Have faith. Have a look at (see Forums Mentioned at page bottom for links) http://www.anatomytrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=60 that deals a bit with the issue in comment #1 below. Also note that Melissa, who commented, follows AASI Online. Small world...I hadn't seen it until a few days ago.
Also, http://www.anatomytrains.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8. To quote Mark Finch, KMI Practitioner, “....I think we have to be careful in making presumptions about Pilates. To my mind this is no different from assuming all SI work is painful.”
Agreement on a common language may come sooner than you think.

Three Picassos

2009-02-20T19:14:00.001-08:00

There are three Picassos hanging in my studio, along with anatomy skeletal and muscular charts. I also have a few pictures of J.H. Pilates (one with Carola Trier that she gave to me), quotes by Milton Trager and Martha Graham, and this amazing photo of my late dog, Major, on the beach. If I had more wall space, I'd have a couple of Buckminster Fuller prints as well. I think back to my first studio and the adorable, framed, multi-colored footprints of my then three-year-old son.

So, why three Picassos? And how does this relate to this blog? In a word: Style.

A recent quote from Pilates Pro: "There are several styles of Pilates currently taught today." Terms like classical, original, evolved, or modern are usual descriptions, although these are all defined in different ways. There's also authentic, pilates-based, many types of fusion pilates, and now also somatic pilates. But what do we really mean by style? Below are the first two definitions from my desktop dictionary, which should start us off:

Oxford American Dictionary
style |stīl|
noun
1 a manner of doing something : different styles of management.
• a way of painting, writing, composing, building, etc., characteristic of a particular period, place, person, or movement.
• a way of using language : he never wrote in a journalistic style | students should pay attention to style and idiom.
• [usu. with negative ] a way of behaving or approaching a situation that is characteristic of or favored by a particular person : backing out isn't my style.
• an official or legal title : the partnership traded under the style of Storr and Mortimer.
2 a distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something is designed : the pillars are no exception to the general style.
• a particular design of clothing.
• a way of arranging the hair.

Why do we choose different ways of painting, using language, or wearing our hair?
How is it that we recognize differences?
What do our preferences say about how our mind/body matrix works?
Where does style come from?

If you had never seen these paintings before, would you have guessed that they were all by the same artist? How often do our styles and preferences change over our lifetimes?

The Red Armchair is what one might think to be characteristic Picasso. Blocky, bold shapes, two dimensional. It says, "Yes, I meant to draw the face that way. I know what I'm doing, after all."

Dance of Youth in contrast, is free-flowing, random, messy, imperfect. The subject matter is elusive, not easily defined. It says, "Just follow the music, wherever it takes you."

Blue Nude is one of my favorites. The brushstroke quality is more back, forth, and around. Is she crying or just resting? An onlooker might say, "Are you alright? I'll get you a robe before you catch a chill."

What do you think the paintings say? Which is your favorite? What's hanging on your walls and what does that say about you? How is your work space arranged?

Is defining the "style" of the above three paintings the same as defining styles of pilates? Are the pilates "styles" (if that's, in fact, even the best word to use here) all that different? Are the teacher training "schools" all that profoundly unique or are we all after the same thing ultimately? Are the styles of commenters on blogs decidedly characteristic?

Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting on AASI Online (See side bar link) about this issue to spark your interest in the conversation about defining pilates and coming together as a community. Please stay tuned...and visit AASI Online for participation protocols.

UPDATE: 4-01-09
Here is a link to the AASI blog entry, Three Picassos, which includes an article about Wetzig Coordination Patterns.

Funny Bones

2009-02-18T14:14:00.001-08:00

What if

we were

all right?

Comic credit: http://xkcd.com/386/

To Fly in the Face of

2009-02-16T19:28:00.000-08:00

We must grant the artist his subject, his idea, his donnée:
our criticism is applied only to what he makes of it.
. . . If we pretend to respect the artist at all,
we must allow him his freedom of choice,
in the face, in particular cases,
of innumerable presumptions that the choice will not fructify.

Art derives a considerable part of its beneficial exercise from
flying in the face of
presumptions.

Henry James

Photo: Flowers bloom

On "Netiquette"

2009-02-15T21:29:00.000-08:00

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

1. Be Impeccable with Your Word
2. Don't Take Anything Personally
3. Don't Make Assumptions
4. Do Your Best

A spirit of cooperation, mutual support, respect, and gratitude needs to be present at all times. Only then can we take full advantage of the "opposition" that presents itself, in both mind and body, and see it as a friend rather than the enemy. :)

A Different Way to Think about Creative Genius

2009-02-11T08:27:00.001-08:00

As a General Movement Practitioner, I am, primarily, a pilates teacher. I am part scientist and part artist. In the end, for me, however, I am always a dancer. It is the artistry of the work that excites me. In my own process, there is always mystery, always something that I can't be quite certain of, that I leave as unsolved for further investigation. I honor that for my clients as well. Every client is different. Every moment is different. Genius lies within each of us.

This TED video was highlighted today on my google page. I loved Elizabeth's Gilbert's book entitled Eat, Pray, Love. In this ted.com video, Elizabeth talks about the creative genius. She asks the audience how they feel about "...this notion that creativity and suffering are somehow inherently linked and that artistry will, in the end, always ultimately lead to anguish." Elizabeth believes this idea is "otiose" and that it would be dangerous for her "to start leaking down that dark path of assumption." She offers that her job is to show up, to have a conversation, to talk with "the open air." She says, "...but maybe it doesn't have to be quite so full of anguish, if you never happened to believe in the first place that the most extraordinary aspects of your being came from you but maybe if you just believed that they were on loan to you, you know, from some unimaginable source for some exquisite portion of your life to be passed along when you're finished...."

An artistic viewpoint allows for possibility and that, for some, can be overwhelming. Maybe that's why so many are drawn to scientific, "evidence-based" ways of working. Perhaps this is also why it is easier for the public to gravitate towards "experts" who give them definite answers to their physical issues, rather than consult their own experience first. Not all clients, especially ones in the midst of pain, are willing or able to hear, "well, let's investigate that...." Many have been taught to be more of the mind: "just tell me what to do!"

For years now, pilates has been attracting the attention of physical therapists as well as practitioners of complimentary modalities like Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Laban, Chiropractic, and Structural Integration, to name only a few. These practitioners are not shy in offering their views on pilates, and my question is: Why is it that those views always seem to focus around how pilates is somehow missing information and only these modalities have the answer?

Interesting....

I think it's time the tables were turned. That's another reason why I give Free Gatherings.

"If your job is to dance, do your dance....Olé to you, nonetheless, just for having the sheer human love and stubbornness to keep showing up." Elizabeth Gilbert

Sat Feb 7 2009 BAPC Meeting

2009-02-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to report on the United Pilates Collective, Bay Area Chapter meeting last night at EHS Pilates in San Francisco. Tracey Sylvester and Nancy Myers have done an amazing job organizing a benefits package for pilates teachers, as well as attracting passionate teachers to propose and head committees for the growth of the organization.

I will be heading a committee that be working on defining scope of practice and how pilates teachers wish to inform the public about the work. I will be offering monthly AASI Free Gatherings to support the pilates community and cooperative networks. The information and ensuing conversations will benefit the work of the "Client Care Committee": gathering information from the entire collective and the greater community in an effort to help build an inclusive and representative organization. The tools of AIM will be presented and used as deemed appropriate by committee members to the emerging vision and mission of the Collective.

Kudos to Nancy and Tracey! Their energy, hard work, insights, and approachability demonstrate priceless leadership sorely needed at this time in our profession. I believe that what they have been able to accomplish in uniting the community in such a short period of time will also prove invaluable to the national and international pilates communities.

Connecting the Dots...

2009-02-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

The following blog, "Michael Miller Pilates in the Tabloids," was called to my attention.
I remember reading it sometime ago, but I had not read the entire thread until today.
It began on Tom Floyd's Pilates Connections Discussion Board (PCDB) in Oct 2008 and has gotten nearly 50 comments and 4700 views. It is called "What is it about Pilates, anyway?"

Some of the same ideas regarding the PMA and its Certification Exam can be found in this forum, seemingly a forum frequented by classical teachers. I am new to internet forums; PCDB has been around for quite a while. I am happy to pass news of it along (See Forums Mentioned Link below).

*UPDATE: Sunday, February 8, 2009
Now that I figured out how to see all of the discussions on Pilates Connections, I just spent a few hours reading. It's amazing to see the common questions and concerns in the greater community. Big high five to Tom Floyd!
There's another thread I found on the Exam (there are others) called "PMA Certification."

Also, to show where much community interest lies, check out this post on "Romana's Pilates." It began Mar 2007 and has gotten over 150 comments and 18,000 views!

The following thread is a continuation by Lynda Lippin on "How did you come to Pilates?" It began July 2008 has gotten over 1600 views. This is the same idea behind AASI's orientation process :).

Isn't it time we all got together? Yeah, I think so....

"Unbelievable" Part 1

2009-02-02T10:32:00.001-08:00

Regarding 5 Ways to combine Cardio and Pilates (see esp. comment #4)

To aPtslant: You had me at "goodbye."*

So glad to know the "spirit" of justwondering is alive and well in aPTslant (not!). That tone is simply, incredibly, and unbelievably unattractive and unhelpful.

It would appear from reading Pilates Pro that condescension and competition are soooo pervasive in this field. There really is no way to have a decent, non-argumentative conversation when there are assumptions of incompetence, especially online.

Good thing I tend not to believe in appearances. Rather, I believe in an emerging network of practitioners who know the meaning of the word cooperation. Cooperative networks are everywhere. Thank goodness I have faith in my clients to navigate their way through their own mind/body process.

*aPTslant made a brief reappearance on the Pilates Pro Cardio Post after the Pilates-pro Yoga and Pilates comment where the "Unbelievable" remark was first made.

UPDATE: 8-09-09
Please see my new comment today below, which addresses aPTslant's comment on the top of p.4 of the Pilates Pro Yoga & Pilates Post.

To clarify, the focus, for me, at that time, was on the difficulty in communication. Since I understood all "sides," I wanted to first address the need for respectful dialogue. It was obvious that no conflict could ever be resolved until a true respect for and a felt-sense understanding of the classical viewpoint were present in the discussion; without it, there is no respect for the depth of awareness that experience and intuitive process brings. It seems so odd to me that, while scientifically-oriented individuals tend to devalue the work of those not embracing the specifics of their view, they themselves seem so far from embracing Joe's message in full measure.

At the time, Lee (LA) and I knew what the point Stacey was trying to make on the Cardio post, despite her poor choice of words at times.

However, it was clear that aPTslant was fatally distracted by the pervasive thinking/belief that pilates teachers are uneducated and don't know the difference between the circulatory and nervous systems to allow Stacey her point (no doubt due to the hyper-focused fear that pilates teachers are severely damaging bodies on a daily basis).

I wonder how it would have gone down had Stacey been able to clarify her view before being put on the defensive. I saw it at the time, but, I didn't feel that it was my battle to fight.

With just a few words added, however, it would have read, and I believe, would have better supported the rest of Stacey's comment:

Joe Pilates described the benefits of his work being done in a reclined position so as not to stress the heart. However, what he was actually referring to, as the central theme to his work, was the Central Nervous System.

The above definitely describes the message that always rings in my ears:
pilates is a mind/body process.

United Pilates Collective: Bay Area Chapter Meeting

2009-01-29T08:15:00.001-08:00

click on title for link

An email from EHS Pilates:
BAPC Wants YOUR Feedback!

The Bay Area Pilates Collective needs your input and feedback regarding the final membership benefits packages that will be introduced during the April Membership Drive.

We will be introducing the framework of the organization and reveiwing benefits as well as taking suggestions so that all the needs of our profesion are addressed and met.

Highlights include:

Health Insurance
Liability Insurance
Property insurance
Public Studio Finder
Workshops and Events Calendar
Best Business Practices
Pilates Tools and Props
Education Materials
Greening Your Business
Discounts on Web-Scheduling Services
Discounts on Office Supplies
Group Advertising Rates
Group Participation at Conference Booths
Uniting the Pilates Industry
. . . And much more!

Thank you all for your contribution and interest so far. We look forward to seeing you Saturday February 7th!

Sincerely,
Nancy & Tracey

Meeting Date:
Saturday, February 7, 2009
5:30 - 7:30pm

Where:
EHS Pilates
1452 Valencia Street
(cross street 25th)
San Francisco, CA 94110
RSVP 415-285-5808

Era of "Responsibility"

2009-01-20T20:13:00.000-08:00

"Government can only do so much....we're going to have to take responsibility--all of us.

...hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord...."

President Barack Obama

Here's to better days ahead!

Obama on the Ellen DeGeneres Show:

Funny Bones

2009-01-19T06:40:00.000-08:00

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Martin Luther King: I have a dream: That one day all chickens will be able to cross the road without their motives being called into question.

What is a Free Gathering? Part 2

2009-01-18T15:29:00.000-08:00

see Labels on side bar

The conversations on PPro have revealed a big need for discussion about neutral spine. This is one of the many topics at a Free Gathering.

I believe the conversation needs to be experiential. Best as I can say it in a sentence: Transfer of weight has to do with varying ratios, timings, and sequencing of co-contractions and joint movements during an exercise. Words on a page don't seem to help much, though. I give Free Gatherings where people have an opportunity to translate movement concepts in the moment from their vantage points. People generally walk away feeling better about the different perspectives. That's been my goal for years.

People like to be right, and sometimes, they think this means that someone else needs to be wrong (This is where I disagree; I don't see a need to argue!...it's silly!). In general, I see everyone as right, and try to get them to see what they are missing, just in the moment, so that they can communicate. Pilates is about balancing the body. I say there is a win-win. I have been trying to write about it, but it is slow-going (I am a movement teacher :). People need to be willing to come to the table, or the reformer, or the mat, any apparatus will do. That's where I can best offer the information I have for discussion. If minds are open, it is also quite fun :)

Competition really has no place in a client-centered perspective. The more we understand each other, the more we ensure the safety, self-responsibility, and autonomy of our clients. Free Gatherings are about validating and supporting the pilates community and their cooperative networks.

I am working on setting up the next Free Gathering at the BAPC. Please stay tuned for details.

You who choose to lead must follow

2009-01-17T10:23:00.001-08:00

Click here to go to The Annotated "Ripple"

"Ripple"

Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia.
("Ripple" composed and written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter.
Reproduced by arrangement with Ice Nine Publishing Co., Inc. (ASCAP))

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung,
Would you hear my voice come thru the music,
Would you hold it near as it were your own?

It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken,
Perhaps they're better left unsung.
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air.

Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow.

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty,
If your cup is full may it be again,
Let it be known there is a fountain,
That was not made by the hands of men.

There is a road, no simple highway,
Between the dawn and the dark of night,
And if you go no one may follow,
That path is for your steps alone.

Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow.

You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone,
If you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home.

La dee da da da, la da da da da, da da da, da da, da da da da da
La da da da, la da da, da da, la da da da, la da, da da.