News & Views
PIlates Tip of the Week:
Summer 2011
Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training Available! The program consists of 450 hours of Pilates training in 6 modules which can be taken consecutively or individually. Students who successfully complete all six modules are eligible to take the PMA Pilates Certification Exam. Visit the Teacher Training page for more info.
Why is Pilates certification important?
Professional certification, administered by an independent third party, is a cornerstone in any established profession. The Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) has created the only psychometrically validated, third party professional certification exam in the Pilates field. The PMA aims to create a critical mass of professionally certified Pilates teachers in order to establish the teaching of Pilates as a profession.
To achieve certification in the field of Pilates instruction, candidates must first meet eligibility requirements to sit for the exam, and then pass a 150 question multiple-choice examination. The Certified Pilates Teacher (CPT) examination has been designed to measure skill and knowledge level based on 450 hours or more of lecture, self-study, apprenticeship and assistant teaching hours.
If you are considering taking Pilates classes or starting a Pilates Teacher Training Program, be sure to ask your teacher/trainer if they are PMA Certified!
The past 12 months have been a financial and emotional roller coaster for many of us. The loss of income and other opportunities can become overwhelming, causing anxiety, frustration and a sense of helplessness. Don’t let this current state of affairs prevent you from doing the things that keep you happy and healthy – one of which is exercise.
What can exercise do for you?
• It can reduce your stress level
• It can energize your mind and body
• It can burn calories so the food you eat tastes better
• It can prevent many diseases
• It can be a source of free recreation
In addition to the obvious benefits of exercise like weight loss and a toned physique, our bodies produce hormone-like substances called endorphins that function as the body’s natural painkillers. They are capable of producing a feeling of euphoria and a general sense of well being. You may have heard of the “runners high” experienced by marathon runners and fitness enthusiasts. During exercise, the body releases endorphins which produce a sense of euphoria, which is sometimes strong enough to mask pain in an athlete. The good news for you is that you don’t have to be an Olympian to experience the effects of endorphins – moderate or even regular light exercise can produce a wonderful sense of well being. And when you feel better, you look better, and so begins a positive and powerful cycle of change.
So my advice to you: When the bills pile up and you feel like drowning your sorrows, go for a long walk, or better yet, do some Pilates Mat exercises to tone and stretch your muscles while oxygenating your brain!
I’d like to share with you something I have spent most of this year learning, and I’m happy to say that it will impact my local Pilates Community.
New class for Special Populations
Because of the gentle nature of Pilates exercises, local physicians often refer their patients to our facility, and many of them end up in my Pilates Mat classes. To those folks I get a brief overview of their condition and offer them modifications and precautions. Oftentimes however, participants with special needs or conditions don’t mention them to me, and run the risk of exacerbating their problem. As of last Spring we did not have a class dedicated to those who needed extra attention, so last Summer I worked with Physical Therapists Gretta Williams-Lijbers and Katrina Uota to design this much needed Pilates class. Using Joseph Pilates own book Return to Life thorough Contrology, we took the original 34 exercises he developed decades ago and added modifications for those people for whom a traditional mat class may not be appropriate. The outcome was a class which emphasizes body awareness, axial elongation and abdominal strength, all performed within the boundaries of optimal spine position. It is appropriate for people with osteoporosis and osteopenia because spinal flexion, side-bending and rotation are eliminated from the workout, thus reducing the risk of spinal fracture. The format focuses on gentle yet effective exercises to stabilize the spine in neutral position. It is also valuable for people with arthritis, fibromyalgia and COPD, as it is a low impact form of exercise which encourages improved posture, core stabilization, deep breathing, muscle and motor control. This class is currently offered at the Monterey Sports Center on Thursdays from 8:00 am to 8:45 am. For more information and fee options, please call the Monterey Sports Center at 831-646-3730.
And my advice to you: keep moving, whatever your physical condition. It will serve you well in the end!