reFORM Pilates and Movement

Instructor Collaboration

2012-01-21T12:30:00.000-08:00

This week I was teaching a client with very tight hamstrings, who has been struggling with this tightness for the two years I've worked with him. He asked me if they would ever get any better. I thought of my partner Kelli and how she has shared her thoughts with me about the control issues that come up with hamstring stretching. Fortunately Kelli was on hand, so I asked her to articulate her views on the issue. It was so helpful to have another voice there to allow my client to hear what I've been saying to him said in a different way. I have some hope that he will actually allow himself to feel the sensation of a hamstring stretch, and spend some time stretching on his own.

I've often felt that one of the greatest assets our studio has is the open space. There's a transparency to our sessions that encourages people to let go and enjoy themselves, and accept feedback from multiple instructors. I get to collaborate with my coworkers daily, and as I observe them teaching I get to see and hear their best cues and observations. I also get to see their clients in motion and learn more about healthy movement. No wonder my job is never boring!

Something Fishy

2011-12-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

Our fish tank, which has delighted us since its arrival last summer, became a focal point during the Alexander Technique workshop we hosted last week. Robyn Avalon, our Alexander mentor, spent a few minutes when she arrived watching our goldfish and snails with me. My intent when I set up the tank (aside from satisfying a caretaking need) was to provide examples of fluid, integrated movement. Robyn pointed out another great asset: the sound the flow of the filter makes. During our workshop, as we trained each other on the GYROTONIC® equipment, she repeatedly asked: "Can you hear the fish?" She drew our attention to the importance of staying present in the room. At certain challenging moments in the exercises, both client and instructor tended to tense up and lose connection with our bodies and the space around us. We found we could no longer feel the equipment with the sensitivity we needed. When we became more aware of this tendency, and tried to remain receptive enough to hear the fish tank, we were able to move with greater ease, fluidity, and integration. What an awesome lesson!

Modified Reformer

2011-08-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

Mike from Kula Solutions has helped us out with another project we've been thinking about for a while. Amy Alpers, one of our mentors from the Pilates Center at Boulder, gave us some ideas for making our Peak reformers more ergonomically correct. On one of our reformers, we've moved the shoulder blocks slightly forward on the carriage, which lengthened the headrest and allows people truly to REST the back of the head. This has been especially helpful for people with long necks. We also added a setting to the footbar height, so that we have more control of the angle of the legs on footwork. It is wonderful to see the way the weight of the springs can travel smoothly up the body when the angles of the leg joints aren't compromised!

New Custom Wall Unit

2011-05-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

Mike Padykula at Kula Solutions made us an awesome new wall unit! We replaced our old springboard and worked with Mike to design another wall unit that allows us to do push-through exercises in trios. We also now have the advantage of the poles to hold during leg spring exercises. The new push-through bar is extra wide to accommodate people with very broad or tight shoulders, and both the push-through and roll-back bars are slightly thicker than normal, which allows for a more relaxed and comfortable grip! Mike also fashioned us new box mats for our existing wall unit and the new one, along with moonboxes. We love them.

Cleaning up the Lines

2011-05-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

This week saw the arrival of our newly reupholstered Pilates mats. Mike at Kula Solutions (http://www.kulasolutions.com/) helped us out changing the ugly bright orange mats to black, to blend with our other equipment and quit distracting from our awesome new color scheme.

One idea this aesthetics work has brought up for me is moving and taking in the scenery, without passing judgement on it. We're so wired to place a value on everything; it's extremely relaxing to follow a spiraling GYROTONIC® line with the eyes while you're doing handles, without allowing what you see to trigger your consciousness. In my personal practice I think this has made room for greater self-acceptance as well, being in the body and trying to excel without passing judgement or wishing it were at a level it's not.

New Reformers Arrived!

2010-02-15T09:26:00.000-08:00

On Friday our two new Root reformers arrived. They replaced the metal Gratz, and we couldn't be happier with them! They both have five springs, including an extra-light to make exercises like the side arm series more accessible. One is extra-long and extra-wide, with a jump board, risers for the straps, and a side split platform. We also got a quarter barrel to simulate the ladder barrel for the short box series. Hooray!

Reformers for Sale

2009-12-25T08:52:00.000-08:00

Our two metal Gratz reformers are for sale. If you're looking for a reformer for your home, or you know someone who is, ask us for details. We know that some of you prefer the stability and timelessness of the Gratz, but we're looking to replace them with pieces that will better serve our clinical studio needs.

Our New Friend

2009-11-11T20:11:00.000-08:00

Today saw the arrival of our new friend, _______. He's about 5'4", very slender and fair. He'll feature prominently in this Saturday's Hip and Pelvis Workshop.

We haven't totally decided on a name for our new friend. We thought perhaps once he was assembled his name would be obvious to us, but even now that he's hanging vertically on a stand, we're still open to suggestions. He's made in Germany, if that helps fire your imaginations.

We'd rather not name him "Joe." We've already got pictures of Mr. Pilates all around the studio; we don't need a replica of his skeleton.

We hope ________ will help us explain the structures and movement patterns of the body in motion and at rest, so that everyone can better visualize what we're trying to do with our exercises.

________ is looking for duo partners.

Showing Up

2009-11-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

Hello, World.

This is a little scary. We've been putting ourselves out there in so many ways- our open house, the newsletter, celebrating with our friends and family in our new roles as owners of reFORM Pilates and Movement- and now this! Well. One thing I've learned, which has been confirmed indisputably by my experience at reFORM, is that when you show up for life, you let good things happen.

Our clients are so wonderful! Each of them brings unique and incredible talents and interests into our sphere of consciousness, expanding our sense of connectedness and completeness. With any luck, this blog will help us give more of ourselves, within the reFORM community and beyond.