Cultivating Your Gut...

So here’s the thing about me: I am not a thrill seeker.  I hate to  gamble, in every sense of the word.  I despise Vegas .  I don’t purchase raffle tickets.  I don’t play Lotto.  I want to get what I pay for.  I don’t enjoy roller-coasters.  I have no interest in surfing, skiing, or mountain biking.  (Paddleboarding?  Yes.  Cross-Country skiing? Yes.)  I have never indulged in illegal drugs (only the legal ones).  I always thought I would climb to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite with my son once he got old enough.  Now he is thirteen and I have actually watched that cable ascent on YouTube.  Don’t think that is going to happen now.

When I left the professional dance world to teach Pilates all of my clients told me I needed to open my own studio.  I had plenty of opportunity and investment to do so, but I was terrified.  Instead, at 28 I bought into a business, gained a partner, and my career began.  It felt safe.  Five years later my partner wanted out to be a full-time mom.  I was left alone steering the ship.  I was certain in that moment that it was one of the worst things that ever happened to me, but Bodyline was in the right place at the right time.  That is the other thing about me: I consider myself lucky.  Business grew pretty easily as Pilates became a household name.  Bodyline has survived for nearly 20 years, hidden in Beverly Hills and relying solely on our reputation and word of mouth.

I acquired a new landlord five years ago and my lease came up for renewal this past August.  Against all rationality, he refused to negotiate with me on rent.  I had no intention of ever leaving.  I had no time in my life to deal with moving Bodyline. I think he was certain that I would re-sign the lease at the last moment, but here is another integral part of my psyche:  I hate being overcharged for anything. (Don’t confuse this with being cheap.)  I get great prices on cars.  I bring water to the movies.  I only shop at outlets and I LOVE CostCo!  It made no sense for me to stay in a location that needed updating with no signage, visibility, or parking and pay over market price.  Of course I did not realize at the time that it is nearly impossible to open a fitness location legally in Beverly Hills or Los Angeles because of strict parking requirements.   I am sure the landlord knew this.

I spent the next six months consumed with finding a location.  The commercial real estate game is very slippery.  I do not have the stomach for it.  I am way too honest.   That’s what my realtor told me!  I had offers on many tables and lost some locations that I cried about.  I got the opinions of everyone I knew on this place and that place.  I sent pictures.  I made pro and con lists.  I measured.  Planned layouts.  Phoned in many favors in regards to permits —and I waited and waited.  The place I really wanted had three other offers for the entire space (6,000 sq feet; I only wanted two).  They were not interested in me so I moved on.  While waiting on them, I lost my backup location.  I fell into despair.   My lease was approaching its end. There were whispers of “Why doesn’t she just stay here?” around the studio.  I wondered if I had lost my mind and was just being stubborn.  I did want to win—badly—but it was getting very risky.  The possibility of having to close for a period of time would have mortally wounded me financially. Then I spoke to a client who gave me the proverbial kick in the butt.  Gary doesn’t even know me well, but he knows Bodyline.  He told me that a successful business person had to take risks, well calculated ones.  “This is your chance to really build Bodyline into a business that will have value and that you can sell one day.” (But Gary, gambling  is clearly on my dislike list!) 

Time passed and I did find a location on Pico.  Again I negotiated, designed, measured, photographed.  It would be brand new.  It had high ceilings.  It had parking. They would design and pay for the build out.  I really liked the landlord and he liked me.  It felt safe.  Every day I asked clients, friends, and family members what they thought.  I drove my realtor crazy  as I flip-flopped  around. But the location was just okay. And the price?  Just OK. Out of the blue I got a call about the original location I wanted, 9171 Wilshire.  Their other deals had fallen apart; was I still  interested?  I only had two months left on my lease.  I would have to be out of my studio before I could even have a deal signed on 9171 Wilshire. My landlord was not playing nice. I was receiving certified letters every couple of days about some small violation I had made. One time it was because a suction cup was missing on the sign in my door front.  It was clear I could not stay even a day over  my lease without severe financial and legal repercussions.  Three other deals had already fallen apart for this location. How would the owners be to deal with?  How much would it cost?   The space was completely raw and would need to be built from top to bottom.  Plus, I would need to find an interim solution if I were to proceed.  That meant a double move, double headache, double stress. And how does one find temporary space?  Meanwhile a lease on the Pico location was drawn up, delivered, and awaiting my signature, but I was indecisive. It was driving me nuts.  One day I was ready to sign, next day, not so much.  The stress was enormous and it was affecting me in my work and with my family.

 I decided to take a risk.  I passed on Pico,  made an offer on the 9171 Wilshire deal and a funny thing happened:  my stress went away.  I got some good sleep.  I stopped asking confidantes what they thought.  I just moved forward.   Everything began to line up.  The universe was working with me now.  I found a fantastic temporary spot in three days and signed a lease.  They allowed me to take possession early so my move was painless..  A neighboring business is allowing my clients to use their parking lot.  The parking requirement in Beverly Hills turned in my favor, so Bodyline will be offering free parking to clients in our permanent location as well.  We will be  very close to downtown Beverly Hills aka “the Golden Triangle”.   We will have signage on Wilshire Blvd.  It is five minutes from our old location.  The landlord has been more than fair in assisting with the cost of build out.  The space will be big and beautiful and brand new.  We have offices surrounding us to draw in new clients.  Can you believe it?  So here is my point:

I listened to Steve Jobs’s autobiography while driving to and from the Grand Canyon this summer.  He credits much of his success to cultivating his own gut instinct.  Everyone knows that you should listen to your gut.  Do you know how many people emailed, texted and spoke those words to me?  My problem was I did not know what my gut was saying!  I couldn’t hear it.  Steve Jobs cultivated his strong gut by traveling to India, where he got so sick he almost died.  He lived a very extreme lifestyle in regards to diet and recreational drug use.  Lots of psychedelics! 

That is just not an available option for me: not India, not drugs, not carrots every day for weeks on end. 

When I signed my lease my realtor proclaimed, “You went with your gut.  This was the location you always wanted.”  I knew she was right.  It was. And I had my Oprah ” ah-ha” moment.   My gut had been guiding me the entire time!  I couldn’t “hear” it but I was being sent strong signals that I hadn’t picked up on.  Just like getting a headache instead of feeling hunger, I had symptoms that were indicative of my gut not being right.   I realize now that when I get stuck making a decision that that direction is not right for me.  I don’t need lots of different opinions when the right option is in front of me. I am following my gut when I feel nervous but excited at the same time, not stressed out and depressed. I think it is like this for most people. We all have that inner voice . We just need to figure out what signals our bodies give us when we aren’t hearing it.

The Return...

It's been awhile since Maria's World has had an entry. There have been a lot of fun and interesting things that have been happening to me and around here since the last entry.

Make sure you visit soon to hear about all of my adventures and the latest happenings at Bodyline and in the world of Pilates and fitness.

Thank you for being patient and just know that you will be pleased every time you visit.

A Thumbs Up for the PMA Conference from a Future Cover Girl

The PMA conference was great for me this year. It is always a bit nerve wracking to teach a large group of professionals from diverse backgrounds. Luckily the part of me that enjoys performing (the dancer in me) kicks in and I can get the job done to my liking. I felt really great after all of my classes. On opening day I was asked if I would like to do a photo shoot for PilatesStyle magazine. I did not arrive in Long Beach exactly photo-ready. My initial response was "I'm too fat!" Horrible, I know, but it just slipped out! Luckily my dear friend Conni gave me a kick in the butt and I went back to the editor with a grateful, "I would love to be in your magazine." Then somehow Conni convinced the new owner that I should be on the cover! Next thing I knew they were asking me to model…yes model!!! Finally my guilty pleasure, America's Next Top Model, came to some good use. Smiling and posing like that gave me physical pain. I don't know if they will actually use the pictures, but it is an experience I will never forget.

The conference, for those of you who haven't been, is not to be missed. It is a really unique experience. The convention center was buzzing with energy (could have been all the coffee I was chug a lugging, but I don't think so.) The conference opened with a tribute to Kathy Grant. There was footage of Kathy teaching (she was a real character!) and many of the industry's finest teachers shared their memories of Kathy as well as her words of wisdom. There were students and teachers from all over the world. Many of my favorite teachers - Jillian Hessel, Rael Isacowitz, and Marie-Jose Blum - were presenting. Although I would generally say I don't like "classical" Pilates, I really enjoyed my mat class with Susan Moran from Power Pilates. Taking her class is a perfect example of why it's so important as an instructor to attend a conference like this - it gives you the chance to experience a wide variety of teaching styles and discover pieces that you can take and blend into your work.

The expo is every bit as enjoyable as the actual conference. Next year, if you can't manage to attend the conference, at least come and check out the expo. The vendors are all showing off their latest gadgets and gizmos and this year there were so many new things to check out. Balance Body was showing off their new Core Align equipment, which puts clients upright on sliding plates with cords attached for resistance. The price point and the foot print of the Core Align did not have me sold but most Pilates instructors seemed to really enjoy the workout. I was told by Balanced Body that they consider Core Align "a game changer" and that studios with the system in place were busy. Balanced Body was also showing a rocking reformer! That's right! The wooden platform is in the shape of the bottom of a rocking chair and is placed under both ends. This allows the entire reformer to rock….like you're standing in a row boat. Very cool to try out. My big purchase was a few trampoline boards to use in place of our jumpboards on our Stott equipment. Jesse is going to be working with them and developing a cardio-focused jump class for Bodyline. We will be offering this new class in January.

For the first time at a Pilates conference there was mention of the Barre workout. A company called Extend-a-Barre was offering certification. Power Pilates had a portable bar for sale and is working on programming. At the Peak Pilates' booth they were demonstrating the Body Blade and the Free Form Board - both small apparatus used in mainstream fitness. The move into more fitness-based modalities is a reflection of the influence that big corporations are having on the Pilates industry. Power Pilates is now owned by Apogee. Similarly, Mad Dogg (the spinning company) now owns Peak Pilates.

The most exciting thing at the expo for me was a booth that most teachers walked right past – Z-Health. Back story: I arrived at the conference with an injury in my hip. I had already seen a chiropractor and a body worker and neither had alleviated my discomfort by much. The Z-Health practitioners diagnosed my problem by watching how my body reacted while I moved my eyes. Then they had me perform very simple movements with my eyes directed diagonally to the left. Poof! My pain was gone. Really gone. It was like they were witch doctors or something. My discomfort did come back about an hour or so later but I am still talking and thinking about the experience. This company also offers training and certification. I will be exploring the company further by hosting one of their practitioners at Bodyline. Be on the lookout for the invite on Facebook or via email.

Next year's conference is going to be in Palm Springs. Hopefully I will be invited to teach mat or present a workshop. I encourage you all to attend, even if it is just for a day. There are also many volunteer opportunities available which gives you the chance to attend the conference for free. Seems like a great deal to me!

Happy New Year!!!

The New Year has begun and I’m back in my post-pregnancy jeans. Not a good thing for a Pilates instructor. When I’m carrying extra weight, not only do I feel it when I’m reaching for my bigger-sized clothes, but it affects my mental health too. So like many of you, getting back to my everyday jeans is a big goal. I know the all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work, so for the next few months I will be very strict about food and exercise, while still allowing myself room for an occasional treat. My entire lifestyle needs to be more aligned with what I seek, which is really all around well-being and not just a size smaller. In order for this to happen I need to remember how much I love to move. Not just exercising, but moving in general. I, of course, love doing Pilates, but getting outside always lifts me up. I’m better to be around when I’ve had the chance to be outdoors moving. Here are a couple of common sense reminders and tips to incorporate exercise into our lives as we start this New Year of 2010:

Things to Remember about Exercise

Any amount of exercise is good for you.
You don’t need to spend an hour sweating for exercise to be beneficial. This may be a very efficient way to burn calories but don’t give up just because you can’t find a free hour in your day to workout. I often accomplish my exercise in 10 min increments throughout the day.
Exercise reduces stress.
Stress is one of the most detrimental factors to our health and well-being. It leads to a variety of health problems from taxing our immune system so we can’t fight off colds as easily, to contributing to heart disease, the number one killer of women! We forget that we can learn to control how we deal with the stress in our life by exercising more.
Exercise fights the blues and the blahs.
Feeling angry, irritable, flat, depressed? Exercise! Your mood is almost guaranteed to lift. Most of us know that enough cardio exercise will release endorphins into your blood stream and give your spirit a boost. What most people forget is that even spending 20 minutes breathing, stretching and focusing your mind on complex movement will yield similar results.
Any activity which gets you moving is healthy.
I know we are all pressed for time but find little ways to move more. Park your car a block away from your destination. Take the stairs, even just a few flights, when you can. Walk around the block while your car is being washed. Did you know that jittery people burn more calories than non-jitterers? Not that I’m recommending you become a fidgetor, but you see my point.
Make moving part of your lifestyle.
This doesn’t mean going to the gym five days a week. It means catching up with friends and neighbors while walking. It means taking a five-minute lap around the mall or around the block to discuss a matter with a colleague. It means kicking a ball back and forth with your kids. Can your kids jump rope? If not teach them. Physical activity with your kids is a win-win-win situation. Good for you. Good for them. Good for our community. Modeling an active lifestyle for your kids is the very best defense against the epidemic of childhood obesity.

Remember those of us who exercise consistently do it because of how it makes us feel not how it makes us look. Our well-being depends on it. Once you feel the difference, yours will too.

Welcome to my blog!

This is my very first blog post (I'm really trying to embrace this crazy computer as a means of communicating!) I’m writing it less as a Pilates professional and more as a working, middle-aged mom who’s trying to keep all things in balance - work, motherhood, marriage and ME. I am determined to allow myself to age gracefully and feel good about myself at the same time. This is no easy feat in Beverly Hills.

My first topic….those extra pounds.

Somehow after turning 40 I slowly gained an extra 6 pounds. Maybe not a lot of weight on some bodies, but on a 5 foot tall Pilates instructor it was significant enough to alter what jeans I could wear. And professionally - not a great career move. I even had a client say to me, “you’re in shape but even you have a little pouch.” I began trying to get back to my former self but just didn’t have the discipline to eat responsibly. What I really needed was to totally reboot my system. In June I was invited to teach at the Golden Door Spa in Escondido, CA. (And yes, it is that fabulous. I highly recommend it for relaxation and time to focus on nothing other than your true self.) While I was there I got to practice healthy eating and met a woman named Wendy Bazilian. Wendy has written a book called “The Superfoods Rx Diet”. Although I won’t ever follow a true D-I-E-T, (after all it is just one letter off from the word DIE) reading the book has shifted my awareness about food.

When I was teaching my kids to sleep through the night I purchased a book about it. There were no directions to follow per se, other than letting the child cry, but the book mentally prepared you for it and focused on the benefits of good sleeping habits for kids. It also gave you the strength to allow them to cry, even though it is incredibly painful to hear it. I find this book to be similar in that way. It makes you mentally stronger. When you view food as fuel for your body and realize its direct affect on your health, you eat differently.

Here are some changes I made:
I drink half the amount of caffeinated coffee that I used to and now use organic agave syrup to sweeten it, instead of white sugar. I have at least one cup of green tea per day, sometimes hot, sometimes cold with a splash of pomegranate juice. No more Diet Cokes. Instead, I drink La Croix sparkling water with natural lime. It comes in a can…and trust me; it’s all about the container! I try to have three small meals and two snacks most days. I eat as many “super foods” as possible and look for ways to add them to my favorite meals. I don’t eat later than 7pm and try as much as possible to take at least a stroll, if not an extended walk after eating. This is in addition to my exercise for the week which I try to keep at 3-7 hours per week. If a birthday should happen, I eat cake, and if I’m out with friends I’ll have a glass of wine or two, but I resume my routine the following day. I’ve managed to get those extra pounds off and I do not feel as if I have dieted.

As I am writing this I must confess - I am munching away on brownies -byes, that’s plural, brown-IES. My son has a friend sleeping over, my husband is away, and I just ate pizza for my dinner too. So tomorrow - oatmeal with pumpkin for breakfast or maybe some yogurt with blueberries…check in with me and make sure I’m back on the program, ok?

Here are some must have for your kitchen all available at Trader Joe’s, mostly their brand: steamed lentils, steamed and peeled baby beets, orange and bergamot unsweetened green tea, pomegranate juice, McCann’s steel cut oatmeal, roasted unsalted almonds, organic blue agave syrup, Fage Greek strained yogurt 2%, and multigrain spaghetti with flax.

For more info on this great book and/or to purchase it for yourself, go to http://www.amazon.com/Superfoods-Rx-Diet-Weight-SuperNutrients/dp/1594867402