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.