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!
