So My Journey Continues................

In September, I finished the last course required for my Balanced Body Pilates Bridge Program.  This past weekend I completed my Test Out, both practical and written. 
The whole experience was both grueling and rewarding.  Grueling because it was so much harder the second time around. Six years ago when I was certified with Physical Mind and IM=X,  I did not have all the demands on my life that I have now.  Plus the curriculum was much lighter.  This time I had to juggle my full-time job with digesting manuals filled with over 65 exercises (the LIRR was my study hall), my classes, clients and my own self-practice.  Not to mention that I had to get enough sleep and eat well enough to keep my energy buzzed and my immune system humming.  On the other hand, it was rewarding because I did it, am extremely proud of my accomplishments and I survived!

My Master Instructor is brilliant and she had very good things to say about my performance during the practical with my client.  She said my cueing was precise and clear and she could tell that I was confident, comfortable and had a great deal of experience. Her “but” came after that. This is the part that I really listened to.  She said she was going to push me to dig deeper – more towards the Feldenkreis and Laban Methods that emphasize movement awareness and the organization of the body.  What she means is that instead of saying, “feel your arches against the straps” you can be a bit more descriptive by saying “feel the tone of the hamstrings as you press your arches against the straps”.  Another cue she used as an example was “rotate your ribs forward and around so that your navel kisses the mat”.  It is a form of visualization -- a realistic form.  She wants me to be a better instructor because she knows I can. She also said self-practice is an important part of a Pilates instructor’s life. Your thought process during your own workout kicks into gear and you create the cues that will inspire and engage your clients. This is why I always carve out time for myself once a week to do this.

So my journey continues and it feels good to get that part of the practice under my belt so that I can move on to even greater things.  I look forward to sharing all the new material that I have learned with my clients and students.  This includes guiding them to even greater heights and motivating them to dig deeper, as well:)