The Peak Blog

NOTE: The following piece was submitted by Sonjé Mayo. Peak Pilates has recently invited Sonjé to write her own blog for the Community. If you are interested in contributing a blog, please e-mail ali@peakpilates.com.

As a young aspiring ballerina, I felt invincible. I danced with great ease and natural ability and, in retrospect, with no intelligent application whatsoever. In the 1950’s, classical ballet was taught by rote and repetition. You were seen and definitely not heard. If you had the required physical assets, you could succeed; if not, you would fall by the wayside at an early stage. It was all about being aesthetically pleasing on stage and competing with the best. I have a picture of myself, posing with my leg around my tonsil (for which I received great critical acclaim), but my hips and spine were totally distorted. It is no wonder that so many professional ballerinas of my era ended up with hip replacements and spinal pathology in their forties. During my training as a physical therapist, I did question many aspects of the classical technique, but by then I had developed so many compensatory patterns to execute what was required that they were impossible to correct.

My first introduction to contemporary dance came in 1966 when I was dragged to a class at the Graham school in NYC. By then I was an established ballerina in a prestigious company and I reluctantly went to the class with the superior attitude that as a ballerina, I could master any dance technique. What a rude awakening that first class was. It soon became very apparent that with all my physical assets, strength and flexibility, I had very poor body awareness, no mental application and no core strength. Martha Graham astounded me with her intelligent approach to dance. She actually encouraged communication between the dancer and the teacher, which was completely unheard of in my classical ballet training.  
 
I was extremely depressed after that first class. I was forced to face the fact that I had been wasting a lot of time and energy and I was frustrated by the realization that it would be futile to continue the way I had been dancing. After an agonizing period and much soul searching, I made the decision to leave the ballet company and dedicate myself to the contemporary dance technique. In making this decision, I changed the course of my life.

As part of the Graham training, we were given one Pilates mat class a week. I do not think that any of us fully appreciated the great privilege when Joseph Pilates himself came to teach us a few classes. None of us had any idea at that stage just how much he would impact our lives. Of the ten people in my year, eight of them would eventually become Pilates instructors. I clearly remember Joe as this dapper individual walking into the studio. He was a striking figure even in his old age. He was a real taskmaster and I remember struggling and thinking that this exercise form was surely designed for HIS body only! As if he was reading my mind, he said: “You have very long legs and a short body. You must develop the strength to control that leverage or you will never last!” Almost 35 years later, when I was struggling with the Open Leg Rocker in PPS-II, my teacher Nancy Hurd, would say almost the same thing. Her line was: “You’re all legs….now deal with it!” 
 
Between those precious Pilates classes and Martha Graham’s relentless teaching, my mind and body grew from strength to strength. There is no doubt that the influence of two such powerful pioneers inspired me to greater things. I never looked back and for 32 years I enjoyed a successful career as a contemporary dancer and choreographer. Most of all, I had developed great humility and respect for other movement forms.

The pressure of performing does unfortunately take its toll on the body. Finally at the age of 55, my scoliosis caught up with me. I developed a herniated disc at T12 (where the thoracic spine meets the lumbar spine), the most vulnerable part of the lateral curvature, and my existing spondylolisthesis (the anterior sliding of the fifth lumbar vertebral body over the first sacral vertebra) deteriorated tremendously. I was put on bed rest and heavy doses of steroids and I knew that my performing days were definitely over. The journey to recovery was slow and frustrating because I was impatient with myself, the physical therapist and the medical fraternity. I felt the need to be more pro-active and heal myself.
 
Out of the blue, I received an e-mail from one of the original women in my Graham class. She had retired from dance ten years earlier and she was now a Pilates instructor. The fact that she contacted me at that precise moment was an omen. On listening to my predicament her first words were: “You have to get to a good Pilates instructor.” I had always incorporated the Pilates principles in my teaching of dance, but it then dawned on me that Pilates could be the rehabilitative tool that I, and so many others like me, desperately needed.

I set out to find an experienced Pilates teacher and after my first session, I knew I had come home. I gained strength rapidly and learnt to be kind to my body. I was so inspired that for the third time in my life, I changed course and embraced a new physical discipline. Pilates would be my destiny after all….I had come full circle.

Note: Teaching dancers, and particularly injured dancers, is a psychological challenge! Keep in mind that they are impatient to heal and tend to think that they are superior. (I speak from experience!) As their Pilates teacher, the key factor is to find the flaw in their body alignment or limb alignment immediately, which is usually the cause of the injury. Once that is clear to them, they will approach the Pilates technique with enthusiasm and respect. (Again, I speak from experience.) Fortunately, classical ballet is taught very differently today. Almost all the professional ballet companies now incorporate Pilates mat and reformer workouts into their training programs.

- Sonjé Mayo

This past April, I had the privilege of leading demonstrations and working with attendees at our Peak Pilates booth at FIBO. FIBO is one of the world’s largest fitness trade shows and this year it was held in Essen, Germany. I was also very honored to work along side our International Peak Pilates Teacher Trainers. It was a heart-warming and incredible cultural experience.

We had a great response and a great showing at our booth. I have never been surrounded by so many languages at one time! I worked with people from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, India, Japan, Czechoslovakia, Russia and the list goes on… Wow!

It’s amazing how the international Pilates market is catching momentum and growing.  We spoke to an Arabian customer who said he had resisted Pilates for years, and now, he says, “Here I am asking you for a demonstration on the equipment.” He spent about forty-five minutes at our booth asking all the right questions. People are realizing that Pilates is here to stay!

As many of you know, Peak Pilates offers Classical Pilates and our fitness line, MVe Fitness Fusion. It is so smart to offer both because the reality is that both are in demand.  The market demands the ingenuity of our equipment and the clarity of our education. Because we have upheld the integrity of the traditions of Joseph Pilates, we are the single source solution for any studio owner or any club franchise entrepreneur. The positive response we received at FIBO provides evidence that there is a need for all we have to offer.

I encourage all Pilates professionals to experience both the “Classical” and “Fitness World” of Pilates. Be smart and expose yourself to all the Pilates industry has to offer.

- Sonia Rodriguez, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

One of the most impressionable teachers I ever had was a dance teacher, Thomas Molinaro, who was not only a brilliant dancer but had an extremely keen eye. I was in my early twenties before my introduction to Pilates, and Thomas would incorporate Pilates mat work into our ballet and stretch classes. His disciplined approach to ballet training included the required back or pink attire only and classes were conducted with a high degree of formality. Class was held every weekday from 9 - 11:45 a.m. Each day was the same format with the same students, same music, and same work each day – and yet in some way, everyday something was different; our alertness, energy, strength, balance, emotional state, etc. 

I’ll never forget how Thomas would slowly and closely walk by us all lined up, simply observing our individual qualities that day. He would occasionally quietly ask how someone how they were doing and politely we would always respond we were doing “fine.” I was very surprised the first time he poignantly said, and a lesson that remains with me today, that our bodies don’t lie, our mouths do. I found it fascinating how accurately Thomas could see how we really felt on the inside based on how we were expressing on the outside. Even when our mouths said everything was “fine,” it was clear as a bell to Thomas when our inside state and outward report were out of sync. Without judgment or a single word he would raise an eyebrow and in that instant we both knew the truth.

But it didn’t stop there. He held out an olive branch to each of us, an invitation that very moment and each moment during class to change our minds choose a different reality. Once class was underway, each of us had a chance to start anew; not only to meet ourselves in the newly created moment, but to learn to trust our ability to use movement as a way to transform our mood or inner state. He always held the door open for possibility. In subtle ways he was teaching us powerful life lessons: we are responsible for our own reality, we alone create our reality, and we have a choice in the matter - and all of this for the price of class admission!

Reflecting on the teacher-student relationship and the non-verbal messaging that transpires during a session I am reminded again that we can always re-choose our reality in the moment both as teachers and as students. Today when I teach I will have my olive branch ready.

- Clare Dunphy, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

Sitting here enjoying this beautiful spring day in my garden, I’m soaking up all the positive energy – the birds, the breeze, the daffodils, the river, the sun – and feeling positively peaceful. That sense of ease, or well-being, is so healing it is wise to think about how we cultivate that in our studios with our clients.

Many people come to Pilates seeking something. Some know exactly what they are looking for – they come to help their aching backs, to get stronger, to gain flexibility, to breathe movement into their lives. Others want to look better or are just curious to see what the buzz is all about. Regardless of why people start Pilates, it is a joy to share their journey of discovery.

New students discover what they can do that they thought they could not. They discover new reserves of energy and reconnect with their bodies. One of the things I love most about the classical work is the quiet environment. By removing the frills of music and external noise, we help students to reach inward in order to rediscover themselves from the inside out. By tying one movement onto the next with the discipline of the order and the transition we bring them out of themselves and into a new tradition. By bringing the Peak Principles to light through teaching, we help them understand not only movement quality, but how to take Pilates out into the world to do anything better.

Our Peak Pilates 5-Part Formula for Success lists “teacher mindfulness” among the elements. It is the cultivation of this ability to be totally present that helps to elevate Pilates from mere exercise to a mind-body-spirit experience for both teacher and student alike. Have you worked to bring this element to life in your own teaching? If so, your students are benefiting from your total focus and are able to more fully focus themselves. Your students are benefiting from a holistic approach that is transforming.

If you want to improve your “teacher mindfulness,” here are some ideas to help:

• Create a quiet time in the morning. Use this space to simply be. Resist the urge to ‘do’ – simply enjoy some quiet. You can meditate or simply enjoy a special time for you and allow thoughts to simply float by.

• Consider your clients’ full experience: Mentally are they stimulate and learning about their bodies? About Pilates? Are they progressing physically? Spiritually? Do they the lesson leave feeling uplifted and better about themselves? Are you meeting them energetically?

• You want to find the balance in your teaching of providing your students not just cues, but energy. If they are tired are you able to energize them a bit? When they come in overly stimulated and scattered can you bring them some calm? Teaching is like a dance; it takes at least two.

• Is the studio environment conducive to a mindful experience? Is it clean and uncluttered, quiet? Is it a peaceful place that provides a bit of respite from the hectic pace of life?

• Finally, if you have been teaching a while, respect your intuition. Learn to listen through other avenues than your ears to gain a sense of where to go and when.

I frequently share with people that I feel so lucky. I appreciate that everyday I get to contribute in some way to others health and happiness! At my studio in Avon, the InnerSpace, we say “may the inward and outward be one.” When this happens we move towards health and harmony! 

Wishing you a springtime filled with growth,

- Zoey Trap, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

NOTE: The following piece was submitted by Allison McPherson, owner of Corvallis Pilates in Oregon. Allison received her Peak Pilates Comprehensive Certification in June 2006. Peak Pilates has recently invited Allison to write her own blog for the Community. If you are interested in contributing a blog, please e-mail ali@peakpilates.com.

For those of us who have continued on the journey with the Peak Pilates training program, the rewards and the challenges never end.

My journey with Peak Pilates began in January 2005. I remember being so excited, but little did I know that life as I knew it would cease to exist and I am not just saying that metaphorically! Like all who embark on a life-altering journey, it's probably best that we don't fully realize what we're getting into or we'd probably think twice (childbirth comes to mind!).
So there I was, with seven other students, somewhat in awe – since our teacher was Ana Caban. After the first day, I realized that this would be one of the most physically and mentally challenging things I would ever do (I also realized that I was going to need a bigger fire hose). I also remember the last day of that training – test day. It was almost surreal for me because the changes that I was making internally through the intense level of training had now been reflected in my external world culminating in my partner leaving me unexpectedly and having to move out of the home we shared just days before the test. Basically, I was a complete emotional basket case and just wanted the journey to end.

Weeks later, finding out that I hadn't passed part of the exam came as no surprise but was another serious blow – talk about drinking from a fire hose. From that point on, however, my resolve to get back on the horse and ride became stronger than ever. I flew down to Houston several months later for a retake, meeting a great bunch of people while there, and after being notified that I passed, I went right on to take PPS-II and beyond to a Comprehensive Certification in June 2006.

As it turned out, this was only another part of the journey. Feeling enormously relieved that the “training portion” of my Pilates career was over, I decided to start my own studio. I purchased my first Total Workout System and after a short spell with my reformer in my living room, I found an affordable space about 350 square feet in downtown Corvallis, OR.

Wow, I made it! Clients were actually coming and even paying for sessions. I bought another TWS, a chair and a ladder barrel and started doing duo sessions which allowed me to bring in additional clients as well as double my hourly income. This was really great. Soon, I had a full book and was in need of more space. After months of looking for just the right balance of space versus cost, I found a great new studio location, added a full Cadillac and finally have enough room to teach mat classes.

Again, that was just another part of the journey. I now have three students taking the PPS-I trainings. I am now at a place along my journey where I want and need others for the studio to grow and, quite frankly, to help others who have the same passion that I have in sharing the transformational power that Pilates has to truly change people’s lives. It was not very long ago that I, like them, was so excited about the new world I was entering. My hope is that I can provide them with the tools they need to “survive” the journey they have now embarked upon, remembering so vividly all the challenges that I faced along the way.

For those of us who choose Pilates as part of our life's adventure, the journey will never end. It will be a continual journey into the limitless potential of who we are and what we are to become. I am so grateful that I decided to take that journey. Both the rewards and the challenges are never ending and it's truly a wonderful ride – I do however recommend bringing along a fire hose!

- Allison McPherson, owner of Corvallis Pilates

Is fashion dangerous? Well, with platform shoes once again in vogue one might think so! Certainly they can make legs look long and sexy however equally awkward they can make the walk look. Let’s consider other fashion trends and possible hidden or unknown dangers there. What about body piercing? It seems these days I see body piercing elegantly implanted on everyone from young teenagers to middle-aged individuals. For example teeny, tiny elegant diamonds nestled in the nose to more elaborate schemes boarding on outrageous but supposedly cool. But are they an innocuously cool thing? After you hear the story I’m about to tell, you might be more cautious with your cool.  

A student taking the Living Anatomy Series class in Boulder would take private lessons with me a day or two before each course. She had challenges in thoracic articulation and the upper thoracic curl with corresponding tight erector spinae and protruding ribs. A fairly common duo, however, this student was very strong and fluid in her movements. Like most accomplished students, she was both aware of and a little frustrated with her situation.

During one of the LAS courses Lori Hayne, PT spoke about the dangers of body piercing, their disturbance to the meridians and the consequences. It was fascinating. Originally when Lori and I spoke about what to deliver in this particular course, she wasn’t sure if her research on body piercing would be important. But because so many of us (teachers) work with a variety of clients – many of whom have body piercings, I thought it pertinent. 

During the course Lori asked if anyone had body piercing and a student raised her hand affirming she did. She had a navel ring. Lori worked with this student through several movement patterns with the navel ring in and with it out.  Resulting patterns without the ring was markedly different and the student was brought to tears. She felt energetically different and her movements were greatly altered. We could all see it too; it was quite an instantaneous and obvious change. The ring had been in for 18 years! Lori spoke about other problems navel ring wearers’ exhibit and privately this student confirmed that she too had many of them. She never in her wildest dreams contributed it to her navel ring. 

Since that time I have worked with this student once again and the lesson was quite different than previous ones. She was working to her ability and potential fully. A week ago I had the opportunity to see this student at a conference. I couldn’t help but notice the difference in the shape of her body from just six weeks prior. She’s not a big person, but rather lean. I used her as a demonstrator for advanced exercises and it felt like I was working with a completely different person both physically and energetically. She confided afterwards that everything has changed for her and that her body is continuing to process, that taking out the navel ring was life-altering.

If I hadn’t been a witness to this transformation I’m not sure I would have believed it could be so great. Lori Hayne reportedly works with athletes and sees improved performance, such as was experienced from this student, from taking out body piercings including those found up the outside of the ear, on the tip of the tongue, nipples and other areas.
 
If you or a client is having specific challenges and you have body piercing, consider taking them out and getting some real body work done. You might be surprised and pleased at the results. Yet fashion does call, so keep your earrings on, at least the ones on the lowest part of the earlobe. It appears that is an innocuous spot so fashion can prevail there…thank goodness!

NOTE: The following piece was submitted by Cameron Macdonald, owner of Precision Pilates in Annapolis, Maryland. Francis Carty, one of Cameron's students, chose to write about the emotions and struggles she experienced throughout her PPS-I trainings. Peak Pilates has recently invited Carty to begin writing her own student blog for the Community. If you are interested in contributing a student blog, please e-mail ali@peakpilates.com.

Recently, I made the choice to become a Pilates instructor. The path that I chose was not easy on any level. It is a large educational commitment that is very time consuming, physically challenging, and more than a little bit expensive. Yet, it is absolutely the right thing for my career at this point in time. Past graduates of the program told me the expression, “you have to break down (i.e. cry) in order to break through (i.e. gain skills)” was used frequently in this teaching methodology. What on earth had I gotten myself into?! Despite the fact that my personal philosophy was to make “a commitment to constant self improvement,” I was challenged.

I arrived to the training with a strong resolve to do my best and not to give into emotional drama. The first day, I was full of enthusiasm, eager to soak up tons of knowledge. Our day was busy. We practiced the hour-long mat routine four times. Interspersed into those practice sessions were hours of lectures and we were taught a new vocabulary and unfamiliar movement patterns. We were also required to teach each other the material that we had not yet mastered. Introverts, like me, do not like verbalizing what they have not finished internalizing at all. Still, the first day ended without incident. My husband’s sympathetic description of my summarized day is that we were drinking from a fire hose.

The second day entailed only a quick refresher of the first day’s information and then more new information. It quickly took the wind out of my sails. At the 15th hour of this 32-hour weekend, my eyes started to leak quietly from the stress. Every muscle in my body was aching and my brain was saturated. I never intended to look soft. It was embarrassing to be the first one to cry. Worse still, the idea of being the object of sympathy from my fellow classmates was unappealing. But what really pushed me over the edge, was the Silent Drill. In it, we were required to demonstrate our knowledge of the material without any help in front of our instructor and classmates. This is especially difficult in Pilates as the student is typically lying down, has limited visibility and relies almost entirely on verbal clues from the teacher. Additionally, the student’s concentration should be hyper-focused on bodily alignment. The Silent Drill required us to do each of the 24 exercises in the proper order, at the correct tempo, while maintaining physical control of infrequently used small muscles.
 
Now, I was openly crying in front of what must have surely been the entire world. Intense humiliation is a mild description of the fear that gripped me. Truly, I would have preferred jumping from the window rather than endure torture of this kind. I mentally tossed around the idea of acting like an indignant consumer and insisting that I didn’t pay to be humiliated in this fashion. This drill also posed an enormous challenge to my other personal belief in blending to the point of invisibility. I felt exposed and vulnerable.
 
Aside from the non-refundable tuition cost, quitting appeared to have no grave consequences. Still, in my heart of hearts, I knew that the cliché was true and this was my moment to shine. Perseverance became the virtue of the hour. Begrudgingly, I meditated on my husband’s mantra of, “I can do anything for a day.” I decided it was time for the rubber to meet the road, for my true character to emerge. My excuses of embarrassment and insecurity simply weren’t good enough anymore. So, I pushed aside the all of my fears and just powered though the Silent Drill. The decision to keep going became something that I could share with my children and clients in the future. It was one heck of a teachable moment. Be fully present in the present, use your powerhouse and believe that change is difficult, but without it there is no growth. Understand the universal truth that everyone has reasons for not wanting to do things that they ought to do. But, real change only occurs when you find the strength to push yourself through that resistance.

The goal of this teaching style is to develop inner strength through immersion and it worked. Muscle memory pulled me through the Silent Drill. When it was over, I felt stronger than I ever have in the past. It helped when I realized that everyone else was just as nervous as I was. No one gave a flawless performance, but everyone did a really good job and that’s what counts. We all left that night with a deepened friendship and a new definition of tired. 

Physically, Pilates requires that one uses the muscles of the core and the seat to cause the limbs to move. It also requires use of concentration, will, and desire, to power one’s self though obstacles in our path. The powerhouse inside each and every one of us is not something to be taken lightly or ignored. It is a powerful tool. 

The second part of this intensive training program is still on the horizon. But this time I know that I will succeed. I am very grateful for all of the support has so generously been shared. Family, friends, classmates, clients and countless other mentors have given me a new sense of confidence. This isn’t the arrogance of assuming that I will easily glide thought the next stage, but rather the contentment that comes from looking forward to future challenges. 

- Frances Carty, PPS-I grad, November 2007

While in San Diego this past March, I had the grand opportunity of launching our new MVe DVDs at the IHRSA tradeshow. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity of creating the choreography and leading two of those DVDs, “MVe Latin Dance Fusion” and “MVe Perfect Pair.” 

After the tradeshow, as I was flying back to my home town of El Paso, I had time to reflect on where I am in my career and on the journey it has been, I realized that although I have worked hard to get where I am at, I was never introduced to the possibilities in the Pilates and Fitness industry before I started my journey… I never had anyone truly open my eyes to the opportunities that are out there. 

Based on this experience, I would like to share some thoughts. I would encourage all Pilates instructors to take the time to think about where you want your career to go. Do not leave it up to chance. Here are some simple, but effective recommended steps:

• First define all of your personal talents and skills. One of them will be Pilates, of course, but how about other skills? For example, are you good at business, marketing, sales, etc? You might want to go as far as to define whether you are analytical or creative.
  
• Research all the different career opportunties that are available in the Pilates/Fitness Industries. I would recommend that you use the internet, books and interview individuals who are already in the industry. Also, attending a tradeshow like IHRSA would be a great way to see first-hand what the industry may have to offer you.
  
• Decide what your career goals are.
  
• Put together a strategy of how to get there.

Here are some sectors in the industry that go hand-in-hand with your Pilates skills:

- Sales
- Marketing
- Business Consulting
- Education provider
- Education Development
- Publishing
- Convention Presenter
- Convention Coordinator
- Research
- Web Site Development
- Product Development (i.e. equipment, accessories, DVDs, apparel, etc.)
- Management
- Advertising

Although my success was not as thoroughly mapped out as I have proposed above, I can say that I have been blessed with success due to hard work, dedication, persistence and also because of the wonderful teachers and mentors that I have had in my life.  

I encourage everyone to stay true to who you are and the gifts that you have been given. Your gifts and talents should be used to help others, not to elevate yourself. If you do this, you will become more than you ever dreamed. Happy journey!

- Sonia Rodriguez, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

I just got home from the San Diego Convention Center for IHRSA, and it was a great few days. The last time I was there was for IDEA World and it looked totally different with major equipment manufacturers all promoting their equipment to facilities all over the world. People were in from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and North America—literally every corner of the globe to catch a glimpse of what is “new.”

Peak was in the middle of the hall with an eye-catching booth that showcased both sides of our work – classic studio equipment on one side, and MVe on the other. The MVe side was complete with stage, screen projector and neon MVe green floor! It was the talk of the show.
 
Sonia, Stacey and I kept busy teaching half-hour demo classes that showcased the chair and new MVe Reformer programs. With the new MVe DVDs just released, it was fun to finally showcase some of the new classes. The MVe “Latin Dance” was a blast with a chance to get a little dance action in between MVe sets and Sonia and Ricco sent the booth spinning with some impromptu salsa dancing! We also premiered “Balance and Control,” which is an MVe solution for the active aging population – those demos were pretty funny, as none of us are quite in that demographic! Our classes were consistently packed and people were eager to get a taste of the workouts and experience the equipment. It was great to see so many men in every group… it shows that the MVe has taken cross-gender appeal to a whole new level.
 
The morning workout was a challenge as Sonia and I had to co-teach an MVe Chair and Reformer Circuit. It was full and we had our hands full with a sound system that was not hooked up quite right and was sending my voice to Sonia’s group and Sonia’s to mine! But on a positive note, our students did a great job following along regardless, which shows the power of the programs! It was fun to move people through four alternating bouts that were choreographed to compliment one another with sequences for upper body on the Reformer, lower body on the chair and then upper body on the chair, with integrated workouts on the Reformer.
 
It is always such a great opportunity to see what’s going on outside of Peak and to feel great about being part of such a great team. It was notable that so many companies are following in our footsteps creating chairs and programs of their own, and knowing that we were the original pioneers.
 
After a fun (but tiring) few days, I have to say that my favorite part of IHRSA continues to be the chance to reconnect with old friends and catch up! We may be a global industry, but it’s a small, small world.

- Zoey Trap, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

The IHRSA show is the biggest one of the year for Peak Pilates, and this year’s show was full of excitement. Peak had its largest booth ever on the main aisle with 1500 square feet of exhibit space. The Peak Pilates Marketing Team worked hard to create a bold, eye-catching booth that included a large tower with green lighting at the top, a stage for booth demonstrations, flat screen TVs with scrolling video, lit greeting desks, new merchandising stands and dramatic signage above. Many attendees and fellow exhibitors made comments that the Peak booth was the most impressive looking booth at the show. 

During expo hours we ran many booth demonstrations that highlighted our brand-new product, the MVe Fitness Reformer, as well as the MVe Fitness Chair, PPS Deluxe and Studio equipment. Many of the demos mirrored the brand-new workout DVDs that were released at the show including "Latin Dance Fusion" and "Perfect Pair."

During the early morning workout times in the expo hall, we saw a huge turnout of participants waiting to attend one of our hour-long workouts. We also saw a great turnout for a sponsored education class that featured a circuit on the Chair and Reformer.

What a great launch of our new product and new booth! 

- Ben Rippe, Peak Pilates Event Coordinator

Lately I’ve been enjoying my preparations for the upcoming conferences in Austin (“Spread Your Wings”) and Santa Clara (“Mind Body Spirit”), as well as Peak Pilates’ premiere specialty CEC course, “Living Anatomy Series.” The latter has been most interesting but I try to consolidate my efforts by tying the different workshops, conferences and sometimes media material I’m currently working on, together in a cohesive manner. It keeps me focused and helps me with my research.  

The “Living Anatomy” series underpins everything created because it’s such a rich, three-dimensional experience that affects all aspects of my work. It is a really, really cool course. It’s where students use their hands to build parts of the body in clay. Later the same day, students see the respective parts of the body dissected, in an unprecedented opportunity; at the Enlightenment Cadaver Labs facility outside of Boulder (it is enlightening by the way). Lastly, I take the students in the Pilates Studio and work the practical side rounding off the course with real life stuff. 

Speaking about real life, I can’t help but think about one of the cadavers in the lab, I think his name was Pete, who lived to a ripe old age and he did that with considerable physical pain. How can I tell? As “Master Dissector” Todd Garcia – speaking like a Pilates instructor – said, the body speaks. One can see how an individual has lived their life through what is retained in the tissue of the organs, muscles and bones. For instance, with Pete it was easy to see he was a sedentary man because of his pot belly, lack of muscular development and degeneration in the spine. But more interesting and telling was the massive adhesions through his colon which surely affected his health and well-being at all levels. Pete had had surgery in his colon and with careful skill Todd took the group through the pathway of his adhesions. 

I could literally see how like a “cancer web,” the adhesions had spread to surrounding areas creating a tight mass of weird looking tissue. One could assume it was simply due to lack of movement after the surgery and, what I suspect was lack of proper follow-up care. I don’t really know the latter for sure, but I do know if adhesions aren’t worked through to healthy mobility by bringing circulation to the affected area, that area becomes stiff and restrictive. This restriction is contagious.  Well not literally, of course, but as an area stops moving and getting blood flow, the surrounding area takes the heat and begins to become restrictive as adhesions continue to build up. This underpins the importance of massage and appropriate exercise after an injury or surgery.

In the case of surgery, these things are not traditionally prescribed therapy. Certainly with Pete it was obvious he didn’t do much after his surgery. If he had done Pilates or something of that nature, massaging and moving his internal organs, the adhesions would not have been as prolific. I can assume elimination was altered as well as other normal activities and even his posture. One could extrapolate the effect of his internal health to his mood and personality. It’s fascinating.

Pete was quite a specimen to view and I am thankful for his contribution to my education and to the students in the course. In fact, participating in the Enlightenment Cadaver Lab makes me appreciate the value of what I do, what we all do as movement specialist as Pilates’ teachers. We help people at so many levels achieve health, much of which we aren’t aware of at all, it just happens through what we do. 

- Colleen Glenn, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

I like to think of fun as a renewable resource because it's always in limitless supply. It is a frame of mind. If you ask some people if exercise is fun or if they think studying for an exam is fun, you will inevitably get different view points. As a Master Trainer, I serve as a mentor to our Teacher Trainers and I review the course evaluations from our students in order to find out what they have to say about their learning experience. I am always curious to discover the end result, which is ultimately the students’ overall experience. Our collective goal at Peak is to exceed our students’ expectations on every level. It’s a tall order, but for me it is also fun. 
 
At the onset of developing the PPS Instructor Training program, Colleen, Zoey and I had a crystal clear vision of creating a unique Pilates educational experience that was compassionate, respectful of different learning styles, honored the stages of learning and most importantly, kept learning FUN. We built specific tools into the lesson plans to enable the trainer delivering the course to carry out our mission. From time to time, and lately a lot more often, we’ve received calls and letters from students which reminds us that the work we put into the PPS courses and the attention that we paid to our original intentions, has really made our program stand out. They share that the experience has not only made a difference in their lives, but also the lives of their clients. Their stories are gratifying to hear, and I both laugh and cry as victories, blunders and struggles are shared. I can always relate. 
 
The Development Team at Peak Pilates constantly makes program improvements by paying close attention to feedback from our students as well as our trainers, which I believe is a testimony of Peak’s dedication to excellence. However, the commitment to excellence doesn’t end there.

What students in the courses don’t know is that what goes on behind the scenes to create an unforgettable learning experience. Great trainings don’t just happen and great trainers aren’t just born that way! Skills are cultivated, solutions are discovered, strengths are celebrated and built upon and areas of opportunity are made stronger with compassion and hard work. We take care to support our Teacher Trainer’s growth, improve their presenting and communication skills and give on-going mentoring, so that the Peak message continues to be unified and clear for our students all over the globe. 

The pathway to become a Teacher Trainer is a long and on-going process. As a mentor, I am closely involved with trainer’s on-going development through video tape review of courses, regular communication via phone and email as well as annual meetings. Each trainer on the network has a designated coach, plus me or Zoey as their mentor. We all grow together and our message filters from the top at a corporate level down to the final experience of not only the teachers we educate through our courses, but to their clients as well. And so our Pilates family grows… now that’s what I call fun.

- Clare Dunphy, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

The ECA show in NY has been a great show for us to attend over the past few years. In 2006 there was a great initial response to the MVe Fitness Chair during the three sessions that were taught at the show. In 2007, Peak had a larger presence with nearly triple the number of sessions ranging from MVe Chair workouts, to workshops on the reformer and traditional mat workouts. 

Many of the attendees made comments that they were excited to see Peak offer some very unique sessions at the show this year. Peak's Master Trainers Zoey Trap and Sonia Rodriguez were excited to provide the ECA attendees with some fresh presentations this year on subjects like Pilates for Overweight Clients, Spotting Techniques and Reformer on the Mat. Additionally, MVe Trainer Stacey Lei Krauss led attendees in an exciting Hard Core workout on the MVe Chairs. 

The sessions were so full that we often had too many people to handle. To improve for next year, we will have a larger classroom as well as more sessions offered to accommodate the growing interest in Peak education.
The show was a huge success in generating interest in Peak education and further promoting the MVe line of products. 

We can’t wait for the 2009 show! 

- Ben Rippe, Peak Pilates Event Coordinator

As a Peak Pilates Master Trainer, one of the great opportunities I’ve had has been presenting at conventions. Teaching at conventions really gives me a sense of what it going on out there in the industry and a chance to make a difference.

I've just returned from ECA New York where I had the opportunity to teach some workshops. One of the workshops I presented was “Peak Pilates Spotting Techniques.” The workshop covered information on how to touch and also eight different types of touch that can be used with students. The workshop was successful and effective and the attendees walked away with a great deal of applicable knowledge while I walked away with some incredible observations based on the feedback I had received afterwards.

Many of the attendees thanked me for “giving them permission to touch” and I was very surprised. It seemed like the majority of them have not been using touch techniques in their practices. It makes me wonder if this is true across the map. Another attendee came up to me, a bit emotional, and said that she had not been comfortable with receiving touch and hadn’t realized that it was the reason she had not been using touch techniques with her clients. She shared with me that the workshop had changed her level of comfort with touch!

These comments inspired me to take this opportunity to remind all instructors of importance of developing good touch technique skills. This is vital to any Pilates instructor, as usually instructors are not using a touch technique because they do not have the skills and do not understand how to touch so I would like to provide you with a couple of questions that will help you to develop your skills. First understand that improving your touch techniques will be a process of discovery, observation and practical application. To develop a better sense of touching and how it is used in Pilates consider the following:

When you take or observe a lesson, and ask yourself these questions:

• What kinds of touches were used?
• What was the purpose of the touch?
• How was touch delivered?
• Was it helpful or distracting?
• How did the teacher use biomechanics and positioning to protect their own body?

When you give your lessons, examine your own use of touch with your students:

• How do I feel about touching? Am I comfortable or uncomfortable with it? Why?
• Do I touch with purpose and intent—to achieve a specific goal? What is an example of this?
• What is the pressure of my touch?
• Do my touch techniques create the desired result?
• Which technique do I feel most comfortable using?
• Which technique am I least comfortable with using? (Focus on this technique for a few sessions.)

With thoughtful practice, you will grow in your ability to use touch techniques to enhance your teaching abilities. So, make a commitment to yourself and your students and practice your touch! And remember: “Every day we touch lives and lives touch us.”

- Sonia Rodriguez, Peak Pilates Master Trainer

It is easy to get stuck. Stuck teaching in a similar fashion, seldom varying lessons, and working on the usual apparatus day after day. In recent conversations with several teachers, I was curious to hear how they kept their workouts fresh for their clients, how they planned and built progression into their sessions and if they truly worked with Pilates as a full “system.” Remarkably, each person shared the tendency to shy away from equipment they didn’t understand well or didn’t personally practice on, or found that they regularly got into a rut teaching the same way with the same tempo using the same cues and the same exercises with their clients. Without a plan or a map, how can you get where you want to go? It is no surprise that they periodically felt “flat” and uninspired in their teaching. I personally related to their stories as I had been there before myself. While the workshops were inspiring and I received plenty of information and new ideas, it wasn’t until I did my own homework and applied what I learned that a transformation ensued. Here is what I did to develop a strategy for each client. 

First came an inventory of current Pilates goals along with a review and prioritization of current body issues, exercises or movement patterns currently challenging them and what exercises I had given them on each piece of equipment. Then I asked myself if they were progressing and if so, in what way and how that looked. I wrote this for each person, using it as an opportunity to check in and reset goals as necessary.

I was amazed at the insight this process brought seeing everything written down in black and white. It enabled me to create a plan and purposefully construct a workout strategy that targeted their needs. I decided to zero-in on one or two priority issues at a time. I pulled out my exercise lists on all the apparatus and created a complete list of all the exercises that could help each issue, fully realizing that I would tackle each issue in stages. At the top of the list were mat and reformer exercises and then I listed the remaining exercises on the Cadillac, chairs, barrels and accessories that could help my client. Now I was ready to get creative.

My goal was to plan five different workouts that specifically addressed the areas I identified. I developed a template with seven columns and enough rows to list each exercise I planned to cover over the course of six sessions. The first column listed the exercises either beginning with mat or reformer then 2-5 exercises on 2-3 other apparatus, and an ending. The remaining six columns represented six sessions where I could take notes after the session. I took care not to introduce more then 1-2 new exercises or variations per apparatus in a given session, indicating which exercises I would introduce each session. This allowed me and my client to grow into the full program over six sessions. I discovered it was much easier, with the full lists in front of me, to come up with five different workouts and created a theme for each session. 

By spending the time to invest in my client’s progress and success, I found that I had invested in myself as well. This process pushed me out of my comfort zone and re-opened my eyes to the beauty and vastness of the Pilates System. I also realized how important it was for me to actively continue exploring the possibilities available within the Pilates system and keep on seeking greater depths of what it has to offer, remaining wide open to the unfolding its mysteries. Romana was right when she said, “stay true to the system and the system will stay true to you.”

- Clare Dunphy, Peak Pilates Master Trainer