Exploring the Essence
of Pilates-Instructor Seminar
Iso Fit
Class Descriptions
1. TRIBUTE TO
CAROLA
Presenter: Ms Deborah Lessen
Recommended Participant experience level: Basic background in Pilates teaching or training.
Every Pilates teacher
should learn about the contribution of first generation teacher Carola Strauss Trier. Ms. Trier had a profound influence on the direction and
development of Pilates, and her professionalism will deepen every teacher's
approach.
Deborah Lessen, a student and protégé of Carola,
will introduce students to the theoretical and practical developments made
to the Pilates method by Joseph Pilates' first protégé, Carola
Strauss Trier. The workshop will include a brief
biographical portrait and will trace the professional development of her
distinctive teaching philosophy and practice. Through movement, partnering
session, and a lecture and learning workshop, participants will glean greater insight
into the work of Carola Trier
as well as their own teaching. Participants will also experience some
rarely-seen exercises and variations from her equipment and mat work that
can be applied directly to daily teaching.
2. FOUNDATIONS FOR TEACHING THE PILATES METHOD - Pre
Pilates Techniques
Presenter: Ms Deborah Lessen
Recommended Participant experience level: Beginner/Intermediate Pilates skills
The dictionary defines ‘proficiency’ as
‘skillfulness in the command of fundamentals deriving from practice and
familiarity.’ The word ‘proficient’ implies an advanced degree of competence
acquired through training.
As Pilates teachers, the development of
our proficiency is directly related to an ongoing study of the
movement concepts underlying the Pilates exercise repertoire
Deborah Lessen was trained to teach the Pilates method by Joseph Pilates'
first protégé, Carola Strauss Trier.
She has a unique insight and proximity to the source of our work in the Pilates
industry today. Deborah will present her unique approach to
understanding the movement concepts underlying the Pilates exercise repertoire.
Deborah will draw from her diverse background including her work with Carola, Irene Dowd and other influences to help us define
the basic movement concepts underlying the Pilates method.
In this course participants will thoroughly examine:
·
Concepts of Center
·
Joint Release
·
Breathing
·
Imprinting
·
Sequential Movement of the Spine
·
Mid-back, Lumbar and Pelvic
Stabilization
During this workshop, Deborah will define each concept. Through active
participation and observation, participants will refine their visual
and teaching skills. They will then be able to more accurately assess
movement and have new methods to target and neutralize weaknesses and
asymmetries, thus enabling clients to progress more quickly and with deeper
understanding.
3. THE CORE AND A WHOLE
Presenter: Ms. Sam Robinson
Duration: 3 hours
Recommended Participant experience level: Beginner / Intermediate Pilates
Mat + props class
Pilates classes themed around small props are springing up all over the world.
The focus on a small prop adds variety, interest and challenge. This exciting mat class / workshop is so unique you
will be amazed at the way a small ball can be used to simulate traditional
apparatuses. You will learn bio-mechanically safer exercises that actually target
the correct muscle groups you are trying to target. The Advanced Pilates Small Ball Class is new and creative and can be
used in many situations. This is a high energy class that you will not want to
miss. Students will learn 2 one hour mat classes +
discussion/theory time
4. BE BALANCED ACTIVE AGEING
Presenter: TBC (Airex)
Duration: 1.75 hours
Recommended Participant experience level: Beginner to Advanced
We can’t live forever,
but we can make sure that our life is worth living for a lifetime!
The Airex BeBalanced!® Active aging is a
training program that can be performed in a group and also as personal
training. The motor skills of endurance, mobility and power as well as
coordination are trained. Coordination as the basis of the capacity to keep the
body in balance is especially emphasized in BeBalanced®
Active aging. BeBalanced® Active aging lets the
client:
Discover strengths
maintain
good posture
stand with
both feet firmly on the ground
recover balance.
Once the client
experiences these advantages of BeBalanced® Active
aging he will continue to engage in sports and keep himself healthy. Health
means well-being, well-being means free of pain. Living without pain means more energy,
more energy means more performance capacity. If you can perform more, you are
less susceptible to stress. Less stress means being balanced, and being
balanced means body and mind are in balance.
5. STRETCHING THE LIMITS OF PILATES - Safe and
effective facilitated stretches in the Pilates Studio
Presenter: Dav Cohen
Duration: 2 hours lecture and Matwork (and Magic Circles)
Recommended
Participant experience level: Intermediate Pilates
Pilates
exercise has always been renowned for its ability to improve strength and
If using
Studio equipment, you will be taken through progressions on the Reformer, Chair, Trapeze
Table, Barrel, Spine Corrector and Mat utilizing small props.
6. CORE CONTROL (Mat work) - The Outer Unit and Muscular Slings
Presenter:
Dav Cohen
Duration:
3 hours
Recommended Participant experience level: Intermediate to
advanced (minimum 2 years experience) and familiarity with basic mat work
Pilates exercise has
long been known to work from the ‘inside - out’. We first recruit muscles of
core stabilization (the ‘inner unit’) to form a stable base from which to work.
We then move our trunk and limbs with larger muscle groups to create our
everyday functional movements. When our ‘stabilizers’ and ‘mobilizers’
are working efficiently the result is optimally coordinated and efficient
movement. As instructors and practitioners of Pilates exercise, creating awareness
of these muscle groups and their proper facilitation is one of our main
objectives.
We will
focus on the muscles that we call the mobilizers of
the body and will investigate their
crucial role in movement as well as in providing more stability and protection
for the inner, stabilizing muscles and joints. We will look at the body from a ‘muscular slings’ perspective using the
concepts of Vleeming and relate them, in a systematic
way, to Pilates exercises.
Presenter: Dawnna Wayburne
Duration: 3 hours
Recommended Participant experience level: Intermediate Mat and Allegro Reformer.
Prevention
is better than cure! According to back care experts, four fifths of us will
suffer from back pain at some point in our lives. The good news is that Pilates
can help reduce this risk
Anatomy of the healthy spine
The human
spine is comprised of 33 bones (vertebrae) separated by 23 intervertebral
discs, which when fitted together make a ‘lazy S-shaped’ curve – ideally suited
to minimizing the stresses and strains on the spine when under load. Although each
vertebral joint only allows a small degree of movement, together they allow
large ranges of movements in the spine as a whole. A significant goal as a Pilates teacher, is to teach our clients what constitutes
their “Neutral spine” and strengthening the muscles that support correct
alignment a balanced, free to move body. This workshop, by Dawnna
Wayburne, aims to brainstorm group repertoire by
exploring options for low back care and how we can focus upon these issues in
our class without bringing undue attention to only one area of the body.
8. THE
INNER UNIT & PELVIC
Presenter: Dav Cohen
Duration: 3 hours
Recommended Participant experience level: Beginner to Intermediate Studio /Rehab and familiarity with
basic studio repertoire
Pilates has always been considered an excellent
exercise technique to strengthen the core’. We first recruit muscles of core
stabilization to form a stable base from which to work. We then move our trunk
and limbs with larger muscle groups to create our everyday functional
movements. When our ‘stabilizers’ and ‘mobilizers’
are working efficiently the result is optimal coordinated movement.
As instructors and practitioners of Pilates
exercise, creating awareness of these muscle groups and their proper facilitation
is one of our main objectives.
In recent years, there have been great leaps in
knowledge regarding the roles of the Transverse abdominus
and multifidus muscles and their contribution to core
control. We will learn how to palpate a proper contraction of these muscles to
make sure they are working efficiently. More recently, there has been an
increasing amount of research on the pelvic floor and the contribution of those
muscles to core control as well as to movement. This workshop will investigate
some of the new ongoing research on the pelvic floor and how it relates to
Pilates exercise. The following topics will be covered regarding the pelvic
floor:
Anatomy/physiology
Function/dysfunction
Current research and findings
Cueing, palpation, activating, strengthening
Experiential exercises
Apparatus work
Presenter: Dawnna Wayburne
Recommended Participant experience level: Beginner to Intermediate Allegro/reformer.
In an ideal
world we could be able to teach our clients assistive movements on the Reformer
but because of lack of equipment we resort to the more traditional Mat
exercises. But consider taking some of the repertoire from the equipment and
modifying it to fit the Mat? What will your client get out of such an
experience?
- A greater repertoire to draw from
- More ways to vary a movement and modify
it to approximate the Studio series either as a progression or a regression
- Proprioceptive
and neuromuscular challenges that will enhance ADL’s
How do we
go about formulating a balanced class? Come and join this class to find out
more.
10. PMA What is it? Q & A
Presenter: Deborah Lessen, PMA President
Duration: 45 minutes
The
PMA made history in 2005 by launching the first industry wide certification
exam for the Pilates method in the
The
PMA is well aware that as Pilates exercise has gained popularity, confusion and
controversy have increased in the media, the public and even between Pilates teachers. Since the PMA's
goal is protect and enhance the Pilates method, it is necessary to establish a
position statement to clarify the perception of what Pilates was historically
and what it is today.
In
this brief talk and Q&A session, Deborah will try to achieve this.
11. Pilates and the Art of
Rehabilitation
Presenter: Dav
Cohen
Recommended Participant experience level: Intro for Rehab /Lecture & Demo
12.
CIRCUIT TRAINING FOR GROUP CLASSES
Duration:
3 Hours
Recommended Participant experience level: Beginner /Intermediate Pilates
Mat class + props class
Circuit classes are a popular workout
in fitness centres, why not use the mat exercises and a range of props such as
the foam roller, magic circle, core ball, theraband and fitball to give your
clients a new and challenging workout. Students will learn to use the Pilates
Principles to create a circuit class suitable for all levels of clients.
Students will learn 2 one hour mat classes + discussion/theory time
PLEASE NOTE:
Equipment Classes - Class sessions with equipment will be filled as follows:
Four students per reformer, spine corrector, ladder barrel, chairs