Joe's Disciple: a weekly Pilates teacher feature
Name:
Madeleine Butcher
Title/Position:
Pilates Teacher
Pilates Studio/Company:
Studio B Pilates
Website:
www.studiobpilates.us
Certifications:
Power Pilates, Massage Therapy, CPR
# Of years teaching:
4 years Pilates Mat, 3 years Comprehensive Pilates,14 years ballet
What I love about teaching Pilates: I adore to teach. I adore teaching Pilates and seeing the improvements in clients that this incredible work brings. I love how I keep learning as I teach. Pilates is like peeling an onion…I just go deeper and deeper into the work. I love being a positive and supportive influence to my clients’ health and body awareness. I enjoy my clients tremendously and we always have at least a good laugh or two during the session.
My greatest challenge as a teacher: To stay in present time consciousness and keep my teaching fresh - to stay away from the fear that the client is bored.
How I avoid burnout: Review of material, observation of fellow teachers, continuing ed, no more than six hours a day of teaching. Two days off in a row. In other words, finding a balance of teaching, learning, home life and fun.
My teaching goals: To see my clients catch on fire with enthusiasm for how building strength and flexibility can affect their lives and outlooks.
How often I practice Pilates: About 3 times a week – two on my own, plus a lesson.
When I’m not doing Pilates I’m…biking or walking.
What “Pilates body” means to me: Stamina, strength, flexibility, endurance, and the pure joy of movement.
If I could ask Joe one question, it would be: Did you work with Eric Hawkins (modern dancer)? Who did you learn from? Who influenced your work? That’s two or three questions, sorry.
My favorite Pilates exercise: Spine Stretch Forward…Pilates in a nutshell. It’s got it all!
My least favorite Pilates exercise: Balance Control Back. One day, I’ll master this!
My favorite Pilates book &/or DVD: “Pilates Body”, by Brooke Siler
My inspirations: The Method, fellow teachers, clients.
My greatest achievement: Earning my Comprehensive certification through Power Pilates and then having over 20 client hours a week – all within 14 months. Watching the progress of my clients go from chronic pain to being pain free, from a lousy golf swing to tournament winner, from a skeptic to a fanatic.
Also, I've written an ebook, "Moving for Real - Creative Exercise and Movement for a Lifetime" (co-author, Thom McFadden). It will be available for download soon. It is about how to create exercise and movement in your life that will last your lifetime. I've created a simple formula to keep it interesting, fun and easily adaptable to all lifestyles and any limitations that might arise as we age. The target market is 40 to 104 years old. Many Pilates friends and clients are quoted.
My other passions, interests or areas of expertise include: My husband, cooking, writing, dance, gardening, movies, reading.
My favorite T-shirt from Joe’s Pila-T-Shop: Crew neck “Got Powerhouse?”
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