Joe's Pila-T-Shop

Celebrate Who You Are!

MID-WEEK INSPIRATION:

I say, why wait until our birthday to celebrate who we are?  It's so easy to be self-critical and dwell on the negative.  But why not take stock of the things that make us great, unique and lovable?  For example: 

• What do you love about your physical appearance?
• What qualities make you a great friend?
• What qualities make you a great wife/husband/partner?
• What qualities make you a great employee/employer?
• What do you love about your career?
• What skills do you possess that make you good at your job?
• What are some of your greatest achievements?
• What are your other special talents?

And remember, our friends are our mirrors too.  The qualities we admire in them, we undoubtedly possess ourselves.   

So, let's be thankful that we're here, alive and healthy.  Let's celebrate who we are and always strive to be our best selves!

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira

Those Who CAN do... Teach

TEACHING TUESDAYS: self practice

Have you ever heard of the saying, "Those who CAN'T do... teach"?  I don't know about you but, as a Pilates student, I'm inspired by instructors who've achieved a level of mastery greater than my own.  I'm not saying that I haven't learned great things from apprentices; because I have.  But, by training under someone with a deeper understanding of the work and more experience, I feel as if my own Pilates practice grows in leaps and bounds.  I get to discover the details and intention of each exercise with greater clarity because 1.) They have the work in their own body and 2.) They have years of experience skillfully translating Pilates to people of various body types, skill levels, fitness needs and goals.   

I'll never forget what senior instructor and teacher trainer, Shari Berkowitz, told us during our Power Pilates Comprehensive Certification.  She emphasized the importance of being more advanced than our most advanced clients.  This puts the imperative on us to maintain our own self-practice and to continue taking sessions from other instructors.  She recommended that, every day we're scheduled to teach, we should also schedule at least 1 hour to practice.  Sometimes I would work out alone or, other times, I would trade sessions with senior instructor and teacher trainer for Power Pilates, Carrie Macy.  That was such a great learning experience!  Not only did she kick my butt but I learned valuable cuing skills from her.  Of course, I felt like a nervous wreck the first time I had to teach her!  After all, she's my teacher!    But it made me step up my game and challenged me to polish some of the skills I was weaker in.

Something else that Shari advised was that we get on a different piece of apparatus every time we workout.  It's so easy to limit ourselves to, say, the reformer.  But how often do we use the barrels, the high chair (aka "electric chair") or the pedi-pole?  After all, Joseph Pilates created a comprehensive system that includes over 500 exercises using the reformer, cadillac, wunda chair, high chair, mat-work, the barrels, the pedi-pole and the magic circle. The more familiar we are with his repertoire on all pieces of apparatus, the better equipped we are to tailor sessions to the individual needs of our clients.  We'll truly be able to offer them the Pilates experience.

Besides, maintaining a "Pilates body" through our own self-practice reminds us of why we've chosen this career path as Pilates instructors.  Inhabiting a body that is full of strength, stability, stamina and flexibility inspires us to be the best possible teachers we can be.

(Shari Berkowitz on the pedi-pole.  This photo was taken in her fully equipped Gratz studio, The Vertical Workshop.  She's a Senior Instructor, Teacher Trainer & Director of West Coast Education for Power Pilates. She's wearing our "Welcome to Joe's Torture Chamber!" tank top!)

(Carrie Macy on the long box on the reformer.  She's also a Senior Instructor and Teacher Trainer for Power Pilates.  Plus, she manages the Power Pilates studios in Westwood and Santa Monica, CA. She's wearing our "Flow Like Joe" tunic.)

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira

Moving Forward Toward Our Dreams

MOVING FORWARD MONDAYS:

Monday is about moving forward by listing 3 things we will accomplish this week to propel or nudge us closer to our dreams.  I believe that if we live each day with purpose and intention, we're more likely to experience the life we envision for ourselves.  So, here are 3 of my tasks for the week:

1. begin working on Joe's Pila-T-Shop budget for '08 (not finish... begin)
2. have ad designed and placed on www.Pilates-pro.com for the holidays
3. Korean spa ritual at the end of the week

Of course, my actual to-do list goes on and on but these are important priorities for me this week.  Are you wondering how going to the Korean spa constitutes moving forward?  I have to make sure that I make the time to give back to myself.  Otherwise I'll bury myself in work until I burnout, get frustrated and resentful.  Not pretty. So, I have to schedule time to relax.  I know that sounds pathetic, but it's true. 

Moving forward, for me, has to be about balancing all of the things that I love.  I love working but I don't feel complete unless my relationships with family and friends feel happy and solid.  I have to make time for a social life.  I don't feel like myself without dance, creative arts or being physically active.  So, I have to make sure that I take classes, spend time playing with my friends from Airealistic, practicing my poi or getting back on my stilts. I don't feel like myself unless I'm studying either.  I love to dive into books about Pilates, neuro-muscular therapy, kinesiology, essential oils, the chakras and wellness. And, of course, I need the girly frivolous activities like reading the latest InStyle Magazine or shopping for earrings like I did this weekend.

When making our "moving forward" lists, let's remember that they're designed to move us closer to the remarkable lives we envision for ourselves.  When you close your eyes and dream, what does your ideal life look like?  I believe that "if you can dream it, you can achieve it".  Our "moving forward" lists are 1 of the tools that will keep us going "confidently in the direction of your dreams" to "live the life you've imagined" (quote from Thoreau).

Have a great week and...

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira

The Holidays Are Coming!

SIMMER DOWN SATURDAYS:

Oh, how I love the idea of simmering down today.  But it ain't gonna happen.  It's busy-busy time for retailers like me and I just realized that it's already October 27th.  ZOINKS!  With Halloween only 4 days away, holiday shopping is just around the corner!  Can you believe it?  I'd love to add some new styles to The Shop.  We recently debuted 6 new t-shirts to our best selling "Got Powerhouse?" collection (click here to see one of my faves) that people are evidently loving (thanks for the kudos and all of the recent orders!)  I'd love to add more styles to our 2nd best seller, the "Contrology Freak!" collection (click here for another fave).  So, it's back to the drawing board... t-shirt selection, purchasing, screen printing, photo shoot, uploading photos and product descriptions etc. etc.  YIKES! I better hurry up before I miss the holiday rush.

Plus, I'm still in the midst of rehearsing.  In fact, today I'll be rehearsing from 12pm-7pm.  You should see me trying to pull double duty.  Whenever I get a break, you'll find me on the computer trying to take care of as much business as I possibly can from a sound stage. 

I know I'll have to do a little more work tomorrow.  But I'm promising myself at least a few hours of relaxation and family time.  Enjoy your weekend!

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira

The Mistreated Body: according to Joe

FRIDAY'S FEATURE:

"The mistreated body, mindful of its past neglect, eventually exacts its repayment in full with interest..." -- Joseph Pilates

Youth makes us feel invincible.  We often live in the moment without any thought of the repercussions of our actions.  I'm writing completely from my own experience as a 37 year old professional dancer and a  spectator into the world of the 20-something year old guys I've been rehearsing with for the past month. 

My own experiences with disc herniation, a torn meniscus, multiple ankle sprains and tendinitis everywhere has taught me to arrive at my 8 hour rehearsals at least 30 minutes early to do a Pilates warm-up and some active isolated stretching.  Without it, my body wouldn't be able to produce much in the way of any choreography.  I might break.  But what do I expect?  I've been dancing professionally since age of 23; performing some of the most relentless choreography and aerial stunts without taking care of my body consistently.  Unfortunately, regular self-care only came when injury necessitated it. 

Now I'm discovering what my peers and I have in common is the residual effects of neglecting our bodies.  As Joe said, "the body... eventually exacts repayment in full with interest".  Besides not "bouncing back" like we used to, simple actions such as returning to an upright position after sitting for prolonged periods can take upwards of 10 seconds.  I'm not kidding! How can I be so "fit" and active but feel so old and arthritic?

So, as I warm up religiously every morning, I watch the guys linger into the studio eating their fast food breakfasts and talking about last night's adventures at the club.   Then, they go from a completely sedentary state to full-out dancing!  Ah... youth. And you should see these guys dance!  They're mind-blowing... like extreme athletes!  What they do doesn't even seem humanly possible; performing head spins, super-hero-like flipping passes and doing the most athletic choreography I think I've ever seen.  As I watch in awe I also wonder what their bodies are going to feel like when they're my age.

At the risk of sounding motherly, I try to warn them about the potential consequences of not taking care of their bodies.  I try to be helpful; offering mini-massages, teaching them how to train their abs properly or stretch more effectively. Unfortunately, for so many of us dancers, we're stubborn and end up learning the hard way. I can only hope for the best for the newer generation of dancers.  As for my generation, I think that our own lessons with injury and recovery has led many of us into the healing arts such as Pilates and massage therapy.  In fact, my massage school, The Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences in NYC, was often referred to as the "graveyard for dancers".

I feel so grateful that I finally know how to take care of myself and that I prioritize it.  In fact, I think I'll treat myself to a body buzz at the Korean spa on Sunday (my day off from dancing).

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira

I Hate to Miss Out

THURSDAYS THOUGHTS:

Okay, so I just wrote the most detailed BLOG and deleted it!  I can't re-write it... I just can't.  But I'll give you a brief synopsis.  It was all about the upcoming 7th Annual Pilates Method Alliance Conference at the Hilton Walt Disney World in Florida.  Unfortunately, I can't make it.  But, I did peruse the conference catalogue and salivated over a bunch of awesome workshops I'd love to sink my teeth into.  In my deleted BLOG, I outlined the entire schedule of workshops I would go to if I were a lucky attendee. 

There are so many presenters I'd love to learn from and train with like Maureen O'Rourke who's doing an "Anatomy in Clay" workshop focused on learning and identifying the muscles of the pelvis in 3-D format. Plus, Jillian Hessel has a really informative workshop entitled "Asymmetrical Exercises for Asymmetrical Bodies". Madeleine Black has a workshop called "The Spinals" which focuses on Pilates repertoire for spinal articulation.  Maya Aubrey's "Happy Back" is all about low back and pelvic stabilization especially for those diagnosed with low back conditions.  Shari Berkowitz has a really fun Magic Circle Mat Class workshop.  Dawn-Marie Ickes will present a special workshop about Pilates protocols for kids and give people more information about the progress of the PMA's community outreach initiative, Pilates in the Schools. Speaking of Pilates in the Schools, look for our "Rock Your Powerhouse!" t-shirts at the PMA booth. They'll be on sale to help raise money for the program.

And if that wasn't enough... Pilates elder, Mary Bowen, will be presenting workshops on Pilates and the Psyche.  Plus special guest, John Steele (Joe and Clara Pilates' attorney), will lecture about the Pilates' views on health and wellness.

Anyway, I wish I could actually go to the PMA Conference.  I hope you have an amazing time if you go!  Just know that I'm jealous...

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira

Dare to be Remarkable

MID-WEEK INSPIRATION:

This quote really struck me because, it really does take courage to be the remarkable people we know we're capable of.  I'm not totally sure why.  Is it because being "remarkable" means being pro-active in our lives? Stepping out of our comfort zone? Possibly standing out amongst our peers?  Or possibly drawing attention to ourselves?

I know one thing; I'm a dreamer so I have no problem envisioning great things for myself.  I've even gone a step further and put my "remarkable" life on a vision board.  But it's so easy to let those dreams linger in the clouds.  Actualizing my dreams is far more challenging than cutting out representations of them from glossy magazines and pasting them onto poster board.  Don't get me wrong, I still believe that vision boards are invaluable tools.  But it takes a tremendous amount of effort, determination and discipline to make that collage come to life.  And, quite honestly, some days are easier than others.

Because it's so easy to get stuck, stay stuck or procrastinate in life, I love one of the tools that I learned during my Ladies Who Launch incubator.  Every Monday is "Moving Forward Mondays".  It's about contemplating the "remarkable" life you envision for yourself and taking positive steps that move you closer to your goals.   It feels like a huge accomplishment to write down, say 3 things, you intend to accomplish during the week and experience the satisfaction of crossing them off the list.  For me it might include purchasing new packaging supplies, writing a BLOG, taking some Pilates continuing education, creating new marketing ideas, contacting my accountant/lawyer/graphic designer etc. 

But of course, there's more to life than business.  Other things included in my "remarkable" life include fun times with my family and friends, trying creative new projects, being physically active, travel (even if it's just a drive up the coast), trying yummy new restaurants, shopping sprees and a  indulging in a day of pure relaxation (the Korean spa is my newest ritual).   

Bottom line, we should do whatever keeps us on track and heading in the direction of our dream-lives.  Can you imagine what a weekly habit like that will do for your life?  So, try moving forward on Mondays with me and let's see what life produces.

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira

What's In Your Scope?

TEACHING TUESDAYS:

Scope of Practice: The scope of practice is limited to that which the individual has received education and clinical experience, and in which he/she has demonstrated competency.

As Pilates instructors, nurturing is our nature.  We want to help people look and feel good in their bodies.  After all, we care about the well-being of others.  Sometimes, in our genuine attempt to be helpful, we step beyond our scope of practice as certified Pilates instructors and offer advice that we're not really qualified to give.  I believe that as a protection for our clients and ourselves (liability issues) it's imperative that we only work within our scope of practice. We should never underestimate the power of what we have to offer via Pilates and resort to working out of our realm of expertise.  I feel as if we should leave that to doctors, psychiatrists, physical therapists, personal trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors etc. who have extensive training and expertise in their fields. We offer a really important component in helping clients develop a healthy lifestyle and should never feel pressured or obligated to offer more than what we're qualified to do.  It would be more beneficial to establish a network of other health care and fitness professionals that we can refer clients to.

Most Pilates certification programs train us to assess people's posture and movement patterns in order to create a Pilates-based exercise protocol that will help them achieve their fitness goals. That skill alone is challenging and takes years of practice to hone in order to be super-effective.  The better we are at our assessment skills and our ability to tailor Pilates sessions to each individual, the results our clients experience are often life-changing.  But that entails an in depth knowledge and understanding of Joe's (Joseph Pilates) work and the principles that guide it; coupled with an understanding of anatomy and proper biomechanics.  As well-educated Pilates instructors we can help people experience transformation of body, mind and spirit. 

Some of us are, however, trained and qualified to work with specific populations such as expectant mothers, clients with orthopedic conditions, overweight clients, elderly clients etc.  But most of us are not trained or qualified to diagnose, give nutritional/dietary advice, or fitness advice beyond Pilates. And that's okay.  I think that enough of us have seen what happens when unqualified people teach "Pilates".  Despite good intentions, it unfortunately prevents people from getting the true benefits of Pilates. I feel that we should respect other health care and fitness professionals by allowing them to do what they do best while we do what we do best.

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira

I'm Starting the Week Rambling...

MOVING FORWARD MONDAYS:

No Korean spa for me yesterday.  My body missed it.  But, instead, I had a fun day with the family.  We ate at our favorite breakfast spot in the San Fernando Valley, Hugo's Restaurant.  We're huge fans of the chipotle scramble and the almond granola pancakes.  YUM!!!  Then, we went to the Fashion Square Mall.  I'm not a huge fan of malls but the lure was my new fascination with Teavana, a unique little tea boutique within the mall that sells over 100 varieties of high quality, loose leaf teas that are touted to be full of health benefits.  It was fascinating to learn the differences between white, green, black, rooibos, oolong and herbal teas.  We got to sample about 5 deliciously flavorful teas before we splurged on the gift set; sort of a tea drinkers starter kit.  While at the mall, I did happen to make a few purchases at Sephora and browse the shoe section at Macy's.

Then, it was off to the dog park to let Brooklyn exercise all of that child-like energy and interact with her own kind.  Needless to say, the girl desperately needs a bath.

Of course, life can't be all play!  So, I returned home to fulfill orders and prepare our next promotional postcard for print.  I remember the days when I vowed that Sundays would be my day off.  I wonder if that ever happened?  There's always something to do when you wear most of the hats in the company. 

Joe's Pila-T-Shop has been gaining more international customers recently which I think is super-cool!  I'm so excited by the fact that people as far as Israel, Spain, Sweden and China are wearing our tees.  Joe (Joseph Pilates) would be amazed by the far-reaching extent to which his work has travelled.  To think that it all started in Germany in the early 1900's.  What a cool legacy to be a part of.

Okay, I just noticed that I'm rambling.  So I'm off.  Off to another day of rehearsals.  Oh, one more thing.  I'm going to start teaching again this week!  YEAH!!! Just one client, though.  She's one of my most committed clients and I absolutely love working with her. So, on top of my 6 day/week, 8 hour/day rehearsal schedule and running Joe's Pila-T-Shop; I'm adding 3 hours/ week of teaching back to my schedule.  Yep, I'm busy but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I love what I do!

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira

Rock Your Powerhouse at the PMA Conference '07

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS:

The Pilates Method Alliance Conference is around the corner!  November 1st - 4th at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. It should be awesome.  Unfortunately, we (Joe's Pila-T-Shop)  won't be there.  It would've been fun to celebrate our 1 year anniversary at the event where we launched our Pilates T-shirt line.

We'll be there in more than just spirit, though.  Look for our "Rock Your Powerhouse!" T-shirts at the PMA Booth!  Joe's Pila-T-Shop has been helping to raise money for the non-profit organization's community outreach program designed to integrate Pilates training into public schools systems.  We created a t-shirt specifically to raise money to help implement more pilot programs that create opportunities for children to experience the mental, physical, intellectual and emotional fitness benefits inherent to Pilates. Plus it validates to school officials the efficacy of Pilates in the Schools.  Personally, I love how it makes Pilates accessible and affordable for a demographic who might not otherwise get to experience it.   

Another cool thing about Pilates in the Schools is that they've collaborated with the Agatson Research Institute and their Healthier Options for Public Schools (HOPS) to help integrate Pilates and nutrition education. The two programs create a balanced model and a great foundation for a lifetime of health and wellness. Kudos to both organizations for their commitment to helping kids in a time when childhood obesity has become a national epidemic.

So, if you're at the PMA Conference this year, be sure to stop by their booth and buy a t-shirt to support Pilates in the Schools.  For more information about the program, click here!

Rock Your Powerhouse!

Kira