The Real Pilates Standards of Training are distinguished by our focus on 4 key elements. Your weekly assignments are designed to develop your skill in each of these areas as well as your Anatomy, History and more.
WEEK 2 ANSWER KEY
ALIGNMENT ASSIGNMENT
Observe from behind, side and front while teaching the Footwork this week.
Look from birds eye (overhead) and side view while teaching the Stomach Massage and Leg Springs on the Cadillac.
Q: What angle do you prefer? Explain Why?
FOOTWORK - BEHIND VIEW ALLOWS VIEW OF SYMMETRY OF THE FEET ON THE BAR AND WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER. SIDE VIEW ALLOWS VIEW OF THE POWERHOUSE AND SPINAL ALIGNMENT TO SEE IF THERE IS TOO MUCH TUCKING OR EXTENDING. VIEW FROM THE FRONT ALLOWS YOU TO SEE THE HEAD AND TORSO ALIGNMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE BLOCKS.
STOMACH MASSAGE - BIRDS EYE REVEALS SYMMETRY OF THE BODY ON THE CARRIAGE AND WITH RESPECT TO THE LEGS. SIDE VIEW ALLOWS YOU TO SEE IF THEY ARE MAINTAINING THEIR “BOX” SHOULDERS OVER HIPS OR HANGING BACK.
LEG SPRINGS - BIRDS EYE VIEW ALLOWS YOU TO SEE THE ENTIRE BODY AND GAUGE SYMMETRY WITH RESPECT TO THE MAT AND THE POLES OF THE CADILLAC. SIDE VIEW AGAIN ALLOWS FOR YOU TO SEE THE SPINAL ALIGNMENT AS WELL AS THE DEPTH OF THE MOVEMENT I.E. RANGE OF MOTION. ARE THE LEGS EQUAL TO EACH OTHER IN THEIR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENTS?
HANDS ON ASSIGNMENT
Practice your hand placement on the Abdominals and Spine for different clients during Elephant
Assisting a client's Legs for Bicycle on the Cadillac make sure the springs fall in between the knees. Grip the foot loops.
Facilitating a client’s tall spine during the sitting up portion of Spine Stretch Forward
USE YOUR OWN LEG FOR SPINE STRETCH FORWARD AND HAVE THEM ROLL UP YOUR LEG PRESSING THEIR SPINE INTO YOU. YOU WILL NEED TO LEAN SLIGHTLY INTO THEM TO HELP THEM GET THEIR BEST ALIGNMENT.
Q. Demonstrate the Knee Stretches this week with all or most of your clients. Does it help? What did you learn while demonstrating?
DEMONSTRATING KNEE STRETCHES SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO SEE HOW CERTAIN CLIENTS PERFORM BETTER WITH A QUICK VISUAL DEMONSTRATION. IT SHOULD ALSO TEACH YOU TO GET IN AND OUT OF MOVES EFFICIENTLY. EFFICIENCY IS ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF PILATES.
COMMUNICATION ASSIGNMENT
Imagine yourself with a new client who tells you in right away that they are not “coordinated” at all.
Q1: What would you say to them?
MOST CLIENTS SELF IDENTIFY AS UNCOORDINATED. AS A TRAINER PUTTING THEIR MIND AT EASE IS AS EASY AS LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THE FIRST TIME IS WHERE YOU LEARN THE MOVES AND THEY’LL STAY THE SAME AFTER TODAY. YOU’LL HAVE A CHANCE TO GET BETTER AND BETTER AND PERFECT YOUR FORM.
Q2: How will this influence your plan for the next hour you are scheduled to work with them?
IF YOU HEAR A CLIENT SAY THIS, IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO BEGIN SLOWLY AND CLEARLY, TO EXPLAIN THINGS AHEAD OF TIME AND TO ASK IF THEY “KNOW” HOW THEY LEARN BEST? IF THEY TELL YOU THEY ARE VISUAL, VERBAL OR TACTILE LEARNERS YOU CAN USE THIS INFORMATION TO TEACH THEM.
Q3: Your brand new client wants to know how long you’ve been teaching Pilates? How do you answer them to be honest but also inspire confidence?
A GOOD STRATEGY IS TO ANSWER HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN “DOING” PILATES. IF YOU HAVE TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN ANY OTHER FIELD, THAT’S A PLUS TO ADD.
ANOTHER OPTION IS TO FOCUS ON WHAT YOU’VE COMPLETED IN YOUR TRAINING I.E. “I’VE ALREADY COMPLETED THE ENTIRE BEGINNER SYLLABUS IN OUR PROGRAM SO I’M QUALIFIED TO TEACH BEGINNERS.”
SYSTEMS ASSIGNMENT(S)
1. Read and review the Week 1 research assignment on Pilates History posted by your classmates.
Last week we did some independent research about the exercise "culture" in the years 1925 - 1935 and the frontrunners that peppered the landscape.
Q: This week, respond to one of your peers commentary in an intelligent thoughtful way. Compare what you found to their findings and note any similarities or differences.
2. Pilates History - Re-read the first 4 Chapters of Your Health - attached here.
Q: In Your Health, Joseph Pilates makes repeated reference to the idea of “Body AND Mind”. What do you think he was trying to convey? How do you think Pilates is both a Mind and Body exercise as compared to other exercise systems?
PILATES IS A SYSTEM THAT REQUIRES “COMPLETE COORDINATION OF MIND AND BODY”. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXECUTE A SINGLE PROPER PILATES EXERCISE WITHOUT TOTAL MENTAL FOCUS. RECALL THAT HE NAMED HIS METHOD “CONTROLOGY”. PILATES WAS FOND OF SCHILLER’S FAMOUS QUOTE - “IT IS THE MIND WHICH SHAPES THE BODY”. HE WAS COMMITTED TO THE IDEA OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITIONING AS A SUPERIOR TRAINING METHOD. MINDLESS EXERCISE METHODS OF TODAY DO NOT CHALLENGE THE HUMAN BODY, MIND OR SPIRIT TO THE DEGREE THAT PILATES DOES.
PROGRAM DESIGN ASSIGNMENT
Q: Create a Beginner session for a new student who just walked in and wants to IMPROVE HER POSTURE. List all the exercises you would do, in order from beginning to the end in a 55 minute session with any special focus on your cueing included.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!