Inside-Outside
The Pilates method is the most powerful way I know to help my students develop a strong and healthy body, and I teach them in the same way as I teach myself — with stringent rules about placement, discipline and attention to detail. When students have a lesson with me, they often hear me say, “Squeeze all the juice out of your orange,” meaning the more they give to each exercise and the mindfulness to each movement, the more they create the environment for tremendous change.
My approach to teaching incorporates skills I’ve learned along the way; gymnastics — students have confidence in my spotting and cueing; dance — students see my hawk eye at work as I notice the smallest of misalignments; yoga — enable students to understand my explanation of biomechanics. Joseph Pilates not only fused these disciplines, but also recognized the value of intuition in meeting the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of the students. I teach in the same manner and often infuse life-lessons during classes. When students learn more about themselves, their bodies can transform more quickly. It’s a joy for me to be part of this process and witness the results of the inside-outside philosophy my students also embrace.
I understand that when most people come to me, they hope to relieve pain or discomfort or look better. But because Pilates is more than just exercises, they may not expect the level of commitment that’s required. As their bodies begin to respond and daily activities are easier, my students discover that Pilates is a necessary part of their lives. In fact, the sheer hard, sweaty work involved in mastering the Pilates system can often become a life-long pursuit — as it is mine.