Breathe New Life Into Your Pilates Workout

My new season is about to begin. I work from November to June. My clients leave for the hot summer then return in the fall. Last year my clients returned heavier than ever, bent over more than ever, tighter than ever and more injured than ever.

So what else is new??

I expect the same this year but we will see. I need to make this season more fun by adding a new focus to working out. I plan to throw in a few new exercises, maybe adding some background music, taking pictures of posture to show improvement etc.

But, the enthusiasm and motivation must come from me being excited to work with them again. I’m going to break out the jump board this season to see how well they stabilize while jumping with heavy and light springs. My Allegro II reformers are great for ab workout. This year the class will really feel their abs.

Unfortunately, if the client has gained weight the excess will cause back pain during ab work, during sitting and walking. Padding the client to help with neutral pelvic zone helps with stabilization during exercise but what helps with sitting and walking?

Pilates posture on the sitting box doing arm work demonstrates how important sitting up straight is. This year I’m going to bring in bags of rice to place on the top of their heads and have them walk around the room. How many can not drop the bags while they walk?

Using heavy springs to make the workout more difficult is easy but using light springs for the same workout really demonstrates how much stability a client really has. I’m going to try heavy spring/light spring back to back workouts to show the difference. Being creative in the workout helps to build both strength and stability during the workout.

Working toward a more pain free life style is a great goal. Pilates training, Joe said, should change your life. I believe that what you learn in class is something you can take to the outside world and apply it to the way you live in your body.

If I feel this way then I can motivate my clients to feeling the same way. Let’s see if my plan can breathe the new life I’m hoping for.