Joe Pilates Quote

“We are what we repeatedly do…”

“We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

If you’re a new subscriber to the blog – welcome! Thanks for joining me on this wonderful roller coaster of a ride called The Pilates Method.

Foot Department of Corrections

Last week I threw down the gauntlet – to myself as well – to visit the Foot Corrector and the 2×4 every day in the month of February.

“Why do I do this to myself?” wafts through my brain as I struggle to make foot exercises a habit one day at a time.

I almost failed my own challenge on Day 3.

By Day 6 I had an epiphany. I think my stomach actually connected to my feet when I used the 2×4.

I usually do the Foot Corrector exercises first, followed by the 2×4.

On Day 7 I “accidentally” did the 2×4 first. What a difference it made for my connection to my feet! I’m gonna use this order for a while to see if it teaches me further.

How’s it going for you? Hit me up in the comments if you’re playing along. Go nuts and give yourself a pedicure!

Jay Grimes Strikes Again

Recently I read this blog post by Nathalie Gonthier-Thomas, a teacher at Westwood Pilates in Los Angeles. The owner of the studio, my friend Daniela Escobar, shared the post via Instagram.

I urge you to give it a read.

In a nutshell, the author shares a story of her experience in class with Jay Grimes. As she works a particular exercise, she feels that one body part really wants to take over. When she comments about feeling the exercise in this way she is expecting to be guided by Jay to work more correctly.

To her surprise, Jay turns the tables on her asking “What are you going to do about it?”

I witnessed another version of this comment as well.

Years ago at a Pilates conference produced by the lovely Amy Kellow of Everybody Pilates, one of the workshops included Jay teaching a first-time student.

Jay taught a young, coordinated, reasonably fit woman. She really caught on to how he asked her to work the exercises. He could see she was smart. She soon realized that what Jay was looking for on the various apparatus she visited – Reformer and the Mat – was similar in many ways.

When she got to the High Chair for the Pumping exercise toward the end of the lesson she told Jay that when she pushed the pedal down her back came away from the back of the Chair.

“Well, who’s fault is that?” he asked with a smile.

The next time the pedal went down her back stayed against the Chair.

Jay has a way of sending a clear message that only you can create true change in your body. He is merely a guide.

The Virtual Pilates Studio

One of my favorite things about our current era of online teaching is that it helps me curb my people-pleasing ways.

I’m often too happy to help. Or I hover when I don’t need to. I have also been known to enable…

Now, with clients in their own space, the ball is literally in their court. I can suggest and guide, but you’re truly on your own in your designated Pilates space.

I like how this situation quietly sends the message of ownership.

Jay is right. Unless you know your workout and claim it as your own, there cannot be real change.

The Open Leg Rocker in your Workout

I’ve got a few super motivated and nerdy clients. Frankly, they’re all awesome.

One, in particular, is extremely diligent. Janet practices her Mat exercises daily.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Daily.

This dedication –  this devotion – to Pilates and to her well-being has sky-rocketed her understanding to nerd cult status. You know, no correction too esoteric, no exercise too insurmountable. On the Mat.

Recently, we’ve been working on perfecting her Open Leg Rocker.

We are just beginning to do the exercise without the assist of foot straps on her feet.

Open Leg Rocker with Strap Assist

In the Pilates studio, you can use the foot straps from the leg springs for this assist. At home, lots of everyday items can serve you: a folded-up towel around each foot or a longer stretching (or stretchy) strap work just as well.

For a while, used regularly (every time you practice), this simple assist can open up the entire back of you.

In Janet’s most recent lesson, I suddenly realized she was not using the straps to assist and her hands were nearly all the way at her ankles.

It’s steadily getting better over time, over many months.

In addition to the Open Leg Rocker, we’ve been talking about the lift in the trunk of her body since Day 1.

Open Leg Rocker in your Life

I nearly swooned last week when Janet told me a story about noticing a new skill in her body.

I love when that happens.

We’ve often bonded over being similarly sized humans.

We’re short. About 5’3″ but, you know, sorta…

Post showering, evidently many people hang their towel over the shower curtain rod to dry. I do this too.

Historically Janet could never reach up to the top of the curtain rod to stretch out the towel if it gets a wrinkle in it. Vexing, I agree. How will it dry like that?!

Turns out now she is able to reach up there with no problem.

I know you know all this, but this is why we do the Pilates exercises. To hang up our fricking towels in high places like it’s no big woop.

Sure! Open Leg Rocker is a great ice-breaker at parties – and the next party I get to attend I’ll be sure to bust one out – but if you can reach and bend to get stuff, that is where the money is folkx.

Rant. Over.

Meanwhile, how’s it going with your feet?

Use this video to give your toes some love this Valentine’s Day.

4 Responses

  1. Brilliant as always I notice that I too but not always with full attention.
    Love the comments Jay made well whose fault is that. Too often I know that if eyes are not on me I slacken off. This blog is a chapter for your book.
    As I said brilliant and funny x

    1. Hey there – thanks for reading – yes I too love Jay’s patient ways… thanks for the super kind words on my post – and yes… thinking about what kind of Pilates book I want to write 🙂 xox

  2. Thanks for reminding me, Andrea, to do a little something for my feet, daily. Actually, I often do one or two non-Pilates exercises, but strangely, I keep “forgetting” I own a foot AND a toe corrector, plenty of towels, and foam rectangles I could use for 2×4.

    1. OMG yes the foot exercises are so easy for me to forget too! Even when we have all the tools to do them. Some days I would literally be in bed at night and realize I hadn’t done my exercises… better late than not at all LOL Thank you so much for reading and glad to be a helpful reminder for you 🙂 xox

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