"I feel cleaner, somehow"
It's so cool to be told these things after teaching, really feels good to hear and see the difference Pilates makes.
A highly educated, articulate and hard-working professor it was a random meeting at a friends party that brought him to my small studio in Hibarigaoka.
As soon as people hear that I teach Pilates a few things tend to happen; Suddenly standing taller, belly gets sucked in and the chest flares out, followed by a litany of back problems. Most also confuse Pilates with Yoga and the chat goes on to my love of pilates and why its so damn good.
Libations flow and as back pains are compared I find one or two "fun" exercises to help with the issue and with wine in hand and an increasing audience we find an impromptu class happening.
Pain sucks and its so personal yet common that it connects us to a degree, the opportunity to vent and possibly learn how to deal with your own pain is quite attractive. I've had this happen at most parties i attend and I make a few great connections, Dexter being one.
Feeling cleaner is a great way to express the result of our pilates session, and is one of the results of mindful breathing among other things.
You consciously choose to release your mind from needless distractions and open up to what is available within yourself—a cleansing and renewal of body, mind, and spirit, an “internal shower,” as Joe would say.
Watching the "A-Ha!" moment when a client feels a new connection is deeply satisfying, one of our milestones passed is becoming aware of how the shoulder and arm movement affect the Thoracic spine. These internal connections we build on and strengthen redefine our relationship with gravity- and therefore our daily lives as we know it.