Back to Basics
In September as we shuttle our children and ourselves back into familiar routines there is always a period where we must re acclimate. Part of getting back in the swing of things requires us to review what we’ve known or done before in order to begin the season anew. Beginning with the basics is the simplest way to keep moving forward.
This month with the chaos of new beginnings it is even more important to indulge for just a moment and reflect on how we arrived at this routine in the first place. And so, this morning I took stock of my beginnings and recalled the early days of Real Pilates.
All beginnings are precipitated by an idea. And so it was with my beloved studio. In 1995 I imagined only that I would build a home studio in Tribeca and work my way through Physical Therapy school. There are clients here today who were part of that early crew. I never imagined that I would love running a business, I thought only that Pilates might allow me a path as a physical therapist, not that my physical therapy education would serve and support my Pilates career. Over the past 17 years, I’ve launched projects, campaigns, policies, products and more but always I come back to the idea on which the studio was founded. To make Pilates accessible to everyone. Whether or not you embrace Pilates, you can certainly agree that the ideas and principles, i.e. the “basics” of Pilates are universal and have applications in everyone’s life.
It was with the six principles of Control, Concentration, Centering, Precision, Breath and Flow of movement that I founded Real Pilates. Those same six principles propel me forward and guide me in each decision both small and big.
As the first day of school arrived for my children today, so it did for me as well. I am one third of the way through my pursuit of a Master’s degree in Nutrition and as I nervously read through my own syllabus and glanced at the pile of high school applications due in short order for my older daughter I remembered to take a breath and start with the basics.
One principle at a time.
~Alycea
Monthly Teacher’s Challenge:
This September is a time to properly organize your priorities as a teacher. One thing I charge my teaching team with is to select one of the Pilates principles that speaks most to you this month. Then choose an exercise you feel embodies that principle. Work within your own body and with your students this month to dissect, explore and play with both the theme and the move. THEN, choose an exercise you dislike or resist teaching or doing. Repeat the exercise and work to find the positive aspects, new applications for the move as well as the key Pilates principles within the move. When you stumble upon those A-ha moments, pat yourself on the back. You done good!
