As a fitness trainer, creating new routines, new sequences, or simply tweaking an exercise to create something uniquely effective is a key part of training our clients. Not only are adjustments and modifications necessary to address all levels of fitness but in order to tap into a particular student's learning style or to identify areas of weakness that may not be apparent, continual adjustments are key to exercise programming.
As I work with the team this month to refine the fall schedule I have been re-purposing some classic Pilates moves to accomplish specific goals within a group class. Whenever I sit down to create content I have a level of trepidation. What if I can't think of anything new? What if the perfect exercise doesn't exist? And then inevitably, I fall into a rhythm of "A-ha" moments, where I am capturing the ideal combination I am looking for. In these moments, I am never learning a new move. Nor do I typically invent exercises. No, something entirely different is taking place. I suddenly "see" a new application for an existing exercise. A small adjustment to the move itself or the moves around it create something altogether unique. And although technically nothing "new" has been created, I can tell you that the feeling of discovery is potent. In these moments my brain is working at optimal efficiency correlating exercises from different apparatus, establishing patterns and relating moves to one another. "A-Ha" I say!
As August comes to a close, I challenge you to step out of your student role for a moment and explore your Pilates workout as your teacher would - mentally. Can you find patterns in the routine? Are there moves that seem similar? Moves that appear to be opposite? For those that have trouble remembering the order of moves, this is a tremendously valuable exercise. If you are already comfortable with your sequences, this exercise should take you to the next level.
Allow me to start you off. The first exercise for many is the Hundred on the Mat. The basic shape of the hundred appears over and over in the method. Can you identify other exercises which contain this shape? Go ahead - think outside the "box". I'd love to hear what you discover.
Have a wonderful end to your Summer. The next full newsletter will be in September.
To keep you busy at the beach:
Come party with us and watch the exclusive videos of Contrology founder Joe Pilates, presented by the United States Pilates Association LLC and shown by Master Teacher Brett Howard.
mobile device! Alycea walks you through these anytime workouts. Try all three: Pilates Day by Day Workout, Pilates from the Bottom Up Workout, Pilates Up, Up and Away, and the Pilates from the Top down work out. Download them 
