April Happenings!
Posted by Alycea Ungaro at 4/30/2007 10:14 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
Hello Pilates People!
I am fresh off the plane from London after a week of production on my latest product. What a thrilling week it was despite the sad state of the dollar versus the pound! I'm on a gag order for now, but I can tell you that this new project is completely new to the market in concept and format and I am very excited about launching it! The great thing about Pilates is the more intimately you know the method, the more fascinating and complex it becomes! For now I'm headed for a home cooked meal and the comfort of my own pillows. Back to Pilates tomorrow!
Cheerio'
Alycea
I am fresh off the plane from London after a week of production on my latest product. What a thrilling week it was despite the sad state of the dollar versus the pound! I'm on a gag order for now, but I can tell you that this new project is completely new to the market in concept and format and I am very excited about launching it! The great thing about Pilates is the more intimately you know the method, the more fascinating and complex it becomes! For now I'm headed for a home cooked meal and the comfort of my own pillows. Back to Pilates tomorrow!
Cheerio'
Alycea
Hi, Im from Santiago Chile. I going to live at Buffalo, NY on August. About a year that Im doing pilates, the real one, and it has been great for me. I dont want to loose it, so please, can you help me to find someone that teach real pilates at Buffalo or Rochester, NY?
Thanks a lot for your help.
Bye
Trini
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I hope that new happening is a DVD which I am eager to try.
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Mum's the word! But it won't be long now!
Check back Soon!
Alycea
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Hi Alycea,
Nice to read your website and blog. I run a studio in Melbourne, Australia. My new blog http://lukegoodwin.blogspot.com/ discusses how my GripSox product for pilates clients is now selling world-wide. I'm keen to get more retailers on board so let me know if you are interested in a joint business venture. Look forward to reading some more of your blog posts.
Regards
Luke
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Thanks for your comments Luke. I'm always happy to hear from fellow studio owners. Keep checking back for new posts!
Best
Alycea
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Hi Alycea,
I love your DVD's, and am eager for your opinion. For someone looking to get Certified (in Atlanta), which program would you recommend. Any thoughts on Power Pilates, specifically?
Thanks!
Lee
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Hi Lee,
Real Pilates has several teachers certified through Power Pilates. As long as your approach to Pilates is one of life-long study you will do well anywhere. I believe that you begin your training when your certification is over. Best of luck to you!
Alycea
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I'll be traveling to London in August - can you suggest a Pilates studio for a couple of lessons?
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Hi Andy,
What Luck!
One of our wonderful teachers will be teaching in London for the entire summer. We've practically booked her with our travelling clients for the duration of her stay.
Please call the studio for the details. Her name is Kate Russell.
Warmly,
Alycea
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Hello Alycea:
I am a very keen student of Classical Pilates. If you ever come to the U.K. again and give a Workshop on Matwork, you must let me know please! Here there are indeed very few Classical Pilates Students/Studios.I have tried to reach your colleague, Daniel Lyons but he seems inaccessable! I think his book as shown on your website is really an excellent presentation of the Pilates matwork. Question is how does one get in touch with him about his book?
I should add I am also the proud owner of your excellent books!
Regards. Colin Henry.
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Hi Colin,
I recognize your name! I am always open to invitations to teach abroad. You can check my events calendar for upcoming presentations in 2007 / 2008.
Daniel Lyon is certainly on staff and accessible. I am happy to pass on your message to him. If you are interested in ordering books wholesale you can contact Harper Collins or DK Books directly.
Best Regards,
Alycea
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Hello Alycea:
How nice of you to reply to my note. As mentioned I have your books entitled; PILATES BODY IN MOTION and THE PILATES PROMISE. If I may say so,they are truly excellent texts of the Classical work.
On pages 120-121 of Body in Motion, I note the beautiful Swan Dive illustration showns the hip bones being distinctly lifted off the mat, before releasing the hands to roll forward. Some Instructors tell me to keep my hip bones on the mat, and as I am not particularily flexible in the lumbar region, I find I can hardly get my legs up and off the mat as I roll forward. Using your illustration, I can gain more height, and thereby gain much more extension and momentum to roll forward.I have been using the Rocking exercise as a prep for the Swan Dive. I do not find the Swan Dive prep helps my flexibility. Is it a question of interpretation as to whether the hip bones stay on the mat or are allowed to lift?
I am grateful to you indeed for passing my name to Mr Lyons. Maybe you would pass him my email address, and if he is prepared to send me a brief note, I can establish contact.
Thank you again. Good wishes. Colin.
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Hello Alycea
I bought your Pilates book (Pilates Body in Motion) a while ago. Thanks for your excellent book!
I've been doing the programme for 5 months now. I've been on the advanced section now for 2 months (integrated with the beginners and intermediate programmes) and want to make the exercises harder. Should I hold each pilates position for longer (so it hurts a little bit more) or should I simply increase the amount of times I perform the exercise (eg. instead of 5 push-ups increase to 15 push-ups?).
What is the best way forward?
Thanks
John
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Hi John!
What a great question!
I always say, if the exercise is easy, you aren't working hard enough.
There is nothing magically difficult about these moves, only the effort you exert to obtain effective results.
Having said that, I have a few recommendations for you.
Instruction: Find a local classical studio and sign up for one private lesson. Tell the teacher you are coming in to review your form and go through your program with a teacher's eye. I promise they will show you the detail of the work you may be missing.
Tempo: Slow down! It sounds like you are plowing through this material without regard to nuance, form and precision! Go back to the basic program and perform it every day in slow motion. Really slow motion. Millimeter by millimeter. Feel what your body has to do to keep correct form - then you can begin to ratchet up the speed again.
Precision: Be exact. Pause during each moment in an exercise to check your form. Are you square? Is your stomach working? Shoulders down? Knees stretched? Ad infinitum. There is always something to fix.
In sum, make it a mental workout. Talk to your muscles. Order them about. Looking for a bigger list of exercises is not always the answer. You really want to go deeper into each exercise and get every possible benefit out of it.
Keep me posted on your progress!
Best
Alycea
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Hi Alycea,
I am looking for a gym in the New York City area that has an underwater treadmill. I noticed on a website you recommended finding a gym with an underwater treadmill. So I thought maybe you could point me in the right direction.
Thanks,
Lauren
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Hi Alycea,
I need your help. My achy knees and hips are in need of an underwater treadmill. Can you recommend a gym or a facility?
Thanks,
Tom
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