PilateSpeak with Alycea

Functional Pilates????

Alycea Ungaro — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:41:30 GMT

September always brings with it a flurry of personnel changes and this September was no exception.
Departing staff means only one thing to me: auditions!!

And so it was that Jan (she whom I affectionately refer to as the boss of everything) and myself sat down to audition the last applicant on our list on a random Thursday afternoon.
The teacher was absolutely lovely.
A great eye, a soothing voice, targeted instruction.
Still new to the craft, they were able to navigate smoothly through the material with a fair amount of confidence.
Still, there was one little wrinkle.

I didn’t recognize any of the exercises.
Not as Pilates exercises, anyway.

What’s more, the student (read: “guinea pig”) we assigned to be a willing victim, remained flat on her back for the entire 20 minutes executing a series of exercises which fell into two extremes; either barely perceptible to the naked eye, or extremely basic.

Now, I consider myself fairly well versed in this Pilates stuff. I’ve been studying since 1982 and I’ve seen a lot of Pilates. A Lot of Pilates! If I don’t recognize a single move as part of a Pilates curriculum – well, I think that’s saying something.

After 20 minutes of waiting for some recognizable exercise to materialize before me, I had to call a cease-fire.
Call me controlling, but I do feel some obligation to know the material that my clients are paying for.
I’m simply not comfortable walking through the studio and seeing sessions conducted in some type of vague pseudo-exercise mode.

I discussed with the applicant their ideas about Pilates and their philosophy on movement and after some delicate maneuvering, I was informed by the teacher that in their opinion the exercises which had been performed were the most “functional” execution of the Pilates method.

Functional.
It’s a buzz word in Pilates.
Functional implies useful in everyday life.
Functional implies that the body can use these movements, that the body in fact, needs the movements for the most basic activities.

As a physical therapist, I understand functional body mechanics.
I’ve not only seen my share of manual therapy whereby patients are trained to recruit their multifidi while prone on a table and being palpated by their therapist, I've also conducted it myself.

But Pilates is exercise, right??
If our applicant was using methods to facilitate proper lying down, I’d say they were right on target.
If, on the other hand, they wanted to effect any actual change in body mechanics, strength, stamina or even alignment, than the routine I saw before me was absolutely NOT functional.
Not by a long shot.

I quizzed the instructor about their choices of material and was informed that the certification program had really “empowered” their teachers to make changes to the material and choices about the exercises.

And then I got really irritated.

Because here’s the thing. (and it may rustle some feathers, but hey, it’s my opinion).
We are fitness trainers.
Not bodyworkers.

If you want to be a physical therapist, massage therapist, applied kinesiologist, feldenkreis practitioner or other such thing, go and train for that.

Pilates is fitness.
It can be slow, or meticulous or both.
It can be corrective in nature.
It can be incredibly healing (as exercise often is).
But it’s fitness plain and simple.

I am seeing more and more often our field a push among instructors to self-aggrandise.
A desire to elevate their craft to something more than just exercise.

As though teaching exercise isn’t important enough. Well pardon me for saying so…..but basic fitness training is likely the MOST beneficial thing you can do for just about anyone.  AND I’m offended by teachers who feel that the Pilates method with all it’s variety,l complexity and nuance doesn’t offer enough to their clients to achieve critical benefit in a typical 60 minute session?

Where is our self-respect? What exactly are we trying to accomplish here?

Now this may sound a little harsh but I’m going to say it anyway because …..what the heck!
Here’s a reality check.

As fitness trainers, we are the “help”. The hired help, at that.
We provide a service – that makes us the “help”.

I know it’s not flattering sounding but it’s true.

We are in the business of helping people and we do it for a fee.

It’s not medicine; it’s not some other lofty measure.
Some people don’t even think it’s necessary! But it is!

It’s the most healthful, most accessible and most necessary thing we can do for our planet.
Get people moving!

Now why does it have to be more important than that?

~Alycea
Where do you think our craft is going? Leave a comment!

Fusion Follow Up

Alycea Ungaro — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 07:10:16 GMT

I must have struck a chord somewhere because a slew of people commented on my last post.

However, there are some things I didn’t say, or didn’t clarify and since I do strive to be utterly clear (most of the time anyway), I’d like to add a few things!

Pilates by definition is mindful exercise.
It relies on concentration.
Focus.

It inherently requires you to immerse your body and mind in the movements.
To my mind, any form of Pilates which asks the student to use less mental exertion is not Pilates.

Anyone who has experienced true Pilates knows that the reps are limited because if you are working to capacity in any given move, you couldn’t handle any more reps.

Real Pilates means you will not, can not do a lot of reps!

Ergo, if playing music serves only to distract the student so they can do more reps……well, you do the math.

I don’t think doing less work so you can do more work really adds up.

But call me crazy!

As far as I’m concerned if we took Joe Pilates original exercises and told someone to do the moves exactly as prescribed while counting backward, it just wouldn’t be Pilates anymore.

Fast results require you to think.

Cycling, aerobics, rock-climbing will all achieve phenomenal results …IF you are focused, attentive and “present”.

This my fellow practitioners, is why I love Pilates!

You can't really do it properly if you aren't thinking.
Exercise for smart people!
Gotta love that.

Alycea

Reflections on a City

Alycea Ungaro — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:08:24 GMT

New York , New York.

I always say it takes one to know one – A native New Yorker, that is.

I had a brand new client last week who after 10 minutes of spontaneous mutual banter I assuredly asked, “Where did you Grow Up?”.

Before she’d answered “here.” I knew full well she was made of the same stuff I was.

Born among a resting level of noise that is not found in nature.
Thrust forward at birth into a rapid-fire tempo unmatched in the rest of this great country we call America.

And, like any born and bred New Yorker; Expectant.
Perhaps above all - expectant. New Yorkers expect things.

They expect to get what they need.
They expect others to expect things of them.
They expect to be….heard.

Expectation may be indigenous to New York City.

As a hub of success and achievement, people don’t come to New York to settle down and raise a family.
Nor do they associate setting up in New York as a quality of life change.

People come to New York to do something.
Not just something – something important.
People come to New York to accomplish something.

It’s pretty hard to accomplish something if no one is listening to you.

So they practice.
Native New Yorkers practice being heard.

They speak out loud. Loudly.
They voice their displeasure. To perfect strangers.

They talk on their phones in public, read their books out loud on the train, sing while strolling and carry on conversations with coffee cart servers and taxi drivers ad infinitum.

They try to be heard.
They, in fact, make themselves heard – above the din.
And at any cost.
Adding their volume to the organic clamor that defines this Big Apple.

If they persist - someone, somewhere will take notice.
But more often than not, it’s just another native, recognizing one of their own.

Fusion Schmuzion!!

Alycea Ungaro — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:27:03 GMT

Criminy!!

I saw a Pilates segment on the news today that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and then fall out!

What in heaven’s name is going on in the Pilates world?

Anyone who can get their hands on a list of Pilates exercises seems compelled to shred it to pieces and then dress it up real “purty-like” with paper and a bow and call it something “new”. Something “better”. More “intense”, they say.

Know what I say?

Crap!

It’s crap.

First of all, if Pilates wasn’t already great, you wouldn’t be ripping it off in the first place.

Second, if you have been doing Pilates, and it wasn't intense or hard enough for you....well then it wasn't real Pilates!

And finally, if you’re going to completely deconstruct the method, bastardize it with accessories, and blast mindless, ear-piercing music while you teach, well don’t you dare call it Pilates! Call it calisthenics and let’s move on with it!

Mind you, I’ve got no problem with mindless exercise done to bad music. It’s fine by me – I even go to classes like that when I feel like tuning out and just swaying to music.

My problem here is with the misrepresentation.

Conning customers in with the promise of Pilates and delivering something completely unrelated is false advertising, an abuse of public trust and an insult to the dedicated professionals who actually do teach Pilates.

Pilates police, where are you? Can't someone regulate the marketing of senseless and anatomically damaging workouts that are posturing as Pilates and ruining the reputation some of us have worked so hard to build....

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you!!

Alycea

Everyday Pilates is Out!!

Alycea Ungaro — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:06:34 GMT

My DVD is out!!

Check it out here!

Ok - here's the skinny and my completely subjective review!
This is NOT just another Pilates DVD.

It's a full book - 96 full color pages with step by step instructions.
A full DVD - one hour of workouts in four - 15 minute routines!
And....

*Pull out charts
*Checklists
*Tips and Pointers

It's a whole new concept, designed to get you working out harder, better and more thoroughly than you would with just a book OR a DVD. Here, you get both!

I had so much fun making it!

Here's why I love it.
Instead of lying down for an hour - each routine is focused on my new Pilates mantra:
"Get off the floor and out the door".
You will lie, sit, kneel, and stand. And you'll do it all in a quick paced and comprehensive workout.

Here's what else!
It's got music. Or not! You have the option of tuning in or out. You can hear my voiceover instruction only, or just the music, or both! How cool is that?

So, you might ask, what could be bad...........?

Nothing! Thanks to DK ( my fab publishers), this product will be translated and released in 17 languages. How could that be bad? It's fantastic. But.........it meant that there could be no live speaking on the tape. What you'll see is me and another instructor demonstrating the moves in real time. You'll hear me instructing you through each move, but you won't SEE me teaching anyone. Since we couldn't speak on camera (they would have had to dub it), this was the clearest way to convey instruction. For those of you that have seen me live, it means my edgy NY sense of humor is curiously absent!

It's a great product all told. And of course it won't be my last. The wheels are turning, the pitches are out, the meetings are scheduled.

Sit tight and enjoy your workout!!!

~Alycea

Where the Buffalo Roam...

Alycea Ungaro — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:38:58 GMT

Ah Amangani!
Luxurious accommodations, fine dining and a divine landscape.

My annual retreat was utterly fabulous and made no less so by the presence of some incredible participants. The students readily lent me their bodies and I accepted with open arms opting to change their minds as well as their bodies from the very first inhalation.

I am thrilled to say I will be visiting Amangani again next year. I am already planning my day at Yellowstone National and at least one picnic at Grand Teton National Park. But for the immediate future….it’s Disney! At the end of October, I am packing up the family and jetting down to Orlando where I will present a new workshop for the Pilates Method Alliance. Lucky for us it’s during Halloween so we have reserved our tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Ball! Costumes with no coats..? What could be better?

Happy Fall!

Alycea

Summer Scoop!

Alycea Ungaro — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:24:56 GMT

Howdy from the Hamptons! My girls are happily entrenched in summer camp and although I should be working my tan, I find myself simply working. Truth be told, I'm happiest when I'm busy and creative. So here's the quick and dirty on what's percolating!

For those of you who teachers looking for a quick summer course, I will be sneak previewing my November PMA course on August 22nd at Sag Harbor Pilates! A 2-hour course which explores how to amplify Pilates as resistance training. Workout hard and learn new cues and tricks for your clients.

If you are looking to vacation once the school year has settled back in, join me in Jackson Hole, WY where I'll be teaching from September 26th - 29th. The spa and restaurants at Amangani are divine - not to mention the views! Our focus will be 15 minute workouts that get you "off the floor and out the door".

This summer I took on a new project! We have been busy finishing our website (I know it looks done but it was only a stop gap on the way to the more complete version which is coming soon). But we've also done some renovating and "greening" of the studio. That's right, we've gone green. Recycling, energy efficient, paperless, you name it. We've also added a brand new product line that is certified vegan, eco-friendly and cruelty free. I love this line to death! You can order it online through our website and if you are in the 'hood, stop in and try the testers.

September is often "back to the grind" for most people so we've implemented a "Pilates Pedi-cure" program this summer. Sessions focusing on the alignment of the feet coupled with 15 minute reflexology sessions have kept the studio busier than usual! We'll keep it on the schedule for September in our brand new treatment room, with our master reflexologist and we've got a bunch of new perks lined up as well.

But for now.........I'm off to the beach!
Alycea

April Happenings!

Alycea Ungaro — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 10:14:00 GMT

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

Welcome!

Alycea Ungaro — Thu, 17 May 2007 16:57:17 GMT

Finally, a place where we can chat about the Pilates world from an insider's perspective. This blog is intended for those who have already dedicated themselves to the field and / or practice of Pilates. Not to say we won't at times foray into discussions pertaining to parenting, wellness, and of course, retail therapy. We are after all, just regular folks with a penchant for Pilates!