My responsibility to my clients is to use my extensive training in Pilates and my understanding of their bodies to help them be stronger, healthier and more fit. I take this so very seriously; it probably deserves further explanation.
As I design a plan for each client session, I will always select exercises that feature flexion, extension and lateral flexion as those are central to a well balanced Pilates workout. For weekly clients, I always incorporate work for both the upper body and the lower body, with an emphasis on the core, stability and control. I will incorporate exercises using a variety of Pilates equipment and Mat. For those clients who come in multiple times per week, I might focus one session more on upper and another on lower body, always with balance between the two.
Despite my prior planning, each session begins with the questions, “How are you feeling today? Are there injuries, soreness, or problems?” If a problem is identified, my plan must change very quickly. I may devote the entire session to that issue and work to help alleviate the problem. The exercises I then choose to include may even be modified—perhaps we do them sitting or with legs in a more supported position—whatever is best for the client.
Likewise, when a client is new to Pilates, I’ll start with the foundational work emphasizing the core principles of Pilates. There are certain ‘building block’ exercises I will use first. One of the key goals is to make the client more ‘body aware’—to develop or further the connection between their mind and different parts of their body and muscles within their body. This is the very meaningful primary concept behind the phrase ‘mindful motion’.
If a client is new to me, though not to Pilates, I’m using my knowledge to observe their level and then design sessions that keep them moving forward. And as any client progresses, I’ll introduce more complex movements— combining a lower body movement with an upper body movement. This choreography of movement is more demanding on core and stability and the benefits, to the client, are noticeable.
In every case, I’m trying to carefully, but persistently, move my clients forward in their work. Pilates offers unique benefits—improvements in core strength, posture, lengthening, and overall fitness. I design sessions for each client that leverage the techniques, evolving over time, so they can expect to-- and actually reach--new levels of wellness. This is the ultimate goal of our relationship and I find it both challenging and gratifying.