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Why I Love Power Pilates
Every so often at Power Pilates, we get a client letter that really makes us smile. This letter came in to one of our Client Service Representatives this past week. Elleen, who wrote the letter, was nice enough to let us share with all of you:
Here is the background as to why I love Power Pilates. My mom needed help 10 years ago with some of the chronic illnesses she was managing. I searched and searched for what could make her abdominals muscles strong enough so that her back could be what it needed to be. We both lived in a farm community in CA where the word pilates was a foreign language. So, through the process of my search, I found pilates, began learning from a book written by Alycea Ungaro, doing the Introductory level that was in that book 2 times a day. My goal was to learn it well enough in my body, to translate it to mom to relieve her pain. What I discovered was that it relieved MY pain, both in my physical and emotional state (nasty divorce happening at that time), and I could adapt enough of it to help mom on the days she was able to physically do this. It helped her walking, it helped her balance, it helped the stress level, I restructured my body without knowing it as I worked to help mom!!! 2 years later, I moved to Boston, mom was stable, divorce was long done and over, and so I bought a one way ticket, took 3 suitcases, and moved. I did not want to do career 1 (degree in Chemistry, minor in Math and Physics), did not want to do career 2 (tutu maker for designers, costumes and wardrobe for musical theatre, etc), decided that what I LOVED was pilates, so I began to research what was it that I had learned. After months of searching, I found Power Pilates – how it embraced and preserved what Joseph Pilates had done, how its mission and purpose lined up with me, and how to my great surprise, there was an affialate here in Boston – Kathy Van Patten!!! I was still doing the Beg series once or twice a day, and took courage, signing up for a certification workshop. I went to Kathy’s studio to speak to her. I watched her and her passion. I listened, and because our daughters had all 3 been at San Francisco Ballet at the same time in the school, there was a understanding between us. She accepted my reservation for the workshop and I studied, worked, read, to be ready to absorb EVERYTHING that would be offered.
Took about 5 min for me to fall in love with her, Power Pilates, its goal and mission, the way we were taught to teach, the emphasis on present moment consciensness, flow, concepts, guidelines, practice….I knew I was home. I absorbed everything I could determining to be a student during this workshop. Kathy gave, explained, provided skills, knowledge, everything I would need to take what I loved so dearly to others to improve their lives.
And so I did – I began to teach within 2 months after that, and haven’t looked back yet. Each class I taught, each individual I saw benefit from this method, each thank you I received, each day, each week, I felt and enjoyed the privilege of being a Power Pilates instructor. The students thrived on the training system I had been taught, so eventually I became a Power Pilates Intermediate Mat instructor with Leah Chaback Kab. OMG – did I fall in love all over again, her heart, her passion for what she was training us with, the Power Pilates system, so careful, so logical, so doable for the classes!!! I recommitted to helping each and every person that walked into my classes and that I do!!!
Power Pilates has helped me personally pull through the death of my father, 3 emergency chest surgeries of my daughter with a rare disease, now the death of my mother, the upheaval of my life many times over, but what has remained as a foundation to live with and by – are the principles I have been taught, and my commitment to bring that to others. I have watched 75 year old men, straighten themselves, I have watched young mothers regain control, I have watched twisted bodies slowly unwind, I have watched men and women under stress walk out of my classes refreshed, renewed, able to take on the difficulties of their lives. How do I know it will work – well, I live it.
This past October and November making the time and space to recertify, watching Basic Anatomy with Juliet over and over and over, the privilege of taking Bob Liekens workshop on Intermediate Mat, the honor of being able to ask him questions that will specifically make a difference in the students I teach; the heart, sole, purpose, determination, commitment of Power Pilates impacts my life, my career, my emotional state every day.
Do I love Power Pilates? Yes, every moment of every day. I am so grateful for the decisions by those I do not even know to keep Joseph’s systematic approach alive and pass it on. I get to be a part of something so real, so effective, so positive, so life-changing: Thank You Power Pilates!
Happy Holidays to you and yours -
Elleen
Tips for a Perfect Summer
Summer is finally here. But with the nice weather can come some nasty downsides. So we’ve compiled a short list of summer tips that will guarantee a good time no matter what – From avoiding pests to salvaging that sunken cellphone, these tips are sure to come in handy.
Relieve Mosquito Bites
It’s inevitable – if you’re going outside, you’re going to get stung. But don’t worry, next time your scratching away at that bite, try a little toothpaste or vinegar right on the bump. Within a few minutes, you’ll forget it’s there. Another option is to crush some aspirin and add a few drops of water – rub on the bite and done. You can stop scratching and get back to horseshoes.
Save a Soaked Cellphone
Oh no. You jumped in head first and forgot your phone was in your pocket. It happens. Try quickly dropping your soaked electronic device it in some uncooked rice. The rice will absorb all of the surrounding moisture and, hopefully, draw all the water away from the vital sections of your phone until completely dry. In some really severe cases where phones are all but lost to water, try spraying them down with some WD-40. WD-40 actually stands for Water Displacement Formula Number 40 – so it’s designed to repel water. It may buy you enough time to dry out the phone before it’s lost.
Repel Bugs Cheaply and Safely
Bug repellents can get costly and often contain some rather unwanted chemicals. So why not make your own bug repellents at home? Start off with some soy wax, melt it in a double boiler, add some citronella oil (found at most health food stores) and pour into an empty jar or old can with a wick. Now you have your own citronella candle, perfect for keeping off the bugs. Add some different scents and colored crayons to your mix for a more pleasant candle.
Don’t like the idea of candles, some plants will naturally protect against mosquito and other bugs. Flowers like citronella (for obvious reasons), catnip, rosemary, and marigolds all repel bugs. And, as it turns out, Mosquito also hate soap. So next time you’re in the backyard, hang some dryer sheets on the deck or set up a bubble blowing machine. Independent research shows these can really cut down on the number of unwanted bug visitors.
Clean the Grill without Harsh Chemicals
It was a long winter. And we’re willing to guess that those grill grates prove that fact. Or maybe it’s just been a few years since they’ve had a good scrub. Well, not many of us have a pressure washer to blast that grit away and chemicals that close to food just seems like a bad idea. Don’t worry – there’s an easy fix. Use a halved onion face down on a heated grill to remove grit and grime without the use of harsh chemicals or expensive pressure washers. If onions bring tears to your eyes, you can also use a balled up piece of aluminum foil to get the stuck on grease right off.
So there are some of our tips for having a perfect summer. If you have any tips, let us know by sounding off in the comments below, on Facebook or through Twitter. Have a great summer!
Originally Posted June 2011 on APOGEE Wellness Blog
Radiant Summer Skin Health
Between the high heat, the unrelenting humidity and oily sunscreen, your skin can take a beating during the summer months. But there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a perfect complexion along with the summer sun. Here are some tips to keep you looking and feeling great.
Exfoliate Daily
Before you go out and in the sun, it can be a good idea to rid of all the dry, dead cells sitting on the surface of your skin. Using a lightly abrasive scrub, towel or loofah will help remove this dried up layer and get you ready to shine. Exfoliating will also help stimulate your skin, encouraging new growth and overall health.
Use the Right Moisturizer
After you exfoliate, shower or shave, it’s always a good idea to moisturizing your skin. It’s important to find the brand that works for you. If it ends up clogging your pores, you’re going to have a harder time keeping your skin rash and complexion free once you hit the heat outside. Read the ingredients and experiment with different types to find the one you like the most.
Always Use Sun Block
Some people think they’re going to get a great tan by not applying any sunscreen – this approach will leave your skin dry, damaged and worse for wear. You should always apply at least SPF 15 before stepping outside for long periods of time. The trick is to find the right level of protection along with a formula that works best for you. Sunburn, heat rash and hives are definitely not summer fun.
Quick Tip for sunburn – try soaking a paper towel in green tea and applying to the burnt area. This will prevent any damage to the skin cells from taking place. As for cooling off the burn – aloe, aloe and more aloe.
Drink Plenty of Water
Your skin is the largest organ of the human body. And considering we’re made of almost 70% water, it’s a good idea to stay hydrated. Water will help keep your skin looking great and even help cool it down. If you think your skin is taking a beating, find a nice shady spot and kick back with a glass of water. A book and hammock are optional.
The most important thing is to stay safe and enjoy the summer weather while it lasts. Take care of your skin and you’ll be looking as great as you feel.
Originally Posted June 2011 on APOGEE Wellness Blog
Exercise Your Mind
It happens to all of us – we walk into another room to grab something and suddenly can’t remember what it is we were looking for. For the most part, episodes like this can be attributed to lack of concentration. Unfortunately, we can all count on these events happening more often as we get older. Well, new research shows, maybe not.
Much of our creating and accessing a memory day-to-day is based upon pattern separation. Although we might eat oatmeal for breakfast or park in the same area each morning before work, we tend to recognize the smaller differences in each day. This helps separate and “file” our memories accordingly. You may have had oatmeal three days in a row, but maybe you had it with apples on Monday, yogurt yesterday and cinnamon today. These small, but significant, details help provide a distinct memory.
Age, as we all understand, has a tendency to dull the ability to make these distinctions causing our memories to blur together. That’s because of a degenerative process caused by aging to our dentate gyrus – the part of brain thought to be responsible for the formation of new memories.
But new research has shown that there may be a way to help stimulate this portion of our brain and help stimulate the creation of new brain cells. No, it’s not crossword puzzles or brain teasers – it’s good, old fashioned exercise.
In a study conducted at the National Institute on Aging, researchers found that mice which regularly and voluntarily exercised using their play wheels showed an increased ability to separate closely spaced images on a screen – a test used monitor pattern recognition and memory in animals. When compared with their sedentary roommates, the mice that ran more frequently also showed more new neurons within their brain’s memory zone.
Although the extent to which exercise can help facilitate this reaction in humans is still unknown, it does lead to some promising theories.
The bottom line is exercising can never hurt. So why not try it anyway? Get out and get active. The only problem is remembering where you left your keys.
Originally Posted June 2011 on APOGEE Wellness Blog
Shine On
With spring in bloom and Memorial Day just around the corner, many are getting excited for the summer weather. And it’s a good thing too. It’s a little known fact that many Americans don’t get enough sun throughout the year – something that normally doesn’t get a lot of attention.
We hear a lot about staying safe while in the sun, and that truly is important. But one thing we don’t often hear is how important the sun can be for both our mental and physical wellbeing.
Did you know that many Americans suffer from a vitamin D Deficiency – a symptom, among many others, often caused by lack adequate sunshine?
Sunshine is loaded with Ultraviolet rays which stimulate the production of Vitamin D – an essential element to our health. Not only does vitamin D allow us to absorb Calcium but it’s even been proven to control immune function and reduce inflammation which is a major factor in the prevention of heart disease. Appropriate amounts of sunshine and vitamin D have even been linked in studies to the prevention of breast and prostate cancer.
And you know that saying, “feeling a little blue”? Well, as it turns out, it may be more literal than we think. Research shows that lack of sunlight directly affects the parts of our brain responsible for depression. Getting out and in the light can literally help keep us happy!
Now, there are great ways to get vitamin D through foods and other supplements like fish liver oil, but there aren’t too many of us who find a way to eat fish every day. That’s where getting our time outside comes in to play.
Receiving roughly 30 minutes of sun-time twice a week can have a huge impact on your vitamin D levels and your overall mental health. It’s important that note that the sun does not have the same effect through glass as it does when we sit outside. Direct sunlight in the appropriate amount will truly help keep us healthy.
We still urge you to be careful whenever in the sun as every body is different. Some may burn more easily and might require less time in the sun and all should take the necessary precautions to stay safe. And, although sunlight is good for you, moderation is the key. Protect yourself from burning and be safe. Perform regular checks of your skin if you do spend long periods of time in the sun and always apply protective lotion at least 30 minutes before heading out.
And with that, we hope you go out and enjoy your time in the light. We think you deserve it!
Originally Posted May 2011 on APOGEE Wellness Blog
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