The 10-Year #HowHardDidAgingHitYou Challenge, occurred across the internet this week, causing me to dig back into digital archives for the selection of images and bringing to mind the depth of changes in the time that has passed. We all have a richer use of social media, encouraging, expanded teacher connections, across a comparatively small community.
I say comparatively speaking, as the senior and elder teachers in the Pilates community are a very small percentage of the Pilates practitioners as a whole. Having access to this sub-section of teachers is a gift I don’t take lightly.
I found Pilates when I was 45 years old; many of my teachers of choice today are just approaching 45 years of age now! They have been doing this work since they were teenagers. It’s their experience and exposure to the practice thru the eyes of the their 1st Generation teachers that is invaluable to me as both practitioner and a teacher. It is for this reason that I challenged myself, as part of my personal work for the year ahead, to follow the lead of my favorite teachers, 2nd Generation Teachers, with my mouth shut and my eyes and ears open.
Keeping my mouth shut is really the hardest part of this personal challenge, I am not going to lie. In other words, by following the lead of #FavoriteTeachers, I need to practice to allow my brain chatter to dissipate and become the butter in the hands of another.
As a result, private session time is so treasured where I work to let go and be led thru all my sticky spots (clearly still apparent to the eyes of the Master Teacher). As a teacher, I believe I am not fully equipped to guide or lead another to their depth in this work, if I haven’t found the depth within myself. The work of personal body, study and practice is never ending. The work is hard on an aging body and its not always pretty; it can be frustrating and humbling and it is never without a mental adjustment. With all that said, I still very much enjoy the pushing, prodding and pulling for more…. sometimes on those same stuck and sticky spots that if left on my own usually get glossed over.
Teacher’s Tools
A conversation with Blossom last week about Kathy Grant’s tools and contributions to the Pilates community led me to bring these small but mighty hand weights into my teaching repertoire this week. Blossom talked about these, amongst other goodies (stay tuned to KathyGrantPilates.com for more on those details) and I quickly ordered them for use in my space.
Great for mat work and stomach massage (flat back and rotation), and as I learned KSG used them, they are great in a Double Leg Kick-Pull Straps combination on the mat.
There are movements of small tension and movements of great tension and there is also a movement which our eyes cannot catch although it can be felt. – Kasimir Malevich
Teacher Tuesday & Thursday
I earned the gift of a complimentary session at Real Pilates NYC (thank you @kiraslamb and the #ContrologyFreakChallenge) and found Alycea Ungaro fired up and leading her teacher team on #TeacherTuesday before my session hour. Both she and Brett (on #TeacherThursday in my regular private session) zeroed in on my sticky-stuck spots and into my nemesis movements and worked really hard to help me find, hold and use a deeper scoop and lumbar curve than I was feeling or allowing in my body.
I am grateful for their focused attention – and sometimes dialing it back to basics – as there are movements that I admittedly avoid or leave out of my practice when no one is watching. #KeepingItReal
Real Pilates NYC Teacher’s Workout with Alycea Ungaro
The value of regularly participating as a student with Senior or Master teacher cannot and should not be ignored. The energy and camaraderie of following a teacher leading a group session, in classical form, is nothing short of exhilarating. This is my plan of attack, be it Pilates, Yoga or any other movement program on #TeacherTuesday and #TeacherThursday.
When neither of these two formats (private or group session) are available, I do not hesitate to stream the audio of my #TeacherFavorites and keep moving.
Gina Jackson, is a classically trained Pilates Teacher and has been teaching along the Gold Coast of Hudson and Bergen County, NJ for the past fifteen+ years.
Certified by Power Pilates of New York, Gina has trained with Master Teachers Bob Liekens, Susan Moran and Brett Howard; loved workshop training with Cary Regan and Blossom Leilani-Crawford and has particularly enjoyed listening to the personal stories as told by Pilates Elders, Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel.
An active teacher and blogger, Gina manages a private personal training business supporting a myriad of clients, teaching all to honor their health, strength and life with the principles of Pilates at its core.