One of the things I like about managing a social media profile, is the honesty of putting yourself out there for students, clients, teachers, and colleagues to support, critique and encourage. As the work with our bodies is never perfect, it is always a practice and a progression. Social media (specifically Instagram) offers a true way to share the habit of continual learning we are all involved in with our bodies and Pilates.
Barrels and extension are a teacher’s favorite to open the chest, heart and thoracic frame. The more hours I spend in the studio teaching, seated at my computer working or riding my mountain bike, the more time I enjoy spending in extension and breath with the barrels and specifically with the Ladder Barrel. Work with the barrels simply resets the mind and body back to a state of balance and neutral. The ladder barrel, therefore, being a “taller” version of the small barrels or as Pilates’ appropriately called it, the Spine Corrector.
Using the Ladder Barrel for #ShortBox (which is typically done on the Reformer) and adding the WalkOver Splits – for each leg – is a thoroughly divine sequence for advanced practice work.
However, since I am so short, I have a huge challenge to reach to the ground in a backbend extension over the ladder barrel without several props and adjustments. I wanted desperately to achieve the graceful flowing descent/ascent of Murat in Turkey; a video I initally saw him post in 2015 and Jihye in Korea and Brooke in North Carolina. Murat and Jihye are former dancers and work with Master Teacher Jay Grimes, Vintage Pilates. Brooke who studied with Master Teacher Dorothee VandeWalle, Metropolitan Pilates, is also a licensed acupuncturist. All are teacher-trainers with arms, legs and length for days.
I on the other hand, needed to move the barrel in and along the frame (thank goodness that I have a Peak Pilates barrel) to accomodate my shortened torso and add a moon box to lift the floor so that I could find stability from my shoulders to facilitate the walkover. As a result of the additional props, I also needed to work through the initial hesitation (translate this to ‘fear’) and sloppy-clunkiness of getting “off” and “on” the barrel.
As Brooke said, the movement then could become a lifting “up and out” of the torso as I articulated the spine “rolling off” the barrel. The two-way opposition of pushing down externally (shoulder stability) while lifting “in, up and out” internally (abdominals) makes the movement joyous and exhilerating. It also allowed me to soften the landing and enjoy the ride off the barrel.
I am so glad I have my shoulders back for full use! Grateful to these luscious teachers for the beautiful, visual inspiration and words of encouragement and critique. I am also so appreciate Christopher Robert, Worcester Pilates for setting up the June #PADWellness challenge. I jumped into it with him and used the month check off this hurdle on my list.
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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.