Pilates with Dan

The joy of teaching Pilates

Happy International Pilates Day!

Pilates with Dan | April Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/6a30a12e7d44/pilates-with-dan-march-newsletter-14192513

• TEACHING TIP •
Shhhhh. Be quiet.

My absolute best advice to all teachers, at all levels of experience, is to stop talking. Be quiet, listen and watch.

I know you want to tell your students everything you know but that doesn't help them. Instead give simple instructions and then let the action happen. It's not a performance. It doesn't have to get scored by a panel of judges.

The Australian Government released the new updated Physical Activity Guidelines last week and here are the key takeaways:

- the focus is moving from a weekly physical activity guideline to a daily or 24hr one. Rather than 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week aim for at least 30mins per day.
- a renewed emphasis on the need for good quality sleep (7-9hrs).
- Twice per week focus on strength training, and three times per week focus on activities focusing on mobility, balance and co-ordination. Sounds like Pilates to me!
- encouraging several hours per day of light-intensity physical activity ie keep moving!

You can read the full guidelines, including recommendations for children, teens and older adults here: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity/24-hour-movement-guidelines-for-all-australians

For the science buffs you can also view the evidence they based this guideline on here: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/collection-of-evidence-to-inform-australias-physical-activity-and-sedentary-behaviour-guidelines

• SUBSTACK •

..Questioning ideas or asking for evidence shouldn't be something that is frowned upon in Pilates-land. It shouldn't be met with dismissive comments, elitism or scorn. It should be celebrated because it brings us closer to shedding ideas that don't work or don't have evidence to support them. If something can’t withstand some simple questioning than is it really of any value at all?

Read more on Substack (link https://substack.com/ )

• DETAIL •

The end of the first week of brings us The Double Leg Stretch - an exercise from Joseph Pilates' book, Return to Life Through Contrology, with many hidden challenges.

It's also an example of an exercise whose instructions are often misinterpreted, overlooked or simply changed. In particular if you open up a copy of his book and look at the instruction for pose 2 Joseph Pilates instructs us to have our:
..Arms stretched straight forward and
Pressed firmly against thighs...

(It also says the heels should be 2" off the mat but I don't 😆)

Did you ever miss one of his instructions or were taught differently? 🤔

Check out my book 'A Pilates Journey' and find out more of these hidden, overlooked or often not taught instructions.

Linky - https://amzn.asia/d/04gJvzOQ

Our latest newsletter is out now!

Pilates with Dan | March Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/0dc58943a797/pilates-with-dan-march-newsletter

Pilates with Dan | February Newsletter has now landed! - https://mailchi.mp/c0503c20777f/pilates-with-dan-february-newsletter