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How to Enhance Your Pilates Teaching Career and Pre/Postnatal Pilates Tips (with Leah Stewart)

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Passion for learning is what sets apart great Pilates teachers from the mediocre ones. The more we learn the thirstier we get for new information, deeper understanding and more specialized approach to teaching different populations of students.

Talking to Leah Stewart was a blast because she is definitely one of those awesome Pilates instructors.

Her personal prenatal journey (which she shared on the BASI blog) has motivated her to specialize in pre/postnatal teaching and create her certification course. She is the author of Pilates for New Mothers DVD and the creator of as LiveLife Pilates Pre- and Post-Natal Pilates Specialization Course for Pilates professionals. She gladly shared some of her favorite Pilates moves for prenatal and postnatal clients as well as the overall focus of any prenatal workout.

Leah is a former BASI faculty member so I asked her to share her experience with BASI and offer some insider’s tips on what distinguishes BASI training from other Pilates schools (make sure to listen to her tips if you are considering a Bridge program or are just looking to start your Pilates training.)

She also holds several fitness-related certifications and offered valuable insights into how you can grow your Pilates expertise through pursuing training in other fields.

Questions discussed in the interview

  1. What sets BASI apart from other Pilates teaching schools?
  2. How did your pregnancy change your teaching style and your focus of interests?
  3. Why is Pilates a perfect workout for pre/postnatal clients?
  4. What is the main focus of a prenatal workout?
  5. What are your favorite Pilates exercises for any prenatal and postnatal client?
  6. Is it important for Pilates instructors to search certifications/training in other fields? Are some of them more beneficial than others?
  7. What are your favorite resources (books, websites, DVDs etc) that would be helpful to other instructors?
  8. What is your personal definition of Pilates?

Leah Stewart’s profile on Pilates Bridge

How to Choose the Best Pilates Outfit. And Win a Free One!

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Pilates makes you feel good. We all know that.

But looking good while doing Pilates makes us feel even better.

Choosing the right outfit for your Pilates practice might not be the most important thing but it can definitely make a huge difference in how comfortable you feel during your session. There are a lot of activewear companies that advertise having the absolute best product for you. The prices and styles range from $10 to $200+ making you wonder what the big deal is about a piece of fabric.

Here are a couple of things to look for when choosing your Pilates activewear:

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12 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Pilates for Your Peace of Mind

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benefits of pilates

Pilates is more than just a workout. Any person who’s been doing it for at least a couple of months knows that Pilates doesn’t only sculpt your body but it also clears your mind and gives you energy and inner serenity. But what is so special about Pilates?

benefits of pilates

After practicing Pilates for 5 years and teaching it for 3 years I’ve seen changes in my body and mind as well as observed the same transformations in my clients. Most people come to a Pilates class to get a flat tummy, ease joint pains and discomforts, rehabilitate after a surgery or improve their athletic performance. And Pilates can do all of that!

But the most amazing part happens when students start seeing changes not only in their bodies but also in their minds, in their emotions and in their lives altogether. I’m partial, of course, but Pilates is a true miracle tool.

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Balanced Body and Balanced Life through Pilates (Success Story)

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What is the biggest obstacle that is keeping you from taking Pilates?

  • you don’t have a Pilates studio in the area;
  • Pilates classes are expensive;
  • You took the first Pilates class in the wrong setting and never came back (they try a DVD, take a class at the gym with 40 other members or simply get to work with an instructor who hasn’t gone through proper training.)
  • You don’t have time for Pilates.

Today I’m talking to Robin Long, a Pilates instructor and a blogger at TheBalancedLifeOnline, a new mommy and an inspiring Pilates success story. Just like many other women in modern world she was battling stress and anxiety because of her busy lifestyle. Pilates helped her take control of her life.

Today she helps other women find strength and confidence through Pilates. Her passion for the Method motivated her to create 2 online courses to help those students who want to experience the benefits of Pilates but can’t commit to taking in-person classes at the studio.

I’ll let Robin tell her story and share

  • 5 favorite Pilates exercises;
  • 5 tips to achieving a balanced Pilates body;
  • The biggest benefit of Pilates.

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Increase Your Pilates Profits through Online Teaching (with Robin Long)

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Do you have clients who are traveling a lot or come to you only on vacation?

Do you run a home studio but want to expand your Pilates business without the extra expenses?

Teaching virtual Pilates classes can be just the right thing for you. Today people are used to doing pretty much anything online: pay bills, take college classes, connect with people and even public schools post a lot of home assignments online. The online world lets us save our precious time and explore the opportunities that wouldn’t be available to us in any other way.

A lot of clients are interested in taking Pilates classes but they can’t commit either because of their tight schedule or limited budget. Some of the Pilates professionals have dedicated their career to bringing Pilates to those populations.

Robin Long is an inspiring Pilates instructor who is following her passion for Pilates both online and offline. She obtained her comprehensive Pilates certification through Body Arts & Science International and was trained by the highly respected Kristi Cooper White (creator of PilatesAnytime.com). She works with a variety of clients: from those just wanting to get in shape, to those with injuries, Parkinson’s Disease, Pre-natal, Post-natal, back pain, scoliosis, hip replacements and more.

She runs a Pilates blog at The Balanced Life Online, teaches at Park Meadows Pilates & Physical Therapy in Lone Tree, CO (near Denver) and works with amazing women through her online Pilates Body program.

Today I talk to Robin about:

  1. The pros and cons of running a virtual Pilates studio.
  2. The necessary tools to run an online Pilates program.
  3. What it takes to have a successful online Pilates course.

RobinLong17

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How to Teach Prenatal/Postnatl Pilates Classes (with Carolyne Anthony)

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What is one of the most natural events in the life of a woman?

Pregnancy and birth, for sure.

But women during pregnancy are often treated as if they were sick. Their exercise options are limited. They are not taught to learn their body and listen to it. They are not taught to enjoy this amazing time of their lives.

Women are told what they should NOT do but very few exercise and medical professionals tell them what they SHOULD be doing for their bodies.

Pregnancy and child birth are more than just a physical event in the life of a woman. It’s an emotional period that touches every aspect of her life. And she needs more than just an exercise routine that teaches her how many squats she can do and how fast she can run.

Carolyne Anthony of The Center for Women’s Fitness has devoted her Pilates career to Prenatal/Postnatal Pilates. She’s been devoted to Pilates for over 30 years and her personal pregnancy has motivated her to create a Pilates program that doesn’t merely teach women how to exercise but teaches them to embrace their female physique and become aware of their bodies.

Today we are talking about Prenatal Pilates. If you are a woman you will definitely benefit from listening to it. The instructors will learn helpful tips on how to work with Prenatal/Postnatal clients. And Pilates students will learn something new about their bodies.

I was lucky enough to talk to Carolyne while I was still pregnant with my second set of twins. Her advice and her book (The Pilates Way to Birth) proved to be the most valuable resources for me. While still at the hospital after my C-section I used exercises that Carolyne shared with me to start reawakening my core and rebuilding my strength. I was truly blessed to connect with Carolyne and talk to her about pregnancy and beyond.

Questions discussed in the interview

  1. How can Pilates be helpful for prenatal/postnatal clients? How can Pilates prepare a woman’s body for labor and beyond?
  2. Are there any special breathing techniques to help women through labor and delivery?
  3. Best mat and Reformer exercises for prenatal clients
  4. How can one prevent and treat diastasis recti?
  5. What are your recommendations and main areas of focus for the instructors working with Prenatal/Postnatal clients?
  6. What do you see in the future of Pilates and how do you see yourself contributing to that vision as a Pilates educator?

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