TODAY

Today I received a notification on my b.PILATES & FITNESS Facebook page from my first “business” mentor, Barb Dales.

HOW I FIRST MET BARB

I remember this lady in long leggings and a turtleneck (in the days of thong body suits) attending a Hi-Lo aerobics class in front of me at my gym. She began showing up in all the classes. This woman was strong and focused. Who was this mystery woman? Next thing you know, she became the manager of the gym, started teaching classes and changing things up. In the best of ways! Barb quickly gained the respect of the gym members. My best friend and I went to her for help with our routine for the Canadian National Aerobics Championships. Barb came in early some mornings prior to her workday, came to our competition, aligned us with costume makers, and attended our competition. All of which was not expected but greatly appreciated and never forgotten.

HOW I GOT MY START IN THE FITNESS INDUSTRY

I secretly kept thinking that becoming an aerobics instructor would be fun. Barb approached me one day, asking if I’d be interested in getting trained to teach. One little yes and soon after she was pulling me up onto the stage (no warning) to teach segments of her classes. Always nervous and quiet, I was studious and wanted to get it perfect. With guidance from Barb, I got my education and had a great job teaching classes at the gym while I went to school.

CONTINUED MENTORING AND LEADERSHIP

Over the years, Barb has trained me to teach spin classes and strength training classes. She has videoed me (scary but SO good) and Personal trained me.  Guiding me, encouraging me (sometimes a bit forcefully but heck I need that).  Eventually, Barb moved on from the gym to open a Pilates and Personal Training studio, similar to what I do today. She did come back to the gym through the years to teach workshops. Plus she led up a huge change over in class schedule, design, the website and so much more several years ago. I’m am so grateful that she included me as one of the leaders and contributors in making these changes occur.

I have since moved on from teaching at “our gym” and Barb has retired and moved further away. She is fairly quiet on social media, yet every so often she will take a moment to make a comment. I know that she is still watching from afar and cheering me on!

FOREVER LEARNING 

What did I learn from Barb over the years? There are the obvious things, like how to turn on the mic, music selection and how to teach a creative class. Even better, I learned to always keep learning, to care for my clients and to be loyal. Barb is always learning and seeking knowledgeable industry leaders.

GRATITUDE

I have had other amazing mentors in my life. The reason Barb stands out for me is that she really is the reason why I am doing what I do today. Had she not asked me to teach for 5 minutes in front of 25 people back in 1993, I may have never taken the leap to get training. Look at me now 25 years later and still learning!

Thanks, Barb!

 

I’d like to introduce you to one of my Pilates teachers. Veronica McClurg is a passionate teacher who truly strives to help each and every one of her clients to feel and move better. She is a teacher of teachers, a mentor to many, and always a student herself. She has studied and certified in various other movement modalities including body rolling, anti-gravity yoga, and the Franklin Method. You are guaranteed to learn something new about your body or the way you move after attending a session with Veronica.

Get to know Veronica:

WHERE VERONICA TEACHES:

Owner of The Surrey Pilates Studio, in Surrey, British Columbia
https://www.surreypilates.com

Lectures for the Teacher Training Program at Pilates From the Center

VERONICA’S MOVEMENT HISTORY:

I was a dancer from the age of four and started gymnastics at the age of nine. I moved through the ranks until I was a national level gymnast training 20 hours a week. The overtraining caused havoc on my knees which required me to take a break. From age 13 until my mid-20s I was coaching gymnastics and choreographing floor and beam routines for several of the gymnasts at the club. I also danced and choreographed for the Surrey Dance Centre for over 20 years.

VERONICA’S FAVOURITE PART OF TEACHING PILATES:

My favourite part of teaching Pilates is watching people heal their bodies, get out of pain, and resuming a normal pain-free life and body. It’s very rewarding to be a part of that process.

My other favourite thing is that I get to work with my son, Ryan, we’ve made such a great team together. How many moms get to go to work with their kid every day? I feel blessed.

VERONICA DOES PILATES AND…

Besides doing Pilates every day, I love power-walking/hiking, getting out in nature and just being in the fresh air.

And when its nice weather I do archery in my backyard.

FUN FACT ABOUT VERONICA:

Over the last 13 years, I’ve gotten involved with rescuing domesticated rabbits. They’ve either been found dumped or given away. I truly love all animals. If I could rescue them all, I would.

I have attended classes once a week at The Surrey Pilates Studio for several years now. Veronica’s passion, energy, and knowledge make me a better Pilates practitioner and teacher. I believe that Pilates teachers, coaches, and personal trainers should always be students of their work.

I’m grateful to have my weekly classes and that Veronica is out there helping her clients feel better and making better Pilates teachers.

When you first start practicing Pilates everything is new. Getting familiar with the exercises and general set of the equipment is a big part of the progress you will make. Then progress will slow down some and be less evident. You will definitely have exercises that challenge you more than you might like. You could even feel a bit stuck with your progress at some point. That’s ok, it happens! How do we make progress?

Here are 4 great ways to make progress in your Pilates practice:

1. Take some private lessons. In a private session, the teacher is able to focus on you 100%. Finding ways to help you with those exercises that you may be having trouble with. Multiple apparatus may be used during the session, which can help you to find the connection in your body that you might be missing when trying to do your “goal” exercise. One on one sessions can give you cues and a new awareness of how you are moving to help you to approach these exercises differently when you are in a class setting.

2. Add variety to your Pilates practice; do both mat and apparatus classes. The purpose of the apparatus is to assist you in finding the connections within your body that you are having trouble finding on the mat. The springs do add resistance and give assistance, while the mat is all you! You’ll be amazed by the progress you start to make when you do both.

3. Do more Pilates! Commit to doing an additional class each week. Two to four is ideal. Try to mix it up, if you do mat add in an apparatus class. Joseph Pilates wanted everyone to practice Pilates every day.

4. Do Pilates at home! But how? There are online subscriptions, Youtube videos or Skype sessions. I can help too! My online classes are coming your way. For $15.00/month plus GST, you can subscribe to b.Pilates & Fitness online classes.

AND if you are looking for more than Pilates, online Fitness & Pilates package options will also be available with the b.PILATES & FITNESS App. Watch for the official launch of these new services in the near future!

Pilates takes practice, variety, and commitment in order for you to progress towards achieving your goals.

Will Pilates get easier? Yes and no. As you progress you will become more comfortable with the names of the exercises, the sequencing, and set up of the equipment. As well as more aware of how to move with less effort and more efficiency. It also gets challenging as you become more aware of your movement, breathing, connection with the equipment. This is one of the reasons why I love Pilates. I strive to help my clients to discover the same love!