Did you read the New York Times February 22nd article, Everything You Knew About Good Abs May Be Wrong?
For those of you who crawl the web searching for such things, a similar piece was in UK's The Daily Mail. I think this is the link for that.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?
in_article_id=440309&in_page_id=1774&in_page_id=1774&expand=true#StartComments
We have clients who bring these types of articles into the studio and expect us to give an opinion, explain it further and to take a stand or comment generally. Fortunately, we love doing that and so far, we've been spot on with the do's and dont's of everything we've been confronted with that's appeared in the mainstream press.
It took two readings of the NYT piece for me to clearly identify exactly what they were saying and how it applies to the way we teach at my studio. I had my teachers read the article, I prepared a list of talking points to help organize the way they talk to clients about it and I have been tantalizing our mat group with bits and pieces of the article, promising to fill them in on the whole thing as soon as I have an open hour after class ends and we can all stay put on the mat and hash it out.
It's always good to bring the news about Pilates generally and specifically about Powerhouse muscles into the studio. Most clients appreciate their teachers staying up on such things. I read the daily paper at my breakfast table and within arm's reach I've got highlighters and pens, scissors and envelopes so as I read something relevant to a particular client, I can capture it and get it on its way to them without adding extra work to my schedule later in the day. I make sure to send along any mention of studies or new treatments that might be relevant and appropriate to their health issues or interests.
Because I'm such a sports fan and read the sports page every day anyway, I make sure I know the basics about clients' favorite teams and will clip and send little tid bits about that to them, as well.
Using the news as an enhancement to your service is easy since most of us read the paper every day anyway; simply expand your purpose in reading it. Letting your clients know you're thinking of them outside the session makes everyone feel good.
Back to this NYT piece. At this late date, you won't be able to see it online unless you subscribe to the Times or pay for the article. I'm going to summarize it for you to give you the gist of it.
The article begins by establishing the engagement of the transverse abdominis, the scoop muscle in Pilates, and how prevalent the navel to spine cue has become in sports and fitness. Then, it introduces doubt that the TVA engagement is an appropriate engagement for all types of exercisers and quotes experts as saying that drawing in may even be counterproductive. Bracing, or the engagement of all abdominals, neither scooped or pushed out, is preferred for many activities. The origins of the navel to spine cue is discussed and the article asserts that it is the poorly taught engagement that is the biggest problem which often results in the exerciser holding their breath or rounding their backs. An expert recommends that exercisers protect their backs by "stretching tall through the back of the head and relaxing the shoulders." The article ends with a couple of quotes from two of our Pilates industry leaders, PMA Board President Deborah Lessen and the 90210 phenom Jillian Hessel, who both try to clarify the purpose of Pilates.
This article is talking about you, and not in a good way, if you allow clients to round their backs or tuck, and if you teach them that the scoop should accompany all physical activities. If you're guilty as charged, you've got to learn how to assess and correct the flawed engagement. And as far as recommending the scoop outside the studio, do not teach for transfer unless you've had specific training that includes it. And while on the subject of teaching for transfer, I want to specifically address clients who are also combative sport athletes - they definitely brace, they need to brace, they're safer and more powerful when braced, and they should not be encouraged to scoop while training or competing.
The expert quoted as saying the lift of the spine and relaxation of the shoulders gives us the article's most positive aspect on which to hang our Pilates hats. The lift of the spine requires the engagement of the abs and multifidus and the shoulders being relaxed are both aspects that are perfectly consistent with the foundational engagement of the Powerhouse and also, are essential to proper Pilates form.
This article is a great teaching tool if: 1) you thoroughly understand the proper engagement of the abdominals and multifidus that combine to form the muscular foundation of each and every Pilates exercise and 2) if you do do not allow clients to change the shape of their spine as a result of abdominal engagement. If your client rounds her back in honor of the scoop, or viewed from the front if your client tucks her tail in honor of the scoop, you're running the risk of doing harm. The cause of the rounding/tucking is a little tricky to figure out but the cause of it is less important than having the analytical skills to know when it's happening and the teaching skills to fix it. Tucking on engagement is one thing, but many clients tuck, or tuck even more, on exertion and that's also an unsafe practice. Double tuckers, they're the worst.
Pilates teachers have a powerful opportunity to help clients who have learned poor form in this basic of all Pilates techniques. When clients are what I call "re-arrangers" - that's where their scoop drags bones around with it willy nilly - it's our job to break that down and build it back up the right way.
And that's the very reason why teaching Pilates is such a joy, it's such a challenge and it's such a great way to change the lives of every person we teach.
If you don't know how to teach a proper engagement, call the studio at 206-525-7769 and either Sister Heidi Sidekick or I will be happy to help you with the basics.
So read everything you can get your hands on, share your wealth of information with clients, fellow teachers and bosses and you'll be perpetually full of fresh ideas about how to serve your clients through and by this work, well taught and well performed.
And in the category of "I did not know that . . . "
In a recent Sunday's Seattle Times People's Pharmacy Q&A column, I found this:
Q: I heard that lavender oil and tea tree oil were causing boys to grow breasts. Did I understand that correctly? I've been told that lavender oil is in some children's shampoos and soaps. If mothers have used these products on their sons, do they need to do something to correct the problem?
A: The report that appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine (Feb. 1, 2007) indicated that the boys returned to normal once the products containing lavender or tea tree oil were no longer being used. These oils have estrogenlike activity and also tend to counteract male hormones, explaining why these young boys developed female-appearing breasts. We would discourage parents from regularly using skin or hair-care products containing lavender or tea tree oil on children.
Did you know that many studios use a mix of these two substances in spritzer bottles? When I shared this with our mat class, one gal said she was going to try it! Seriously, many people have allergic reactions to tea tree - it comes from an non-native tree considered a nuisance in some states and removed free of charge as part of an eradication effort. Although it may enhance your bustline, it is not a proper disinfectant for studio use.