ECA Webnews - July 2010

Our ability to think and express ourselves in words is one of the most powerful tools we have to create what we want in life. We explore and explain our world through language. Our words matter and the expression what you say is what you get may be far more important than we realize. So the question is, what is the most efficient way to use language in our lives to create congruence between our inner andouter voices?

Changing your perspective will change your reality.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, Sigmund Freuds famously stated.This quote illustrates beautifully the difference between the literal and figurative meaning of words. We need to realize words were originally intended to help us communicate efficiently and to be understood clearly, but they happen to also have symbolic, inner meanings which depend upon an individuals experiences and emotions.

Simply understanding the power that words have upon us can be a transforming life experience. We no longer need to be caught up in unintended dramas, once we begin to understand the way our minds work. We need to realize thatwords can trigger deep- seated emotions. This understanding gives us the opportunity to become more responsible for the words we choose to use insideour heads, as well as the ones we choose to speak aloud.
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Thoughts on Teaching Excellence

by Clare Dunphy

I love sharing ideas, observations and teaching experiences with fellow instructors and presenters across many disciplines from pilates, yoga, group exercise and personal training. One area in which we are of all the same mind is how amazing it isto witness students improving not only their body but also their lifestyleand attitudes toward health and fitness. The conversations lately have leddown a common path, the wonderful topic of progression and what progression looks like, especially in Pilates.

There are many phases of progression in Pilates and it is interesting to notice how it transpires for various individuals during different phases of their participation. It seems many instructors have trouble discerning signsof readiness to add new exercises and often try to teach them long before their students are ready. Do they think the student is bored? Or are theybored teaching the same exercises with a focus on refinement? Why and whendo we give a new exercise? Romana Kryzanowska once cautioned us as new teachers: When you get bored with the basics, it is not the exercise that is boring but your attitude that it is boring. It is a poignant reminder to realize that it is a privilege to facilitate another persons self-discovery and to keep the wonder and fascination alive. A new exercise can be considered a gift after the hard work of mastering of the previous exercises.

One guideline for progression suggests adding in one session no more than one new exercise or variation for each apparatus. Taken literally, before you know it, 6 months later, one could construe this to mean adding whether aperson is ready or not and may wind up teaching all the exercises they know in a short period of time. Lets remember that the body continuously learns every time we move and the reality is that progressing students too quickly can create poor habits that lead to injury. Equally regretful is having students miss out on potential improvements that are available to them had they studied and refined the movement quality. It is much harder to relearn a movement pattern than it is to learn it correctly the first time.

How then, do we effectively and safely progress students? How do we not lose the integrity of the work for the sake of giving a workout? Consider this, a line always has two sides. On one side of the line, progressioncan include new exercises; on the other side it can consist of magnifying the most difficult details, retracing our steps back to the essentials and going deeper. There is always a balance.

Lets look at the role of transitions. If we regard transitions as part of the exercise we must fuss about students maintaining their core connection during the transitions. Similarly, we need to notice a lost or weak core connection throughout the movement, especially in the set up and execution. The most easily forgotten obvious thing is the often the most important when it comes to being a conscious teacher. Noticing the obvious is a goodstart. Help your students cultivate concentration and challenge them to work at their edges and reach for more.

Teaching is both a science and an art, and I would say for teachers it is also a personal discipline. We must step out of our comfort zone and teach more then the choreography. To be excellent at our vocation, we must help students learn how to connect deeper, how work with increased verve, precision and flow. And we need to keep ourselves inspired and enthused about our work by keeping our personal practice alive and thriving too. We can only teach what we ourselves know from our direct experience. Then we are in the position to illuminate these ideas for our students. I invite all of you to reflect on how we approach teaching Pilates and to recommit ourselves to a deeper discovery of what progression means.

Fun Feature:

Dogs are mans best friend, and for good reason. Dogs were once of the first animals to be domesticated by humans, and thank goodness. Dogscan alert their owners of an epileptic seizure up to an hour before it occurs. In many cases, those who suffer from chronic seizures enlist the aid of a seizure response dog that is trained to find help or ensure safety whena seizure occurs. Some of their training enables them to:

Retrieve a phone prior to a seizure
Summon help in a controlled environment
Stay with their person during a seizure
Instil confidence in owners to do activities they may be reluctant to do due to their condition
Provide companionship and contribute to owners well-being

Conference Highlights

ECA/THRIVE 2010 is going to be the event of the year! Featuring many newand innovative programs, including an ECA exclusive from creator Kappel Clarke, a revolutionary in training, Kappel is known for developing one of the most unconventional and challenging workouts: FreFloDo. At this years event he debuts Stumpin™. Miami will blow your mind! ECA has secured a special event rate at the luxurious Canyon Ranch Spa and Resort. To register or for more information go to: www.ecaworldfitness.com. With our new programs, and expert presenters, this is one conference you wontwant to miss. Come to ECA/THRIVE Miami 2010 and be a part of the experience! Dreams Really Do Come True!

OBOW Monthly Green Tip:

Last week, government regulators opened the door to natural gas drilling inside the Marcellus Shale watershed, whichsupplies drinking water to some 15 million people, including nine million New Yorkers. Stretching from New York to Kentucky, the shale is believed tohold some of the worlds largest deposits of natural gas. Proponents saythe drilling will boost the nations economic recovery and reduce dependence on foreign oil, but environmentalists are warning the drilling could contaminate New Yorks water supply as it has in other states. The proposed regulations are now open for public comment until the end of the next month, followed by a final decision early next year. Do your part to keep our water safe. Readthis or watch GasLand to find out more on this topic.

Did youknow?

The human head consists of 22 bones: eight bones in the cranium and fourteen facial bones. The brain, protected by the cranium, can create enough electricity to power a light bulb and consumes more energy than any other organ. Is that food going to your thighs? Not as much as youd think! The brain burns up one-fifth of the food we take in.

Financial Fitness

Summer is the best time to take a few moments and evaluate your investments, savings and goals. The kids are done with school and organized sports. Some of them may even be going to sleep away camps. Life in general seems to slow down in the Summer. This makes it the perfect time to get out theJune statements and review your investments and goals with an advisor. Even if you think everything is on track, its always best to take the timeto be certain. You work hard to save this money, so why shouldnt that money work hard for you? Ask yourself: Am I getting enough interest or return on my investments? Are they too risky or conservative? What other alternatives do I have? A few moments of soul searching and a call to your advisor could be enough. Compare this to driving your car. You check the oil, fuel and tires before a road trip. Your money and investments are no different. They need to be periodically checked to see if they are still doing the job that you intended them to do.If you would like a complimentary review of your investments, please call: 516.763.9700

Drums Alive is now available to children to learn cognitive skills, math and much more through movement and rhythmical training! Check it out here

TakeYour Words Seriously for (A) Change

by Edwige Gilbert