PILATES

"Sports Illustrated arranged for me to meet with Joe Pilates in his second floor studio. I was 24 and weighed 145 pounds. He was thirty pounds heavier, several inches shorter and 56 years older. I can still recall his handshake - I sensed he could bend me like a pretzel if he cared to. Within a few minutes I was photographing Joe bending himself into one. His gymnasium attracted beautiful people: ballerinas, modern dancers and actors who would subject themselves to his authoritarian control. Though he personally demonstrated and explained the mechanical contraptions designed to strengthen and stretch the body, the clouds of forty years dimmed his voice. Yet, I can remember him telling stories about Germany and how he outwitted the Brown Shirts on several occasions. Before we parted he encouraged me, for everlasting youth, to practice Contrology. It took me 39 years to follow his advice."
- I.C. Rapoport

The top pictures are of Joesph Pilates himself. My new thing now, I've always got something new.... Is to get certified on the equipment. I've been teaching mat classes forever so my next step would be to become proficient on the equipment. The last few years I've been going through a intensive yoga program where I've learned some yoga therapy and all the bio mechanics of just about every yoga pose. I'm starting up the Pilates program in November and I'm so excited!! As you can see from the pictures the exercises are quite different from anything else out there. Pilates works your body from the inside out so you can really gain a lot of strength and flexibility from it. Eric is being a GREAT husband and is going to hold down the fort while I go through the certification, it'll be about 12-15 hours a week for 8 months. There is a studio really close to my house that I'll be able to work at. I'll be able to work 3 or 4 hours a day in a row rather than going around to gyms for a hour here and there. AND the best part I'll make more $!