Alex Siragusa, Jennifer Stacey. Sit Twist. copyright 2007 Jennifer Stacey.
Jennifer Stacey, MS will be in New York City April 1 – 4 and will be available for private and semi-private sessions. Come take this opportunity to learn the wisdom of the Pilates Elders, biomechanics, skills inspired by M Feldenkrais and other fun skills and cues. info@peakperformancepilates.com
The Rocking copyright 2015 J Stacey
Fabulous newsflash! The Immersion™ Pilates Aquatics™ (IPA™) Teachers’ Course will be offered in May, 2016 sometime between April 29 – May 16. Earn 20 PMA CECs and get to experience Joe and Clara Pilates’ repertoire in, on and around the water. It is fun, challenging and supportive. Become a licensed IPA™ teacher and even a Teacher’s educator. It follows Joseph Pilates philosophy to workout in water and get as much sunshine as possible. Exact dates and times to be determined very soon, most likely between May 4 – 16 Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. The course will be offered in Moraga, California by the inventor and creator of IPA™, Second Generation Pilates Teacher, Exercise Physiologist/Biomechanist. For information contact Jennifer Stacey at info@peakperformancepilates.com. Go to the following link on IPA™ https://peakperformancepilates.com/education/immersion-pilates-aquatics/
In honor of March Matness here are some photos from Immersion™ Pilates Aquatics™. Fun, challenging and supportive classic Pilates repertoire in the water!
The One Hundred
The One Hundred copyright 2015 J Stacey
One Leg Circle copyright 2015 J Stacey
The One Leg Circle
Single Leg Circle copyright 2015 J Stacey
Rolling like a Ball copyright 2015 J Stacey
Rolling like a Ball
Side Leg Kick
copyright 2015 J Stacey
Side Leg Kick Series
The Rocking
The Rocking copyright 2015 J Stacey
Alex Siragusa, Jennifer Stacey. Sit Twist. copyright 2007 Jennifer Stacey.
Jennifer Stacey, MS will be in New York City February 26 – 28 and will be available for private and semi-private sessions February 26 – 28. Come take this opportunity to learn the wisdom of the Pilates Elders and other fun skills and cues. info@peakperformancepilates.com
Raisa Mat Scissors
The Pilates Elders said in all inversions, including the Scissors and Bicycle, the shoulder blades should be on the mat. This prevents unnecessarily loading the C7-T2 area and neck, which can be dangerous for some people. This requirement challenges you to stretch the flesh (a Kathy Grant term she used for a skill she created) around the xiphoid axis. You can also think of sliding the tissue around the ribcage. This technique stretches the thoracic area and opens the inferior – posterior ribs. If you are on your neck, you are not stretching the thoracic area, and you are literally placing your weight on your neck… Think of dropping your heart down as your feet reach up to obtain the opposition you desire to animate the center and lengthen (and unload) the spine. This is a nice image on the Short Spine Stretch too. On the descent of the Roll Over, Kathy Grant would say “lower your chest away from your chin”. This is an exceptional cue while performing the inversion skills (even before you roll down!). You can also think of Kathy’s cue “you have a lemon between the chin and chest.” You do not want to make lemonade (the ominous “chin to chest” (dural stress)) or you do not want to lose your lemon. In this picture of the lovely Raisa Punkki, Raisa could actually have her chest slightly farther away from her chin with even more of her scapulae on the mat. (She does make this Scissors look so easy when it is very difficult, and what beautiful lines!). As those who study from me know, opening up the thoraco-lumbar region is a pre-requisite for proper pelvic positioning in the Footwork, Leg Springs etc.
A few more points on the Scissors and Bicycle: Unfortunately, for the Scissors the body to arm length proportions may interfere with successful performance (short body -long arms). If this is the case there are ways to move the arms around, but you might want to try it on a roller or Spine Corrector (although so many of them are too big for proper placement). Remember thumbs next to your fingers (to prevent injury of the thumbs). Next blog post: The Bicycle.
Raisa Punkki – Scissors, copyright 2010 J Stacey
The Scissors and Bicycle are difficult skills. Imagine you are performing them on a Spine Corrector (Step Barrel). The following tip is a detail that the Pilates Elders often stressed: The stabilizing leg should be as vertical as possible (here the left leg), reaching up to the sky. It should not move towards the nose. The moving leg, (here the right leg) should reach as far away from the nose (like you are reaching for the step on a Step Barrel (Spine Corrector)), stretching the front of the hip. Think of skiing (sliding) the right foot along the ceiling. Reaching up through the legs will animate (the stretch reflex) the center and left the weight off of the arms and torso. Keep the heart down away from the chin. More tips on The Scissors and Bicycle next blog.
Happy New Year! Celebrate the New Year by joining Jennifer Stacey’s Intermediate/Advanced class on Wednesdays at 3 pm. Many accomplished teachers take the class to explore Pilates, the wisdom of the Elders and other movement magic. info@peakperformancepilates.comJennifer Stacey, MS will be teaching sessions in New York, Saturday Dec. 19, Tuesday, Wednesday Dec. 22, 23. To make an appointment email Jennifer js@peakperformancepilates.com. Happy Holidays!
Durango winter scene
Best Wishes, Jennifer M. Stacey, MS., Peak Performance Pilates, Immersion(tm) Pilates Aquatics(tm)
Nice images using the ultrasounds.
https://www.facebook.com/PilatesAnytime/videos/10153273275772602/?fref=nf
