Peak Performance Pilates

Come join Jennifer Stacey’s Movement Session on Addressing Hallux Valgus (Bunions) with Pilates and concepts inspired by Moshe Feldenkrais at the International Association Dance Medicine and Science conference in Seattle, Thursday, October 17 at 11 am! We will be working with the entire body from the psoas to the feet, and it will be fun. The conference program for IADMS this year looks phenomenal. A large number of orthopedic and rehabilitation presentations, as well as other interesting subjects. I encourage you to attend the conference. Here is the program: https://www.iadms.org/associations/2991/files/info/IADMS_2013_Annual_Meeting_Schedule.pdf

Join Jennifer Stacey’s Pilates Mat class at the Pilates Method Alliance conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL Tuesday, October 10, 2:30 – 3:30.  We will be performing the Classic repertoire with phenomenal skills and images from Kathy Grant, Romana Kryzanowska and Ron Fletcher. It will be fun, challenging and informative!

Alex Siragusa, Jennifer Stacey. Sit Twist. copyright 2007 Jennifer Stacey.

Jennifer Stacey, MS will be available for private and duet sessions in New York between October 5 and October 9. For info contact Jennifer at info@peakperformancepilates.com

Thursday October 10, 2:30 – 3:30 pm, 2013. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jennifer will be teaching a Mat class at The Pilates Method Alliance conference.

Thursday, October 17, 2013. Seattle. Jennifer will be teaching a movement session Addressing Hallux Valgus (Bunions) with Pilates and concepts from M. Feldenkrais at The International Association of Dance Medicine and Science.

It is a sad time. Romana Kryzanowska, Pilates Elder, passed away August 30.  We should all be so grateful for her commitment to carry the “Contrology” torch onwards and pass her legacy to so many. Those who were lucky enough to study from her can continue to teach her effective cues and images, and pass on the value of transitions, and the incredible system that she learned from Joseph and Clara Pilates. I was so lucky to have been her student and apprentice. It is sad for me, for now my 3 long time (Pilates Elders) teachers (two who were friends, Ron and Kathy) (plus my short term teachers Eve and Bruce) have all passed.  But their voices, vibrance, wisdom and wit all live on and I hope that future teachers can appreciate and distinguish the different lineages they all left for us. Their voices are all crowded in my head ready to help when needed…

For information on Romana’s memorial at St. Patrick’s Cathedral September 13 and True Pilates:  https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Romana-s-Pilates–Event.html?soid=1101603795666&aid=3CZug2YoOTY

Lower Leg – Leg Lifts: Lie on your side with the spine and hips aligned. Bend the top leg and place it on a box or roller. The lower leg is internally rotated and aligned. You can lean slightly back to help internally rotate the leg. Inhale to prepare, exhale, pull in the belly and then stretch and lift the lower leg up (with the inner thigh). Do not supinate or turn in the foot. Inhale, lower the leg (but not all of the way down).  Repeat 8 times. Perform on the other side. This strengthens the adductors and VMO without involving the outer thigh muscles that tend to be too dominant. This skill can be found on page 161 of Movement Perspectives™.

Approaching knee problems should be multifold: Mobilize the foot, the lower leg, the hip and the psoas and encourage proper alignment. The 26 (or 24) bones of the foot should articulate so perform foot circles while spreading the toes. Perform the Carola Trier pinky ball exercises, the Toe Corrector repertoire and a multitude of other foot skills. Ensure the tibia and fibula are rotating properly, so perform circles with the lower leg while the leg is in the air (slowly). If the lower leg is not rotating-counter rotating on the leg, the stress will go to the knee. Release the psoas, massage and stretch the ITband. Activate the hamstrings (the biggest stabilizers of the knee), the inner thighs and VMO. Encourage the leg “sling” that aligns the entire lower limb described in Movement Perspectives ™. There are several good skills that will be described in later posts. Review gait training and the mechanics of going up stairs using the hip extensors.

Thank you Dr. Gotz Lehle for teaching a scintillating, thought provoking workshop on the  relationship of the psoas, diaphragm, pelvic floor, systems and other structures at the Pilates+Vacation(tm) Retreat at the magnificent Villa Camparone.  Thank you for conducting private consults that transformed many of the participants lives and helped rid them of some pain and restrictions.  We look forward to more workshops and sessions at the next Pilates+Vacation(tm) retreat at the Villa Camparone, July, 2014.

Thank you everyone for making the 2013 Pilates + Vacation Retreat at the spectacular Villa Camparone a fabulous, fun and memorable experience! Fantastic company, an educational workshop and sessions from Dr. Gotz Lehle, great food, many places to perform Pilates with incredible views, fun in the water with AquaPilates ™ / Pilates Aquatics ™ and exploring the towns and wineries in the area. Villa Camparone is definitely a place to return to for more wonderful weeks.

I am looking forward to spending an incredible week at the Pilates + Vacation Retreat with fabulous people in the gorgeous Villa Camparone July 13-20! We have fun events planned, plenty of Pilates (possibly even in the swimming pool if it is hot!), appointments and workshops with Dr. Gotz Lehle, exquisite chefs and fantastic people! We may (hopefully not) have an opening or two due to a couple of terrible misfortunes. The people on the waitlist were unable to join us at short notice. If someone wants to join us please contact Jennifer at info@peakperformancepilates.com. Camparone flyer 2013 finsml

An interesting observation: I had my hands on the ankles of my client guiding them into alignment as she was performing the Footwork on the Reformer. At first the client was exhaling as she extended her legs. She had a large amount of tension in the ankles. I then had her change to inhaling on the leg extension, thinking of imprinting the last rib and kidneys on the carriage, which then help the body draw away from the feet. Immediately the excess tension in her ankles disappeared.