ABC Pilates Training

Going for a run is really speaking to me these days!   I went out on a trail run only to find that there was a roadblock halfway through my run.  I am such a creature of habit that I was going to break the rules and go through it anyway to complete my running goal but as I got closer, I noticed a huge Mack truck blocking the trail.  Soooo, I figured I better turn around and take a different route.  As I was heading up a hill, I felt out of breath so I decided to walk.  I looked over to my right and something drew me to a creek off to the side and I walked over to check it out.  There was stagnant, muddy waters at the top of the hill that flowed into a rocky path and then out into calm waters.  Then it dawned on me that this creek was really a metaphor for our lives:  Sometimes it takes muddy waters and rocky pathways to get to the calm, clear, clean stream of opportunity presented before us.  While you are going through your training, you will run across some muddy and rocky times but if you keep your eye on the path ahead, you will survive the tough times and come out swimming in a creek of opportunity.

I started out my day with the intention of doing a longer run than normal that would get me prepared for a 1/2 marathon that am training for.  No race, just for my own personal goal.  I planned a 6-mile run but was not even sure if I was up for that.  I had my path mapped in my head even before I got to the start of my run.  I did my normal routine of warming up and hit the trail.  I got to a place where I needed to turn around to get to the next point of my run but decided not to and kept going straight.  I figured it would be different scenery and trusted it would be the same distance.  Little did I know that I kept running and running and running. I quickly figured out that I was not going to hit my 6 mile mark but I would be running further.  I laughed at myself because I equated this diversion of my run to my own life.

Life steers you from the path of intention to another direction all the time.  We just need to recognize it, go for it and not fear the unknown. Go down the path with faith that it will all work out no matter what obstacles are in the way.  This time in particular for me, I took a leap, tried something different and found out I could run further than I intended. I did not have a choice because I had to get back but what struck me as I got closer to the finish was that I actually did almost 2.5 miles more than I planned.  I realized that our minds can stop us from what we are really capable of doing!   It just goes to show that you can accomplish more than you think.  I found out today that I was stronger than I thought and am so proud that I did it!  My conclusion is you have to change your mind to change your path.  Your best intentions may be limiting you.  Don’t stay in the same rut but take a leap, venture out further on that trail, go the extra mile until you reach your finish line.  You may find that you are stronger than YOU think and your best intentions will be an unexpected accomplishement in the long run!

From our Teacher Training Coordinator and ABC Pilates manager, Katherine Duncan:

Our theme for 2012 is Celebrate the Power to be Fit, Strong and Healthy. We all have the ability to achieve incredible things in our life but sometimes the first steps to getting there are the hardest. So consider the information below to be a template for your goals and aspirations in 2012. We hope that you celebrate every part of YOU! Because right now you are more powerful than you imagine!

BE INSPIRED: Read about other’s journeys to fitness and long term health. There are many
blogs, volgs etc…that people put out there in cyberspace and they are inspiring. Here are a few… http://www.anironmomsjourney.com/ and http://www.diananyad.com/blog/

At ABC Pilates we will be offering a lecture series to inspire out fellow Pilates professionals and teachers in training. Some key people in the industry will be coming to our studio and sharing their experience and wisdom.

BE DEFINED: Make sure your big goals are clearly defined, written down and timely. Many people write down their goals for 2012, which is commendable, but having a framework with those goals will make them achievable. So, a big goal might be doing your Pilates practice three times per week. Great! What days, what times and what classes? Once you’ve answered those questions, then go online and commit.

BE LOGICAL: You want to lose 100 lbs in 6 weeks? Really?But maybe taking one unhealthy thing out of your diet, i.e. sugar will help you in many ways you did not realize. The point is to feel good about your power and not transform into failure by creating unrealistic goals.

BE A FRIEND:  We all knowsomeone who needs encouragement Look in the mirror! Behind every fit person is a good friend kicking them in the butt! A workout is much more fun when you have a buddy along for journey.

BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS:  Does this apply? Of course! When you volunteer, reach out to a friend in need, maybe buy someone a Pilates class, you are making yourself a better person AND creating a healthier happier community.

Now the door is open to all your possibilities for 2012…just walk through the door and join the celebration!

Here we are in the beginning of the New Year and with that brings new ideas, motivations, resolutions and goals. I am reading everywhere on Facebook, Twitter, email newsletters, magazines and newspaper articles that say: set your goals, get in the best shape of your life, do this, that and the other to make yourself better, stronger, thinner, hotter, WHATEVER! Enough already!  Before you can do any of this you have to get your head in the right frame of mind. What do you hear yourself saying when you read this media?  When you talk to yourself, is it positive or negative? Most of us opt for the negative.  This is what you say you want: I want to lose weight and work out more,  I want to publish a book, and I want to be the best, most popular teacher. What are you really telling yourself? I will never be thin, working out sucks,  no one will buy my book and/or I will never be a great teacher. Why do we talk negatively to ourselves? We don’t like to fail so being negative is an easy way to stay safe and keep ourselves from getting hurt.  Is that what is really stopping you and keeping your thoughts negative? Let’s clean up your mind and get more positive thoughts in your head.  What do you have to lose?  If you continue to talk negative to yourself then you will never get to where you want to be.  Here are a few ways to get yourself out of the negative and into the positive.

Take the First Step:  Before you can enter into any goal or change in your life you have to have a purpose for it.  Ask yourself these questions to help you formulate what you want.  Why am I doing this?  What do I want out of this?  What is in it for me?  What kind of change can I experience?

Daily Affirmations:  Next tell yourself positive things about your purpose.  If your purpose is to lose weight to look better then you must tell yourself everyday how much better you are looking.  Tell yourself how proud you are that you are sticking to your purpose.  If a negative thought creeps into your mind, distract yourself with something else like saying 10 positive things about yourself  or go for a walk.

Baby Steps: Take it one day at a time.  There are always setbacks but you can get back on course quickly with your affirmations and positive feedback.

Surround Yourself with Positive and Successful People: Nothing brings you down faster than someone who has a pity party with you.   Get with a person or group of people that share the same goal and purpose as you and more importantly, the ones that have had success at doing it.  Get yourself an accountability partner that will share in the joy and positive affirmations that you are experiencing.  Bottom line is you have to take 100% responsibility for your actions but you don’t have to do it alone.

So get away from the media and get into that gym, write that book or become that teacher that you always wanted to be.  Make your life more positive and productive by getting your head straight and get what you want out of this New Year!

Here is a comment I recently got from one of my graduates:  “I got some feedback through a survey I gave out in my mat class today. I read a comment that said ‘I don’t feel hopeless any longer’ when describing the improvements gained from practicing Pilates. This statement almost brought me to tears. Just wanted to share that with you. I’m so glad that I get to experience that kind of reward of helping people feel better about themselves.”

There is no greater  reward than helping people and in this case helping someone NOT to feel hopeless any longer.  Pilates could single handedly change not only people’s image of themselves but their minds as well. Can you imagine if everyone  took Pilates how much better they would feel?  Can you imagine what a fitter world we would be?  I say, let’s start a Pilates Revolution and get people to change their minds as well as change their bodies’ one person at a time!  Who is with me?

I am so excited about what we are offering for 2012 that I am busting out of my seams.  In addition to our  Teacher Training Program, Continuing Education Workshops, Coaching and Apprenticeship Program, we will also be offering a Lecture Series. The most exciting part of next year for me is our NEW Lecture Series with the most talented Southern California Instructors!  This series will include: Lisa Hubbard from Rhythm Pilates, Tracey Mallet from Booty Barre, Kristi Cooper White from Pilates Anytime, Gina Axelson from The Pilates Biz and much, much more.  The lecture series is included in the price of your training but you can only take advantage of this if you email me now and get signed up for the ABC Pilates Teacher Training Program.

ABC Pilates training helps you advance in your teaching, expand your knowledge, broaden your client base and make connections in the industry. We offer the most well rounded training program to date so sign up with us today!

amy@abcpilates.com

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