Blog
Real People Talk Real Pilates - Ted
Published on 02/12/12 11:30AM by Lyn WilkinsonWhen I met Ted a few years ago, he was a eighteen months into retirement, six months past his last cigarette and stockpiling Butterfingers in the freezer. He walked the dog daily, but could see this wasn’t enough to balance the caloric bonanza of candy, chips and cocktails. Like some, (but not nearly all) of my guy students, he’d been encouraged to try Pilates by his wife, Pam (her story here).
We both sweated through my customary “first-lesson-free”. Grabby quads, sticky hip flexors and a military spine made even the simplest movements potentially frustrating for a man who on many levels was strong and fit. When confronted in the mirror with his “bat wings” (sagging tricep muscle) while doing magic circle from-the-shoulder, he did a double take and gasped “wtf is that hanging off my upper arm?”. Our first motivational moment.
Over the next few months, he came weekly for a private, often grumbling that he wasn’t “getting it” fast enough. I reminded him (and myself!) that it had taken him 70+ years to create this body, to be patient and to trust the work. Increasing his attendance to 2x per week, in a beginner class with 3 others, was the key to accelerating his progress. He inspired them (as eldest, only guy and perpetual perpetrator of “laughalates”) enjoyed the camaraderie of the shared experience (take a close look at his feet in this picture....) and worked hard to “feel” the muscles we activated. Grunting with effort and concentration one day, he was asked by a classmate if he was giving birth. “Yes” he said, “to a whole new body!”
Incremental success is highly motivational and I could not ask for a more committed student. He recently added a private to his weekly class schedule, telling me that choosing to spend his long-term-care insurance premium on Pilates instead was a worthwhile investment in himself. Thank you for trusting me with your body Ted!
Ted speaks for himself here....
Crispy Chick Peas
Published on 01/12/12 07:42PM by Lyn WilkinsonCrispy Chick Peas
In my ongoing quest to eat healthy, crunchy snacks that don’t break the caloric bank (and aren’t celery, carrots or peppers) I’ve tried a lot of things. Kale crisps are a favorite (recipe here) as are toasted Nori snacks (available at Trader Joe’s). But at least for the moment, my go-to is Crispy Chick Peas.
I have been messing with the recipe(s) for months, and have eaten upward of 40 cans of garbanzos in order to perfect it. I’ve always liked them, but was extra motivated by their status as a super food. So super that while a little high on the caloric side, your body burns them so efficiently that little fact doesn’t matter!
You need:
2 cans Goya Chick Peas/Garbanzo beans
2 Tblsp Olive Oil
1 Tblsp Onion Powder
1 Teasp Cumin
1/2 Teasp Cardamom
1/2 Teasp Coriander
1/4 Teasp Clove
1/4 Teasp Ginger
OR
2 cans Goya Chick Peas/Garbanzo beans
2 Tblsp Olive Oil
1 Teasp Paprika
1 Teasp Onion Powder
1 Teasp Cumin
1/4 Teasp Cayenne Pepper (or to taste)
Pre-heat oven to 450. Set 1 rack in middle.
Drain chick peas, rinse well and set aside.
Mix all dry ground spices in bottom of bowl.
Add olive oil and mix well. Add chick peas and mix till well coated.
Spread chick peas on sheet/jelly roll pan.
Bake for 15 minutes - set timer!
Take pan out and shake vigorously.
Bake for another 15 minutes - don’t forget timer.
Take pan out and shake vigorously.
TURN OVEN OFF and put pan back in oven for 15 minutes.
Take pan out and allow peas to cool on hot pan. Will keep crisp for several days in a covered container - but wait till they cool before covering.
I’ve been achieving consistent results with this method, but you may find your oven’s heat distribution, the ambient humidity and or the size of the beans affect the overall crisping time. I have tried various canned Garbanzo’s - the Goya’s produced regular, reliable results and are widely available. And for those of you reading this thinking, well I’ll double the recipe and do two sheets together, let me know if you can ever make that work. I ate a lot of soggy beans trying!
Real People Talk Real Pilates: Joan & Pam
Published on 06/24/11 02:55PM by Lyn Wilkinson
Meet Joan and Pam. They are best friends of 40 years. When I started apprentice teaching I needed bodies to practice on. Joan and Pam volunteered theirs. After all, it was free!
They arrived with Beliefs: Pilates is ”hard”; they were “old”; they wouldn’t be able to “keep up”. They had Goals: Pam wanted to look great for a daughter’s wedding (and did) Joan wanted to prepare for a knee replacement (walks beautifully now). Plus, they had Issues: 3 bad knees, 1 bad back; 4 flat feet, droopy posture and about 75 extra lbs. They also lacked flexibility, strength and balance.
We had fun from the start. As the work intensified, so did the comments from their corner. They blamed each other for this whole Pilates adventure and begged for mercy in several languages. They made us all “laugh-a-lates”. But they still came 2x per week – 1 night mat, 1 night reformer. Here’s what they say now:
www.youtube.com/user/thepilatesschool#p/a/u/2/1vzyTvTRiDM
Real People Talk Real Pilates: Naomi
Published on 06/24/11 02:45PM by Lyn WilkinsonMeet Naomi. A life-time dancer, she has multiple injuries and a hip replacement. As a dancing teacher of 40 years, her understanding of the body and its movements is encyclopedic. As a businesswoman, she knows what it takes to succeed.
I knew her reputation when I found her waiting on the floor for my apprentice mat class. Knowing I could'nt vaporize on the spot, I said a quick prayer to the Universe for clear cues and safe spotting and began. She knew the modifications required for her hip, performed the intermediate versions of the exercises whenever appropriate, thanked me generously and left. Whew.
A few months later, my then employer sent me to teach mat classes 2x per week at Naomi’s dance studio. The classes were drop-in, so I often had beginners mixed in with intermediate and advanced students. Plus Naomi took most of the classes! No worries needed though. She was (and is) encouraging and helpful – offering comments and corrections after class; sometimes serving as the “demo girl”, which helped keep things moving.
Now she is learning the apparatus repertoire after years of mat only - which is kind of like going to college before middle school, since mat is the most difficult work. Here’s what she says about Pilates:
www.youtube.com/user/thepilatesschool#p/u/5/3WC9vxr__5Y
The Pilates School is Having an Open House!
Published on 05/18/11 02:07PM by Lyn WilkinsonClick HERE to find out more about our upcoming Open House on June 11th! Looking forward to seeing you there. Plus, you will be able to meet other real people who do pilates!
Real People do Real Pilates! Check us out on Thumbtack and Reform Your Life.
Published on 05/18/11 12:56PM by Lyn WilkinsonClick HERE to see us on Thumbtack!