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Applying Pilates to Life

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Integrate Pilates into your Day

We’re often asked for tips and advice about how to integrate Pilates into your day.

Life is busy, so rather than stress you out with yet more to do, for the moment just think about your alignment and your movement a bit more during your day. Be more aware.

We know many of you are sitting for work, so when you’re sitting, try to sit on your ischial tuberosities (that’s your sit bones in layman’s terms). Those little nubs you see at the bottom of your pelvis. Pelvis Bone AnatomyThat’s what they are designed for. Many times we slump and find ourselves sitting on our coccyx (tailbone). Try to stay more upright and take your head out of the laptop or phone now and again, like now!

Of course, we move and rotate and extend and flex our spines as we go through our day, but if we unload the joints and align them with more ease some of the time, we reduce tension and compression and then they’ll serve us longer. Plus in good alignment bones take more load which is good for your bone health too.
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Meet our Visiting Instructor…Michelle Lyons

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This is part of our Meet Our Visiting Instructor Series where you get to read about some of the visiting teachers and educators to our studio.

Meet Michelle Lyons, a chartered physiotherapist who specialises inMichelle Lyons integrative Women’s Health and pelvic health.

Michelle provides regular continuing education and workshops in our studio here in Dublin.

What have you been up to recently?

After a busy year teaching all over the world, from Connecticut to California to Capetown, I’m enjoying some down time with friends and family and writing new women’s health courses for next year. I can’t help it – I’m passionate about women’s health!!

How long have you been a movement teacher / educator and what inspired you to become one??

As a physiotherapist, I have 25 years of clinical experience and my toolbox includes not only orthopaedic and pelvic health expertise but also a strong interest in Oncology rehab, using manual therapy, exercise prescription (yoga, Pilates, strength training, holistic core restore programming) as well as integrative nutrition and mindbody medicine. I lecture and teach nationally, internationally and online at a post graduate and post doctoral level – I’m all about spreading the word about good pelvic health!

What are your top three tips for clients and students to start a movement practice?
As Pema Chodron, the beloved Tibetan Buddhist teacher writes ‘start where you are’ and be kind to yourself when starting any new practice – I always recommend starting with the breath – it’s the foundation for good pelvic health.
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Getting to know…Laurie Schneider

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This is the next in our series of Getting to Know Your Instructor.

Meet Laurie Schneider who joined our great team of instructors here at Laurie SchneiderLive & Breathe Pilates in 2017.

When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?

I first wanted to be an artist but then I discovered dance and decided I wanted to be a professional dancer.

What inspired you to become a Pilates teacher?

I first encountered Pilates in my professional dance training. Within a week I could feel the difference to how I moved in my technique classes. I went from dreading class to really looking forward to it and not missing a single class.  I was always interested in learning more about the body and Pilates seemed the most natural route for me. Funnily enough every year I become even more inspired as Pilates teacher and an eternal Pilates learner…there is so much to gain and understand in the practice it is truly wonderful.
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Our Top 5 Tips for Barre Blitz

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Here are our Top 5 tips from Katrin to get the most out of your Barre Blitz Classes in the studio.

1) You will sweat in Barre

To avoid cramps and lack of concentration, Screen-Shot-2017-01-09-at-13.24.56-300x180have some water before class and throughout the class. We have a water fountain in the entrance area – bring a bottle and we can cut down the waste of plastic cups! 2 to 3 percent fluid loss equates to about 10 to 15 percent decrease in strength and endurance, so I encourage you throughout class to have a sip!
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Consistency is the Key

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Motivation is what gets you started Aristotleand habit is what keeps you going. And we all know that consistency is the key in making any long term change.

If you want to get stronger, more flexible, leaner, more toned or just feel great, regular, well performed movement is where it’s at.

Our favourite form of movement is Pilates, obviously.

We love it because it gives you head space, as well as getting you stronger, fitter and more flexible and really, who couldn’t do with all of those great benefits?
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Getting to know…Katie Holmes

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This is the next in our series of Getting to Know Your Instructor.

Meet Katie Holmes Katie Teaserwho many of you will already know as one of the recent additions to our team at Live & Breathe Pilates.

When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?

The usual diverse list of dreams: housewife, ballerina, lawyer, politician, teacher, writer, singer…

What inspired you to become a Pilates teacher?

Other teachers who created a huge sense of wellbeing and strength for me. Also a broken back after a car accident had a lot to do with it too!

What’s your favourite thing about teaching?

Seeing clients take the tools I share with them to improve their wellbeing, their mood, their posture, whatever it might be.
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Getting to Know…James Hale

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This is the next in our series of Getting to Know Your Instructor. Meet James Hale who is one of the recent additions to our team at Live & Breathe Pilates.

When you were younger what did you want to beJames Hale when you grew up?

A Scientist. I lived the dream, got my PhD in Microbial Population Genetics and Clinical Anatomy and then went back to retrain as a Physiotherapist. Which is now what I want to be when I properly grow up.

What inspired you to become a Pilates teacher?

Helping people move better. I have always been into moving well, as a climber in my own practice, working as a coach. This is what Pilates is about for me. Pilates has helped me learn so much about my own body and I want to help people see that our bodies are a work in practice and as long as we keep refining we’ll get improvements even if they aren’t immediately obvious.

What’s your favourite thing about teaching?

The look someone has when they see their own improvement.
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Getting to Know…Louise Carey

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Louise

Chair – Swan Dive

This is the next in our series of Getting to Know Your Instructor. Meet Louise Carey as another amazing addition to our expanding team at Live & Breathe Pilates.

When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?

A business woman.

What inspired you to become a Pilates teacher?

My instructor encouraged me down the teaching route after I’d attended his classes for a few years.

What’s your favourite thing about teaching?

The ‘ahhhaaaa’ moments with clients.
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Spine Series 2 – James Hale

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Pilates and the Spine

The spine is an amazing structure, it extends from the base of the skull to the pelvis and consists of a series of irregularly shaped bones called vertebrae which increase in size from the top
downwards.

In young children, 33 separate vertebrae can be identified; however, by the time we become adults five have fused to form the sacrum and four to form the coccyx. Of the remaining 24, seven are found in the neck (cervical vertebrae), twelve articulate with the ribs (thoracic vertebrae) and five are found in the lower back (lumbar vertebrae).

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Spine Series 1 – Katie Holmes

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Your spine is the central axis of your body: your nervous system clings to it, your limbs root from it, your brain sits on top of it, the womb is cradled by it, your crown jewels adorn the end of it … whichever way you want to think about it, the spine is essential.

An axis is defined as a point around which something revolves. Which depicts the spine beautifully – because it isn’t a straight-forward structure, it’s not made of straight lines and hinges. It has curves, facets, arcs and eaves. It produces spirals, circles and spindles.
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