(Not) Waiting to Exhale

At a recent workshop at the Classical Pilates studio where I received my certification, a trainee questioned one of the quintessential tenets of our approach to the Method - we inhale on the exertion. This is counter to disciplines such as weightlifting and martial arts where the exhale is used to unleash energy during the exertion. How can we as students of the Method defy what seems to be a universal approach? It seems like the whole world is waiting to exhale.

Biology tells us that upon inhaling, the body harvests the nutrients from oxygen. It recharges the living cells and provides energy. Upon exhaling, the body emits the waste product of this exchange in the form of carbon dioxide. Without being vulgar, the exhale is an expulsive act. Why not choose to move on the moment of sustenance rather than depletion?

The mechanics of the breath reinforce our belief system. We are trained to draw the breath up into the collar bones, bypassing any pooling of air in the belly. This is counter to the practice of Yoga, where the breath is concentrated in the belly. Rather than feeding the route chakra, we are symbolically oxygenating the brain (Mr. Pilates would take this literally.) In terms of the exhale, we refer to "voiding" the breath or "pushing out the stale air", neither of which is empowering. It is tantamount to a wilting flower. Why would we chose to move on the wane?

Despite these philosophical arguments, I am the first to admit that inhaling on the exertion is by no means a natural act. It takes many sessions of training to overcome the body's natural response. In the wild, the fight or flight response shows us that the exhale is an instinct in threatening situations. In the case of fight, a scream or threatening cry expresses an exhale. In the case of flight, a panting type breath may be witnessed. When gasping (inhaling) in response to fear, it causes the body to recoil not spring into action. All of these examples make the case for the primal urge to exhale.

As we defy our very nature as described above, it implies that the choice to inhale is an expression of our humanity. We are overriding our primal responses and putting our mind in charge of our body. We are the masters of our nervous system; we are human, and we have the ability to reason. As students of the Method, we realize that this mastery of our nervous system will unlock the nourishment of the cell thereby feeding our movement.

To inhale is HUMAN. To exhale, well, enough said.

Is a Spring just a Spring?

At the recent Mind-Body conference this past April, I visited a top rated equipment manufacturer's booth (who shall remain nameless), and I was disappointed with the low resistance of their springs. It was most noticeable on their version of the low chair.

Having been Classically trained, I was brought up on heavier springs such as Gratz. History tells us that Joseph Pilates used 4 heavy springs. When I brought this up at the booth, the saleslady said to me "I"m just a saleslady, let me get an instructor." I asked the instructor, if it was possible to customize the chair to have heavier springs. She scoffed and said, "why would you want heavier springs? " I mentioned my training and asked her if she had worked on Gratz springs and she proudly replied "I was trained by BLANK and I have only used BLANK equipment." Now how is it possible to have a meaningful dialogue with someone that not only doesn't do her research but refuses to acknowledge the existence of other machines?

As I persisted to ask questions, instead of simply saying "yes, you can have heavier springs" or "no, you cannot", she interrogated my teaching philosophy and basically implied that I needed to be stronger to offset the "weaker" springs. Now, anyone that's ever seen me, has never EVER had the impression that I'm "weak". My nickname in college was "the brutehorse" and at 5 foot 3 and a half inches tall, I'm a dense 125 lbs who fits into a size 2. There's nothing "weak" about my appearance.

Realizing that I wasn't getting anywhere, I decided to revisit the booth once a more knowledgeable instructor was manning it. I knew there was a more versed instructor on staff because I recognized him from the PMA a few years before. I opened up the same discussion with him (not before the previous instructor balked "here's the lady that's coming to complain about our springs again.") I was shocked when he made the same argument as the previous instructor. Weak springs will make you stronger. Using geometry as reasoning, I told him that it was basically a matter of displacement. How could those springs expect to displace my weight AND that of an average American male - 5'8" to 5'10" and 160-170lbs. He just looked at me like I was crazy.

I'm shocked to find that a top equipment manufacturer doesn't have the option of heavier springs. Further, as I tried to explain, it isn't even just a matter of spring strength but buoyancy. Certain springs open and close gradually; they move like a tide of support and resistance. These springs basically had two positions - opened and closed.

I feel that the springs are an integral part of the equipment. They are the lifeblood of the machinery. The progress of the client can be either hastened or hindered by the spring response. The whole notion of "partnering with the equipment" is moot if the partner is not equal in strength.

Please sound off and let me know your experiences.

Biography Revisited

Please find below an annotated version of a previously published biography. And yes, I understand that finding "A Life in Balance" includes finding the time to create new and interesting blog material; however, as that has yet to happen, I humbly submit the following.

ROMINA M. LAYGO
A BIOGRAPHY

Born in New York and raised near the southern coastal town of Savannah, Georgia, Romina Laygo was exposed to the gambit of multiculturalism from the Old South to the Old World. Her native Filipino parents ingrained in her the customs fused from their Spanish, Asian and Pacific Island ancestors. (Typical set up - square peg moves to round hole. Think Imelda Marcos in the Gabor role in "Green Acres".)

Ms. Laygo’s creative life began at an early age with extensive dance training in ballet, tap and jazz. This led her to moderate success at various Professional Dance Teachers of America competitions and an alternate spot in the Georgia Governor’s Honors Dance program. She also toured with a Filipino dance group that spread the culture of the Philippines throughout the schools and churches of Georgia. (Basically the only dance school in town; hidden behind a gift shop. The style was very drill team meets Flashdance. And the Filipino dancing? I can't even tell you how popular it made me. I mean how cool was I in the middle of the South performing dances that mimic the movement of ducks and cranes dancing in rice paddies?)

In college, Ms. Laygo performed with Syracuse Dance and Other Works Theatre Company and also served as a dancer/choreographer with Syracuse University Dance Works. She served as Assistant Director in the production of a dance extravaganza with a cast of over 150. (Syracuse is freakin' cold. The assistant director gig was tough. Try herding 150 college coeds. And I'm not talking to you Joe Francis founder of "Girls Gone Wild".)

Ms. Laygo went on to serve as the Creative Director of Savannah Dance, a city run organization whose goal was to bring the art of dance to underprivileged members of society. She was also a member of the ten person dance group Company & Clark which most notably performed at the 1996 Olympic yachting competition opening ceremony. (City run organization...imagine the accolades. Opening ceremony? Well, that was the year it was held in Atlanta which happens to be landlocked. So Savannah got the yachting competition, and I got to dance at the opening ceremonies. As did pretty much every other dog and pony show in the city. But it does sound impressive.)

With her dance life behind her, Ms. Laygo immersed herself in various forms of physical activity from step aerobics to cardio barre to spinning to heavy weight lifting. After exhausting herself to the point of injury, Ms. Laygo joined a Classical Pilates Studio. There she discovered something beyond a series of exercises. She discovered a method. (Two hours a day in the gym lifting weights. What an idiot.)

Within weeks her hard muscles gave way to a supple form. Mindless exercise was cast aside in favor of a more substantial mental-physical regimen. Ms. Laygo became so enamored with the challenge and the kindness of the movement, she enrolled in a Pilates teacher training program. As she delved deeper into the history of Pilates and engrossed herself with over six hundred exercises, she developed a need to take her passion for the discipline outside of the studio. (Childbirth aside, the most physically challenging time of my life.)

After doing some research, she quickly discovered that there was little out there in the form of Pilates inspired clothing. While Yoga has permeated the fitness market with catchy slogans and eastern imagery, Pilates has not quite hit the mark. Additionally, the introduction of hybrid disciplines into the main stream – Yogalates, Polelates – has deluded the original intent of Pilates to the point of confusion for the average consumer. Armed with this knowledge, Ms. Laygo started her line of Pilates inspired clothing, jewelry and accessories. She named it “Joe & Clara” in homage to the Method founders Joseph and Clara Pilates. (Ah, and the name of a blog was born.)

With bold graphics and flattering fits, Ms. Laygo hopes to fuse fashion with the balanced silhouette of Pilates form. With the “teaser” pendant, Ms. Laygo mimics the athleticism of Pilates’ most recognizable exercise while infusing a fluid, expressive shape. From the launch in July of 2006, Joe & Clara has grown to include stationery as well as a “studio branding” program. With the continued support of her talented friends and family, she hopes to meet her goal of creating fashion forward gear tailored specifically for the Pilates enthusiast. (New designs are coming. I promise. Cut me some slack. You know, the whole life changing baby thing.)

For more information, please visit the website at www.JoeandClara.com. (Enter imaginary theme music here.)

Coming soon: "The Importance of the Inhale" and "Why I Choose to Work, Even Though I Don't "Have" To"

"Above All Else, Learn to Breathe Properly" - Joseph H. Pilates

I'm a planner. That's what I do. There is not one moment in the day that I'm not implementing some sort of method. So when I decided that tonight would be the night that I would start my blog, I planned my toddler son's night time routine so that it would accommodate sufficient time for me to write something profound as my charter entry and still bed down early enough to have the clarity to teach 6 hours tomorrow.

Alas, this attempt at writing about "A Life in Balance" has proven futile. What I failed to take into account was HOW TIRED I WOULD BE at the end of the day... With that admission (and oh how I, the harbinger of energy, hate to admit low energy), I will simply refer to the above quote from the Master teacher. I will heed those words, so that perhaps some time in the near future I will possess the energy to write something of worth.