A Life in Balance

Massage - Hurts So Good?

2011-06-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

I admit it. I was a junkie. I started treating myself in my early 20's after I landed my first job. It was infrequent at first, but I soon took it upon myself to schedule regular appointments. I always found a place in every city I traveled. My favorite had to be one by a very large, Jamaican woman who used the leverage of her robust body to deliver what I needed. I was hooked...on deep tissue massages.

I was entranced by the pre-massage rituals - the candles, the clinky-clanky music and the ultra luxe bedding. I loved the masseuse's soothing voice and how she responded to my cues. I relished the post-massage soreness. In line with my endorphin-fueled workout mentality, I believed the "sorer the better". There was even a sense of self-congratulations that I could afford such a luxury.

Cut to leaner times. My freelance gigs dried up, and I moved from Atlanta to LA where the cost of living was considerably higher. Though I lived in a studio apartment, had boxes as furniture and drove a run-down vehicle, I still managed to satisfy my massage cravings. As the jobs became fewer and farther between, I reached a point where I had to scale back quite a bit. It was only then that I took massages off of my "essentials" list.

Years passed. I got married. I changed jobs...and changed jobs...and changed jobs. I discovered Pilates. It was an instant love affair. After about a year as a client, I joined the training program to become an instructor. During my education, I realized how fortunate I was to have shed my former addiction.

I am not saying that deep tissue massage is bad or that it is wrong for everyone. I am a firm believer that there are no absolutes when it comes to benefits and detriments to the body. Just as each cell is different, the body that is comprised of those cells is even more different. I have come to the conclusion that deep tissue massage is not for me.

The owners of the school where I got my diploma also offered "neuromuscular therapy," a technique based on the teachings of Thomas Griner. (Check out his book, What's Really Wrong with You.) It basically asserts that pressing on or overstretching the muscles can cause lasting damage. The "relief" that one feels following a manipulation such as deep tissue massage, acupuncture or chiropracting is basically the result of endorphin release. In the meantime, nothing has been done to stop the "hypertonic muscle spasm" so the condition remains the same despite the pain level.

Just because I was exposed to this theory, didn't mean that I subscribed to it. I kept it in the back of my mind as I studied, built my practice and continued to learn my trade. I learned how to guide people through pain and into release. As I experienced repeated success in pain abatement, I was able to understand firsthand how manual manipulation wasn't nearly as affective as using one's mind to re-pattern the body. Sure it takes more mind-body sessions to realign the body than it would to have someone put it into place, but the effects are more long lasting and there's a sense of achievement and progress.

Years after I became certified, I decided to revisit my old friend deep tissue massage. As soon as I smelled the candles and heard the new age music, I was transported back to my single carefree days. This was going to be good. It was rough going at first. I told myself it must be stress. The roughness wasn't improving. I told myself it was just from having been out of the saddle for so long. By the end, I was sweaty and felt bruised. Is this really what I had been addicted to? The next day, the soreness that set in made me feel like I was walking through mud. Every muscle in my body felt beaten up and every move I made an effort.

Believe it or not, I tried it again a few months later. I wanted to be fair in my assessment. I couldn't just write massage off because of one bad experience. Sure enough, the results were the same if not worse. And that was it. That was the end of my relationship with deep tissue massage. I didn't need a third session to know it isn't right for me.

Today, I have sworn off deep tissue massages. Forget the super soft bedding and the intoxicating aroma of scented oils, I'll take my cadillac and spine corrector any day of the week.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

2011-05-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

The wind of change is howling through the Pilates community. The force is so great, it has shaken me out of my blog hibernation. (In my defense, I did recently give birth to my second son and have been juggling various events concerning my two and a half year old.)

In 2001, the Pilates Method Alliance was formed as a professional organization for the Pilates Community. It was heralded by a coalition of elders, notable Pilates personalities and equipment manufacturers who had hoped to create a forum for education and a singular voice in the world of mind-body fitness. It's ten years later and it seems that the very community that the PMA hoped to promote is raising some serious questions about the group's validity.

A few months ago, Performing Arts Physical Therapy / The Pilates Studio of Los Angeles publicly withdrew its membership from the PMA when it published a scathing criticism of the Pilates Method Alliance online. In its manifesto, the PAPT calls the PMA "irrelevant", accuses it of trying to "monopolize" Pilates and declares that the "P" in PMA is not "Authentic Pilates." The main source of PAPT's condemnation is the controversial certification process. Specifically, the PMA claims its certification is the only legitimate industry wide certification and is currently asking Pilates schools to refrain from referring to their graduates as "certified instructors." Needless to say, the PAPT is not the only party that feels the way it does. It just so happens that they are the only ones that actually published their tirade.

As someone who has been both an enthusiast and an instructor for at least seven years, I have heard the industry murmurings of displeasure with the PMA. I served as a volunteer at the PMA conference for the first time in 2006 while I was still completing my Classical training. I witnessed first hand the Alliance's lack of organization, but I chalked it up to growing pains. I heard the whispers of dissatisfied members who questioned the PMA's agenda as well as their financial structure.

After completing my training in early 2007, I spent time refining my teaching skills, building my client roster as well as my family. I removed myself from the politics of the industry and concentrated on my craft. In 2010, I decided to return to my post at the PMA conference as a volunteer. To their credit, the PMA seemed to have improved their organizational skills. The volunteers had set agendas and, despite some hiccups, I felt that it ran pretty smoothly. In the negative side, however, the whispers that I had heard at the previous gathering were now roars.

The PMA promptly published a rebuttal to the PAPT's scathing statement. In a well written, point by point deconstruction of the PAPT's emotionally raw and error wrought treatise, the PMA basically used the PAPT's statement as an opportunity to clarify its position on certification. The PMA basically said that they are merely trying to set an industry standard known as "certification" and that they are not in the business of creating a universal school. They use the analogy of a person getting a degree from a college (aka Pilates training academy), then moving on to get their license from a professional board (ie. State Board of Examiners.) In their equation, they simply represent the professional board.

The release of the PAPT's statement and the PMA's rebuttal coincided with the PMA sponsored "Educators Summit" in early May. The free event was a forum for educators to discuss the future of the PMA and the role educators would play in it. From what I heard from an attendee, there were approximately 60 people there. Not one of which was a member from the PAPT.

While the PMA did their due diligence by inviting the entire world Pilates community, the underwhelming turnout did nothing to bolster the industry's confidence in them and, from what I hear, it just brought up more unanswered questions. There are quite a few hot button issues that the PMA should immediately address including their finances (as a non-profit their financial statements should be publicly available) and how presenters are chosen for the conference. Last I checked, these areas have not been addressed on their website or their Facebook page, nor was there any kind of executive summary as to what went on during the summit.

As this dialogue unfolds in front of me and the rest of the Pilates community, I am doing my best to navigate through both the Pro- and Anti-PMA waters. On the one hand, I see the need for a professional organization to help keep the legacy of Pilates alive as well as represent the profession in governmental issues. For example, states are threatening mandatory licensing for fitness personnel so it is important that Pilates is represented as its own discipline. Additionally, the "Pilates Day" and "Pilates in Our Schools" programs have helped bring an awareness of the Method to the general population.

On the down side, the PMA has cleverly crafted a system where fees are collected at every turn. Beyond the standard membership and conference fees, there are additional questionable tolls. There is a fee to take the certification test - almost 300.00. Where does that money go? Sure they use a third party test company, but 300.00? It's only 47.00 to take the SAT. There's a study guide for the PMA test that runs around 50.00 with shipping and handling. That book is not published by the third party test company nor a random publishing company, it is put out by the PMA. Where does that money go? Once you become certified, you are expected to do a set number of continuing education credits as in any other profession. The PMA provides a list of approved CEC's; however, if you wish to take a workshop that is not on the list you have to submit a petition to have that class recognized as a legitimate CEC. Who decides? The PMA. The fee? 25.00. To use the college analogy that they used during their PAPT rebuttal, it's like petitioning for an independent study credit to count toward your major. In that analogy, however, that petition is included in the price of tuition. There are no additional fees.

Another cause for dissension is the controversial "Registry of Schools". This is a list of schools that have met a certain set of standards determined by attending Pilates educators at the 2009 PMA Summit. While the criteria is substantial, so is the fee. It is 500.00 per school per year to be included in the registry (and an additional 200.00 per location.) If the PMA is trying to promote diversity and accessibility among Pilates educators, why is the fee so exorbitant? Does verifying the paperwork, changing the PMA website and doing an initial phone/personal inquiry really cost 500.00? Or, at the very least, after the initial legwork is completed, is it necessary to pay 500.00 simply to renew annually?

Returning to the business of the CEC's, there are fees not only in the potential petitioning student's end but also in the hosting school's as well. In order for a person or institution to qualify as a CEC provider they must submit an application for approval. The fee? 150.00. The way it is divided on the website, this is separate from being on the Registry of Schools. Now, it's possible to be a CEC provider without being on the Registry; however, being on the Registry of Schools will help bring in students for the CEC workshop.

Whatever the argument is on either side, one this is clear - this polarization of the Pilates world is probably not what Joe had envisioned back when he was conducting workouts at Jacob's Ladder. The infighting and politics may stifle the craft just as Pilates is starting to attain mainstream appeal. It is important that we take time to consider all that is happening and take a breath before we act or react. Otherwise Joe will be rolling over in his grave rather than, as I'd like to imagine, rolling like a ball.

Sound off. Where do you weigh in?

(Not) Waiting to Exhale

2010-06-15T20:18:00.001-07:00

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?

2010-06-08T09:50:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-04T23:18:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-02T22:39:00.000-07:00

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.