It feels fresh and clean, it feels pure and honest, it feels professional and welcoming. I wanted to create the studio of my dreams. I pulled out all the stops to establish a center that would reflect what BASI is today, after 25 years of growth. From the all-new equipment to the stunning furniture, beautiful flooring and interior design, to the state of the art Internet technology and audio/visual equipment – it has all the ingredients of a dream. 

I am most excited by the fact that the teaching itself can be at a much higher level, particularly with larger classes, such as the Comprehensive Teacher Training Course (CTTC), which I taught recently. Having so much space allows people to spread out, practice to their heart’s content and affords me, as the teacher, the ability to see more clearly and cue more accurately.

During the break the students go down to the waterfall area and enjoy lunch at the picnic tables, in the fresh air and sunlight. It truly feels like a college campus, like an academy, like BASI Pilates Academy! Kristi Cooper of Pilates Anytime, a BASI veteran, interviewed me recently and asked about my decision to add Academy to our name. I explained that since its inception I have wanted BASI to be a college-level, academically based program. Over the years it has become more and more so. With the exceptional Study Guide and the 6 Movement Analysis Workbooks the students receive, with the option of registering for Pilates Interactive online video resource, and most importantly, with the very high caliber teachers, the CTTC is indeed like a college course. Now with plans for a library and reading room, with hundreds of students papers on display, we are upping the ante.

Of course in the final analysis BASI is all about education and not location alone. Our faculty rises to every occasion under the guidance of Constance Holder; they are simply awesome. The apprentice faculty display in no uncertain terms that the future of BASI is rock solid. Our Advanced Education program exemplifies postgraduate study at its best, and is getting better all the time through the mammoth efforts of Samantha Wood. BASI now deserves a world-class headquarters, a campus, a library, a pro store, filming facilities – basically the finest available.

So after the big move we are now gearing up for the BASI Summit, with close to a hundred BASI faculty and administrators coming in from around the globe. This will be followed by BASI “Learn from the Leaders” with well over 200 people registered. It will be a celebration in every sense of the word. BASI is throwing the party and ALL are invited to join in. My niece Maya will be flying in to perform (go to Maya Isacowitz on YouTube to feast your ears) and some of my favorite people will be presenting. So let me just say, “its party time”!

Now for a few changes within BASI. Jeanne King, who has been a fiercely loyal BASI member for the past 12 years, and has held the position of International Administrator for the past 7 years, will be taking her career in a different direction. Her involvement with BASI will not end, as she pursues some of the projects that she has long held dear to her heart as well as guiding and mentoring the person that will be stepping into this very important, and coveted position in BASI (more about this delightful person in the next Newsletter). I personally, and the entire BASI family, wish Jeanne the greatest of success.

Finally, I would like to welcome Jen Posford to the position of Editor in Chief of the newsletter. Jen is our social media and marketing specialist, and as part of her role has also taken on the newsletter. She is excited about it and so am I. She will bring her keen eye, her sharp intellect and her discerning taste to bear on the newsletter.

So my friends, all that remains is to say, “onward and upward”!

Rael

Ofie is accredited with both the American College of Sports Medicine/Loma Linda University and the National Academy of Sports Medicine.  She has been featured in Pilates Style magazine, is a veteran Pilates professional, and owns and operates Ofie’s Elite Physiques, Inc., a Pilates based health and fitness studio in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Myriam has enjoyed providing fitness instruction for over twenty-four years in the Northern Virginia area.  As founder of Elemental Fitness, Myriam brings Pilates “alfresco” with classes held in local parks and other outdoor venues, making nature and gravity act as “apparatus”.  Myriam encompasses her vast Pilates experience into all aspects of her business and her life.

Check out Ofie and Myriam’s complete bio’s on the BASI website.  Please join us in welcoming them to the team and meet both at the upcoming Learn from the Leaders conference, June 8-9, 2013, in Newport Beach.

When I pose the question, “Do you know what a GMO is” to my clients, 99% of the time the answer is no.  I will assume for a lot of you reading this, the answer is the same as my clients.  Chances are if you are not eating fruits and vegetables only, you are eating GMOs and don’t even know it.  There’s a plethora of  “frankin-food” on your supermarket shelves being marketed in the form of drinks, frozen foods, processed foods, condiments, and in supplements.  What you see is really not what you get anymore. 

WHAT IS A GMO?

A “genetically modified organism” (GMO) is a plant, animal or bacteria that is engineered for various purposes ranging from agricultural to scientific research.  GMOs are created through gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE.  This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.”  The intent is to speed up growth, to produce its own pesticides and to become resistant to drought.

The most common foods to look out for are:

1. Corn
2.  Soy
3.  Sugar beets
4.  Cotton
5.  Zucchini and yellow squash (unless they are labeled organic)
6. Hawaiian papaya
7. Canola

The derivatives of these foods are found in over 70% of products found in the supermarket.  Unfortunately, these foods are not clearly labeled as such.  Furthermore, you need to be a detective when you read the ingredient list, as the GMO derivatives are unrecognizable as the GMO that it is.  For example, it could show up as saying, “hydrogenated starch, lactic acid, isoflavones, soy lecithin, aspartame, ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, citric acid, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrins, sucrose, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, lactic acid, yeast products, xanthan gum, flavorings -“natural” and “artificial.”  The list is more extensive than what’s written here.  It can be really confusing. The picture below represents deceptive labeling as it’s filled with GMO corn.

It’s interesting to note that some of the same foods found in over 50 countries worldwide ARE clearly labeled GMOs.  The FDA’s policy here in the U. S. released in 1992, does not require a product to be labeled GMO and the companies running our industrialized food economy refuse to label GMOs.  They claim they don’t need to as the products are safe.

Many of the GMO packages in Europe have been redesigned and do not contain GMOs.  Russia officially banned all GMO corn into their country in response to a French Study* that found rats developed tumors all over their bodies and in their internal organs when fed GMO corn.

GMOs were never adequately tested for safety and research shows its dangers to the human/animal health, polluting our crops and our water.  GMOs are endangering people’s health and our environment at an alarming rate. Cross contamination is irreversible and good, organic crops are being jeopardized.   The American Academy of Environmental Medicine urges physicians to advise all patients to avoid genetically modified food.  They state, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GMO food.”  These include:

1. Cancer
2. Infertility
3. Immune problems
4. Allergies
5. Insulin regulation issues
6. Changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system

We don’t have to look very far to see that Americans are getting sicker and sicker.  I have developed allergies in recent years which I never had growing up as a child. Just today, “The CDC came out to report about 1 in 20 U.S. children have food allergies. That’s a 50 percent increase from the late 1990s.  For eczema and other skin allergies, it’s 1 in 8 children, an increase of 69 percent.  It found no increase, however, in hay fever or other respiratory allergies.”

Monsanto Company, a publicly traded American multi-national agricultural biotechnology corporation, was among the first to genetically modify a plant cell.  They manufacture the best-selling herbicide Round-Up (as well as other herbicides).

These seeds are incredibly expensive compared to the traditional ones and have been genetically modified to produce their own pesticide, to survive the spraying of the “Roundup”, a potent herbicide and to self terminate.  Monsanto claims the GMOs are safe.

HOW CAN I AVOID GMOs?

The easiest way is to eat organic produce.  In addition:

1. Look for the Non-GMO Project label.
2. Avoid the high risk ingredients mentioned above.
3. Avoid all processed foods, sugar, etc.
4. When possible, grow your own garden.
5. When at a restaurant, ask for steamed vegetables as the GMO canola oils are used for sautéing.   Ask for some olive oil and pour over your vegetables.
6. Keep the Non-GMO Shopping Guide in your purse or pocket that lists GMO ingredients to avoid and/or the Non-GMO phone app.

Educate yourself-here are just a few powerful resources:

1. http://www.responsibletechnology.org/docs/140.pdf, and join their Tipping Point Network
2. “Seeds of Deception” written by Jeffrey Smith and watch the movie Genetic

Roulette (a must see!), also by Jeffrey Smith

1.  You can also download the free shopping guide, http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/GMObrochure.pdf,

You can take your health into your own hands by deciding what you put at the end of your fork; you have a choice and don’t have to eat GMOs.  It is the single most important thing you can do to improve your health, and the health of your children. If you have any questions about GMOs or anything else, please feel free to reach out to me.  So many people are very concerned about this and the best way to approach this is to educate yourself so you are empowered to make the best choices for yourself.  I am going to be leading a FREE teleclass that I decided to do as a result of all the questions/concerns about GMOS.  If you are interested, you can email me for the details.

Lorna Sophocleous,
Certified Nutrition and Lifestyle Consultant
Pilatesgirl8@hotmail.com
917-509-0862

References:
Genetic Roulette Movie
gmoinside.org
naturalnews.com
responsibletechnology.org

*http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/09/19/gmos-give-rats-huge-tumors-organ-damage?cmpid=tp-ptnr-foodbabe

Like many Pilates teachers I come from a movement background, training as a dancer from the age of four, including a period of time in my teenage years at the Royal Academy of Dance which was a wonderful opportunity afforded me by the generosity of a scholarship fund at that time. I went on to dance professionally as a commercial dancer in both TV, film and theatre before a knee injury brought my dance career to a halt. Devastated is the only word I could use to sum up that time. Movement had been an integral part of my life, not only because I loved to dance but because it gave me so much more; an emotional and spiritual release as well as a physical one, and it wasn’t until I discovered Pilates twelve years ago that I found my mojo once again.

From the first Pilates session I was hooked, and it quickly became a way of life for me, as I took classes all over London trying different methods and styles. Some nine years later, and thanks to several inspiring, and generous teachers who encouraged me to think of a career as a Pilates Teacher, I took the plunge, and flew to Long beach to undertake the Summer Intensive with Karen Clippinger at California State University, which has the additional dance specialization programme. Karen is an inspiring professional, with incredible attention to detail as well as an infinite knowledge of the biomechanics of the body. Walking in that first day as the only Brit was daunting, but my fellow trainees, all of whom were dancers made me very welcome and it was a great experience- intense, challenging and very rewarding.

Since then my career aspirations have grown alongside my passion for the method, with a strong desire to bring the BASI style and Rael’s inspirational teachings to the people of West London.  I  run my own private client list now, training some well know London based celebrities, as well as maintaining strong links within my own West London community helping those who are both able-bodied, and chronically disabled to benefit from the BASI method of Pilates. My long term ambition is to open my own West London Pilates Centre for training and education, from where I will teach, host BASI workshops lead by BASI teachers from all corners of the globe, whilst continuing to serve the local community. My hope is that with the added knowledge and experience I will gain from the Mentor Programme led by Rael, I will return to London with more tools to help those who need it most, as well as a much needed injection of artistry from the man himself.

With only a couple of weeks to go until I arrive for the Mentor Program I am both excited and daunted at the prospect of all the talented teachers I will meet, what I will learn from Rael and whether my body is strong enough to get through it!

As the Mentor Program is the next stage in the journey I thought now would be a good time to revisit my original BASI Movement Analysis Workbooks to revise what I’ve learned so far. For however much we learn from our fellow teachers, colleagues and clients one must never underestimate the importance of going back to the beginning and refreshing one’s knowledge of the original movements.  It’s incredible that whenever I revisit these books there is always a little detail I find useful that I had either forgotten, or not noticed the previous time. This time is has been a simple statement in the BASI Philosophy,

“If you are willing to travel the often rigorous, demanding and ultimately rewarding path – in other words, to go the distance – we at BASI will provide the knowledge.”

And that says it all, for me, being a Pilates teacher is challenging, demanding of body and mind but there is the knowledge (and we must keep reminding ourselves of this) that BASI is there to support us. Hopefully, in more ways than one, when my aching muscles are trying to get through day 2 of The Mentor Program!

All these years of practicing, studying, learning and teaching later, I cannot wait to take the Mentor Program. I know there will be many challenges, but I also know the depth, passion and inspiration it will bring. I am so grateful for the opportunity to reach deeper into the work, perhaps revisiting some exercises, definitely learning new ones, and ultimately bringing me back to the true fundamentals where the basics aren’t so basic anymore.

I am honored and humbled to be given this opportunity in the name of Kathy Grant. To me, it is the infinity symbol of the teacher-student relationship: the lineage, knowledge, passion, depth, and inspiration of each generation giving and receiving. Thank you Kathy Grant, and thank you BASI.

When I first began practicing Pilates, I can remember seeing the Cadillac and thinking that was surely meant for torture, but there had to be some sort of health benefit that people would subject themselves to this intimidating apparatus.  Six years later, as Sheri began our lesson she asked our class who, if any, had not used the Cadillac before.  My lonely hand was the only one in the air, to Sheri’s response, “Cadillac this is Stephanie, Stephanie this is the Cadillac.”  From that moment on, our budding romance had begun.

After going through the lesson plan of the fundamental work on this intimidating piece of equipment, I was in complete awe of Sheri as made each exercise look so effortless.  When it was our turn to begin practicing the foot work, supine leg series and spinal articulation, I couldn’t wait to accept this new challenge!

As my body was already fatigued from the intermediate mat class I had taken only a few hours earlier along with a nice salad bar lunch from the Earthgrown Market, it was safe to say the day was catching up to me.  But pushing those feelings aside I climbed in and began my foot work.  Although I didn’t complete as many repetitions as I would’ve liked, I had so much fun!

The improvements that I have seen in myself over the past month have become my motivation during this entire process.   I have noticed my stamina has improved during our mat and reformer training, and watching Sheri perform the exercises so naturally, including the Jackknife on the mat and the Monkey on the Cadillac encourages me to set new goals each time.

I cannot wait to see what the remainder of the course has in store for me and I am so excited I am able to share my journey with you!

The truth is that education is so important in this field we practice. Rael Isacowitz, Lolita San Miguel, Karen Clippinger, Alan Herdman and Brett Howard are all highly seasoned Pilates Master Trainers giving back to the Pilates Community and offering their expertise and perspectives on many issues that we question in our own Pilates practices. I know there will be a lot of “aha” moments for me, and I hope to truly get the essence of the mind and body connection from the workshops being offered at this conference. I love when my clients get that “aha” moment as well, and when they understand that it is not just doing an exercise, but where that exercise takes you when you have that mind/body connection that makes it so special.

So, “Big Hugs” and “Lots of Love” to BASI for giving me this opportunity! Not only will I get to learn from distinguished Pilates personalities but I will get to see old friends and make new ones that share my passion and love of Pilates as well!

Join Lori and others at Learn From the Leaders this June in Newport Beach, CA. Event and registration information is online at www.basipilates.com/25

Register before May 8th to receive the Early Bird Discount price of $495! After May 8th, the price will be $550.

One of the topics we looked at was working with the elderly and I thought it would be nice to share some thoughts on the topic with the BASI community and maybe get some feedback and hear fresh ideas.

For me, working with the elderly is an integral part of teaching Pilates in a studio environment. Many retired people have the time and financial means to take up Pilates and a lot of them feel it is time to invest in their bodies and well being in order to stay supple, strong and as healthy as possible. Yet, much of the original repertoire is too challenging and would be contra-indicated in many cases. This calls for research and study about this population’s special needs as well as creativity in developing a range of appropriate exercises based on general guidelines and the invaluable lessons we learn from our clients as we go.

There is no doubt I have learned a great deal from one of my first clients – an amazing lady who was 92 when I started teaching her and 96 when she decided that coming to the studio was too much… She still does Pilates at home and is over 100 years old!!!

Defining the “average” retired person is rather tricky. Some people maintain amazing strength and movement in their bodies while others are much less able and for various reasons become more restricted in their movement. The focus of the workshop I taught was on the more frail. The elements I suggested being aware of are:

• Limitations – both physical and mental. The physical limitations are the ones we are more used to observing and dealing with, but the mental ones will play a very important role as well. One’s perception of what they can and can’t do or what they should or shouldn’t do will very much dictate what exercises you can do with them and it can take some time before these mental barrier change and become more flexible.
• Chronic conditions such as arthritis and osteoarthritis as well as joint replacements and other operations that alter one’s body. Clearly each condition can be the topic of separate workshops and requires research and study.
• Old injuries that led to compensation patterns and unfortunate new ones stemming from common issues such as reduced sense of balance and proprioception and lack of agility and strength.
• Restricted breath pattern. This one is a serious ‘catch 22′ as we would SO want the elderly to breathe deeply and fully and yet this tends to be very difficult for them and often leads to confusion and stress.
• Postural – muscular imbalances; tightness and weakness. Some will be common to all or most of the elderly (tight hip flexors and back extensors, weak glutes, stiff feet and hands) and some unique to the individual.

When it comes to programming for the elderly person, we discussed a number of important factors. Setting realistic goals would be the first thing that comes to mind. It is important to be on the same page as your client and important to get them to embrace the idea that if they take an active part in the process and do some exercises at home on a daily basis, they can expect much more than if they just come to see you once a week or once a fortnight and do nothing in between.

Next we talked about limiting the number of repetitions as well as the range of motion as appropriate to the individual. I am not sure why, but I often ‘catch’ my elderly clients sneaking in double the number of reps I suggest and often challenging themselves in a way that makes me a little nervous. Keeping a watchful eye would be a good idea.

Other factors discussed were: providing assists where necessary to enable people to perform more types of movements and help improve their sense of achievement; being flexible and creative when it comes to the structure of the class and the choreography/form of the exercises themselves. We must think laterally if we want to be able to offer a varied program that will not only be appropriate but also interesting, challenging and satisfying.

Finally we talked about the importance of attention and tactile feedback; providing physical assistance and tactile feedback will not only help keep your clients safe but also give them the warm feeling of security and affection that comes with the ‘right kind of touch’.

The following represents a few guidelines we discussed. I suggested incorporating these general items into appropriate exercises (which is a topic unto itself).

• Improve physical awareness
• Improve balance and proprioception
• Work on stance and gait
• Mobility and strength of the feet and the hands
• Circulation-blood and lymphatic
• Functional strength and mobility
• Functional everyday movements and exercises for home practice

I absolutely love working with my mature clients. They are always positive, easy going, appreciative of my attention and efforts to keep their programs interesting and they have a great sense of humor. I hope you feel the same and would be really happy to hear your thoughts and ideas.

The dates for this exciting program are: September 20-22, 2013, and January 24-26, 2014.

ProBridge provides qualified Pilates teachers from recognized schools with the rare opportunity of learning the techniques practiced and taught by BASI Pilates® under the instruction of BASI founder Rael Isacowitz himself.

The first ProBridge course in 2012 was an outstanding success. “I left with a deeper passion to re-examine all I knew and open myself to grow in new ways,” wrote Christina Spring, one of the ProBridge participants.” Of course, I also learned things that I had not yet fully grasped. It was an experience that has left me humbled and determined to keep going deeper into my practice and study.”

ProBridge students study Rael’s many contributions to the study and practice of Pilates, including the BASI Block™ System, a method of categorizing the entire repertoire in a sequential structure, the BASI Flow principles for designing a holistic and comprehensive program and the unique BASI method of exercise analysis. Students also learn a new repertoire for the Avalon system, a contemporary interpretation of Joseph Pilates’ classic equipment that was designed by Rael.

In the past, Pilates professionals who wanted to enhance their skills by studying the BASI methods needed to take the full BASI Pilates Comprehensive Teacher Training Course (CTTC) – and many of them did. Professional development has always accounted for a significant proportion of CTTC students.

Professional development is now quicker and cheaper with ProBridge. The curriculum assumes that participants have the anatomical background that every Pilates teacher requires and focuses on the methods and skill sets that are proprietary to BASI. The course does not have any observation of practice teaching requirements.

For BASI graduates, ProBridge is recommended as a refresher course, prior to acceptance for the advanced Ultimate Program, which comprises the Mentor, Master and Master Reunion courses.

For more information on ProBridge, please visit the course page or contact BASI Pilates by email at info@basipilates.com or by calling 949.574.1343.

See what everyone had to say about the workshop:

I had a great time this weekend. Have LOTS of information to go through and practice for sure! Thank you for creating such a unique practice!- Wendy H.

It was an honor to learn from the incredible and talented Lisa Hubbard/Rhythm Pilates this weekend! So blessed! Thank you! I love the format! - Shaylene B.

It was a well spent weekend with four lovely ladies that know how to move! Rhythm Pilates is phenomenal on so many levels! Can’t wait to start teaching it! Thanks Lisa for all your expertise and energy. And being the first training at BASI’s new location was a bonus. We got to break in the studio! It is beyond beautiful! A must see. - Laura M.

What a wonder weekend I’ve had! Thank you Lisa Hubbard for such an inspiring Rhythm Pilates teacher training! I’m so sore I can’t move! - Diana D.

For more information about Rhythm Pilates, and upcoming class dates, visit www.rhythmpilates.com. Visit the BASI website to learn more about upcoming workshops and events.