Smart Pilates Online

Hi everyone,
I decided to pop into my old blog for a second and tell anyone still following me here to check out my new home(s):

If you are a Pilates Teacher, have been thinking about becoming one or simply want to peek inside this unique industry, check out my new sit focused on much of the same topics from this site: pilates career development, pilates business ideas, and certification topics.  Visit: www.smartpilatesonline.com.

One of the first things you will notice is my upcoming program called Pilates Confidential.  I have produced a unique video training series that will help you build & grow your own career with ease.  The first release in this program series is the audio course Pilates Confidential: Survive Your Pilates Teacher Training.

Here's what you will learn in the first training program:

Here’s What You’re Going to Learn in the 45 Minute Pilates Confidential Audio Course:

• The skills you need BEFORE you start your training
• How to Choose the Right Program
• Insight into the Pilates Career & Lifestyle
• Getting the Most out of your Certification
• Resources to help you make your decisions & get educated

 If want to become a Pilates Instructor, but aren't quite sure where to start, take a moment to download this audio course and in 45-minutes you will know exactly what to do next. 

As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me with your questions!  I will provide guidance and coaching to anyone who needs it!



MY SECOND HOME is at annesamoilov.com.
This site is dedicated to helping people find real life ways to get inspired, stay motivated and achieve their goals.  Much of the self-help out there focuses on telling you what you are doing wrong instead of empowering you to find something that actually works.  I never hold back -- I'll tell you if I go to In-n-Out burger or slip up and have a donut.  This is real.  I'm not going to pretend that I'm the perfect ideal model of health. I know that health is a process and I want to show you how to live in the moment--Become aware of your unhealthy habits and then teach you how to transcend these habits.

Visit my site: annesamoilov.com and then sign up for my weekly newsletter The Quick Byte.

Have a great day everyone and I will see you all soon!

Are You Pushing Yourself Too Hard?

via annesamoilov.com

{How to know if you need to make some adjustments to your health & fitness focus!}

Posted via web from Anne's posterous

Do you like music during pilates class?

5 Workout Songs I'm Obsessed with Right Now

Check out this website I found at dailyspark.com

I'm FINALLY putting together a few different playlists for my mat and reformer classes. Do you like music during class? If so, what type or artists do you like to hear? After taking a great yoga class that played a mix of pop, classic oldies (ish), and hip hop, I was inspired to make my own list. I loved drowning out my constant mental commentary that doesn't let me relax too easily!

Posted via web from Anne's posterous

About.com's Exercise of the Week~Love this set of exercises!

I promised you we would do some serious working out in the new year, and now I post something about footwork? Guess what? This set is serious ab and leg work. If your Pilates powerhouse went on vacation the past few weeks, it's going to have to come back quick.

Learn the Pilates Reformer Footwork Series on the Mat

Have the Exercise of the Week, along with other great Pilates info, sent directly to you each week in the Free Pilates Newsletter.

via pilates.about.com

I'm so excited to share this post with you. If you aren't subscribed to get these latest workouts when she posts them, do yourself a favor and get on her mailing list. About.com always has great ways to fit pilates into your life. This is one of my personal favorites. I love doing Reformer on the Mat workouts and can't wait to share with my own pilates students!

Posted via web from Anne's posterous

Balancing Pilates with your Commitments

Check out this website I found at feedproxy.google.com

Check out this interesting account of a woman balancing her work as a Pilates Instructor and as a Mother...I love reading stories like this because they really hit home for me.

Posted via web from Anne's posterous

Ready to Rock Your Pilates Workout?

If you are a pilates teacher, then you might use props from time to time in your class. There is no shortage of balls, rings, and other small items to help you and your client change their workouts slightly. Hopefully you don't rely on the props for all of the pilates exercises, but sometimes doing a ball workout or a foam roller workout is a fun way to shake things up.

I've found a great tool that I use in my own workouts (pilates, but also in my circuit training). There are a ton of pilates exercises you can do and your clients will get stronger and might want a pair for home!

The Valslides are 2 sliding oblong discs. That's it. You place them under your feet or under your hands. They increase core work when doing stability exercises like plank, mountain climber, and some variations that will feel very familiar to you if you work on the reformer.

Some Tips on Using the Valslides in a Pilates Workout:

1. Only use them if it will enhance the exercise you are trying to teach the client. Keep in mind this is a variation prop - not a modification prop. The exercises performed on the Valslides makes most moves more difficult. Start with the original pilates exercise and then add 1 or 2 valslides.

2. Use the Valslide if you can't get to a reformer or don't have room to cart your other balls, weights, etc. to your client.

3. Instruct your client (or yourself) to move from the center at all times. The pilates principles are even more important when using the Valslides. Breath, Control, Stability and Neutral Spine are really important things to cue and remind.

4. I typically do straight classical pilates exercises and then will do a series of 3-4 valslide exercises...then go right back to the classic, basic exercises. This helps the client get right back into the mindset that they are taking pilates not just getting a personal training session.

5. Don't be afraid to experiment!

6. Email Valerie Waters for additional exercise ideas. She is always there to help out and provide additional support to her valslide devotees!

Once you get the hang of using Valslides in your private sessions, try bringing them out in your small group classes. It's fun to jump off the reformer or wunda chair or from the mat and do a few challenging core exercises. Your clients will thank you for the change...and so will your body if you are doing them at home!

Also, let me know if you try them out! I love to know how people are using the valslide in their pilates classes. I think fusing traditional work with new fitness strategies really keeps in line with Joseph Pilates own spirit of invention. I could be wrong, but I do think he was open minded enough to discover new ways to get the work done and challenge the body. Are you?

For more articles that talk about how I started using Valslides, check out my main blog:

Anne Samoilov Blog
Pilates for Weight Loss ?

The Benefits of Eye Focus During Pilates and Fitness Ab Work Exercises

via centerworks.com

{check out this interesting article from http://www.centerworks.com about using eye focus to enhance effectiveness of ab exercises} What are you looking at?

Posted via web from Anne's posterous