by Elaine Rensing
I love teaching (and taking) group classes- the energy of the group is infectious as classmates commiserate over doing the hundreds or a second (or third or fourth) set of squats. The joint suffering of doing yet another plank can be highly motivating and such a great bonding experience. But did you ever have that one Pilates exercise that never made sense? You were doing it but not sure you were using the right muscles? Or maybe you’re stuck at a plateau and wondering how to get out of it? Have a knee injury but want to train for a marathon? Or maybe you’re tired of doing what’s best for everybody else and it’s time to really really focus on yourself.
Guest blogger: Eric Newton, professional aerialist and coach, five years with Cirque du Soleil (Quidam, Believe), certified Pilates instructor.
Even as a seasoned pro complete with “6 pack” abs and super upper body strength, I experienced hip and back pain due to repetitive stress and muscular imbalances. When rehabbing, my physical therapist (PT) prescribed Pilates to condition my inner core, which he described as weak! “Excuse me! Me, a Cirque Du Soleil artist, weak in my core?” But yes. It turned out that I had an incomplete understanding of efficient core mechanics.
Odd as it may seem, us ballet dancers often cross paths with circus performers. I’ve befriended more than a few acrobats and contortionist from Cirque Du Soleil and other shows, which makes for an interesting social life. We all have pushed ourselves to our physical limits and beyond, and we all ultimately live with the consequences of extreme training. Repetition is the culprit.
