PMA 2015 – THE HIGHS

It’s taken a week of reflection to share my thoughts on the 2015 Pilates Method Alliance conference in Denver. My experience was a mixed bag, and I wanted to remove hyperbole and discombobulation before sharing my take. I suppose any significant event includes both good and bad, so I’ve split this blog in two. This first post regards the high points of the conference – things that made the experience worthwhile. Next up will be the problems. Stay tuned.

___

MARY BOWEN

It was a surreal pleasure to finally connect the names and faces of teachers I’ve followed remotely for years. Mine is a remote industry of ships passing in the night, so it was great to move beyond Instagram handles and Twitter personas to meet superstars such as Kathy Corey, Karen Ellis, Kristen Matthews, Kristi Cooper, Lolita San Miguel, Kevin Bowen, Ken Endelman and Mary Bowen in the flesh. Mary Bowen is a legend in the community for her recollections of working under Mr. Pilates, her 56 years of Contrology experience, her infusion of Jungian Psychoanalysis into the Method, and her infectiously unedited personality. The two hour workshop consisted of Mary – spry, ceaselessly-moving, gleeful – extemporizing on how the journey from one’s innate personality type toward their shadow self defined not only the story of their life but also their physical experience of the world. Although she made some (hilariously) questionable generalizations about gender roles that may not apply to the world of 2015, she definitely raised fascinating questions about how we as teachers can nurture ourselves by uncovering the unconscious within our own psyches and those of others.[1] Even though the majority of her workshop was spent riffing on various subjects, she closed with a few fun tractioning movements on the Cadillac – sitting on an elongated Egg Ball while hanging off the Cage to provide some juicy-looking QL and extensor stretches. Watching an octogenarian experiment, move, and reminisce so playfully and dynamically is a rare sight, but one that makes perfect sense considering she has spent a live living Contrology.

___

HERITAGE REUNION

Outside the confines of the PMA I ventured over to Pilates Aligned to join a large assortment of graduates from The Kathy Grant Heritage Training for class and a party. The presence of so many Pilates people in Denver presented an opportunity for years worth of graduates of this continuing education program to meet and practice together. Around thirty wonderful teachers showed up and took a tough Kathy Grant-inspired class led by Cara Reeser and Laura Karpinski. Soaking up the positive energy and collected wisdom from so many seasoned bodies made for a class unlike any I’ve experienced. Feeling the excitement, the generosity, the curiosity, and the compassion from all present infused the class with a moving buoyancy and spirit. I’m eager to return to Pilates Aligned and study there again, but I’m grateful for the unique opportunity to share a space with my Kathy Grant family for one rare evening.

___

BENJAMIN, MK 1

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Benjamin Degenhardt.[2] His teaching is crystal clear not only in its delivery, but in its far-sighted purpose. He cracks open the hard shell of blind dogma plaguing the Pilates community and offers a return to the deepest purposes of the Method: the whys and hows. I’ve taken a version of this workshop back in 2013, but the information and demonstration this time around felt fresh as new. Before leaping headlong into the Universal Reformer protocol Benjamin took the time to clear the path ahead by looking back at the original schematics and uncovering the purpose of the machine. In essence the Universal Reformer – “universal” in that it provides a constant against the student may measure herself – is a teacher. Every movement within and against its resistances creates physical feedback and immediate opportunities for neurological and motor reprogramming. When a Pilates teacher allows the Reformer to work in such a way it relieves him of the burden of heavy lifting, both literally and figuratively. The teacher is free to stand back and watch the student’s movement experience, providing gentle hints to ensure that the movements are both clear in intention and safe in execution. Benjamin’s perspective has indelibly changed my own teaching and I can say from experience that working with, instead of against, the Reformer makes teaching infinitely easier and more successful.

___

I enjoyed many other small interactions, classes, and moments within the conference, making it altogether a positive adventure. There were, however, some unsettling issues raised over the weekend that might be worth addressing. My next post will discuss some of the larger problems haunting the Pilates industry and how we might begin to tackle them.

___

1. Addressing men and pelvic health, Mary opined, “How can you not know what to do with your pelvis when you’re the fuckers?”

2. I don’t look much like Mr. Degenhardt, who is a famous presence in the world of Pilates, but that didn’t stop no less than half a dozen people from confusing us during the conference. One woman actually dubbed me “Little Benjamin.” He may be bigger… but at least I’m younger.