Cathy owns the only Pilates studio in Yakima, Washington and when she read my article in the Nov/Dec edition of Pilates Style Magazine, she wrote to me and asked if I'd be teaching in Seattle anytime soon and as it turns out, I was flying to Seattle for the Thanksgiving holiday so on the morning after Thanksgiving and instead of going to the Christmas Parade (I'll always choose teaching over Santa any day!) Cathy came into my Seattle studio for a Developmental Private to learn more about how to perform flexion exercises without slouching and hinging.

In this video you'll see: how I trim out her form by thoroughly explaining and correcting acceleration in her ascent and instability in her pelvis; simple and universally understood images that help clients maintain as much length in their spines as possible; always a tough one for teachers who struggle with finding their authoritative voice, how to handle clients who are just not strong enough to safely and properly perform full exercises; suggestions for productive ways Cathy can change the way she thinks about the disappointing fact that she doesn't have time for proper sessions and ways to become encouraged by getting in at least a little bit of work for herself in spite of being a full time teacher, studio owner, wife and mother.

Cathy's son Ken is her business partner and is also a Pilates teacher, Ken observed her session and I invited both of them to come back in March 2012 when we go into the cadaver lab at Bastyr University so they can see and feel and explore the muscles and joints that are the focus of well taught, well performed Pilates.

Dates for that lab and the Pilates Excel course that accompanies it have not yet been set but when they are, I'll of course include them in my emails. If you'd like to be kept informed about what I'm doing, why and where, let me know and I'll add you to my email list.

After you watch Cathy's session, let me know if you have questions and, as always, thanks for watching.