As always when an alternate reality is presented, it takes a few days for things to settle in your mind and in this case with Deborah Lessen, I needed a few days for both my mind and body to settle from the work.
We all noticed an immensely open, free and lifted feeling during each exercise throughout the workshop. With eyes widened, quiet whispers amongst each other, “OMGOODNESS, I never learned it that way! As teachers and movers, we expect to notice in the days following, an awareness of muscle and fascia connections — seemingly untouched beforehand — throughout our bodies as a result of a workout. Because none of us learned it “this way,” lots of what we did meant a different or new engagement was achieve. There were bound to be several inches of new space to be found as a result.
Deborah has the unquestionable eye and experience of a seasoned pro. She has a generous, welcoming spirit of warmth and genuineness that pulls you in as if being wrapped in a blanket. Feels good to be with and stay with. Deborah was assisted by two #PilatesSisters, Gail Giovanniello and Nicky Taylor Steward; both of whom I knew from social media connections and embraced physically for the first time when we laid eyes on each other in the room.
She teaches with deeply rooted respect for the integrity of the body’s mechanics and base foundation in the movements of Pilates. All movements were small, simple, clean and repeatable anywhere in the system. As it should be. Among the bodies she has worked with and helped to heal — for we all break something eventually — is kinesthetic anatomist, author and dancer, Irene Dowd.
We started on the mat with a few pre-pilates movements from both Eve Gentry and Carola Trier, her teachers and mentors. The Hundred was referenced of course, yet was not used as a warm up. The tone of her voice was almost a meditative invite for use of the breath and core engagement as she layered Eve’s, Carola’s and her work into moving our spine, thorax, shoulders, head and arms through extension and flexion.
We spent 30-35 minutes with seven, small, simple pre-pilates movement exercises and then Deborah and her team led the group through not necessarily new ways – yet distinctively different ways – of engaging our bodies on the equipment and through the exercises that blew our minds.
Literally.
I know I said “Wow” more than once. I am sure I audibly exhaled and moaned more than most and I am certain I cursed a couple of times. We all laughed loudly and there is no question, all of our swan dives and backbends will be changed and different forever.
As usual, no pictures were requested, which drives me crazy, as my notes are horrible in workshops. The notes mean nothing to me when I return to them. Ugh! My visual and sensory receptors are far more active and dominant in my learning style. And while my muscle memory is damn good, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” That being said, I quietly asked permission to capture Nicky assisting #PilatesSisters Lisa and Jeanette in action.
This work took me deeper down my intercostals, father into my serratus anterior and posterior, sought wider use of the lats than I had given myself permission or license to previously go.
Two days later, the sensation I had was as if we lifted the thoracic cage up and out of the pelvis by internally rotating and plugging the arms in their shoulder sockets and floating up and out of center.
Noticeably absent, was any stress, strain or undue use of the traps and scalenes. My body will remember the sensation of a deeper wrapping of my “armpit around the doorknob” of my arms in retraction of the shoulder girdle. And all the while, the tall, long and lifted Nicky Seward assists by whispering in my ear, “20% less effort” “no glutes” “less effort.”
This is exactly the reason I wanted to build, organize and rally a #2ndGenMaster Teacher Round Robin with the #PilatesSistersSquad. Doing the same thing the same way would never facilitate a change, never deepen the learning, never fill or expand the perspective. An hour or two spent with the seasoned eyes, hands, technique and experience of a Classical #2ndGenMaster is a priceless experience.
Favorite Exercise
Two Springs Trap Table Swan
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Starting our #Pilates2020 effort with such a gifted, gracious soul will help to set the stage to be open to receive more in the months ahead. Deborah used a single page handout to introduce the form and application of her work to the Pilates apparatus. We had a several more items on her list to get to with the use of the Reformer and High Chair. Time ran out.
For that reason, I signed up the next day for her next workshop “Classical Reformer a la Carola,” at Gail’s spot, MindBodyPilates.
Kudos to Michelle Rinaldi and Kristen Hoesl for having the insight to host the event in their space, The Pilates Local.
We are all #PilatesSisters
Favorite Workshop Tip
Teaser with the spring loaded from the bottom is deeper work for most and may be a tough challenge for many. Deborah suggested wrapping an ankle weight around the push thru bar when/if the spring resistance is too much for the client.
