News - Cynthia Lochard's Pilates Method Studio

March Newsletter

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Welcome to Cynthia Lochard’s Pilates Method March Newsletter…

March is going to be an exciting month at the Pilates Method studio with the run up to CPE and a very special guest, acclaimed Pilates teacher and one of Joseph Pilates’ students, Jay Grimes.

We have an interview with Jay for this newsletter about his memories of working with Joseph Pilates, so please read on…

CPE March 27 and 28

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is a requirement in order to continue your path in the Pilates Method and this year in Australia we have the pleasure of having our very own Cynthia Lochard presenting it. Cynthia was promoted to level 1 status last year and is now responsible for passing down her knowledge of the method, developed over 34 years of doing Pilates as a dancer and later as a teacher. Now she works alongside Romana, Sari and Juanita helping to pass on the method to teachers and students worldwide.

In addition we have a very special treat - acclaimed Pilates teacher Jay Grimes, one of the “lost elders”, will conclude this years CPE and run a workshop entitled, “In the studio with Jay Grimes.”

Jay Grimes danced professionally for 18 years, and never had an injury. This he attributes entirely to Pilates. He began his studies with Joe Pilates in the mid-sixties, and after Joe’s death continued with Joe’s wife Clara, for another 10 years until her death. Jay began teaching in the original 8^th Avenue studio in New York then moved with the studio to 56^th Street where he taught alongside (as well as studied with) Romana Kryzanowska and John Winters. Please read on for our interview with Jay.

Interview with Jay Grimes

We spoke to Jay Grimes earlier this month about his memories of working with the man who started it all, Joseph Pilates.

How is Pilates today different from the way Pilates was taught it in Joe’s time?

When you went into Joe's studio you went to work, to grunt and groan and sweat. Too much today has been watered down. Teachers are more worried about the comfort of their students than about changing their bodies. Also, they nit-pick far too much. Pilates is about moving, now. Perfection, if it comes, takes a long time. The Los Angeles Times described Pilates as "gentle stretching where you don't sweat", and unfortunately that's exactly what you get in far too many studios. (I know, however, that is not the case in Cynthia Lochard's studio!)

What is the most important things you learned working with Joseph and Clara?

Joe and Clara worked to develop the instinct and intuition of their teachers. I never heard a single anatomy term from either of them, and yet I learned the body. Through movement. It's all about movement - and trusting the Method.

Can you share with us an anecdote about Joe’s studio?

I suppose the thing people who were there remember most is the deplorable condition of the building and the studio. The building was totally run-down, and the studio had the distinct odor of a gym that had been in use for forty years. Combine that with Joe's larger than life personality and his mercurial moods - - - it was never dull!

You have been quoted to say you were never injured as a dancer because of Pilates? What is it about this exercise system that protects people from injury?

Dancers, like all athletes, develop their muscles according to their needs. And a lot of what is required from a dancer is very unnatural, actually harmful to the body. We simply were not designed to do some of these things. Pilates works the body in a most natural way, correcting alignment issues and developing all of the muscles in the body uniformly. In Pilates you learn not only to use your body correctly, but to use all of it.

What makes a good Pilates teacher?

First of all, you must feel the work in your own body. This takes a minimum of three to five years. If you haven't felt it, you cannot teach it. Then instinct and intuition. And finally, to learn to shut up unless you have something relevant to say.

What would you say to someone who thinks Pilates is a passing fitness fad? What is your hope for Pilates in the future?

I hope and pray that much of what is called Pilates is indeed a passing fitness fad! This work has been around for almost 100 years, and it will be around for at least another 100. Because it works. It works when done correctly, as Joe intended it. All of the "improvements" have been made by people who don't know the work, people who think they are better than the work and want to put their own mark on it. When the wannabes have had their day, the true teachers will still be going strong because they get results. I think the future of Pilates is already happening. There are intensives where groups of top-notch teachers gather to share their expertise and experience, and all are welcome, regardless of where they got their initial training. Eventually there will be fewer studios, but they will all be good studios. The cream always rises to the top.

Have you been to Australia before? What are you looking forward to Down under?

This will be my first visit to Australia. I have heard nothing but great things about the country and the people, and I am looking forward to all of it. I have met quite a few people from Australia, and each of them has been unique and wonderful! There will not be time for everything, but I do hope to make every minute count.

Thank you Bangara and all who supported the Haiti Fund raiser

Thank you to everyone who attended Bangarra Dance Company’s Haiti fundraiser on February 5. Cynthia Lochard who has family in Haiti introduced the evening. Thanks to your generous support, Bangarra raised over $5000 for the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.

And of course thank you Bangarra for the beautiful and inspiring performance.

We recommend…

If you are looking for a book to help you workout at home between your studio visits or while you are on holiday, we recommend “Pilates for Beginners” by Kellina Stewart.

The beauty of this book is in its spiral-coiled design, making it easy to prop-up and read while you are performing the exercises at home. It contains instruction on 30 of the most familiar Pilates exercises that are designed to tone and reshape your entire body.

February Newsletter

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -1000

January Newsletter 2010

Welcome to the Cynthia Lochard’s Pilates Method monthly newsletter

…and the new look website!

We would like to wish you all a Happy New Year.

We are very excited to be launching our new website www.pilatem.com.au and we hope that you like it as much as we do. Apart from information about the studio, class times and workshop dates, we will also have a blog page where we will post interesting articles about Pilates and tips on the method.

We would love to hear what you think. Please send us your feedback at pilatesm@bigpond.com.au

Interview with Cynthia Lochard Level 1 Master Instructor Trainer

In 2009 Director of the Pilates Method studio Cynthia Lochard, received Level 1 Master Instructor Trainer status, the highest level of certification available to a Romana’s Pilates instructor. There are only a handful of people in the world currently holding this title: Romana Kryzanowska, Sari Mejia Santo, Juanita Lopez and Cynthia Lochard.

It has been a long road for Cynthia from her start as a young soloist dancer with the New York City Ballet when she first started training with Romana, opening the first Romana’s Pilates studio in Australia in 1994 and now as a popular and inspiring teacher trainer of the method running seminars and workshops all around the world.

We spoke to Cynthia Lochard about this journey:

Explain what it means to be a Level 1 Master Instructor Trainer?

The way I see it the Level 1 instructors are the people Romana most trusts and who have many years of experience are given the responsibility to oversee the overall training testing and levelling of other individuals who are involved in teaching and passing down the work of Joseph Pilates.

It is a huge responsibility – it is quite overwhelming because you want to make sure you do the right thing by him and his work and that you maintain a certain level of clarity in what his vision was and that requires you not just to maintain the knowledge of it yourself in your mind and but also in your body.

What will it mean for you?

It means a lot of hard work, commitment and sustained passion for the work in order to really do it justice.

Who was your most important Pilates teacher?

Romana. Also when I first started learning the method at Romana’s studio in Manhattan many years ago in the 1970s she had a couple of teachers who were dancers and I worked a lot with them as well, which I really enjoyed. They were very colourful and creative and that appealed to me being a dancer myself. They gave me what I needed and they were not as scary to me then, as Romana seemed.

But as I got older and more confident I realised that Romana was not scary at all. She just wanted you to give 150%.

Where do you go from here?

I think it’s just the beginning. I don’t really believe in levels. I am just doing what I do. Everyday and every person is different making this experience rich and consistent. You never stop the learning process and that is what makes your teaching and the work inspiring. Taking each day as it comes and gaining e that experience will continue to develop my confidence and the confidence that others have in my to preserve this method. So I guess in regards to where you go you keep going doing the best that you can.

New workshops in 2010

As a training centre Cynthia Lochard’s Pilates Method studio is passionate about maintaining the knowledge and skill base of its instructors and clients.

Next workshop Feb 20 Understanding and working springs

Increase your knowledge about the use of and benefits of working with springs in Pilates equipment, get inspired and get a work out all at the same time.

March 28, 2010 In the studio with Jay Grimes

We are honored to welcome Jay Grimes to Australia for his very first visit to the country. For more information on Jay please visit his web site at www.jaygrimes.com

Mat and reformer classes

Joseph Pilates maintained that by training three times a week people would see dramatic improvements in their bodies.

Our mat and reformer classes are a great and affordable way to get the benefits of Pilates or as a supplement to your private classes.

“Done three times a week, a few well-designed movements, properly executed in sequence, are worth hours of calisthenics or contortions!” - Romana Kryzanowska

For class times check our website www.pilatesm.com.au

We recommend…

Abi and Joseph originally designed Yoga and Pilates wear. With a strong focus on quality and detail, this designer range has multi-functional fashion appeal. Whether it is for weekend wear, travel, Pilates or Yoga these items with their superb cut and excellent manufacturing will become firm favorites in your wardrobe.

For more details visit

abiandjoseph.com

News

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -1000

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