Training Athletes
an interview on training athletes with Gratz Pilates Apparatus
As soon as I began teaching Pilates, in 2003 in my home town in Idaho, I began training athletes.
I grew up in a ski town, where everyone is a super star athlete… hiking, biking, trail running, snow skiing, water skiing, and any other outdoor play you can think of.
As a brand new Pilates teacher I was thrown into teaching a wide range of bodies, movers, athletes, goal driven men and women, and teams wanting core strength part of their training. Specifically cycling teams and ski teams wanting to add Pilates to their cross training.
“Here’s the thing with how I approach teaching Pilates to clients of all walks of life—there is integration, and they are empowered to really own it. I think this way of teaching Pilates stems from the fact that I’m a practicing acupuncturist, and Chinese Medicine/Daoist philosophy guides my whole life. Additionally, the reality that I am fiercely dedicated to working on my Pilates practice daily. Pilates is integrated into all aspects of life; I just know no other way. ”
And all of this really resonated for me. I was 22 years old when I completed my Pilates training with Dorothee VandeWalle in Seattle and fresh from playing 4 years of collegiate basketball and plenty of time in a weight room, fresh into road and cylco-cross bike racing, and looking to challenge myself constantly in how I trained and moved.
When I moved to Asheville in 2004 my first Pilates contractor work was at Ladies Workout Express, teaching mat class to a different type of athlete honestly, one that had very little body awareness, lots of pain and stiffness, but a deep desire to feel better in their bodies.
Since being in Asheville I have found local community with athletic teams including the High School Baseball team, local competitive swim team ranging in age from 7 to 17, local bike racers, long distance runners, yoga teachers, triathletes and people who simply want more agility, balance, coordination, overall fitness, and to be living pain free.
click and read full interview on Gratz blog page
As you’ll read in the linked interview with Gratz, I have much to share and say about training athletes, and weaving the Chinese Medicine philosophy into the elite athletic world. I continue to find deep connection between mind, body and spirit for myself but truly for every person I work with.
I was thrilled when Gratz asked me for an interview. The Classical Pilates world is becoming more clearly represented in sport and I’ll share more of my journey and connections in future posts. It’s an honor to work with some of the very best female athletes on the planet right now, from college to pro. But first read the story here with Gratz and hope something within it inspires you in your movement, in your boldness to dream big dreams and keep on working for them.
“I aim for them to find ease of movement in every plane, preventing injury always and in all ways. At this point, I work across many sports, but the truth is, every athlete needs to first understand what the powerhouse is, grasp the idea of integrated strength rather than isolating legs/arms/back, establish a mind-to-body connection to truly know where their body is in space, and learn to balance training hard and recovering harder. The range of Pilates makes all of this possible. Learning how to listen and avoid overtraining is key. Pilates serves as their best mindful active recovery, assisting them in-season and throughout life beyond sport. In fact, some prominent names in women's sports who recently retired are more active than ever, maintaining their classical Pilates practice with me through video and live sessions. Because now they know that this way of exercise is how they feel good in their whole body, just for daily living!”
Nneka Ogwumike weaves Pilates into her training on game days and off days, in season and out of season. She’s one of the most mindful whole health focused athletes I work with. Truly dedicated to her whole health and well being on and off the court, she’s a true role model for young girls in sport and my own daughter looks up to her greatly. Recently, Nneka purchased a Wunda Chair as well to add to her Pilates training!