Mary Monroe
Mary Monroe
Article Archive
The success of Pilates has sparked an explosion of innovative programs and props, but does all that creativity dilute the essence of Pilates or enhance its appeal and accessibility for a broader audience? Here’s what several industry leaders have to say.
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How can Pilates teachers be creative and still stay true to their roots? And what are the essential tenets that define “true” Pilates anyway? We asked several prominent Pilates instructors, who told us that keeping it real is about a lot more than just the exercises you choose.
Question: In the fitness setting, how can Pilates programs stay “true” to Pilates principles?
Cuing Counts
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This spring, CNBC reported that Pilates is the nation’s fastest-growing activity, with 8.6 million participants, up more than 450% since 2000, based on the most recent report from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. In reality, participation may have peaked mid-decade (American Sports Data Inc. reported 10.5 million participants in 2004), but clearly Pilates has staying power. The 2010 IDEA Fitness Programs & Equipment Trends report found that Pilates continues to grow while several other mind-body formats are declining.
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This spring, CNBC reported that Pilates is the nation’s fastest-growing activity, with 8.6 million participants, up more than 450% since 2000, based on the most recent report from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (Rovell 2010). In reality, participation may have peaked mid-decade (American Sports Data Inc. reported 10.5 million participants in 2004), but clearly Pilates has staying power. The 2010 IDEA Fitness Programs & Equipment Trends report (see page 22) found that Pilates continues to grow while several other mind-body formats are declining.
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So far, Pilates has had quite a ride in the fitness industry, but it hasn’t been without bumps. As programming gets ever more creative, Pilates advocates have raised questions of safety, adequacy of training and method authenticity—and some experts ask whether Pilates and fitness really belong together, after all.
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Is there a formula for longevity? Researchers are looking for clues in the “blue zones,” locations around the globe where people live measurably longer than in the rest of the world. Dan Buettner, explorer and author of the best-selling book The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest (National Geographic 2008), believes that the blue zones have much to teach us about how to live longer, better lives.
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Does your career or business need a boost to meet the daunting challenges in today’s market? Do you personally need a lift—an inspirational attitude shift—to rejuvenate your creativity, optimism and motivational powers? Then you need to be at the 2009 IDEA World Fitness Convention, where the theme is “Inspire: Be the Change,” and the focus will be on creating success and positive change for you and your clients.
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In a time of sweeping global change and a shifting economic climate, fitness professionals around the world are gauging the potential impact on their careers and businesses and adapting to stay on track. We asked fitness pros to tell us about the extent of the economy’s
effect on them, and what they are doing to meet the challenge.
There’s no red carpet for fitness fashion and no Project Runway for gym clothes. But the nearly $30 billion sports apparel scene is hot anyway, driven by active consumers (Baby Boomers especially) and a lot of people who just want to look active. The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) notes in its 2008 State of…
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As the spa industry continues to grow and consumers become increasingly knowledgeable about wellness benefits, spa opportunities for fitness professionals—especially if you love people and have a passion for wellness—are greater than ever.
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Is it ever possible to please all the
people all the time?
Maybe not, but if any business comes close, it is probably the
spa industry, which specializes in making people feel happy, healthy and,
perhaps above all, hopeful that life after their spa experience will be better.
A recent article in the Los
Angeles Times pointed out the e…
Call it a destination, a haven, a
community or even a resort—but the one thing you won’t be calling Life Time
Fitness is just a gym. With attractions ranging from indoor/outdoor water parks
to hair and nail salons, basketball courts to rock climbing caverns, a kids’
computer center to a full-service spa and caf├®, Life Time Fitness creates a
complete family wellness …
On the messy road of life, it is often challenging to determine what your next step will be, what direction you will take, which way you will turn. Perhaps that is one reason why walking a labyrinth as a meditation is so appealing: the journey is clearly marked, unobstructed and in full view. Although it twists and winds its way to the center (you do have to pay attention if you don’t …
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“We didn’t get into this because we thought Pilates would be a big business,” remembers Moira Merrithew, executive director of education for STOTT PILATES, who co-founded the company with her husband, Lindsay G. Merrithew, president and chief executive officer. “In 1988, we were at the right place at the right time. When we started, Pilates was very much a cottage industry. Our goal was simple—…
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Read MoreIn Chicago you can reserve a “wellness suite” at the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites, complete with organic cotton bedding, aromatherapy dream sachets and a healthy minibar. If you’re in danger of defaulting on your student loan, you can participate in American Student Assistance’s “wellness” program for repayment. And if your dog’s coat is a li…
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In Native* American tradition, the circle is a powerful symbol. The Medicine Wheel, representing the cyclical and interconnected nature of life, is a traditional healing t…
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She walks into your class and you know she’s been there twice before. You even talked to her about . . . something. What was it again? Was she the one with the shoul…
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You’re relaxed.
No, wait, you’re not just relaxed; you’re gloriously, refreshingly relaxed. You feel like you’re floating on a cloud; your muscles are loose as Jell-O; all your tensions, anxiety and fatigue are gone. You feel fresh, vibrant and alive. Where your mind was once frenetically bouncing among appointments, errands and to-do lists, you now feel quiet and clear. You’re ready to face tomorrow with joy, calm and confidence.
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