PMA Certified!

On Wednesday, February 27, I passed the Pilates Method Alliance certification exam and am now awarded the title of PMA-Certified Teacher. This designation formally recognizes that I have met accepted professional standards in the field of Pilates. After 44 years, I have initials behind my name - Carolyn Bell, CPT!

This is a journey that began in 2004 when Glen Fargo invited me to become his apprentice. I owe Glen a great deal; he helped me discover the athlete in me and work I could be passionate about once again. There are others, which I want to acknowledge here:

Ron Fletcher: Ron is a living legend. In the Pilates world, and for his followers in particular, he is our connection to source. When in his company, I come away inspired and having learned something of precious value. My favorite time with Mr. Fletcher was when we sat alone chatting about Ms. Martha Graham and his days as a dancer in her famous company. I am biased, believing the best teacher training in the Pilates world is given by his former teachers.

Glen Fargo: Glen was, is and will be my Pilates teacher. Like Ron, he represents source, excellence and movement as art to me.

Ron Fletcher Program Of Study: I have completed the Apprentice Teacher phase of the Ron Fletcher work within the Program of Study. I was attracted to this prestigious organization after taking classes at an industry conference with its Program Directors, Pay Guyton and Kyria Sabin. Almost every teacher I have met in my association with the organization is of the highest caliber and I am thankful to be among them.

Aida Zorrilla: Aida is a diminutive beauty that played a pivotal role in my completion of Level 1 in my course of study. What I most appreciate about Aida is the high standard she sets for one's own practice and as a teacher of Pilates/Fletcherwork . Aida coached me to observe what the spine was doing in movement and to go from there. Her demands of performance have given me the Pilates body I have today. Like my time with Glen, time with Aida left an indelible mark on me as a professional.

Pilates Conservatory: The Conservatory is the educational arm of Pat Guyton Pilates. When Pat departed from the Fletcher company, I elected to continue my certifying education with her. Pat presented the inaugural class with a comprehensive study of the classical work of Joseph Pilates, an introduction to the work of all the Master Teachers, with great respect shown to Fletcher and his contribution to her and the Pilates community. It was in this process that I really bloomed as a movement teacher, finding that my unique personal view as a teacher helping people solve their postural and alignment imbalances so they have more efficient and optimal movement in their lives. Pat is my Master Teacher and mentor. I am blessed to be her student.

Studio C Fitness Pilates and Synergy Studio: These are the studios where I teach. Jean/Studio C welcomed me to practice, and later to teach, at the studio after I made the difficult decision to leave Studio A. Previously a client, I was thrilled when Adelle gave me the opportunity to become Synergy's Pilates Teacher. It is at these two special studios that I am building my reputation in the community and my Pilates clientele.

Amy, Debra, Monica, Jennifer, Jill, Laura, Rende, Britt, Dana, Roseanna, Martha and Michael: These are my fellow teachers and I could not have completed this milestone without their support and coaching. Many have also become my friends.

Doug and Jessica: My family has been a unwavering fountain of love and support, giving me the tenacity to go the distance. I am lucky that they only want for my happiness.

Lisa Mullen was in my Fletcher program and I highly admire her intelligence. I came to know Wendy Watcher at the Pilates Conservatory and we both grew through her trust in me with her body, without which I could not have made my transition from instructing to teaching. Tessa and Jackie Herr expended a good deal of effort to find me at Studio C and became some of my first clients there. Donna Blume set a high threshold of performance at Synergy and now implements Ron and Pat's wisdom with evermore graceful movements. There are still many others. Lots of family, friends, classmates and students who believe in me.

As Unity teaches, So It Is And To God I am Grateful.

Yielding

Motorists must frequently yield as they go about their way on San Antonio's roadways. If we were in California, we would find stop signs in many of the places we encounter yield signs in Texas. In a locale where the DOT has insufficiently planned for off ramps, Texans will create their own, evidenced by the worn tracks in the grass along our highways. No doubt the transportation bureaucracy was fearful enough of a well armed population to put too many restrictions on their movements.

I am called to yield routinely on my way home at the I-10 and 1604 interchange. I-10 travelers heading East yield to 1604 drivers entering the freeway. I have decided that this opportunity to merge is a glimpse at the quality of people's decision making.

It is fascinating to observe driver responses to the interchange and the directions of the yield sign. The one I find the most perplexing, and sometimes irritating, is the driver that stops when it is evident no circumstance requires them to do so. As these inconsiderates and incompetents sit in front of me divining when they should continue, I wonder how this behavior reflects their responses to life in general.

SafeMotorist.com explains the action of yielding like so..."A yield sign calls on the driver to do the following: Slow down, defer to oncoming or intersecting traffic, stop when necessary, proceed when safe, and remain aware of oncoming vehicles." Hmm, why do we stop when it is unnecessary, meaning no cars present in the off ramp? Do we stop when we should yield in all aspects of our lives?

We can find our travels along the highway rich with metaphors for life's lessons if we look for them...

Slow Down - One of my favorite books is by Joseph Bailey and Richard Carlson, Slowing Down To The Speed Of Life. In it the authors teach the mental health model, Health Realization, based on the work of Sydney Banks. Banks identifies three principles: Mind, Thought and Consciousness. Wisdom (divine and otherwise) will inform us, our sensory system gives us input and and grace bestows the mental process of decision making. Stopping in fear, without apparent or imminent danger is an act of the weak and the vulnerable. Our skills of assessment must be developed and improved so we make the appropriate decision based on the reality of circumstances we face. We have to learn to read the signs we receive accurately or we could end up at the side of the road with our ass rear ended because the person behind didn't anticipate our poor choice.

Defer To Others - Our world could use a whole lot more of courteous, polite and well mannered behavior as we interact with each other. Civility is what's called for. Road rage is a modern day manifestation of yesteryear's duel - offensive transgressions could get your maimed or killed. Let others go first. Wait your turn. Blend in sometimes.

Stop When Necessary - There are times when the best course of action is to do nothing at all. Slowing down allows for assessment, stopping allows for reassessment and reevaluation. When stopped, we provide time for observation, contemplation and reflection. Rolling stops are not allowed.

Proceed When Safe - A well known phenomenon in business is "analysis paralysis." It is a tendency towards procrastination. Output is hindered by all the input, making us unproductive. The benefits of an opportunity are lost, a cost of poor decision making ability. Fear of failure can get us bogged down in the details or as we relentlessly research or tweak. We can fall prey to not making any decision at all for fear of making the wrong one. We have to get honest and realistic about the element of risk we face. As soon as the danger has passed, step on the gas.

Remain Aware - The wisdom of the Buddha's admonition to be mindful can mean life or death to a member of the Delta Force in a gunfight. One of my students struggles to maintain his concentration. I once asked him, "If I were a terrorist with a gun to your head, and your life depended on it, would you be able to focus then." He answered, "Yes, of course." . I told him, "Your life does depend on it, right here, right now." Just as staying alert matters to those seeking spiritual enlightenment, warriors wishing to live to fight another day or a student needing to execute movement with precision, it matters that we stay alert in our lives, at all times. By the way, multitasking is the enemy of awareness, consciousness or attentiveness. Glance back behind you but don't fixate on what is there. Look both ways. Scan what is up ahead. Clean the windshield every once in a while.

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're going my way
I wanna drive it all night long
-Rascal Flats

Reverend Karen's Contemplation

"We are always on a continuum of change, growth and miracles, no matter what time of year we reflect upon...

...at any time, at any point along the path, we can observe the miracle that our lives truly are. Painful times yield growth in powerful ways , while the completion of goals brings feelings of accomplishment and joy. Missed opportunities from the past will undoubtedly present themselves in the future, if they are needed for our growth. Nothing is lost; everything has its time and place and purpose, if we only have eyes to see it from that perspective."

- Rev. Karen Tudor