Seussilates

Have you ever thought of Pilates in terms of a Dr. Seuss book?

I have. I equate it to many of my clients to Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham. Here's why. In Pilates, Joseph took a handful of shapes and applied them over and over again in different planes in space, on different apparatus, forward, backward, upside down, etc. Once you learn a shape in one plane of space or piece of apparatus, the challenge begins.

I am Joe.

Joe I am.

That Joe-I-am!

t

I do not like that Joe-I-am!

Do you like
to flex and extend?

I do not like to,
Joe-I-am.
I do not like
to flex and extend.

Would you like to
Here or there?

I would not like to
here or there.
I would not like to
anywhere.
I do not like
to flex and extend.
I do not like to,
Joe-I-am

Would you like to
on a chair?
Would you like to
in thin air?

I do not like to
in a chair.
I do not like to
in thin air.
I do not like to
here or there.
I do not like to
anywhere.
I do not like to bend and extend.
I do not like to, Joe-I-am.


Would you like to
on a box?
Would you like to
against the shoulder blocks?

Not on a box.
Not on the shoulder blocks.
Not on the chair.
Not in thin air.
I would not like to here or there.
I would not like to anywhere.
I would not like to bend and extend.
I do not like to, Joe-I-am.

Would you? Could you?
on a barrel?
Do them! Do them!
Here they are.

I would not ,
could not,
on a barrel.

You may like them.
You will see.
You may like them
in a tree?
I would not in a tree.
I would not, could not in a tree.
Not on a barrel! You let me be.

I do not like to on a box.
I do not like to against the shoulder blocks.
I do not like to on a chair.
I do not like to in thin air.
I do not like to here or there.
I do not like to anywhere.
I do not like to bend and extend.
I do not like to, Joe-I-am.

A carriage! A carriage!
A carriage! A carriage!
Could you, would you
on a carriage?

Not on a carriage! Not in a tree!
Not in a barrel! Joe! Let me be!
I would not, could not,on a box.
I could not, would not, against the should blocks.
I will not do them on a chair.
I will not do them in thin air..
I will not do them here or there.
I will not do them anywhere.
I do not like them, Joe-I-am.


Say!
With the straps?
Here with the straps!
Would you, could you, with the straps?

I would not, could not,
with the straps.

Would you, could you,
with these springs?

I would not, could not, with these springs.
Not with the straps. Not on a carriage,
Not on a barrel, Not in a tree.
I do not like them, Joe, you see.
Not on a chair. Not on a box.
Not in thin air. Not against the blocks.
I will not do them here or there.
I do not do them anywhere!

You do not like
to flex and extend?

I do not
like to,
Joe-I-am.

Could you, would you,
with a push through?

I would not,
could not.
with the push through!

Would you, could you,
with the roll down?

I could not, would not, with the push through.
I will not, will not, with the roll down.
I will not dot them with the straps.
I will not do them with the springs.
Not with the straps! Not in a tree!
Not on a barrel! You let me be!
I do not like to on the box.
I do not like to against the blocks.
I will not do them on a chair.
I do not like to in thin air.
I do not like to here or there.
I do not like to ANYWHERE!

I do not like
to bend and extend.

I do not like to,
Joe-I-am.

You do not like to.
SO you say.
Try them! Try them!
AND you may.
Try them and you may I say.

Joe!
If you will let me be,
I will try them.
You will see.

Say!
I like to bend and extend!
I do!! I like them, Joe-I-am!
And I would do them with the Push through!
And I would do them with the roll down...
And I will do them with the springs.
And in the straps. And on a carriage.
And on a barrel. And in a tree.
They feel so good so good you see!

So I will do them on a box.
And I will do them against the shoulder blocks.
And I will do them on a chair.
And I will do them in thin air.
And I will do them here and there.
Say! I will do them ANYWHERE!

I do so like
to bend and extend!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Joe-I-am

Take the C-shape (Abdominal curl) for example, a shape of flexion.

Can you find it on your back? (Hundreds)

Can you find it sitting up? (Stomach Massage)

Can you find it upside down? (Upside Down Push Up, Elephant)

Can you find it over a box? (Washer Woman)

Can you find it with one leg? (Single Leg Stretch)

It also is a big clue to what you or your clients are struggling with. Key in to what shapes are involved in the exercises that are the most challenging and you have found a road map of where your work begins. For me it is thoracic rotation. I am uber mobile in flexion and extension, but when it comes to twisting I have a hard time stabilizing the pelvis and only allowing the torso to rotate. Exercises like Twist on Hip and Snake take a lot of diligence on my part to not let my hips lead the way.

Many times I will use a shape as a theme for a lesson working on the idea of flexion in every plane of space, angle, position, and apparatus possible. Showing the client how to really tap into that shape wherever it may be.