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| 12 December 2008 |
| A Wellness Center rejects Pilates |
| I am appalled that a Wellness Center cancelled my demo class with them for their Wellness Day today. A Wellness Center having a Wellness Day!?!? They called me last month, I happily agreed without asking for anything in return, then suddenly 2 days prior to the event, they called me to cancel.
I'm usually concise, non-reactive, and I don't interfere. So here are venting bullet points: - They kept saying "We are still unfamiliar with Pilates..." So I say, "Ok, so will you choose to stay unfamiliar, or are you willing to try it once and be familiar?" Besides, I am a properly educated Instructor, and I let my work speak for itself. Humble still.
- They said, "Only 1 person registered for your class so far. The others signed up in the yoga, ballroom, & taichi classes." I said, "Great! I'll be there!" They said, "Sorry Ma'am, we decided to cancel it so it won't be a waste of your time." I said, "Oh, I respect your decision, but one participant is still one living, breathing, willing human being. One participant is NEVER a waste of time. There's always a first time. It starts with one person."
- In the end, I said I feel soooooo sad that a Wellness Center won't even give Pilates a try and let THEMSELVES benefit from it. They apologized profusely to me. Plus the standard "We look forward to having you maybe next year." Hello, duh. It's obviously NOT MY loss.
- What's worse is that, if the Wellness Center itself excludes Pilates, then their members/staff will easily trust the Center's judgement that Pilates is NOT within the Wellness realm. OMYGA.
- People pay to take Pilates. I was ready to volunteer my time, heart & soul for that Center which happens to be in my alma mater. I have been eager to share my knowledge with my school and show them that I, an alumna, have achieved much.
Pilates was introduced formally in the Philippines in the 1990s by Cecile Sicangco & Paolo Villarroel, among others, and I salute them. Yes it took 70 years for it to reach this country (with all the fantastic equipment shipped in!!!!), and look how much it is accepted, appreciated, and loved now here and the rest of the world. Some practitioners & instructors like myself, are possibly obsessed with it. We have celebrities, elite athletes, top executives, senior citizens, pregnant ladies, cancer survivors, and the list goes on.
I don't say that Pilates is the absolute end-all & be-all of Wellness, but it is definitely one of the best ways to stay well. Why refuse? It will save us from medical bills, injury, illness, anguish, & stress.
So there, I was shocked & saddened briefly. Here I am ready to help and spread goodwill, as best as possible. I can't believe that a Wellness Center would exclude Pilates from their programs. What a shocker. I guess some people are not yet ready, not open, or receptive to new things that are greatly advantageous. They have their own time. So be it.
Joseph Pilates was a revolutionary visionary in the 1920s. He'd probably be appalled himself if he heard this!
Let go and let God. Life goes on.
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posted by I Am Queen @ 12/12/2008 06:41:00 AM   |
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| 22 January 2008 |
| Who are they who tried doing Pilates and STILL LOVE it: |
- teenage high school students/ cheerdancers/ ballerinas;
- corporate executive/entrepreneur/golfer, age 80something;
- male corporate executives/golfers/tennis players, age 30 to 60something;
- male & female corporate executives/entrepreneurs/educators, age 20 to 40something;
- pregnant ladies, age 20 to 40something, who started pre-pregnancy & resumed post-pregnancy as well, with their husbands this time;
- male executives with slipped disc & knee surgery, age 30 to 40something;
- a family = a golfer patriarch & a musician matriarch, age 60something; and their daughters and grandchildren too;
- lady physicians, age 40something;
- devoted wives & mommies, age 30 to 50something;
- female corporate executives/professors with scoliosis, age 30's to 40's;
- a corporate executive mom and her teenage son/football player;
- Filipinos, other Asians, Americans, British, Canadians, Irish, etc; some of them so happy to discover that Pilates in the Philippines costs less than in the US!
- some of them decided to undergo training to become Pilates instructors themselves!
***Please note that some of these happy clients who have injuries & other medical issues, were required to obtain medical clearance & consent from their reliable physicians, before starting their Pilates programs.
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| posted by I Am Queen @ 1/22/2008 11:20:00 AM |
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| 14 May 2007 |
| Fresh Pilates @ Ateneo |
One of my career dreams came true this month, when I got a phone call from my alma mater, asking me to conduct classes on our open field on Sunday mornings. I quickly said YES. Pilates classes, at 8am on Sundays, surrounded by fresh air, sunshine, clouds, and foliage... DEFINITELY. Open to alumni, family, friends, anyone... OF COURSE.
I've long wanted to pay it forward by serving my schools in some way and reaching out to the huge percentage of the population that has never enjoyed the benefits of exercise, moreso the importance of it everyone. Considering that Pilates is one of the expensive exercise endeavors today, particularly here in the Philippines, I often wondered HOW I can share my expertise and passion to more people who had no access to gyms or pilates studios. And I also wished to someday give class bounded by earth, sea, and sky, and not by walls, mirrors, and ceilings. And the opportunity just came.
The organizers were also thrilled because I accepted quickly and was indeed available for the task on short notice. They exclaimed that I was hulog ng langit ("heaven sent"), to which I said, wow, you're making my dream come true. Ain't that grand?
So there we were, on a fresh Sunday morning, a mix of alumni, friends, family, and strangers, doing Standing Pilates like synchronized swimming on land. It was a fun and refreshing event, fostering camaraderie, with health information provided by a global wellness company that I patronize, as their products have sustained me in this exhausting profession.
I'm just elated that this one dream came true-- I did name it so I could claim it!
And surely this is one way for people to gather for good, clean, HEALTHY fun; one good reason to wake up early on a Sunday, and do something absolutely good for yourself and others.
My congratulations and gratitude to ALL the organizers and participants of the Ateneo Wellness Weekends!!! Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!!! |
| posted by I Am Queen @ 5/14/2007 05:17:00 PM |
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| Move With Me |
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Name: I Am Queen
Home: Between Growing Pains, and Evolving Wisdom, Philippines
About Me: I move therefore I am.
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