Kathy Grant is an original protege' of Joseph Pilates. She was also one of the first African-American Pilates' instructors. In spite of being a classically trained dancer, her work and art was often limited to the Vaudeville shows, like The Cotton Club, in the 1940's because of her race. Grant met Joseph Pilates at the suggestion of dancer Pearl Lang following an injury to her knees which occurred falling on marble stage floors. At the time, Pilates' studio was located at the top of the Bentall's Department Store in New York City. During this era of discrimination, Grant had to climb the stairs rather than take the elevator with the other patrons and clients in order to visit, "The Wizard," the name given to Pilates by his clients.
With Pilates' gruff nature and often unusual exercises Grant admits she did not know why she went back to see Joe except for the fact that she knew there was something special in his touch and she needed to dance. Around the same time, the government passed an act to assist dancers and artists with maintaining viable employment even when their Broadway and off-Broadway shows were discontinued. This vocational rehabilitation program enabled Grant to complete a Pilates certification with "The Wizard" himself. Kathy Grant instructed students around the world until her death last year at 88 years of age. Near the end of her life she would ask her closest friends and partners, "Do you think Joe would have been pleased with my work?" Pilates was at the heart of her existence, what she was born to do.
It was a pleasure for me to learn recently from Cara Reeser. Similar to Grant, Cara is a dancer who broke her back in a rock climbing accident. Cara was referred to Kathy Grant for rehabilitation and in the process became an instructor, assistant, and essentially like a daughter to Kathy Grant. Cara also is an ordained Buddhist and incorporates peaceful, compassionate, encouraging language during her training sessions. She also believes however that we should not be afraid to experience discomfort....that it is in being uncomfortable that we learn to grow. As an example she referenced the ease with which we live. New cars are designed to start at the push of a button, we don't need to even turn our wrist. Our life is full of apparent ease however we need to also learn to work through hardships or activities that require more than a push of a button. "Can't" is not an acceptable word in Cara's studio!
Some interesting ideas and quotes from the weekend include:
1) In regards to making adjustments and modification, "With the reformer, one size doesn't necessarily fit all." Kathy Grant
2) Consider the "line" of your spine. Stay true to its natural curves allowing the spine to "float" rather than push or compress during the day. Is your head out of alignment? Your ribcage? Your pelvis? Imagine the true line of where your spine should rest and try to keep it consistent in all you do.
3) "Move but don't move." So many times in our effort to perform a core exercise we end up straining our body. Merely generating the energy to correctly set the exercise even if you don't see outward motion will be of greater value than losing the line of your spine. Gather it up, but don't strain.
4) Be aware of the stories you repeatedly tell yourself." I can't move like that, I'm not flexible enough, it will hurt, I can't concentrate, I'm too type A..." Let go of the stories you tell yourself as they are typically the greatest obstacles to our success.
5) "Animate the soft parts." Cara Reeser This is a bit challenging to explain but consider anatomically what tends to be "soft." Likely it is not the low back--typically that tends to be rigid and stiff. We want to be able to animate the glutes, energize the triceps, scoop the belly. Rather than work in a rigid fashion we aim to be lifted, energized, animated in the soft parts. In mat class recently we have emphasized "spinning or rolling the pelvis" to bring energy to the glutes and hamstrings thus releasing the hip flexors. This is an example of animating the soft parts. And of course, most importantly, to give an all-over lift, animate the face with a smile!
6) "Let's bring the masculinity back to Pilates." Kathy Grant
When taught by Joe in Europe, more men than women did Pilates, but it was the women who fortunately kept the system alive. Joe Pilates was gruff, stern and demanding and although it does not suit every instructors' style to teach in this manner it should be known that Pilates is non-gender specific. The motions did not evolve for a specific body type but rather out of necessity to reform our body from injury, enhance posture, and improve sports and work performance. Pilates developed the system to be demanding for our core, challenging for our mind, and precise and efficient for our life.
7) "I can't look at a ball and not have fun!" Kathy Grant
Thank you for reading as well as for your participation at Home Training Pilates!
With Pilates' gruff nature and often unusual exercises Grant admits she did not know why she went back to see Joe except for the fact that she knew there was something special in his touch and she needed to dance. Around the same time, the government passed an act to assist dancers and artists with maintaining viable employment even when their Broadway and off-Broadway shows were discontinued. This vocational rehabilitation program enabled Grant to complete a Pilates certification with "The Wizard" himself. Kathy Grant instructed students around the world until her death last year at 88 years of age. Near the end of her life she would ask her closest friends and partners, "Do you think Joe would have been pleased with my work?" Pilates was at the heart of her existence, what she was born to do.
It was a pleasure for me to learn recently from Cara Reeser. Similar to Grant, Cara is a dancer who broke her back in a rock climbing accident. Cara was referred to Kathy Grant for rehabilitation and in the process became an instructor, assistant, and essentially like a daughter to Kathy Grant. Cara also is an ordained Buddhist and incorporates peaceful, compassionate, encouraging language during her training sessions. She also believes however that we should not be afraid to experience discomfort....that it is in being uncomfortable that we learn to grow. As an example she referenced the ease with which we live. New cars are designed to start at the push of a button, we don't need to even turn our wrist. Our life is full of apparent ease however we need to also learn to work through hardships or activities that require more than a push of a button. "Can't" is not an acceptable word in Cara's studio!
Some interesting ideas and quotes from the weekend include:
1) In regards to making adjustments and modification, "With the reformer, one size doesn't necessarily fit all." Kathy Grant
2) Consider the "line" of your spine. Stay true to its natural curves allowing the spine to "float" rather than push or compress during the day. Is your head out of alignment? Your ribcage? Your pelvis? Imagine the true line of where your spine should rest and try to keep it consistent in all you do.
3) "Move but don't move." So many times in our effort to perform a core exercise we end up straining our body. Merely generating the energy to correctly set the exercise even if you don't see outward motion will be of greater value than losing the line of your spine. Gather it up, but don't strain.
4) Be aware of the stories you repeatedly tell yourself." I can't move like that, I'm not flexible enough, it will hurt, I can't concentrate, I'm too type A..." Let go of the stories you tell yourself as they are typically the greatest obstacles to our success.
5) "Animate the soft parts." Cara Reeser This is a bit challenging to explain but consider anatomically what tends to be "soft." Likely it is not the low back--typically that tends to be rigid and stiff. We want to be able to animate the glutes, energize the triceps, scoop the belly. Rather than work in a rigid fashion we aim to be lifted, energized, animated in the soft parts. In mat class recently we have emphasized "spinning or rolling the pelvis" to bring energy to the glutes and hamstrings thus releasing the hip flexors. This is an example of animating the soft parts. And of course, most importantly, to give an all-over lift, animate the face with a smile!
6) "Let's bring the masculinity back to Pilates." Kathy Grant
When taught by Joe in Europe, more men than women did Pilates, but it was the women who fortunately kept the system alive. Joe Pilates was gruff, stern and demanding and although it does not suit every instructors' style to teach in this manner it should be known that Pilates is non-gender specific. The motions did not evolve for a specific body type but rather out of necessity to reform our body from injury, enhance posture, and improve sports and work performance. Pilates developed the system to be demanding for our core, challenging for our mind, and precise and efficient for our life.
7) "I can't look at a ball and not have fun!" Kathy Grant
Thank you for reading as well as for your participation at Home Training Pilates!
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