Author: lebureauetc

My husband says that I am the master of the “feist.” True, I am opinionated, and can put up a good fight. I must point out, that I try to be respectful and not give my ‘2 cents’ when it is not asked for and will knowingly not be received. I have been reflecting on my fighting spirit. Although I am fortunate for this quality, I also contemplate how much fight is needed? My sign is the Pisces after all, and this zodiac sign shows 2 fish swimming in opposite directions! However, as long as my 2 fish are swimming at the same speed it should keep me in balance, right?

Resistance is very important for sustaining balance in life. If there is no resistance, there is lack of challenge, play, growth, and in my opinion, freedom. In this following reflection, I reflect on how much resistance is needed in our bodies, in particular, to connect between the arms and low back when the arms are stretched over head.

Why am I choosing to reflect on this…

1 -Personally, I have had much trial and error with finding this connection and I will share what I have discovered and give you some food for thought to help you find your best connection.

2 – I feel that the cue “pull your shoulders down the back” is not only over used it’s misunderstood and used at inappropriate times.
*Please note – The shoulders require a variety of different cues to connect it optimally depending on the plane the arm is in in relation to the spine.

3 – I feel too many people are causing more harm to their bodies trying to keep their shoulders pulled down. There is a difference between someones shoulders being chronically lifted and strained due to stress compared to someone shrugging their relaxed shoulders to their ears to encourage side body length and to decompress their spine.

The following is some background on my personal journey:
I broke my back when I was 7. In my recovery, I was told not to participate in gymnastics or dance etc. and just to swim. I continued to swim well into my college years. As I look back, although I will forever be grateful for my swimming and the ability to stretch my body and the feeling it gives me, I also feel, I was chronically using my shoulders and not enough of my center.

Shortly after college, when I started getting more into fitness (weight lifting, fitness classes, kick box…you name it I did it). I learned quickly that my lack of core strength in combination with my hyper mobile shoulders did not go well together. At that time, I was suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome and having pain and numbness in my arms and hands that would often wake me up in the middle of the night. From this experience, I realized that the shoulder joint is complex, and it was essential that I needed to educate myself , especially, if I wanted to continue to do what I loved most…to move!

Having the desire to understand and feel better, I was fortunate to have gotten into Anusara Yoga, an alignment based yoga linked with heart themes. I first learned how to align the shoulder joint optimally through my first Anusara Yoga training back in 2004.

Below are some general points I learned that, I think, are worth considering when your arms are stretched up over head.

NO DOUBT, reading the following is one thing, seeing and feeling another, AND I myself am a visual learner. Therefore, I am happy to demonstrate my thoughts and words in person.

*Also, please note – The following does not apply if you have lack of shoulder mobility and it either hurts to bring your arms over head and/or you cannot retract your arm bones(gently yet firmly) back in the shoulder socket and feel your shoulder blades on your back. If this is the case you need to work instead with mobility exercises such as sternum drops and arm circles with your back supine on a foam roller. Need some more ideas?

1. Lifting and Shrug shoulders up to your ears in effort to lengthen your side body.
2. Keep the length of your sides and engage your arm bones back in the socket, this may require you to have your arms more forward of your shoulders.
3. Keep pulling to the mid line. In other words, when the arms are stretched overhead(Palms facing one another shoulder distance apart), keep some isometric energy between the hands and forearms to help keep width and space in the chest and upper back.
4. “KIDNEY LOOP” The below is Doug Keller’s (amazing teacher) definition –
The “kidney loop” starts at the base of the abdomen, just below the navel, and lifts up and draws back from just below the kidneys, taking the lower ribs back while creating length in the side body. With this action, the kidney loop makes room for the expansion of the diaphragm in the back of the body. It moves upward to the bottom tips of the shoulder blades and forward through the heart or center of your chest. From there it draws downward through the Xiphoid processs (bottom tip of sternum) and solar plexus as it returns back to the point right above the navel. the breath to transform the inner landscape of the body.
5. Keep all the above actions and stretch. Use inhalation to create space and length and the exhalation to engage kidney loop and mid-line. Give equal attention to both the inhale and exhale and their actions.

Keeping all the actions mentioned above in balance is the “practice.”

Back to my personal journey…
For many years, I believe, in my efforts to build strength, and find better connection from my low back to my hands when stretched overhead, I forgot to first find length (the one thing I really knew how to do well). I therefore, lost my balance and as a result, I was putting too much pressure and stress on my trapezius and levator scapula muscles when my arms were positioned over head.

Therefore, is the cue, “pull your shoulders down the back” always appropriate? I argue, absolutely not, especially when you have mobility in your shoulder joint, and your arms are over your head. Pulling your shoulders down in effort to find connection, may, instead, cause more tightness and less space in ones shoulders and back, leading to a dysfunctional and not sustainable connection over time. In general, this is not a great cue.

Now movement in Pilates is a little more upbeat than an Anusara Yoga class, however the same alignment principles apply.

How much resistance do you actually need? You are the ultimate decision maker! Hopefully you are present enough to listen to what your body is telling you, and humble enough to adapt to how much resistance you require. I hope you don’t allow your needed RESISTANCE to pull you down. Never compromise your posture, and when in doubt, prioritize your length! Continue to breath and use your inhales to find more inner space and your exhales to find more center as you work towards your ultimate goal of finding more connection in your life relationships, and of corse, your hands to low back.

Bisoux,
Brooke

I recently invested in a beautiful painting for Le Bureau! I am expecting its’ arrival any day now and I am excited to display it. The name of the painting is “OUR WAVE.” I was attracted to the painting as soon as I made eye contact with it. This doesn’t happen to me often as the only other time I remember having a similar attraction is when I saw Pontus for the first time… it was love at first sight! 🙂

AS you may imagine, the painting is a wave; a large, abstract, beautiful and bright portrait of a wave!

Here is why I like it so much…

I love the idea of how “Our Wave” can be easily used for an analogy for “our life.” Its a beautiful reminder that our experience and sometimes circumstances within a situation can change! A wave is alive, steadily and rhythmically flowing in and out to sea, and unpredictable in its’ nature, as it can be rough and over powering at times. Just how our life is dynamic, sometimes more stressful and demanding. Unlike the ever flowing waves, we have to choose to ride and participate in our own life and hopefully we learn to adapt to our new circumstances and cope with the ups and the downs our journey brings. Right after Pontus and I married in 2003, my Dad gave us a plaque with the saying, “a smile can calm any storm life brings.” Although this is very true, I also believe that self-awareness and knowledge of the bigger picture of what is happening can help us adapt to our current reality. Having more knowledge will help free us of “our storm” that we may be experiencing. We have to pay attention as we ride our waves of life!

It’s encouraging just to know that our waves crash and then get drawn back into the ocean and begin again. There is continual flow and movement just how there are many opportunities for us to find more freedom if we choose to be awake, alive, and learn from our past experiences. There is beauty in the oneness of our wave and therefore, our life’s experiences. I try to remember this analogy myself when I am feeling down and experiencing difficult times.

What’s even more beautiful is that we all share in life’s experiences! It’s encouraging to know that we are not alone, rather, we are connected and reflections of one another. We all catch our waves differently, and as a result, experience different outcomes and consequences depending on the dynamic of our wave. “Our rides” will never quite be the same, and we will have opportunities to experience our waves differently.

I know the more I choose to ride my waves with a humble self awareness I will be able to feel more of what the wave is giving me in return. I hope I can encourage everyone I know to fully participate in their own ride and truly have a sense of play! The more we play the more we feel, and hopefully as a consequence, we learn our lessons to help us adapt to new changes and see our wave to our advantage instead of more and more obstacles in our way.

The nature of a wave is wild, alive and free, unattached and ever moving. You may be wondering, why is Brooke talking about waves when Pilates is more about control and setting boundaries? I see your point! I am asking you to find a sense of play in our center and allow yourself to let it go to feel more connection through your whole body. In return you may feel how you automatically become more stable and centered! I encourage you to think yourself as a wave, by adapting to your own circumstances in that moment and just how a wave can flow around their obstacles, so can you! Allow yourself to FEEL, to breathe bigger, lengthen your side body longer, soften into the fullness of your back body stronger, shine and radiate brighter through your limbs, and lastly, sustain a pulsation of drawing in and out from your center line, just how the wave draws to the center of its tube before it crashes and gets drawn back out to begin again. Feeling the result of applying these simple actions will create more space within. This inner freedom will help you maneuver through any obstacles in your own body and hopefully allow you to tap into a deeper connection and strength at your center.

Just how a wave can crash strongly, I hope that you also give your all and dive deeper within your own body and overall experience. Life does happen and will present us with some rough rides, however, if we, like the wave, continue to get up and adapt to our circumstances, I believe, there will be grace in the unrelenting movement. With steady practice and self awareness, we will have opportunities to swim up and out and connect with ourselves and make our overall experience better.

Do you fully participate in your own journey?

Much Aloha,
Brooke

The ARTISTS BEHIND OUR WAVE:
Known as The Twins, Alessio and Marcello Bugagiar moved to Maui from their homeland, Florence, Italy, to windsurf and pursue their careers as artists. They are like the two sides of a coin. Marcello, the visionary, and Alessio, the technician. Together they complete passionate works of art of extreme beauty and originality. The juxtaposition of of the classic and the contemporary, the European and the Hawaiian. “We complete each other, we feel we become one energy that expresses a single idea.”

Meaning of ALOHA –
The real meaning of Aloha in Hawaiian is that of Love, Peace, and Compassion.  It’s the guidelines of how to live – a life of Aloha is one when the heart is so full it is overflowing with the ability to influence others around you with your spirit.

Just returning from vacation on the BIG Island of Hawaii, I feel inspired to share the following story with you…

Better known as Peaman, Sean, is an acquaintance I have known all my life and see every year in Kona. He has been putting on free running and multi-sport events in Kona for the last 20-years and generally contributing to the aloha feel that the Big Island is famous for.

Sean was in an accident at the age of 9 and he still suffers severe pain on a daily basis. One (not ALL) of his obstacles have been that his pituitary gland does not function and he does not produce any hormones. As a result he has zero motility in his gut which makes it extremely difficult for him to absorb nutrition and gain any weight. Usually it hurts me to look at him because he is so skinny! However, something was different about Sean this year. I was expecting to see his frail physic, bald head, and chicken legs. Instead, I saw him with a full head hair, and possessing some muscle mass. He actually had meat on his bones! What happened I wondered?

SEAN –
The accident happened when I was 9 years old when we were back visiting Manhattan Beach, California. A drunk driver hit us going almost 70 mph, killing my mother instantly. It put me in the hospital for an extended amount of time and caused major damage to my pituitary gland, which helps maintain your body’s muscle mass.
During the accident I had the experience of going toward the loving light of God and then going back into my body. I would say that moment has formed my life in a very positive way.
When I was in high school, no one knew how bad the pituitary damage was. When everyone else was growing facial hair and wanting to have girlfriends, I wanted to play in the mud. I was not interested in standing in the hallway with fancy clothes. I wanted to throw the ball around like we did in elementary school.
In high school, I was running track and playing Pop Warner football and doing all the things normal kids did, but just having a lot of pain and unusual health situations. Suddenly, my femur breaks and they tell me I have the bone density of a 70-year-old man and that I have osteoporosis.
If you look now, as far as my heath and the pain I’m in, I still say it is a blessing. I would not be doing what I’m doing if it was not for that.

When I saw Sean, I automatically said, Wow! You look great. What happened? What did you do?

He was so kind and humble and told me his story. He said, a lot happened! Mainly he stated that he choose to live. He hit rock bottom, sleeping 36 hours at a time and only weighing in at 80 lbs. At that low point he knew he wanted to live and therefore had to make some changes…body, mind and spirit.

SEAN –
Last year before the Hapuna Rough Water Swim was a big rough patch. I was hovering around 80 pounds and sometimes sleeping up to 36 hours at a time. To do Hapuna — I cannot even explain it. On paper, it was nearly impossible.
When you go into something and tell yourself you can’t do it, you’re not going to do it. In the years I was able to do Ironman, I did not train as much as I should have, but never told myself I couldn’t do it. When I did train, I wouldn’t wear a watch or heart monitor because I didn’t want something to telling me what my limits were. I just go by how I feel, regardless of time or numbers.
I think the way I make it through the rough patches is with consistency and not giving up. I do what I can do, but make the effort to get up and do it. Movement is what keeps me alive.

In addition to not giving up, being present, and believing in himself, Sean told me he simply does what he needs to do to keep his body absorbing the nutrients he needs the best he can. This means daily injections of B12, hormones, daily Noni juice(if you do not know what this is, look it up! It is magic), and lots and lots of protein shakes as he regurgitates most of what he eats.  He also continues to exercise daily, I see him almost every morning at the Kailua-Kona pier swimming out to the 1.2 mile buoy. Most impressively, he is kind, compassionate, caring, and has an expansive heart. He is not ashamed to share his story, his struggles, and also work hard to fell better. He does not let his pain and all his daily upkeep prevent him from keeping a positive outlook on life. I love it! He is no victim to his pain and knows that life is to be lived and also shared. He is definitely an inspiration to me and how I want to live my life.

What do you hope people take away from a Peaman event?
SEAN- I would say the beauty of Kona and the giving nature of the people here.

I always hope people experience aloha in its purest form, which is when people come together and celebrate the day. I really get perturbed when people talk bad about Hawaii and say the aloha is gone. There is always aloha, you just have to find it.
Our slogan is, “Live, Laugh and be a Pea.” All these people who are so called “adults” love a kids party better. People are big kids and just want to have fun. That’s my belief.

I hope you can all find and see the Aloha in yourself and share your incredible ALOHA with the ones around you.

Aloha,
Brooke

If you travel to Kona and want to participate in one of Sean’s events, please click here!

I am writing to you now as a Graduate of THE WORK. I am so grateful for having been one of the few chosen to participate in this wonderful graduate program. Thank you Jay and Vintage Pilates!

I have been teaching Pilates since 2005, originally certified through a Power Pilates comprehensive training, based in New York. Since that time I have continued to deepen my study having being exposed to many different approaches and styles of the Pilates method, and also became certified with a more rehabilitative contemporary approach to Pilates with Balanced Body back in 2010. Having experienced the 2 very different approaches in addition to my own study of many other varying styles, one would think that I felt grounded in the method of Pilates, however, at times, I felt overly stimulated with too much information.

Participating in The Work, has encouraged me to take a step back, relax, and literally SEE more; see more of myself, see more of the method as a whole, and also see the person in front of me.

Let me explain. Have you ever been instructed to do something that conflicts with another person/teacher/doctor etc…? I do not know about you, but I have!:) My point is, everyone will SEE differently and possibly different things in you, and as a result, different things will be emphasized depending on who your teacher is that day. This could frustrate and confuse you if you are not aware of the “bigger picture”. Not seeing the “bigger picture” narrows your perspective and you could become “stuck” not knowing what to do, and which way to turn, as every teacher is telling you something different. OR, perhaps you will instead welcome that other perspective and approach as you know that it is just another set of eyes showing you what they see that day. Approaching things differently in my opinion is not a bad thing. However, it is necessary that the practitioner understand the bigger picture and continues to root themselves in the essence of each exercise. Too much information, with various styles and approaches, could over stimulate the practitioner and even the teacher. The more you hear the less you see!

For me, being in The Work has allowed me to re-connect to the heart of pilates and given me the tools needed to filter the feedback and instruction I have given that day, thus helping me me connect. I credit my time in The Work for building my trust and self confidence in myself to consistently SEE the bigger picture and the method as one.

Personally, the opportunity to learn and witness Jay teaching the way Joseph Pilates would have taught the exercises himself has been so wonderful because it is so straightforward and direct! There is nothing complex, no additional props, no extra modifications. YOU have an opportunity to think less, move more, SEE more, feel more, and connect fully to what you are doing.

It was a sweaty old gym, Jay said often. You did not make an appointment, you just showed up and did the work you knew how. When Joe or one of his helpers saw that you were ready to add another exercise they would, but not until you showed you were ready! The gym was not a social either, people were working out! You were taught an exercise or exercises and were supposed to remember! You would not be talked through the exercise once they were taught…. You would maybe get a poke or a push/pull sometimes but that was it! There was also no props(pillows, foam rollers etc,,). In fact, If there is one thing that Jay dis-approves of it is the use of PROPS. He says, props take away the WORK. Its not supposed to be comfortable! You need to learn and grow and comfort is not going to help you! Also if you came into the studio to work out and there was no equipment ready, Clara, Joe’s wife would point out a small wall space you could start your practice.:)

Having gone through this simple, yet very challenging program, my understanding of how the entire system works together is so much richer and deeper than it’s ever been. We were encouraged to watch and “SEE” and worry less about what we knew. The use of simple themes in the exercises was one thing that helped me connect and see the bigger picture. Some examples of themes were…seat connection, back connection, low body reach, 2 way stretch, spinal shapes. Using the ‘themes’, I could find the exercise for myself more and negotiate what feedback that was given worked for me without feeling as if I did not get it because the teacher did not approve! I had to do the work and dig deeper into myself and my own awareness to find the answers I was searching for ….I definitely understand why they named the program The Work!

The Work, cannot be compared to any other Pilates graduate program available. It is for teachers who are interested re-connecting to the heart of Pilates and who yearn to be grounded in the original work. The intense study with regular lessons, assessments, and workshops gave me just enough structure and focus to do this and more. I reconnected more to the method and I also reconnected to myself literally and figuratively. I learned less is more and also that it’s important to observe and be quiet so you can see the body and have it tell you what it needs.

Moving forward, I will practice keeping my eyes open and mouth shut (as Jay would say) and allow myself to SEE more. In my teaching, I will contemplate what your body is telling me, staying rooted to the original teachings, and I will do my best to help you experience better connections in your body. Just like in Joe’s sweaty studio…I hope to inspire you all to keep moving! Be mindful of what you do, listen and observe what your body is telling you, and I will continue to help you grow in the method and give you a little poke, push and pull when you need it! I hope I can carry the torch of Joseph Pilates on to all of you and keep his amazing authentic method alive…it’s so much more than just exercise!

Happy Thanksgiving,
Brooke

I will leave you with the lyrics to this U2 song –
“CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS”

The more you see the less you know
The less you find out as you go
I knew much more then than I do now
Neon heart, day-glo eyes
The city lit by fireflies
They’re advertising in the skies
For people like us
And I miss you when you’re not around
I’m getting ready to leave the ground
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights
Don’t look before you laugh
Look ugly in a photograph
Flash bulbs, purple irises the camera can’t see
I’ve seen you walk unafraid
I’ve seen you in the clothes you’ve made
Can you see the beauty inside of me?
What happened to the beauty I had inside of me?
And I miss you when you’re not around
I’m getting ready to leave the ground
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights
Time, time, time
Time won’t leave me as I am
But time won’t take the boy out of this man
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Yeah, the city of blinding lights
The more you know, the less you feel
Some pray for what others steal
Blessing’s not just for the ones who kneel, luckily

Has anyone seen the movie, Notting Hill? If so do you remember the following…
Spike comes in after being photographed by the press being seen in only his briefs. He says, “How did I look? (looking in a mirror) Not bad, not at all bad. Well chosen briefs I must say. Chicks love grey. (clenching his bum) Nice. Firm. Buttocks!”

If you have no idea what I am referring to please check it out and watch the whole movie too!!

“Blossom your buttocks” is a common cue you will hear at an Anusara Yoga class. It generally means for one to inner spiral their upper inner thighs, apart from one another to broaden the buttocks and create space in their hips and low back.

“Squeeze your bottom” is a common cue you you may hear at a Pilates studio. I hope most of you can agree that I refrain from saying “squeeze,” but still note the role and importance the buttocks play in integrating the lower and upper body.

The point I would like to make is that one cue (left alone) is not better than the other nor is one cue(left alone) more correct than the other. Both could be good if used appropriately according to an individuals needs. This is why I always recommend private classes before taking group classes, especially if you are new to the method, otherwise you may find yourself doing more harm to learn your tendencies instead of what you should be focusing on!

The differences between cues struck me this past Friday afternoon after my conversations I shared at my happy hour. My example above clearly shows the difference between Pilates and Yoga. Now, please also understand, that I only stated ONE CUE. I truly believe both methods are trying to bring about similar results in the body and mind; they are just going about it differently!

The quote I put on my Le Bureau shirt says, “do it right, keep it tight.” My good friend, also a pelvic floor specialist, whom I have known since teaching yoga classes to the medical students at Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa(15 years a go), was going to buy my Le Bureau shirt and then quickly changed her mind after she saw my quote! She told me, “my duty is to relieve my clients “tightness” not to keep it tight!” I understood her perspective and how she perceived my quote and said no worries (another shirt without the quote coming soon!); she said she would wait. In our conversation she also told me that Pilates and Cross-fit practitioners keep her in business because they get so tight in their pelvic floor. Hmm

Adding on to this, I know several Pilates teachers and practitioners alike that have painful tailbones, and although they love Pilates, it sometimes makes their symptoms worse. Personally, I have struggled with Pelvic floor tightness, and can understand how the method of Pilates could make matters worse. If one is not practicing with an underlying understanding of how to integrate and lengthen through their center. Should one squeeze or should one blossom? That is the question!

I questioned the Pilates method along with everything else I was doing. I was in misery and also embarrassed as a Pilates teacher. As embarrassed as I was, I knew that “nothing lasts forever” and instead of giving up on the method itself and my teachers I decided instead to look deeper and investigate why I was struggling and to also find a way up and out! I firmly believe there is always a way if you have the will. I must have been doing something wrong…(guess what! I was!).

Before discussing whether I personally needed more blossom or squeeze I also would like to mention that when I was experiencing significant tightness, I would also have to say that my life was tight as well! The feeling of space was as non existent in my life as it was in my pelvis. There was a time when I was teaching close to 30 fitness related classes a week; 7 of which were intense 60 minute spin classes, in addition to trying to be “super woman” to my family. Currently, although no longer struggling with significant tightness, I still battle with finding space…it’s very challenging for me to simply let go! Even if you do not understand why you believe in something, NEVER GIVE UP trying to understand.

Back to whether I needed more blossom or squeeze…what do you think?:)

For me, I was extremely good at performing both. I could blossom and create much needed space and I could also squeeze and feel integrated at my center. My problem was that I could not perform the 2 actions simultaneously! In isolation of one another I was a pro, but I believe, looking back at my situation, that I was simply too tired from all my other activities to integrate the space and length and sustain the 2 while I moved! I resorted more to squeezing as it held me together, but my squeeze was not supporting my inner space and length that I needed so much in the movement.

How about you? If you were to take a step outside yourself and observe you, what would you see? Maybe you need to practice with a little more blossom to integrate more space? Or perhaps you have plenty of space, but you instead need to share the goodness and streamline your body with a little squeeze to pull to your midline(of course integrating the whole body in that squeeze!) Or if you are like me, maybe you find that you are good at both but sustaining the work is just too much work! Therefore, maybe consider rearranging your life agenda!

The bottom line is that we all have our OWN work to do and it is ultimately up to us to figure it out! Take former professional dancers as an example, if there is one thing that they know how to do, it is TO STAND TALL, however from all that squeeze, I know several now that suffer from low back pain from the consistent and persistent “squeeze” they would have to maintain to perfect their art. I would say that they would benefit from a little blossoming! They also have other issues with their hips and knees from all their turn out.

I, myself, was not a trained dancer/ballerina and never had a great baseline postural awareness and long lifted posture. I broke my back when I was 7 and was told to focus on swimming. As a swimmer, although easy for me to stretch my body long….I also could sink and collapse just as easy. I have had to learn to prioritize my length and my space and then work to integrate my squeeze, if you will, without crushing my space that I created. It is possible to be too strong for no good reason! For me in particular, a balance of strength is required to keep me away from the extremes of being a “slinky” or too “squeezed out” that there is no more juice left!

I hope my above reflection will inspire you to NOT GIVE UP if you are currently dealing with an uncomfortable situation yourself and catch yourself questioning whether to blossom or to squeeze. I think its easy for people to blame their ailments on a method (pilates, cross-fit, barre, cycling) or also an individual. However, it is not the fault of the method or individual. Instead it is simply a challenge and a great opportunity for you to dive in and learn something to better your experience with something that you love to do. NEVER GIVE UP!

I strongly believe the Pilates method will do MAGIC and absolutely has the capacity to not only make you feel good, but also to HEAL, TRANSFORM, and create more function! However, one should not expect any magic unless they are also consciously aware of their BIG picture as well as their posture of course! Cues are a simple suggestion to get you in a better position, but you are the one who feels your body and therefore the one who should make the ultimate decision if that cue suits your body as well as how much you should negotiate with it! You have to want to feel better and therefore set yourself up for success! Pilates is WORK and requires one to use their muscles to stabilize their bones and joints so they can create length, and space where they need it most. So go out there and squeeze that blossom out of your buttocks!

Ciao bellas,
Brooke