Root & Limb

Pain. . I’m always hesitant to write about pain because it’s so complicated. Pain is vital to our survival. Pain is emotional. Pain is physical. Pain is subjective. Pain is terrifying and misunderstood. Pain is threat. Pain is a way our brain screams pay attention!!!! . I F&$ked up my back last week. ... . I have a history of back shit from my dance days and the drama in my lumbar spine decided to pay me a visit. . It’s sucks. . How did I F it up?? Who knows. I have a very squirmy large toddler who wants to be held? I moved too much? I moved too little? I ate a burrito? It was Tuesday and raining and I hate rain? There is a raging global pandemic and I have to do my taxes next week? . Anyway, I consider myself lucky to have the knowledge I do about pain and to share what I know with my clients. That pain and tissue damage don’t always match up. That something we do under normal circumstances might not illicit pain, but under stress might make us fall to the floor. That we have the choice, a moment of pause to determine the level the threat our body is signaling to our brain and vice versa. That we can find ways to move even if something feels off. . I think some pain science when read can come off like don’t worry if something hurts. It’s all in your head. Well, yes all pain is in your head, but it doesn’t mean to ignore it. It means to understand it. Sit with it. Trust it. Trust that your body can learn what is a get me to the hospital threat or a I should breathe and do some cat cow threat. Yes, it takes some work. Some learning and unlearning. A shit ton of patience with yourself. . My threat this time was the latter so here is some REALLY slow cat cow. My back might hurt but it’s not broken. . Pain sucks. Movement is good. Brain training is hard. Emotional work is exhausting. Humans are beautifully complicated...as is pain. . . . #pain #backpain #pilates #yoga #painscience #brainhealth #movementismedicine #moveyourbody #pilatesinstructor #pilateslovers See more

VIRTUAL PILATES MAT THIS WEEK! . Wednesday 12:15-1:00pm PST . This week's theme: ... Resistance . This week's props: Theraband . I've been thinking lately about the things I prefer, what I push away and what I down right avoid. . Movement wise, strength training has never been my strong suit (no pun intended!!). I much prefer the feeling of stretch to the feeling of contract. But what I prefer doesn't always serve me best. Sometimes the things we resist doing are just what what we need more of and the things we can't resist are actually holding us back from our goals. . So...I love to stretch. I need strength training. What’s the answer? . Theraband. Workout. . Join me this week for a full bodied class that checks off both the stretch and strength boxes. . Link in bio to sign up! . See you on the mat! . . . #pilates #pilatesmat #zoompilates #onlinepilates #virtualpilates #pilatestheraband #pilatesstretch #pilatesstrength #pilatesmatclass #pilateshomeworkout #pilatesathome #movewell #pilateslovers #pilatesanywhere #pilatesinstructor #pilatesbody #pilatesstrong #movewell #moveyourbody #resistancebands #resistancebandsworkout See more

I love Pilates. . My life is literally centered around teaching it and practicing it. . I also fully know to keep my body at its healthiest and happiest Pilates alone is not enough. These muscles, bones, joints, organs and brains need different loads, speeds, patterns and movement approaches to stay resilient and ready for action.... . Besides the purely physical benefits cross training gives us, our brains LOVE different and novel movement experiences. Happy brain = happy body and vice versa. . By all means do the movement modalities you love. Do them often and with great pleasure. Just do some other things too. Cool? Cool. . . . #pilates #yoga #hitt #strengthtraining #somatics #allmovementisgoodmovement #crosstraining #healthybody #healthybrain #movement #moveyourbody #moveeveryday #movewell #movesmart #resillience See more

NEW MINI WORKOUT! . Arms and A#$ Need I say more? ... . Ok, I’ll say a little more. When in doubt I grab my theraband. Why? It’s the lightest, most portable and often the most bang for our buck prop when it comes to checking off both the flexibility and strength boxes. . Check out my new Mini Workout on YouTube using the theraband for a quick burn for your tush and triceps. . Link in bio to get moving! . New Mini Workouts coming every Monday so don't forget to subscribe! . . . #pilates #onlinepilates #pilatestheraband #pilatesstretch #pilatesstrength #theraband #glutes #arms #miniworkout #onlinepilatesclasses #pilateslovers #pilatesbody #pilatesanywhere #pilatesmat #youtubechannel See more

My favorite workout buddy. And a brilliant movement teacher too. . Happy weekend. And don’t forget to schedule in some very serious, very formal, very anatomically informed playtime. . .... . #playtime #moveanywhere #pilates #pilatesmom #pilatesbaby #playgroundworkout #toddlerlife #momlife #exerciseanywhere #optoutside #love See more

it's not flashy. it's not a six week program, a resolution or a quick fix. it's not "new". it's not a sales pitch. it's not a promise of a better self or some unattainable ideal. . it's Monday. it's grabbing some movement because it always feels better after. it's consistency. it's quarantine hair. it's leggings that have remains of toddler lunch on the way to target to buy some bananas and an extension cord. it's life. . I have no resolution this year. I have no desire to p...ile on more in the expectation department. only the challenge is to continue to peel back the layers of what I think people want to see. . in my dance life we always talked about process over product. Somewhere in the fitness noise I feel this has gotten lost. that there is some undefined goal and then you are done. it's not done. ever. that's the beauty. the constant, complicated and joyful work of being a moving human. . . . #pilates #pilateshuman #moveeveryday #realnotperfect #beyou #grow #learn #love #2021 See more

Please use you regularly scheduled Pilates time to eat sugar, drink things, wear the same stretchy pants for a few days in a row and say so long to 2020. (Don’t let the door hit you on the way out...) . Seriously though. Beyond grateful for everyone who supported me and my little Pilates home this year. Truly. .... . . #rest #recharge #itsoktotakeabreak #pilates #pilatesstudio #bye2020 #grateful See more

(Sound On) Highs and Lows. . This video was taken the day after the first SIP order went down in March. I was heading into my first day of virtual teaching, coffee in hand, kid home from school and like all of us confused, already exhausted and terrified. But when a two year old grabs a ukulele you have to roll with no matter how f$&ked up you feel. .... The past 9 months have been filled with the lowest lows, but also the highest highs. Fear of the unknown. Unbridled anxiety. Unexpected opportunity. Beauty. Success. Guilt. The joy of watching my son grow. Love. Change. So much change. Moving. Movement. Boredom and the most insane frenetic energy I have ever experienced. Life, in a fishbowl, on steroids. Isolation in the midst of never being alone. Zoom. . What will the next year hold? How do we navigate the hills and valleys that are to come? I don’t know. The solace is I suppose knowing we have come this far. . . . #highsandlows #strength #joy #pilatesinstructor #smallbusinessowner #momlife #byebye2020 See more

One day... . I’ve always been a planner. Often living in the future. One day I’ll have this. One day I’ll do this. One day I’ll be this. . This year in all of its terrifying uncomfortable-ness has totally made my one day mindset run wild. The current moment is often too scary, too sad, too hard to be in. ... . But, sometimes when the light hits just right, when the zoom class went well, when your clients were extra funny, when you actually look at all that has been done and accomplished...One day ends up being today. . . . #grateful #bepresent #pilates #pilatesinstructor #pilatesstudio #getitdone #enjoyit #whatnext See more

What feels like a life time ago...(yup that’s me in there with long hair and bright orange pants) . For those who are not connected to the dance world @jacobspillow suffered a giant loss this week. A fire took their main stage theater and needless to say I’m gutted. . I only ever performed at the magical outdoor stage at the Pillow, but saw some of the most brilliant dance works of my life at the #dorisduketheatre that is no longer.... . The year. . Please support the arts. Support the small businesses struggling. Support the things that continue to bring beauty, joy and movement into our lives. As far as I’m concerned they are totally essential. . . . #alwaysadancer #insideout #jacobspillow #love #supportthearts #supportsmallbusiness See more

INHALE. EXHALE. . On Saturday I felt I could exhale for the first time in a loooonnngggg time. The relief, the joy and the hope that our country is looking toward better times. And that we have a woman in the White House!!!!!! #whorunstheworldgirls . In the Pilates world we often cue to exhale on the effort. Exhale when your body needs a bit more strength, a bit more power.... . So as we exhale let’s remember it is time to work. . Inhale, prepare. . Exhale, let’s move. . . . #breathe #move #love #hope #pilates #pilateslife #pilatesshapesmypractice #pilatesshapesmylife See more

When a new client comes in with a disc herniation they are often baffled that one moment or small movement could produce such an injury. (Picking up a box, twisting to grab something...) In these cases I lovingly, but directly explain that the one event wasn’t really the cause of the injury, but rather a lifetime of patterns, choices both conscious and unconscious, environmental factors and even cultural norms that all lead up to that moment when the slightly heavy handbag ma...de your life suck. As always I listen to their history and hold space for their pain because pain is scary as shit. We make a plan. Then we begin to work, without a specific timeline, but with clear intention. The goal isn’t to just stop the pain, but figure out a new way to move, live and navigate the world. So this election. It’s not this one moment. It is a culmination of all the choices, events, structures and shitty habits that have lead us to this moment. We are one big gross herniated disc and the nation’s metaphorical and literal nerves are raw. Back to my pretend client. Do I tell my client I can fix them? No. Do I make it clear that the pathway to healing will be some hard work that might be uncomfortable? Yes. Will I give that client all the tools in my movement box to help them, stay engaged in learning so as new methods of help come out I can pass them on and be willing to defer to people who are way smarter than me to help them. You bet. There will be no single savior, one magic method or easy way to help this country out of this mess. Healing is often uncomfortable. Unlearning and relearning is challenging. Taking a good hard look at ourselves and the way our behaviors contribute to this pain is...painful. We need to stop the pain cycle immediately, yes. But also to look beyond just stopping the pain in present moment and deeply question and investigate the causes, the systems, the beliefs and the behaviors that cause this pain to return again and again. If my client continues to use the same old mechanics over and over again to pick crap off the floor, that nasty pain will most likely return. America, let’s find a new pattern. . . . #pilatesteacher #bidenharris2020

Ugggghhhh... . My goal for today is to show up for myself so I can continue to show up for the people I love and who need support. . Let’s grab some weights, be strong, take care and kick some ass.... . Virtual Pilates Mat with Props Today 12:15pm-1:00pm PST This week's theme: STRENGTH This week's props: A PAIR OF 2 OR 3 LB HAND WEIGHTS (or soup cans or wine bottles or all of your anxieties about this week trapped inside two jars...although that might be too heavy...) . . . #pilates #zoompilates #virtualpilates #matpilates #strength #love #selfcare #showupforyourself #move #wegotthis

Ugggghhhhhh...I thought yesterday was bad... . Grab some weights and let’s kick some ass. . Virtual Pilates Mat with Props ... . Today 12:15-1:00pm PST . This week's theme: STRENGTH . This week's props: A PAIR OF 2 OR 3 LB HAND WEIGHTS (or soup cans or wine bottles or all of your anxieties about this week trapped inside two jars...although that might be too heavy...) . . . #pilates #zoompilates #virtualpilates #matpilates #strength #love #move #selfcare #showupforyourself #wegotthis See more

Self care is political. Pilates is political. Being strong, healthy and ready to move is political. . Take care. Be strong. Vote. Change. Move.... . . . #pilates #selfcare #vote #move #8645 See more

Finding light in heavy times. Words are becoming harder to come by to explain all the feelings about our world right now. When I used to make dances, I would choreography what I couldn’t find words for. Making body poems comes in all shapes and sizes now. Still collaboration. Still creativity. Still making movement when words won’t work. . . . #pilates #pilatesinstructor #pilatesreformer #pilatesforeverybody #move #love #vote #speakyourtruth #moveyourtruth

A little motivation. . Self care may seem silly and trivial especially this week but it’s not. Move, breathe, reach out to loved ones, get out into nature, and VOTE. . .... . #pilates #selfcare #pilatesteacher #vote #8645 #takecareofyourself See more

Pilates is amazing and problematic. Pilates is formal and wild. Pilates is a system and it is 1,000 little pieces of information that can stand alone or in another context altogether. Pilates is timeless and ever changing. Pilates is...... Pilates is me. Pilates is you. Pilates is human (literally and figuratively) . I love my archival prints. I love the awe I see in my clients faces when they look at them. I love to be reminded of the source and I love doing weird shit on my equipment next to them. I love looking at Joe looking at his students. I am reminded of the spirit of this work: innovation, commitment, breath, vitality, connection. I love being reminded he was a weird dude that wore underwear and mock neck turtle necks. I am not a Pilates historian nor a purist or classical teacher. I think a man who fastened bed springs to a frame and reimagined a beer barrel into exercise equipment would think it’s pretty badass that his work and ideas are surviving a pandemic and general global shit show. I hope he would also think it’s badass that so many people are fighting to make his work as inclusive as possible. The whole country, the whole world doing this work right??? . I teach Pilates. I teach other things too. I teach things that look like Pilates but maybe aren’t really Pilates. I love the series of 5 and also love not doing it because sometimes it is not what my body needs. I study the work. I question the work. I love watching my clients embody, change and make this thing we do their own. I love that it is something to return to and something to expand upon and then return to again. . Thank you Joe. Now...so much work to do. . . . #pilateshuman See more

Don't mind me...just cleaning my floor, drinking coffee, planning this week's mat class and getting my glutes turned on. . Mat class this week is focused on finding form and not taking this Pilates thing too seriously. . Virtual Pilates Mat... Wednesday 12:15-1:00pm PST . This Week's Prop: Hand Towel This Week's Theme: Clean it up . Link in Bio to sign up! . . . #pilates #pilatesish #matpilates #creativepilates #virtualpilates #scooter #coffee #multitasking #realnotperfect #moveeveryday See more

What???? 10 years married???? Yup. The places we’ve gone and the places we will go. Love you @steve.dustin .... . . #marriage #10yearanniversary #nyc #california #adventure #love See more

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." -John Muir . It's all connected. The parts we love. The parts we hate. The parts we wish would stay just as they are and the parts that change in the blink of an eye. . Let in it. Let it go. Inhale, exhale.... . . . #nature #greatestteahcers #optoutside #pilatesoffthemat #movement #practice #love See more

"You are a wonder" -Bill Bryson . Reading the "The Body". . We all have one so I think it a relevant read...... . . . #human #love #wonder #body # See more

"You are a wonder." -Bill Bryson . Reading the "The Body". . We all have one so I think it is a relevant read...... . . . #human #love #wonder #body #everybodyisbeautiful #pilatesforeverybody #bodyneutrality See more