Inhale Pilates

24/10/2022

S W A N

11th exercise in the classical Reformer order. 1st exercise in the Long Box 1 series. Back extension. Hip extension. For me, I find arching relatively easy, there is a long built up facility of this in my body. But I have seen many of my clients, through genuine patience, persistence and commitment to their work, significantly change their spine shapes and condition throughout the whole method.

Message - if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again ❤️

Or as Mr Pilates best said it: “A few well designed movements, properly performed in a balanced sequence are worth hours of sloppy calisthenics or forced contraction”.

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18/08/2022

C O N T R O L O G Y

Like any good athlete, the quality of the equipment or tools they have at hand, can change the quality of their craft for better or worse. It can be an entirely different game as a result. Pilates is no different.

Pilates was never called Pilates, until after Joe died. Joe named his body of work CONTROLOGY, and as a result of beautiful craftsmanship and appropriate consultation with those who knew Joe’s work first hand, wa la - we have this incredible equipment on hand .bb

The dimensions of this 80” reformer are as it was when Joe created his original reformer. The experience of the exercises is true to the original way they were taught largely because of the specifications of the apparatus. Having changed from contemporary to classical equipment, I have clearly noticed that the equipment itself informs my client’s bodies or they figure it out for themselves before I even jump in to cue or assist because of the feedback of the equipment.

Grateful for the evolution of my learning and my love for this work.

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25/07/2022

T R I B E

At the end of this week I get to venture north and although I’m looking forward to warmer weather, swimming in warmer parts of the ocean, and having a small holiday for the year. Really, what I am most excited about is the “why” behind my trip, and that is to spend time with my tribe of friends I met last year and meet my mentor Wade in the flesh. We will get to move together, learn together and ultimately “do the work”. But have a laugh whilst doing it.

This wonderful man has held huge learning and personal space for me and provided guidance in creating some very big changes at the studio this year, ultimately altering my business model and the way in which we learn and move at Inhale Pilates.

Wade has been instrumental in teaching me the original way Joe ran his studio and a way that WORKS. I’ve seen it in Wade’s space, as well as many others in Australia and across the world, and I’m excited to see it all coming together at Inhale. A model in which the community at Inhale develop heathy independence and autonomy in moving within a system and a rock solid relationship with their body. Where my role goes far far away from instructor, even sometimes away from teacher, and ventures into the realm of coach.

I’m excited to have already completed 6 months of the 2 year PP Immersive Coaching Program, and VERY excited to give my friend and mentor a big hug this Friday!

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09/04/2022

S Y S T E M

Pilates is a complete system of exercises. Look at the Jackknife on the Mat and see it’s resemblance in Overhead on the Reformer. Look at the shape of the Double Leg Stretch on the Mat and see the exact shape in the 100 or Coordination. Initially, Pilates is learning shapes and choreography of course, but as you dive deeper into the system over time, you start to unpack more conceptual learning which ultimately yields you a skill for life and a place your body can always come home to.

Skill acquisition in the studio isn’t just learning exercises but it is memorising your own program and maybe, eventually, the order of exercises on a particular piece of apparatus. It’s ok for the Pilates to not be perfect, let it be messy on some days, allow yourself some grace if you forget what comes next, it’s all good, but remember that part of the process is this continual development and growth as a mover within this system of exercises.

Even so, along this journey, we’ll all get sick at some point (as I have been), maybe we’ll have surgery, or any number of things with our bodies over the years, and we will again have to rebuild. But there’s the beauty of the system - we have this to always come back to, to lean into this process and rebuild our strength, endurance and fitness once again.

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04/01/2022

S H A P E S

Round. Flat. Side bend. Extension. Flexion. Above all - we want LONG. We want TWO WAY STRETCH. Keep these principles in mind next time you’re moving in the studio.

We are back open from Tuesday 11th January. New year. Fresh start continued growth for us all.

See you in the studio!

With love,

Lauren x

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01/01/2022

2 0 2 2

I’ll keep this short and simple, symbolic of the simplicity I intend on creating in my personal life and Inhale’s over the coming year. May we all find gratitude for the small things, the small wins, and the small moments. May 2022 bring us all nourishment in all its forms for good health, slowness and simplicity in life’s daily moments, love in all its shapes and forms, and quality over quantity in everything we undertake and consume.

Thank you for being here, as part of my world. You are loved and appreciated. Here’s to a fresh new year and all the many shades that are to come over the coming 365 days. Let’s take it one day at a time and squeeze all the delicious juice out of each day of our one wild, (short), and precious life!

With love, as always,

Lauren x

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12/12/2021

H E R I T A G E

This last year I have committed to my practice more than ever. I have devoted myself to honouring the heritage and the history of the classical system developed by Joseph Pilates.

I have been privileged enough work with a smart, generous and intelligent 2nd generation teacher and am excited to start my two year immersion program with Wade in January 2022.

In just a short period of time I have seen my body start to change, to regain its strength and regain its shape. But not only have I seen the effects physically, I have been reminded that the method is more than a physical program, it’s a way of life. It teaches resilience, patience, persistence, commitment, responsibility, and offers up community. It has always been a way of coming home to myself. Contrology goes beyond being a program of physical movements, separate body parts and “working out”, and extends out into being a holistic wellness program, just as Joe wanted it, to enhance Mind, Body, and Spirit.

I’m freaking proud of this shape in my Teaser beautifully captured by hayley haynes] - the lift, the shared curve of the Teaser and the reach! Grateful to my body for its ongoing commitment to progress and persistence.

📷 hayley haynes]

14/10/2021

C O M M U N I T Y

After another long lockdown, we are thrilled to be reopening Inhale’s doors from Monday 18th October.

We have taken all necessary steps to make the studio clean, welcoming and safe for you, our community, actions we have always prided ourselves on for 5 years now.

Like many businesses, despite a relative financial standstill, we have invested A LOT, in the business and in ourselves during this time. We know you always have and will continue to feel and recognise the unparalleled service that Inhale offers.

It’s important that we remember to be kind, and to have compassion, to ourselves and others going forward. Many of you may not have moved in some time, so take things slowly, lovingly build back up and take steps at your own pace forward to be systematic in your movement skill learning.

Lastly, thank YOU so very very much, from the bottom of our hearts, for being there. Through two consecutive years of lockdowns and stress and community distance - here you still are. Thank you, our loyal, committed and loving community. Thank you ❤️

Lauren x

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25/08/2021

P R E S E N C E

Despite not having access to our community within the walls of the Inhale studio, we have taken our presence online and maintained our connection to both self and others.

Please join us during lockdown virtually via Zoom on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9-10am. Bookings via MindBody or DM to join.

It would be our absolute delight to move you and move with you 🤎

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21/08/2021

❤️ Worth the time to read. Sentimental to this audience and these times x

GOD, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL! TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT ❤️
As someone who writes often, I naturally appreciate epic writing when I see it. This morning, I came across this written piece of art and it moved me deeply, so I had to share it with all of you! Not only are these words true theatre, they also act as sound advice ❤️

my brain and
heart divorced

a decade ago

over who was
to blame about
how big of a mess
I have become

eventually,
they couldn't be
in the same room
with each other

now my head and heart
share custody of me

I stay with my brain
during the week

and my heart
gets me on weekends

they never speak to one another

- instead, they give me
the same note to pass
to each other every week

and their notes they
send to one another always
says the same thing:

"This is all your fault"

on Sundays
my heart complains
about how my
head has let me down
in the past

and on Wednesday
my head lists all
of the times my
heart has screwed
things up for me
in the future

they blame each
other for the
state of my life

there's been a lot
of yelling - and crying

so,

lately, I've been
spending a lot of
time with my gut

who serves as my
unofficial therapist

most nights, I sneak out of the
window in my ribcage

and slide down my spine
and collapse on my
gut's plush leather chair
that's always open for me

~ and I just sit sit sit sit
until the sun comes up

last evening,
my gut asked me
if I was having a hard
time being caught
between my heart
and my head

I nodded

I said I didn't know
if I could live with
either of them anymore

"my heart is always sad about
something that happened yesterday
while my head is always worried
about something that may happen tomorrow,"
I lamented

my gut squeezed my hand

"I just can't live with
my mistakes of the past
or my anxiety about the future,"
I sighed

my gut smiled and said:

"in that case,
you should
go stay with your
lungs for a while,"

I was confused
- the look on my face gave it away

"if you are exhausted about
your heart's obsession with
the fixed past and your mind's focus
on the uncertain future

your lungs are the perfect place for you

there is no yesterday in your lungs
there is no tomorrow there either

there is only now
there is only inhale
there is only exhale
there is only this moment

there is only breath

and in that breath
you can rest while your
heart and head work
their relationship out."

this morning,
while my brain
was busy reading
tea leaves

and while my
heart was staring
at old photographs

I packed a little
bag and walked
to the door of
my lungs

before I could even knock
she opened the door
with a smile and as
a gust of air embraced me
she said

"what took you so long?"

~ John Roedel (johnroedel.com)

19/04/2021

L O A D

All Pilates apparatus provides strength and conditioning through the use of spring resistance. As the spring stretches, the load of that spring exponentially increases. This provides consistent information for the body’s neuromuscular system and offers adaptability education with the constantly changing load environment.

You are constantly receiving proprioceptive feedback from the apparatus, allowing the springs to breathe with controlled smooth movements, moving the carriage from your centre as the initiation of all movements extends out to the extremities. The equipment educates you’re neuromuscular system HOW to move and takes your joints through full range of movement, offering increased flexibility and mobility.

Pretty ingenious stuff right! To think that Joseph Pilates engineered this equipment over 100 years ago and the fact that it has, in the purist world, remained unchanged during that time, astounds me.

Sadly, I have seen many instructors and studios today improperly educated about the use of the Pilates equipment, having done minimal or substandard courses, using it like an overpriced glorified leg press and calling goodness knows what they’re doing, Pilates. I am passionate about my roots, passionate about honouring the Pilates method as it was designed and as it was taught originally, and offering our clients an educated and refined movement experience in a peaceful and mindful environment.

If you are looking to undertake Pilates training, please don’t hesitate to reach out. and are the two courses I recommend that offer the best Pilates training with exception pathology and anatomy education.

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