It’s been just 3 weeks since we’ve added the Pilates-Pro.com Community Forum, and there are already several great conversations going.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s a sample of one of the hot topics, Fitness vs. Bodywork?, started by Alycea Ungaro:

“Where do you think our craft is headed? Might our training become more anatomically based and potentially longer to complete? Would a degree be possible one day? Or will there be a backlash of other bodyworkers, pushing Pilates back into the fitness arena exclusively?”

The Pilates-Pro.com team just got back from the Body Mind Spirit educational conference that took place last weekend (April 23-27) in Santa Clara, CA. Pilates and Gyrotonic teachers took over the hotel and convention center as they floated between classes and the expo hall (and the pool—the weather was beautiful!). This year, the regular 3-day conference was fortified with two days of pre-conference intensives with tracks for both beginner and advanced instructors and those interested in scoliosis and osteoporosis. Yoga, which used to be on the BMS rooster, wasn’t available this year, but Feldenkrais and other somatic techniques were on offer.

The expo hall floor was also buzzing with equipment demos, new products and old favorites. Flip through our slideshow above for a few of the highlights, and look for more details about some of the products soon on the site.

P.S. We created the slideshow using Flickr and PictoBrowser. We’ve also started a Pilates-Pro.com group photo pool on Flickr, which is open to everyone to join and post and share Pilates pics. More on this later!

The first Saturday in May—May 3 this year—brings another Pilates Day celebration. The festivities, which are sponsored by the Pilates Method Alliance, once again call attention to the Pilates in the Schools Program, with the main event taking place at St. Philip’s Academy, in Newark, New Jersey, under the direction of Marggi Vangeli (pictured above with her students). Vangeli, a member of the PMA Board of Directors and owner of Bodies in Balance Pilates Studio in Madison, New Jersey, has been working with 5th graders at the inner city school since February; on Pilates Day she plans to lead her students through a matwork demonstration for the students’ family members and community leaders and also offer an open Pilates mat class.

Satellite Pilates Day events, held at volunteer studios from around the world, are being promoted as interest- and awareness-raising events rather than the PMA fundraisers we’ve seen in the past. Participating studios and instructors were encouraged to create activities that promote the Pilates in the Schools initiative, but those who don’t work with children have tailored classes and demonstrations to meet other community needs—like teaching area seniors—and promote the Pilates method.

If your studio is doing something special for Pilates Day, please share your plans in the comments section. Happy Pilates Day!

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RELATED LINKS
Pilates in the Schools
Top 7 PMA Highlights

Top Story: US News Touts Pilates for Building Balance in Elderly
A study about the effectiveness of yoga for preventing falls has some experts skeptical. Debra Rose, codirector of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence at University of Southern California, told US News that the improvements in coordination and motor skills that Pilates and tai chi provide are more effective at preventing falls when walking.

Athletes Still Love Pilates
LA Dodgers’ James Loney is using Pilates to “stay ahead of the curve” on the baseball field, while Philadelphia 76ers’ Maurice Cheeks introduced his entire basketball team to Pilates. Golfers in South Africa are also getting into the method.

More Pilates News
• Read the story of Dolly Kelepecz, a former showgirl who brought Pilates to Las Vegas.

• Is Feldenkrais “creeping into the consciousness of American households?” The Detroit Free Press thinks so—here’s its in-depth look at Feldenkrais, complete with a 5-minute audio guide.

Welcome to the new and improved Pilates-Pro.com. We’ve added some exciting resources and features that make our site an even better meeting place for the Pilates community on the Web. You can now:

• Search for jobs and post career opportunities on our Jobs page.
• Browse our calendar of worldwide continuing education workshops and use it to promote your own events.
• Ask questions and share ideas with other instructors and studio owners on our Community page.
• Search our archived articles for specific topics using the Search box on the top, left side of every page.
• Buy and sell equipment and promote new products on our Marketplace page.

So take a spin around and let us know what you think. While you’re at it, sign up for The Pulse, our free eNewsletter. In it you’ll find exclusive Pilates news, tips and advice, updates about the site and special offers from our partners.

Peace and health,
The Pilates Pro team

The British press is buzzing with more than just news of Prince Harry—we did a little digging and found a bevy of Pilates-related stories from the UK.

Britons Are Leaving the Gym
Memberships are plummeting at British gyms, which have “been elbowed aside by yoga, Pilates and outdoor boot-camp-style programmes such as park circuits,” according to The Times.

Pilates Wear Reviewed
The Telegraph takes a look at Manuka Life, a line of yoga, Pilates and meditation clothing. It’s only stocked in British stores, but they will ship to other countries, including the U.S.

London Physio Clinics a Great Place to Work
Congrats to Sports & Spinal Clinics of London, which was listed No. 65 in The Sunday Times’ Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work for 2008. This group of seven physiotherapy and rehab clinics incorporates Pilates into its clinical work and offers Pilates classes.

Cricket Player Paul Collingwood Credits Pilates
“I’ve got a Pilates bench that looks like a torture device,” said the stylish Collingwood in the Daily Mail.

…And in American news…
Instructors everywhere will appreciate this nice profile of Rosanna “Nahnie” Barberio, a dancer-turned-Pilates-instructor who left New York to start a studio in Lansing, MI.

We want to send a big “Thank You!” to all of the fabulous Pilates experts who contributed to Pilates Pro in 2007. In case you’re new to the site, here’s a snapshot of the year’s most popular articles. If you have topics you’d like to see us cover in ‘08, drop us an email.

1. The Anatomy of Core Stability by Kelly Kane
2. Pilates 101 for New Clients by Rebecca Leone
3. Osteoporosis and the Abs by Rebekah Rotstein
4. A New Approach to Billing Clients by Jullian Littleford
5. Restoring the Floor While Integrating the Core by Dawn-Marie Ickes

With every new year, we see new fitness industry forecasts circulating in the media. So how does ‘08 look for Pilates? Here are a few snapshots:

The American Council on Exercise’s new industry survey finds that “Hybrid Programming”—i.e. “Pilates Fusion” and “Spin-Yoga”—will continue to be popular. Sports-specific programming, “Boomer” fitness, express classes, total wellness programming, and functional strength training also made their top 10 list. While Pilates is mentioned only once, most of the trends apply to Pilates.

The New York Times blogged about new survey from Consumer Reports that found that respondents who go to private fitness studios, local gyms and community centers were more satisfied than those who go to national gym chains. This bias against big health clubs was echoed in an AP story, which predicts people will gravitate toward “small, boutique fitness centers, including Pilates and yoga studios” because the classes are better.

In the American College of Sports Medicine’s 2008 fitness trend survey, Pilates makes the list for the first time, coming in at No. 7. Last year, it had been lumped together with yoga under “mind/body exercise.” Topping the list is the trend toward “educated and experienced fitness professionals” as more fitness educational programs become accredited. (The PMA is moving toward this goal for Pilates programs as well). Programs targeting childhood obesity comes in at No. 2, and core training, programs for older adults and functional fitness also made the list.  

What trends are you seeing in your area? Are classes for seniors taking off? Are parents interested in children’s programs? Post your comments below.  

Now is the time to make your 2008 continuing education plans. If you’ve never attended a conference, check out the offerings on the next page. They are great opportunities to get out of the studio, meet new colleagues and build on your teaching skills. Read on for a rundown of some Pilates education conference happenings around the world.

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Are you still looking for ways to convince men that they’ll like Pilates (and see serious results!)? Point them to this new article from Men’s Fitness, in which a self-described “meathead” describes his inaguaral session with Michael Feigin of Half Moon Pilates and The Fitness Guru in Brooklyn, N.Y.

“Surprisingly, I thought, I might have actually enjoyed myself,” writes Brandon Guarneri. “Anyone who thinks Pilates is for girls, I realized, is working out for the wrong reasons. You’ve got to try stuff you’ve never done before, or you’ll never progress.”