Understanding the Block System©
Abdominal Work
This is the fifth article in a series on the BASI Block System by Theo van der Riet, one of three BASI principal instructors and owner of Body Intellect studio in Pretoria, South Africa. The studio is also the headquarters of
BASI South Africa. An internationally-recognized BASI Pilates teacher.
Hip work is normally introduced into the teaching program after several weeks’ acquaintance with the
Block System™. It is a section that demands awareness and an already-established sense of pelvic-lumbar stabilization.
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. As a weight-bearing joint, it is surrounded by several muscles that help to both stabilize and mobilize. Correct functioning and recruitment of muscles in this area will assist the client with walking, standing, sitting and in general move with more efficiency.
When comparing hip work in Pilates to traditional gym exercises, it is clear that in the gym environment, hip work is primarily done in the coronal and/or sagittal plane. Pilates, on the other hand, encourages circular movement of the hip joint. Circular movement in a joint, especially a synovial joint such as the hip, improves lubrication and supplies the joint with the nutrients necessary for functional movement.
Disassociation in the hip joint between the pelvis and femur is a key feature in moving functionally. By encouraging disassociation in the hip joint, muscles with stabilizing roles (above and below the hip joint support the pelvis. This in turn, improves the neuromuscular pattern controlling the hip joint and lumbar spine,
You can imagine hip work as a spoon stirring soup in a pot. It’s a circular movement that should be smooth, controlled and equal in both hips. Let’s look at the different exercises in the BASI Pilates® Hip Work Block.
Cadillac: The Cadillac provides a stable platform for the introduction of hip work. When you teach this section, ensure that the spring load is low. Too much resistance could pull the pelvis out of alignment, resulting in incorrect muscle recruitment. Minimize the effort in the arms.
Double Leg Hip Work (Bilateral Hip Work)
· Frog
· Circles Down & Up
· Walking
· Bicycle
· Bicycle Reverse
Single Leg Hip Work (Unilateral Hip Work.) This series can be done in parallel or turn-out
· Frog
· Circles Down & Up (great assist for Mat Leg Circles)
· Extension
· Bicycle
· Bicycle Reverse
Avalon Arm Chair: The Hip series on the Avalon Arm Chair is similar to that on the Cadillac, but with a very unique feature. It gives the client the opportunity to go into hip extension, a movement that is not encountered in the traditional hip work block.
Reformer: The Reformer is an unstable base where much more control is required to move efficiently. Take great care when introducing this series to a client for the first time, especially putting him/her into the straps and taking them out. Because of the unstable base, it is potentially dangerous. Give sufficient initial support by guiding the client’s legs until they feel comfortable and in control.
Series 1: (Bilateral Hip Work - Basic)
· Frog
· Circles Down & Up
· Openings
Series 2: (Bilateral Hip Work - Intermediate)
· Circles Down & Up
· Extended Frog
· Extended Frog Reverse
Mat: Leg Circles are a wonderful introduction to hip work and hip disassociation on the mat. Although done without the support of springs, practicing it initially with a flexed knee and progressing to a straight position gives the client invaluable information on hip disassociation and pelvic-lumbar stabilization.
Have fun teaching
Theo
Upcoming BASI Pilates™ Workshops
We’re busy scheduling workshops for 2011 and would like your input. So far we have workshops
scheduled on Pregnancy, Golf, Assessment (Pilates Matrix), Marathon Mat Class, etc
On which subjects would you like more info? Let me know and I can see how to make it a reality…
theo@pilatessa.co.za
Feet first for Lower Extremity Alignment – Yasmin Lambat
Workshop Description:
A key component of movement education is to enhance posture and gait pattern through improving the alignment of
the lower extremity from the feet up. Whilst hip disassociation is important in core training, footwork is often ignored or less considered when dealing with postural issues. This workshop looks at simple ways to improve lower extremity alignment, using both footwork and hip disassociation exercises. There are some great "take home" exercises for clients with foot and lower extremity issues and are a great compliment to any postural, sports or rehabilitation programme. Schedule for the day will include, Anatomy of the foot it's function and influence on postural alignment, review of the alignment of the lower extremity including hip, knee and ankle, Foot exercises with props, hip disassociation movement for core control.
Dates: 6 November 2010
Venue: Pure Motion Studio, Johannesburg
Time: 9:00 - 16:00
Duration: 6 hours with 1 hour lunch
Cost: R1200
Spinal Biomechanics – James Raaff
Optimizing Spinal Biomechanics: What you should know as a Pilates Instructor
Back pain affects at least 80% of us some time in our lives. Billions are spent annually by people looking for relief from back pain through surgery, doctor's visits, X-rays, MRI scans and medications. Many sufferers seek remedy at Pilates studios after poor assessment of the situation, narrow clinical approach and symptomatic focus (rather than functional focus) leaves them frustrated. In this workshop you will upgrade your understanding of spinal biomechanics allowing you to create more specific and effective mat exercises for this population. Although rehabilitation is not the domain of Pilates instructors, some Pilates instructors can play a great supportive role in the prevention and treatment of back pain. If you'd like to work alongside a medical rehabilitation team, this workshop is for you.
Dates: 23 October 2010
Venue: Body Intellect 3, 14th Street, Menlo Park, Pretoria
Time: 9:00 - 16:00
Duration: 6 hours
CPD accreditation: To be confirmed
Cost: R950
At Body Intellect
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is starting at Body Intellect. Every Thursday from 7:45 to 8:45. It is great fun and a
wonderful addition to your exercise program. Call Corli at 083 611 1507.
BASI Pilates™ Affiliated Studios
Are you a BASI Pilates™ Graduate? If so, we would like to advertise your studio and/or services on www.pilatessa.co.za. This gives you the unique opportunity to have students do some of their required hours at your studio and have the opportunity to recruit instructors for your studio. Email theo@pilatessa.co.za with all relevant info to put your details on the website, e.g. name, studio name, city, suburb, year of certification, mat or comprehensive. This is absolutely FREE!
Advertising Opportunities
We all are looking for equipment or instructors at some point. This monthly newsletter gives all Pilates instructors or studio owners the opportunity to advertise here for R80 a placement. This newsletter reach over 2500 Pilates enthusiast and chances are great that your requirements will be filled. Email theo@pilatessa.co.za with your wants and needs.
For your information…
What is REPS and how does it work?
REPS, the Register for Exercise Professionals, is an independent public register which recognises the qualifications and expertise of health enhancing exercise instructors, currently operating around the world via affiliation to ICREPS.
The international picture (ICREPS):
The purpose of the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals (ICREPS) is to promote portability of qualified exercise professionals through the co- operation and affiliation of national registration schemes. ICREPS exists to serve the worldwide community of exercise professionals through an agreed framework of knowledge and competency standards which are set for professionals and which are recognised through an independent registration process.
The founding members of the Confederation are the registers for exercise professionals operating in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and through the European Union Register which is known as EREPS. A formal affiliation agreement between these founders was signed in March 2007. (source: www.exerciseregister.org)
The ICREPS criteria for a register are as follows: it should be a non-profit organisation, independent to all training providers and supported by the exercise/fitness industry. (source www.ICREPS.org)
The situation in South Africa:
SRSA has confirmed that REPS will be the Fitness register for South Africa once the Fitness Regulation is in place (anticipated 2011) – this will be prescribed in the Regulation.
Registration of Exercise Professionals of South Africa (REPSSA) is a training register that has been in the process of formation for a few years now. REPSSA had to meet the strict criteria mentioned above (and more), and have now secured the rights to launch the REPS register in South Africa. REPSSA will follow the same standards (with consultation of the Fitness Board) as subscribed by the other REPS, thereby giving us International portability and credibility. This thereby provides a system of regulation that safeguards the public, the employer and the fitness professional that all are meeting the required standard. In South Africa, the Fitness Board (to be formed as per the regulation) will govern the Fitness Industry (and Pilates) standards. The Fitness board and REPS will determine the accepted national standard, with feedback and input from the industry to ensure all role players are involved in the process.
How REPS is anticipated to affect Pilates in South Africa:
It is anticipated that the REPS model for Pilates will be based on the UK, where specific Pilates qualification standards are in place. A Pilates instructor is a REPS level 3 qualification, which is comparable to a NQF level 5 qualification in South Africa.
A Pilates instructor will require an Exercise Science background as well as a Pilates qualification according to the REPS standards. The Pilates qualification standards are being distributed to education providers for comment, email us if you require a copy. As the register in South Africa does not exist yet, please forward any comment on the Pilates standards to us (info@pilatesinfo.co.za).
For a Pilates instructor to be registered by REPS, an accredited qualification is required. We have the opportunity now to review the international REPS Pilates standard and define a Pilates qualification in South Africa that meets this standard. Education
providers can then accredit their training programs according to the Pilates qualification. Training programs in this sense refer to primary Pilates instructor training programs as opposed to workshops and short courses, which could be accredited for CPD (continuous professional development) points.
What if my training does not meet the REPS standard?
There will be an opportunity within a specified time period to supplement your training if required, i.e. do more courses. There will also be opportunities for RPL (recognition of prior learning) e.g. if you completed a course with an education provider that is no longer in business. In the UK a RPL process can be completed via one of two options:
(1) attend an ‘assessment day’ where theoretical and practical exams can be done – if you pass the exam, you qualify to be registered; or
(2) provide a body of evidence that you meet the standard via prior learning and experience. It is likely that REPS in South Africa will follow a similar route.
Why should Pilates be part of REPS?
1. Qualification standards
Pilates is a growing industry, which means that it is an attractive business to be part of. If there is no standard qualification defined, anyone can claim to be a Pilates instructor, regardless of their level of training. This is bad for the industry and can be dangerous to prospective clients who may get hurt by exercising incorrectly.
Accepting the REPS standard and defining a qualification that meets the standard should drastically reduce the incidence of unqualified Pilates instructors working in the industry and therefore lift the overall level of Pilates practiced in South Africa. Once Pilates clients understand that a REPS registered Pilates instructor underwent a certain standard of training, it will make their choice of Pilates trainer much easier.
The Pilates industry may well decide to define a further qualification for Pilates instructors who wish to register at REPS level 4 in future, but accepting a REPS level 3 qualification will be a great start!
There is an estimated 1400 Pilates sessions being presented each month in the large gym groups. Pilates in gyms is often criticized for format and presentation, especially in gyms without specialised Pilates studios. Adopting a REPS level 3 Pilates qualification standard will ensure that Pilates instructors working in the gyms will have to comply with this level of training.
2. International mobility
For South Africans specifically, international mobility is a key consideration when choosing a profession. Pilatesinfo gets a lot of emails asking about the international portability of Pilates instructor training. This may be especially relevant for students still deciding about a future as a Pilates instructor.
ICREPS specifically promote international mobility and their members operate in over 30 countries. If you are registered with REPS in South Africa it will be much
easier to register with REPS elsewhere and therefore work in another country.
The next step: email us if you want a copy of the Pilates standards and email your questions and comments. For more information about REPS, visit
www.exerciseregister.org.
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