Tag Archives: NLP

My Pilates Mentor

Does the world really need another Pilates book? I think yes, as long as it is something different and unique!

My Pilates Mentor will be the Pilates Book that I hope you have always been waiting for. It will contain the opinions of thousands of Pilates Teachers from all over the world, all asked the same set of questions, so you can get the best possible advice in the shortest possible time. My Pilates Mentor will include the opinions from teachers of all the different Schools of Pilates. After all, we all love Pilates and we want to share our experiences.

For over two years, I have been planning and working on this project, My Pilates Mentor. First things first, it is important to me that you know that I am not writing this book because I think I am better than you. In fact, I am writing it because I know I am not. I know that there are thousands of amazing ideas out there that I will never think of, and I decided that it was time to ask the family of Pilates teachers to come together to create a book that will serve as not only a great reference book for teachers and all lovers of Pilates, but it will also make them smile and realise that the wonderful Pilates community is like no other.

Any book takes a lot of time, sweat and tears to produce. You don’t write books to make money; there are much easier ways that take a lot less time and sleepless nights. This is more a labour of love, so I hope that you feel that on every page. And please remember that 50% of any profits from this book will go to the Pilates Carnival Charity Partners and to Save the Children.

I have been planning and working on this project for more than two years, and I am still in the process of receiving information from Pilates teachers, so if you are a teacher and you want to be included in this amazing project, then please CLICK HERE.

What this book aims to be:

• A resource for Pilates teachers and all people who love Pilates to quickly understand the opinions of thousands of Pilates teachers and to gain their years of experience on a number of topics in a few hours of reading.

• An interesting and fun expose on the world of Pilates teaching.

• Focused on both mat and machine Pilates to make sure that we can appeal to everyone who loves Pilates as much as we do.

Just to be clear as to what this book is not:

• It is not an anatomical guide – there are already many wonderful books dedicated to the anatomy of Pilates.

• It is not judging one of the many Pilates schools over another, so there will be no mention of any schools in this book other than under each teacher’s qualification details if they chose to have their name mentioned.

• It is not a technical guide as to how to do exercises, again there are plenty of those about.

So why might you decide to join this community project by contributing?

• You will be contributing to the Pilates community.
• You will be helping to introduce people to Pilates.
• You will be raising the profile of Pilates
• If I use one of your answers or a quote from you in the book (I will always seek your permission first), then I will give you a name credit within the book.
• At the end of the book, there will also be a list of all of the contributors who want their details published.
• You will be helping to create a geographic study of different trends and opinions.
• I will pay 50 percent of any profits to Pilates Carnival Charity Partners and to www.savethechildren.org.

My Pilates Mentor was and remains a massive task, but as soon as it is finished you can be the first to know be registering your interest. You can register your interest now and be one of the first people to get the e-book by contacting us.

Thank you for all your support! As ever, if you want to contact me then please leave a comment and I promise to reply.

Study NLP and MEDITATION WITH PilatesEVO Online

Study PilatesEVO Online

www.pilatesEVO.com

The PilatesEVO Online School gives access to everyone who wants to study with us. We offer online courses that can be studied where and when you choose.

PilatesEVO NLP
The connection between PilatesEVO and NLP is a very important part of the PilatesEVO system.

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is an approach to communication, personal development, and psychotherapy. There is a connection between the neurological processes, language, and behavioral patterns that have been learned through experience and can be organized to achieve specific goals in life.

NLP was created by Richard Bandler, a mathematics student, and John Grinder, a linguistics professor at the University of California in 1972. Since then other people have added their own techniques and ideas, and NLP has grown globally, but PilatesEVO is the first Pilates system that uses NLP as the foundation for learning and teaching.

The name NLP is quite self-explanatory:

Neuro or neurology is to do with the study of the nervous system and of the mind. It’s all about how we think and also about our physiology.

Linguistics is all about the study of language and how we use it and its effects on us and others.

Programming is about the sequence of actions that we take and the order we take them. Why we do and think the way we do, and how we get ourselves out of bed and motivated to do the things we want to do.

There are 7 main reasons why we use NLP in PilatesEVO:

1) It will make you/your client understand Pilates movements more easily
2) It will give you/your client more enjoyment in classes
3) It will enable you/your client to get more benefit from Pilates classes
4) It will enable you to become the best communicator that you can, and deliver information more effectively
5) It will enable you to understand your and your client’s needs and requirements
6) It will enable teachers to engage with all their clients including groups
7) It will help you in your everyday life to understand yourself and achieve the things you want to achieve.

A really important aspect of PilatesEVO’s use of NLP are representational systems. This is a simple thing to determine but is incredibly powerful and will help you understand yourself and your clients if you are a teacher. This is priceless because it will enable you to become a better communicator with everyone in your life, including yourself.

You can read more about Pilates and NLP by CLICKING HERE.

Pilates and Meditation

We believe that meditation should not be accepted a being a spiritual belief, but it also requires hard scientific evidence. We teach that the best way to live our lives is to be in the present moment, and not being lost in thought about the past, or worrying about the future, not being distracted or overwhelmed by difficult emotions. Instead learning how to be in the here and now, how to be mindful and how to be in the present. It sounds so ordinary and easy, but the truth is that it is anything but ordinary.

A few years ago a research paper from Harvard concluded that our minds are lost in thought almost 47% of the time. This constant mind wondering is also one of the main causes of unhappiness. Our lives are short, so to spend almost half of our life lost in thought and potentially unhappy is tragic, especially when there is something we can all do about. There is a positive, practical and scientifically proven technique which allows our mind to be healthier and less distracted. Even better news is that this need only take only 10 minutes a day and it is free! It can have a massive impact on our whole life.

Most people assume meditation is about controlling the mind, but this is not the case. It is about stepping back and seeing the thought and emotions clearly, witnessing them coming and going with a relaxed focused mind.

But we need to know how to do it. Mindfulness meditation is essentially familiarising ourselves with the present moment. So how can we approach it in the right way to best the best out of it?

So what is meditation?

One definition is:
Meditation is a practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object, visualization, the breath, movement, or attention itself in order to increase awareness of the present moment, reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance personal and spiritual growth.

The definition that PilatesEVO teach is that meditation is making the gaps in-between our thoughts longer.

In his book A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle says that the space between thoughts probably arise sporadically. Why we have not been aware about these spaces is because our consciousness had been so mesmerized by experienced and conditioned to identify with form that it does not become aware of inner space. You may be tempted to look for the Gap. However, you will not be able to seek for space; it just arises.

“Discover inner space by creating gaps in the stream of thinking. Without those gaps, your thinking becomes repetitive, uninspired, devoid of any creative spark, which is how it still is for most people on the planet.”

Eckhart Tolle suggests breath meditation to help bring space into our lives. When we become conscious of our own breath, we are absolutely present. Conscious breathing stops the process of thinking. But we are not asleep in this state. We are fully awake. Meditation offers the arising of space consciousness.

In Deepak Chopra’s book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, he talks about the Gap under the Law of Intention and Desire. Deepak shared that intention has an infinite organizing power. “Intention lays the groundwork for the effortless, spontaneous, frictionless flow of pure potentiality seeking expression from the unmanifest to the manifest.”

He then went on to outline the steps for manifesting our desires and getting them fulfilled in 5 steps. Here is the exact excerpt, making up the steps for 1 & 2:

(1) Slip into the gap. This means to centre yourself in that silent space between thoughts, to go into the silence – that level of Being which is your essential state.

(2) Establish in that state of Being, release your intentions and desires.

When you are actually in the gap, there’s no thought, there’s no intention, but as you come out of the gap at the junction between the gap and a thought, you introduce intention. If you have a series of goals, you can write them down and have your intention focused on them before you go into the gap. If you want a successful career, for example, you go into the gap with that intention, and the intention will already be there as a faint flicker in your awareness. Releasing your intentions and desires in the gap means planting them in the fertile ground of pure potentiality, and expecting them to bloom when the season is right. You do not want to dig up the seeds of your desires to see if they are growing, or get rigidly attached to the way in which they unfold. You simply want to release them.

We hope that Meditation Explained has given you a basic understanding about meditation, so that now you want to learn more. Now CLICK HERE to learn more.

As part of our commitment to the Pilates Carnival Foundation, we also offer some sponsored educations. Pilates Carnival was created to raise money for charity and give access to training to more Pilates teachers who may not be able to afford the usual cost. There are Pilates Carnival conventions all over the world where all profits go to a local children’s charity. No presenters or organisers make any money, and the cost for attending a weekend event with a full schedule of classes from international presenters is typically around 50€ to 100€. If you want to apply for a sponsored education, then please email us at pilatesEVOschool@pilatesevo.com. You will need to provide a covering presentation as to why you should be considered for sponsorship.

For more information on how to study PilatesEVO online and all our PilatesEVO online school courses, please click on the PilatesEVO School web page.

Every journey starts with an intention, and the first step. You are about to take your first step on the journey to become part of the PilatesEVO family.

www.pilatesEVO.com

Pilates not painkillers best cure for back pain

Pilates not painkillers best cure for back pain

www.pilatesevo.com

It always pleases me to see Pilates making the front pages of the newspapers. So this morning when my copy of The Times was delivered I was very happy to see the headline ”Pilates not painkillers best cure for backache”.

The article began by saying that taking drugs for back pain is largely pointless, following an overview of research.

The study was led by Manuela Ferriera of the George Institute in Sydney. Her team analysed 35 trials involving 6,000 patients using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for back pain and sciatica. Only one in six patients treated with the drugs received any pain relief that they would not have got from a placebo. But that relief was so small that it made no difference to their lives. However, the drugs almost doubled the risk of problems such as bleeding and stomach ulcers.

Dr Ferreira stated that “back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is commonly managed by prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs. Our results show that these drugs only provide very limited short-term pain relief. They do reduce the level of pain but only very slightly and arguable not of any clinical significance. When you factor in the side-effects which are common, it becomes clear that these drugs are not the answer to providing pain relief to the many millions who suffer from this debilitating condition every year.”

Pilates not painkillers best cure for backache
Gustavo Machado, another of the researchers said “Patients with back pain should consider an exercise program to help them manage their condition. For example aerobic exercises, strengthening/stretching exercises, Pilates and core-stability exercises.”

Of course, all us Pilates people are reading this having known the truth for many years having dealt with thousands of clients. But it’s always nice to see it reported in the mainstream press, especially the quality press.

I have written before about similar topics before, and I think it’s important to stress again that the best remedy for a back condition and many other issues is not, as the report says, only one thing. Even doing Pilates alone, whilst it will without doubt improve the condition, is not the best way to get the maximum results for your clients. We must deal with any problem in a holistic way. I agree with the article that this must include Pilates/core-stability exercises and also cardio, but I would add another vital element; mental health. It is totally proven that pain is as much psychological as it is physical, if not more so. So my advice is to treat back pain with appropriate and varied exercise. But also use techniques such as meditation. This is the total wellness I refer to in my PilatesEVO training courses. It is why in PilatesEVO I teach about meditation as well as NLP, meridians and functional movements.

I’d love to chat with other teachers so if you have any comments then please drop me a line by clicking on www.pilatesevo.com or email me at chris@pilatesevo.com.

Chris Hunt PilatesEVOChris Hunt is the creator of PilatesEVO, and he also runs wellness educations and retreats at the PilatesEVO School in Barcelona and online.

Pilates e Programa Neurolinguístico

Pilates e Programa Neurolinguístico

Pilates e Programa Neurolinguístico

www.pilatesevo.com

Pilates e PNL (Programa Neurolinguístico): como se tornar um melhor instrutor de Pilates

O Programa Neurolinguístico (PNL) é uma abordagem em comunicação, desenvolvimento pessoal, e psicoterapia. Há uma conexão entre processos neurológicos, linguagem e padrões comportamentais que são aprendidos através de experiências e que podem ser organizados para se atingir metas específicas na vida. Foi criado por Richard Bandler, um estudioso matemático, e John Grinder, um professor de linguística da Universidade da Califórnia em 1972. Desde então, outras pessoas têm complementado o programa com suas próprias técnicas e idéias. PNL tem crescido mundialmente e o PilatesEVO é um sistema em que se utiliza o PNL como base para aprender e ensinar o método Pilates. Este artigo tem como objetivo mostrar ao instrutor de Pilates, que é possível utilizar essa ferramenta para melhorar as aulas e o aprendizado dos alunos, visto que, muitas vezes os alunos têm dificuldade em entender os movimentos e porquê devem realizá-los da maneira que ensinamos. Assim como também temos alunos que são mais difíceis de fidelizar em nossas aulas.

O nome PNL é quase explicado por si só:

Neuro/Neurologia é o estudo do Sistema Nervoso. Como pensamos/como funciona todos nossos processos fisiológicos.
Linguística é o estudo da linguagem e de como usá-la, bem como seu efeito em nós e em outras pessoas.
Programação é sobre a sequência das ações que tomamos e a ordem em que as tomamos. Porque fazemos e porque pensamos da maneira que pensamos, e como nos levantamos da cama e nos motivamos a fazer todas as coisas que queremos a cada dia.
Então, no PNL tentamos unir todas estas áreas em um Sistema que pode ajudar pessoas a obter uma nova perspectiva de suas vidas, fazê-las melhores na comunicação e se comportarem diferente para alcançar o melhor. Claramente, esse trabalho pode ajudar pessoas a mudar suas próprias vidas para melhor, mas, em nosso caso, nos ajudar como profissionais do Pilates a melhor muito o aspecto da comunicação com nossos alunos e como lidar com diferentes tipos de pessoas!

Incluindo PNL na aula de Pilates

Existem 7 razões principais para se utilizer o NLP no Pilates

1) Faz com que seu aluno entenda os movimentos do Pilates com maior facilidade
2) Faz com que seu aluno goste mais de suas aulas
3) Permite que seu aluno ganhe maiores benefícios de sua aulas
4) Faz com que você possa se tornar um melhor professor, passando as informações de maneira mais eficaz
5) Faz com que você entenda melhor as necessidades do seu aluno
6) Faz com que você melhore a interação entre você e seu aluno, inclusive em aulas para grupos
7) Te ajuda em sua própria vida. Entender você mesmo e alcançar seus objetivos pessoais

Todos estes pontos acima também te ajudarão a manter seus alunos e a qualidade das aulas bem como o mais esperado: o resultado, seja ele qual for!
Há muitos aspectos do PNL que eu costumo ensinar durante o curso do método criado por mim, o PilatesEVO mas, neste artigo falarei sobre os Sistemas de Representação. É apenas uma parte do PNL mas, uma parte muito importante pois nos ajuda a entender como as outras pessoas aprendem.
Todos nós já passamos pela experiência de encontrar alguém que nos identificamos ao primeiro momento ou alguém com quem não nos sentimos muito confortáveis. Isso pode acontecer no trabalho, num bar, e crucialmente durante uma sessão de exercícios. Tenho visto pessoas deixarem de frequentar aulas dizendo “eu simplesmente não consigo” ou “eu não consigo me conectar com a aula ou com o professor”. Estas pessoas geralmente não têm consciência do porquê da existência destes sentimentos, mas através deste artigo podemos imaginar como se conscientizar sobre estes motivos e saber as razões pelas quais estes sentimentos podem ocorrer. Este conhecimento é muito poderoso e pode transformar nossas aulas e tornar-nos também pessoas de sucesso.

Classificação dos Sistemas de Representação
Nós processamos informações através de quatro formas distintas: visual; auditiva; cinestésica e cognitiva. Estas são as maneiras em que representamos o mundo aravés de nossos cinco sentidos e como nós tipicamente nos comunicamos de volta com o mundo. Quando a informação alcança nosso cérebro, uma experiência de mundo ganha significado e forma. Esta é a nossa representação, ou seja, nossa percepção da informação. Embora todos nós utilizemos todas os sistemas de representação, nós sempre tendemos a ter uma preferência entre eles.
Então quais são os quatro sistemas de representação (ou aprendizado)?

Visual
Pessoas visuais memorizam através de figuras ou fotos. Então, estas pessoas geralmente têm dificuldades em se lembrar de instruções verbais porque suas mentes tendem a “vagar”. São pessoas que se distraem menos com ruídos ou sons mais altos e geralmente utilizam frases visuais.

Pessoas visuais precisam “ver a informação” para poder entendê-las, gostam de um feedback baseado no visual e de usar gestos!

Auditivo
Pessoas que são predominantemente auditivas memorizam informações passo a passo e através de sequências. Gostam de ouvir o feedback através de conversas. Elas tendem a utilizar frases auditivas e se interessam naquilo que temos a dizer. Elas podem ser excelentes ouvintes, gostar de música e da voz falada.

Pessoas auditivas gostam de memorizar informações passo a passo, através de procedimentos sequênciais. Gostam de ouvir “como estão indo” e respondem à um determinado tom de voz ou conjunto de palavras.

Cinestésico
Pessoas cinestésicas processam informações que lhes são ditas para determinar seus sentimentos. Elas respondem bem ao toque e a recompensas físicas. Interessam-se em como se sentem e memorizam através do processo de realizar.

Pessoas cinestésicas respondem ao programa se sentirem-se bem. São pessoas muito físicas e gostam de ser tocadas. Elas aprendem atráves de uma ensino passo a passo.

Cognitivo
Pessoas cognitivas “conversam consigo mesmas” e gostam de pensar em como as informações podem fazer sentido e então as entendem. Dão muito valor na lógica e gostam de detalhes.

Pessoas cognitivas: precisam entender porque estão fazendo aquilo que estão realizando. Novas idéias precisam fazer sentido e serem lógicas para que elas possam se engajar completamente.

Há um teste simples para se fazer em casa que dá a idéia de qual sistema de aprendizado fazemos parte. No link https://www.facebook.com/pilatesevo, é possível mandar uma mensagem inbox com endereço de email e então enviaremos um teste. É possível utilizarmos este teste com os nossos alunos!
Neste teste podemos ver que aprendemos através da fusão destes sistemas, mas com um ou dois sistemas dominantes. Estatísticas sugerem que em países desenvolvidos, 60% das pessoas são predominantemente visuais, 20% auditivas e 20% cinestésicas. Isso explica porque fotos de propagandas no Facebook funcionam melhor do que os anúncios feitos apenas com palavras ou textos. Então, vale a pena lembrar disso quando criamos materiais de marketing e também quando estamos ministrando nossa aula de Pilates!
O sistema de aprendizado que usamos com maior predominância é como um idioma especial que abraça todos os nossos processos mentais de consciência, do pensamento, das lembranças, da imaginação e da percepção. Entender todas estas questões mais claramente, permite que nos comuniquemos melhor conosco e com outras pessoas e que possamos controlar a maneira que interpretamos as informações. Então, uma vez que entendemos mais sobre como representamos informações para nós mesmos, podemos melhorar nosso próprio aprendizado e nossas aulas focando em um sistema favorito e desenvolvendo os outros sistemas também de acordo com nossos alunos.

Como utilizar os Sistemas de Aprendizagem

Se ensinarmos utilizando somente os métodos visual e auditivo (como muitos professores fazem), não será surpresa se algumas pessoas em nossas aulas não responderem adequadamente ao que ensinamos. Isso nos mostra que possivelmente, elas preferem outros sistemas que não estamos utilizando.

Como podemos maximizar o potencial de treinamento em nossos alunos?

Pessoas visuais: devemos dar demonstrações claras dos movimentos

Pessoas auditivas: devemos instruir de forma muito clara enquanto demonstramos os movimentos.

Pessoas cinestésica: devemos tocar os alunos até o ponto em que sintam certeza de que seus corpos estão realmente alinhados da maneira que devem ficar e seus movimentos estão perfeitos ao ponto de estas pessoas sentirem realmente as sensações devidas.

Pessoas Cognitivas: devemos explicar não somente como fazer os movimentos mas, o porquê de estarmos realizando estes movimentos. Estas pessoas precisam entender o que estão fazendo e o porquê estão fazendo.

Parece óbvio mas, quando nos aprofundamos nos sistemas de aprendizado, passamos a avaliar muito melhor nossos alunos e a conhecê-los melhor também assim como a nós mesmos. Nossas aulas ficam mais produtivas e os alunos interagem melhor com o grupo e com o instrutor. A fidelização dos alunos aumenta e são vistos muitos resultados satisfatórios. Os objetivos são alcançados rapidamente. Vamos testar!

Por Chris Hunt – Nascido em Londres/Criador do Método PilatesEVO que utiliza movimentos mais funcionais, PNL, meridianos e meditação (utilizado por muitos instrutores de Pilates em vários países incluindo Russia e toda a Europa, chegando agora no Brasil!).Trabalha com Pilates há 25 anos. Parceiro da MR3 – Sport/Training/Nutrição em São Paulo (com Marcelo Capella). Cursos no Brasil (São Paulo, dias 19, 20, 21 e 22 de Maio). Contato: educations@pilatesevo.com

Traduzido pela fisioterapeuta Dra. Renata Barros dos Santos (MR3 – Sport/Training/Nutrição)

Pilates EVO by Chris Hunt

Pilates EVO London Educations

Pilates EVO by Chris Hunt

Pilates EVO by Chris Hunt

Pilates EVO is the only system that allows and encourages its teachers to bring their own ideas and experiences and create new combinations that can be used all over the world. Do you always want to be told what to do? Or do you want to create your own Universe?

Pilates EVO by Chris Hunt

To find out how this system seemlessly incorporates NLP, meridians, mindfulness meditation, scared numbers and Kundalini in a flowing practise with a unique soundtrack, click on www.pilatesevo.com. Blend the old with the new.

The next Pilates EVO educations in 2015 are in the UK in October (London and the Cotswolds) and in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in November. For more information and to book your place, just click on  our Facebook Events Page.

PilatesEVO: Revolutionary wellness system comes to London

PilatesEVO London Educations May

PilatesEVO© FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 30th March 2015
Chris Hunt Pilates
Carrer dels Carders
08003, Barcelona
pilatesevo@chrishuntpilates.com

REVOLUTIONARY WELLNESS SYSTEM FUSING OLD AND NEW FINALLY COMES HOME TO LONDON
PilatesEVO© returns to its birthplace to show the UK what it has been missing

London, UK:
Pilates EVO©, the revolutionary fitness system has today announced it first educations in the UK on 28th, 29th and 30th of May 2015 at Fitness For Less in New Malden, Surrey. Already popular throughout Europe and Russia, Pilates EVO©is finally coming home to the UK. This unique ever-evolving system is totally different to the many commercially orientated systems on the market that tell teachers and participants exactly what to do and when to do it, because they do not trust them to think for themselves. One of the most important unique features of PilatesEVO© is that it is the only system that allows its teachers to create their own movement combinations, that if approved might then be introduced to the system worldwide. PilatesEVO© actively encourages teachers and participants to create their own Universe. Welcome to a breath of fresh air; welcome to the world of PilatesEVO©.

“Life is always moving forward, always changing, always evolving. When we awaken to the fact that we cannot stop or control change, that we should embrace change, then we are able to move forward as well. From this philosophy I created Pilates EVO©. We should never forget our past. It built the foundation that our present so depends. But the past is not an excuse to stay still and not plan for a different future. Just as Pilates works the body from the inside out, the proactive approach to life is to change from the inside out: to be different, and by being different to effect positive change in yourself and the world.”
Chris Hunt, creator of PilatesEVO©.

About PilatesEVO©
Pilates EVO©(EVO is an abbreviation of “evolution”) is like no other fitness experience. Developed by Chris Hunt Pilates in London, it takes wellness in a new and exciting direction by incorporating functional training methods and movement patterns, whilst staying true to traditional Pilates principles. It expands the mind and body element of exercise by incorporating modern Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and ancient Mindfulness Meditation techniques to maximise psychological and physical benefits, improving concentration and making clients emotionally, mentally and spiritually fitter. It improves motor fitness such as agility, balance, speed, co-ordination, reaction time and power. Pilates EVO© also draws on the thousands of years of teachings from Kundalini yoga and meridian stretches to enhance the overall experience.

It has flow and movement with sequences of moves created using the sacred numbers 3, 7 and 21. It uses uplifting soundtracks mixed in London by DJ Shameless to enable clients to really connect with their body, giving a far deeper and rewarding experience. It is appropriate for all ages and abilities as the movements have different levels progressing muscular fitness using repetitions, range of motion, rate and resistance. This creates a total system that will remain challenging to a wide range of training goals from elite athletes to people seeking everyday fitness.

Pilates EVO© is a total wellness system and a way of life. A way to maximise potential physically, mentally and emotionally.

www.pilatesevo.com

About Chris Hunt
A former Claims Manager in the financial markets of the City of London, Chris had a mid-life enlightenment (as opposed to a mid-life crisis….) and left behind the rat-race and fighting for a seat on the daily commute to dedicate his life to his true calling, health, wellness and helping people. Chris is a fully qualified Pilates teacher (OCR in England) and now travels the world teaching teachers about Pilates, functional training and wellness. Chris spent time in Bangkok and is qualified in Thai Massage (meridian lines) and meditation. Chris lives and works in London and Barcelona where he enjoys meditating, surfing, snowboarding, rock climbing, and making music. He organises unique health conventions around the world, where all profits go to local children’s charities. You can read more about Chris by clicking on http://www.chrishuntblog.com/about/

Pilates EVO at MIOFF 2014

MIOFF Presenter Chris Hunt Pilates EVO

 www.pilatesevo.com

I will be presenting Pilates EVO in Moscow, Russia at MIOFF in October 2014. I hope to see lots of my friends there and I am sure that I will meet lots of new friends as well.

Click on the image above to read about MIOFF and Pilates EVO (there is an English language option).

During my visit in October I will be holding a 3 day Pilates Foundation Education, a 3 day Pilates EVO Advanced Education, and a 2 day Introduction to Pilates course. There will also be some Pilates EVO masterclasses.

For more information about attending the courses, please contact me as soon as possible as places are very limited. If you are a club in Moscow and you want to talk about bringing Pilates EVO to your club, then please contact me.

See you in Moscow!

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©, bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength.  He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. For more information about Pilates with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays 50% of any money made from this BLOG to his charity partners. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.

 

Pilates EVO: From the heart

The Pilates EVO logo is based on the Arcane Wheel
The Pilates EVO logo is based on the Arcane Wheel

www.pilatesevo.com

When we create something ourselves, it can be a difficult step to share our creation with the world. What will people think? Will they like it? Will they criticize or praise? Will it be a success? I have always followed the words of Aristotle, who famously said, “there is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing and be nothing”.

When I was young, I suffered from a lot of back pain. I was born with a spine defect and that led to poor posture which made my problem worse. Hours spent playing sports and practising the piano further added to my problems. I tried many things to help, but Pilates was the thing that really changed my life. It enabled me to live a full life, to run marathons, to snowboard, surf, play golf and never think twice about my back before trying something new. From that day forward, I had a passionate belief that Pilates could help many people improve their quality of life.

In the early days, whilst still practising and studying Pilates I was worked in the City of London as an Insurance Manager. I continue to this day working as a Senior Business Consultant so my life has an excellent balance.

I travelled the world teaching Piates and learning (we never stop learning, and anyone who says any different is very sadly mistaken). As well as Pilates, I was interested in kundalini and other methods of functional training. I also developed a deep love of meditation which took me to the Buddhist Temples of Thailand. Whilst there, I also discovered and studied meridians, becoming qualified in Thai Massage. It was not just the body that interested me. I had always been interested in psychology, in what I saw as “total fitness”. I studied Buddhist psychology and other modern concepts such as Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).

As I travelled teaching Pilates, within my subconscious there was a seed that was growing, an idea that I could use all my knowledge to create a different type of Pilates that reflected the ancient and modern. I am classically trained, and it pains me to see some of the new systems that claim to be “Pilates” when they are clearly nothing of the sort. So I took my time to think about how my new system could stay true to the principles of Pilates, to my principles, but how I could add to the experience my own knowledge, character and ideas.

It was important for to me to create a system from my heart, a system where everything has meaning and purpose. In my opinion there are too many systems and teachers who teach not from their heart, but from their bank balance. To quote Einstein, “Nothing truly valuable arises from ambition or from a mere sense of duty.”

From this melting pot evolved my system, and whilst meditating it became obvious to me that I should call it Pilates EVO©, as EVO is an English abbreviation of evolution.

I believe that BLOGS should be as short (and hopefully sweet) as possible, so what in as few words as possible is my system about?

During my travels I was disappointed to see that many people treated people Pilates as purely a physical system. So one of my main aims was that Pilates EVO© expands the mind and body element of Pilates by incorporating Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Mindfulness Meditation techniques and mantras to maximise the psychological and physical benefits, making clients emotionally, mentally and spiritually fitter whilst still improving motor fitness such as agility, balance, speed, co-ordination, reaction time and power.

Pilates EVO© is still predominantly Pilates, but it also draws on the thousands of years of teachings from Kundalini yoga and meridian stretches to further increase muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, and help prevent injury and improve performance for life and sport.

Pilates EVO© has a constant flow of movement with combinations of moves called Rites created using the sacred numbers 3, 7 and 21 linked by transitional movements. The sequences have different levels progressing muscular fitness using repetitions, range of motion, rate and resistance. This creates a system that will remain challenging to a wide range of training goals from elite athletes, people seeking everyday fitness, to clients rehabilitating following accident or injury. Whilst at its lowest levels Pilates EVO© is appropriate for beginners to Pilates, the beauty of the system means that at higher levels it can provide even the most experienced and advanced athletes with a very challenging work-out.

Music has always been a massive part of my life. I am a classically trained pianist and I play guitar, sing and write songs. I wanted every detail of EVO to maximise the total experience, so it has its own unique uplifting soundtracks mixed in London designed to enable clients to really connect with how their body is moving and working, giving a deep and rewarding experience.

It was very important to me to ensure that the teachers I trained to deliver Pilates EVO© understood all of the theory, spirituality and science behind the system. Pilates EVO© can be practised as a purely physical system , but by doing so the student is missing out on the deeper potential of the system.  I did not want the training to be just another weekend studying choreography and creating robots. Every EVO© teacher has to feel the system in their heart, if not I will not pass them. They must understand where the system comes from, otherwise they could not possibly be able to teach it properly. Pilates EVO© offers an extensive technical, in-depth anatomical teacher training program that includes Foundation and Advanced level qualifications, and seven specialist modules (including EVO Tactility© that teaches appropriate contact and cueing, EVO Forever Young© for the over 60’s and EVO Pregnancy©) enabling teachers to become experts in many areas.

I accept Pilates teachers from all schools of Pilates into my training program, but everyone who comes to the education must have a formal recognisable Pilates qualification. Part of the educations are aimed at giving teachers the skills and knowledge to enable them to become better teachers; not just better Pilates EVO© teachers, but in anything they teach. The knowledge they gain can also be used in everyday life in relationships with friends, partners and family.

I do not see Pilates EVO© as something I own or something I must have absolute control over. Dictatorships rarely last long. I wanted the system to be flexible so another aspect of Pilates EVO© is that at Advanced Level, teachers are empowered to create their own combinations of moves, so of which I use at future educations. To me this creates an ever evolving system that every qualified teacher can enhance with their own direction and imagination. Pilates EVO© is a community with all members contributing with ideas and energy.

Of course Pilates EVO© will not be for everyone. I expect and even welcome the negative comments because every positive value has its price in negative terms. I see negativity as an opportunity for me to explain more. I am happy that the positive comments have far outweighed the negative, and that the vast majority of people can see what it is I am trying to achieve and that I am passionate about it. So even if they do not fully agree with my methods, they respect my reasons for trying.

I feel blessed that Pilates EVO© is being taught throughout Europe and Russia and I now have Pilates EVO© teachers in over 12 countries. Its amazing growth has only been limited by the fact that I insist on training each and every potential EVO teacher personally, but that will never change.

Life is always moving forward, always changing, always evolving. When we awaken to the fact that we cannot stop or control change, that we should embrace change, then we are able to move forward as well. From this philosophy I created Pilates EVO©.

We should never forget our past. It built the foundation that our present so depends. But the past is not an excuse to stay still and not plan for a different future.

If you would like more details about the system, about how to become a Pilates EVO© teacher, about hosting an education or masterclass, or you just want to chat, then please contact me via Facebook or email the team on evolve@pilatesevo.com.

Chris is an international Pilates and functional training presenter and educator based in London and Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©.  He also created Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. He organises fitness holidays and sports holidays in Barcelona, as well as retreats. For more information about training with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway? You can also subscribe by completing the form on the this BLOG to receive articles and special offers straight to your inbox.

Chris pays all profits made from this BLOG to his charity partners. More details can be found by clicking on www.chrishuntwellness.com and selecting the “charity partners” tab.

 

 

Chris Hunt Blog is moving!

So, after having so much fun with my blog over the past few months, the limitations of having it on the free WordPress hosting have become just too unbearable. So today my blog will be moved to the new domain address of www.chrishuntblog.com.

This move should be seamless, and the new domain hosting should be up and running by this evening, but if there are any problems then please let me know because I do not want to lose any of my valued subscribers or readers.

So here’s to a brave new world. Well, it’s not so new. And it isn’t really brave either.

Chris is an international Pilates presenter and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. He is the creator of Pilates EVO©, bodyFUNC©, and CEO of Pilates Rehab Limited and Sport Core Strength.  He also organises Pilates Carnival and Fitness Carnival, conventions where all profits go to local children’s charities. For more information about Pilates with Chris in Barcelona, please click on Barcelona Bienestar. To learn more about Chris, please read Just who is Chris Hunt anyway?