If you come to any of my private or group sessions you will see that I never teach flexion in the traditional pilates series from the floor or crunch type movements. I have attended many types of movement sessions around the world where I see participants straining their neck and being told to build strength and work through the ache, even though they my not have the correct alignment and mobility to be doing these movement patterns.
I feel we have to move with the times and have a look at the type of clients we have in front of us and also what they have been doing in the day. None of us leave our hand baggage at the studio door. We are physical, mental, emotional and spiritual human beings and will bring our daily stresses into our posture and class. Our daily life consists of driving, sitting, texting, sitting at computer screens and rushing around with our heads leading the way. The last thing I would want to do is put a client into more flexion by either sitting them on a spin bike or doing a series of flexed positions from the floor. You can read my full article here on forward head and will notice that I make most of you work with the head rest down and tucking the chin into chest when working on the Pilates Reformer.
However I would teach neck flexion when starting from extension e.g from a swiss ball or foam roller. This is because most explosive movements in life and especially in sport would involve flexion but are preceded by some form of extension. People like Gary Gray and Paul Chek go into this in great depth.
The U.S. Army has started phasing out sit-ups for some soldiers, and the Navy and Marine Corps are considering new fitness requirements. Personal trainers and military advisers now believe that sit-ups are dangerous, because they put too much pressure on the spine. They say men and women should replace them with the plank pose, which is when you stay in the upward part of a push-up.
An editorial in Navy Times, which covers the US Navy, recently called for sit-ups to be banned completely. It called them an ‘outdated exercise today viewed as a key cause of lower back injuries’. The Navy is said to be currently reviewing it fitness requirements. The US Marine Corps is also reviewing its physical fitness and body composition standards – in an attempt to improve fitness and reduce injuries. Click here for the full article.
Nisha is a certified level 3 Chek practitioner and holistic lifestyle coach specialising in Pilates and Yoga. Her journey started when a visiting Laban teacher introduced her to Pilates at Dance College in a contemporary class during her first year.
Its effects were forgotten but she then re-discovered Pilates through Michael King eleven years later whilst running her dance school.
Her background spans over 32 years with formal training in classical ballet, modern dance, tap, national choreography, stage production and theatre.
Her formation includes Pilates, Thai bodywork, Yoga, GYROTONIC, GYROKINESIS, Garuda and anatomical studies. Her particular interest is fascia, and the connective lines and movement patterns that allow a full moving structure rather than the isolation of bones and muscles.
Her fascination with questioning the traditions of modern medicine and fascination with searching for meaningful answers has taken her in many different directions and has offered her an abundance of opportunities gaining a wealth of knowledge. “I tried many movement modalities and extended my search after experiencing fascia, because of its connection of movement. Quickly, I noticed my own body changing, as well as the bodies of my own clients. In the last 32 years of teaching I’ve developed my own movement and lifestyle philosophy".
Throughout her studies Nisha has done numerous dissections with Julian Baker, Mel Cash and Cery Davies and has the opportunity to take lectures and courses from James de Silva, Robert Schleip, Joanne Avison, Tom Myers, Matt Wallden, Leigh Brandon, Emma Lane, Gary Carter, Paul Chek, Dan Hellman, Peter Blackaby plus many more.
Nisha's teaching method promotes reflective self-discovery and provides the requirements to integrate a shift in consciousness for attaining individual goals.
Nisha teaches in her own studios in St. Helens and Manchester, plus she also has an online following. Throughout her career she has also taught Sting, Sir Ian McKellen, Cirque de Soleil, Will Young and Belinda Carlisle. She has also worked in professional football and both Rugby League and Union for over 20 years. Players she has provided a specific program for were former Manchester Citys Vincent Kompany, Everton's Steven Pinnear and goal keeper Jonas Lossi.
She maintains that an attitude of compassion, consistency and joyous humour are excellent components to growth and expanded potential.
She welcomes all level of movers from the beginner to the seasoned athlete who have a desire to increase their skill potential, also teachers and students. Her specialties include assisting post rehabilitative back pain individuals, injury prevention for athletes and spine health for everyday people.
