My Learn from the Leaders Experience

About 19 years ago I was sitting at a birthday lunch. I was at the stage in my life where my eldest daughter, Chelsea-Ann was going off to play school in the mornings and being home in the afternoons. My son Stuie, was soon to follow suit. I was teaching ballet at the local ballet school in the afternoons. Something had to change!

My love for dance, movement and the human body was what I wanted to continue doing. What were my options? On my right at the lunch table was JOANNE Enslin-Madden, a well-known physiotherapist in Johannesburg, South Africa. JO was/is also a Stott trained Pilates Instructor. She suggested I try a Pilates session at her studio. I was there the next!

Theo van der Riet-Botha was my instructor! I suppose the rest is history! Within a month I enrolled into New York Classical method of Pilates. (At this stage BASI had not yet come to SA.) A year later I was led to a workshop that Rael Isacowitz was teaching in Johannesburg at the end of certifying/evaluating the first South African course!

I was blown away! I fell in love with BASI Pilates and Rael! The science behind the movements, the explanations on why and how made sense! Movement for functionality and improved quality of life gave me purpose greater than teaching exercise!

I was privileged enough to redo my Pilates certification through BASI and was certified by Rael Isacowitz in 2001.  My hunger for knowledge grew. I attended my first conference in Australia in 2002. Rael and Karen Clippenger were the presenters. Jet lag never had time to set in. There was so much sharing of information in the most generous and inspiring way. It was unconditional and never ending. It is much like a parents love and commitment for a child. I had found a mentor, a guide, a friend and an extended family that I belonged to that would always be there for me.

The development of the BASI Advanced Education “Pilates through Pregnancy and Beyond” evolved over many years of research. Having had my first child in my 20’s, the next in my 30’s and my last child at 40 plus motivated me to take the pre and postnatal workshop into a 3-day program. The first two days being Prenatal and the last Postnatal. This program has taken me around the world. In 2016, I will be presenting in 12 different locations across the globe.

As a presenter, I always feel I am the greatest learner. The attendees’ input and questions pose the opportunity to question what I am presenting. This keeps me updated with the latest research on Pre and Postnatal Pilates.

For the 2016 LFTL, I am presenting a 3-hour Postnatal Workshop. The time will allow an introduction into the area for a basic understanding of how to work with postnatal clients. The challenges a postnatal client may have and what you need to consider as a Pilates instructor for their continued exercise program.

The 2016 LFTL Conference has an array of topics with experienced presenters to choose from. There is so much to choose from. If you have an interest in a particular field, play in that area. You will be drawn into the BASI family and the greater Pilates world where you can truly experience a sense of community stronger than any other.