that will be the Kendall “Muscle Testing and Function” for the Pilates professional. A complete soup to nuts for us teachers. I’m thinking of putting in the complete mat repertoire of course, postural analysis and photos, gait and Walk-ilates exercises, props, and basic rehabilitation approaches that can be applied to all injuries and muscle imbalances. Any ideas? Email me.

In two weeks, Shabs (the manager and head trainer of the Brooklyn studio), and I will be travelling to Korea to teach props and their rehabilitaion applications to 200 physical therapists. There will be a giant projection screen behind me showing… well me! It promises to be quite entertaining. Theraband academy is co-sponsoring the event.

I will also be training Kimberly Hyejin Kim, who is excited to set up an Ellie Herman Studios Teacher Training Certification outpost in Seoul. She visited SF and trained with several colleagues last year to learn the Springboard repertoire. Kim has managed to get two of my books translated into Korean… who knew that they loved me in Korea?

Shabs and I can’t wait to have some Korean BBQ and bi bim bap!

Yes, they came yesterday to Brooklyn and Shabs and I carted them upstairs box by box, with the help of course of a kind gentleman (this only happens in NY by the way). They look great, and Ariel Cohen is the main model on the inside, a trainer from SF who now lives in Massachusetts, and as far as I know is practicing Pilates. I’ll get back with her info and link next time.

The Cadillac book was co-authored by Lisa Graham- one of our top educators in San Francisco!

We sent the Wunda Chair to the printer and it should be out in three weeks. The Wunda Chair book was co-authored by Susi May, the Oakland studio manager and trainer extraordinaire! Lisa Graham helped edit that book as well.

Well, we’re waiting with bated breath for the Cadillac book to be shipped– March 24, 2006 is the day! And for your information, you must buy both the Springboard book and the Cadillac book to get the full repertoire since the Springboard book covers all the exercises on the Roll Back Bar, Arm Springs, and Leg Springs…

Also, we should have the Wunda Chair book shipped by next month. You can get a discount if you buy the whole set; Reformer, Springboard, Cadillac, Wunda Chair! Yay!

Masai Barefoot Technology

When I first saw the MBT’s I knew they’d be a natural compliment to Pilates. They are a kindler gentler version of a wobbly shoe; an instability shoe that consists of a Birkenstock sandal with half a tennis ball glued to the bottom that we use for rehabilitation and stabilization training. At the end of a rehab session clients often “march” in the wobbly shoes for 3 minutes to re-integrate the new muscle balance from the corrective exercises they have just done. MBT’s are a way to re-integrate the corrective aspects of Pilates with every step you take- you reinforce the path of least resistance- which in coincidentally the best plumb alignment possible. It feels like you are floating once you get the rhythm of the balance.

The concept for Walk-ilates flowed naturally from my experience teaching Pilates for more than a decade- and seeing how clients could not integrate the supine and seated Pilates exercises into their standing alignment and gait. So many times I would be disappointed to see people returning to their postural habits the moment they got dressed. The great thing about the MBT’s is that you don’t have to think about it consciously- you just will be doing the right thing.

Walk-ilates class begins with special releases and stretches using the ethafoam roller, followed by Pilates Mat exercises using the magic circle and standing balances (all done in your MBT’s). The class culminates in walking outside where proper gait and optimal alignment are stressed. Everyone will receive personal corrections to address their gait patterns.

What makes them excellent:
• Gentle, active rolling instead of repeated compression leads to relaxed, natural standing and walking
• facilitates optimal posture and gait
• significantly reduces joint compression (spine, hips and knees)
• corrects imbalances and compensations
• tones your legs, hips and buns
• increases circulation & rehabilitates injuries

Check out our online store or come in to our San Francisco or Oakland studios for a fitting.