sinners and saints

Posted on April 21, 2009 | 1 comment
"mary magdalen is destined to be in the cave, to repent for her sins and gain faith. but what she is doing, is actually doing time." - Donald C. Reflects on Mary Magdalen

"mary magdalen is destined to be in the cave, to repent for her sins and gain faith. but what she is doing, is actually doing time." - Donald C. Reflects on Mary Magdalen

“It’s not like dangling out of an elephant’s mouth… speaking in front of an audience is really scary.”

In front of me sits a small-framed, charming woman. Her bobbed and banged, blonde hair has a casual grace, and her bright blue eyes sparkle like a teenager in love for the first time. Bunny Herring is 82ish years old. I had hoped Bunny would reveal the secrets to the fountain of youth, but I came away with more than I had bargained for in this meeting.

Elizabeth “Bunny” Herring ran away and joined the circus at age 18, married a cowboy in Wyoming, rode horses, in the past few years took up the trapeze, and most recently, is teaching theatre to convicts in maximum security prisons.

And we start there,  in prison with Shakespeare.

It was hard to believe Bunny would have any insecurities.  She looks better than most people I know in their 30s. More athletic than most people in their 20s. Bunny can do the splits. I assumed, the mind/body connection in this woman was fully, for lack of a better word, connected. But, my approach was wrong. There is more than one way to feel connected and confident in yourself. Bunny, although a lifetime performer, had always been shy and scared of speaking in front of an audience…a whole different type of body/mind art.

Bunny’s been conquering this fear lately in prison. Several prisons, actually. She helps teach acting to inmates as a tool for them to express themselves, gain self confidence, and aid them socially in transitioning to the “outside”. The interesting thing is, Bunny will honestly tell you, there is no place she’d rather be, than in prison.

According to Pew research, 1 in 36 men in the state of Missouri are in prison, or on parole, and the recidivism rate is well over 50 percent within 3 years. Even though it was the prisoners she was there to help, nonetheless, it seems the prisoners are the ones helping Bunny get over her fear of speaking in public.

Coincidentally, Saturday evening I had planned to see a performance at the Pulitzer Museum (truly the best gift given to the city of St. Louis in recent decades). It was entitled, “Staging Old Masters”. Former prisoners spent 6 weeks exploring the current exhibit at the Pulitzer and performed self-created short plays based on these explorations. Of course, Bunny was there. If you live in the St. Louis area I highly recommend this experience. These performances are insightful in so many ways. For more information, you can go to http://stagingoldmasters.pulitzerarts.org

The point of all this? Comes back to the physics of us. It’s all relative. What comes easy to some is incredibly difficult for others. The inspiration here is in doing what you otherwise might not dare. We can keep improving on ourselves at any age. When life gets inspired and creativity starts flowing, it’s hard to say who is the sinner and who is the saint.

1 Comment

Tagged , , , , ,

I’m Serious. Get out there and PLAY, damn it.

Posted on March 30, 2009 | 1 comment

encouraging-adults-to-play-in-the-rain1When was the last time you hula hooped? juggled oranges? Played in a warm summer rain? Jumped rope or on a trampoline? Hung by your knees from the jungle gym?

Now hold up. Before the eye rolling begins, I want you to give it a serious minute. I want you to picture yourself hula hooping, in the backyard, with your children, grandchildren, or, niece and nephew. I can almost guarantee you want to smile just a little bit right now…in between the desire to eyeroll. Come on now. Embrace the cheese and let go.

Physical play is important as a child. It helps in motor skill development, exploration and curiosity inquiring into how things work. It is no different now. In a way it’s like riding a bike, you never forget, you just get rusty. You have to give yourself permission to let go, live a little, and just play.

We all know the benefits of exercise throughout our lifetimes. I’m just not convinced, however, that getting on the treadmill, or going to the gym really does it though. Let’s be honest. For most of us, it is not fun. You might feel better, or at least physically exhausted to match the mental work of sitting at a computer or in meetings all day, BUT, the thought of going to the gym does not make you smile. How can that truly be good for stress levels? Exercise soon becomes another “have to” or “should”, like bills and taxes. So now exercise get a bum rap.

Usually play and exercise are not thought of in the same category, especially for adults. The usual connection is play equals  embarrassment, or play only happens on Wii. Why should fun and “letting go” be so difficult? It is exercise too! Hula Hoops are great for coordination and the abdominals, back, and hips. The jungle gym is all about arm strength and balance, and jump roping, is pure aerobic activity. Coordination and balance tend to go as we age, but not so much if you continue to explore and challenge those skills in ways that are fun and relatively safe for the body.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get outside on one of these fine blooming spring days, go get yourself a hula hoop (and perhaps a child relative to make you feel less self conscious) or a jump rope.  Go to the park, find the playground, and play. And if you can’t? Most of us have one of those balance balls deflated in the house somewhere. Blow it up and jump around on it for 10 minutes or so, alternating legs, shifting your hips, going in circles…play with it.  If your mission is completed, I think you might be feeling a little better, smiling a little more, and acknowledging the kid inside never has to really go away.

knerr_hula_hoop

1 Comment

Posted in Fun, Play

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bad Economy. No Excuse.

Posted on March 12, 2009 | Leave a comment

Respect your Body

Yes, the economy blows. For real. But it is now even more important you do something for yourself, to keep your body physically fit and your mind less heavy with stressful thoughts.

Most illnesses can be linked to overall stress on the body. Keeping physically active can be the best preventative medicine out there. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg. Here are a few ideas for keeping mentally and physically fit in these fabulously slumpy times.

#1. Do something you love! This is the most important factor. Running on the treadmill is not gonna cut it, if it’s something you hate to do. We both know it won’t last, and you are not gonna get the mental challenge you need. I, for instance, take trapeze lessons twice a week. I always look forward to each lesson, enjoy the challenge, and laugh and cry with my classmates. That’s what your exercise should be…something you enjoy in your own way. To each his own! What’s yours?

#2. Create a community. Bring the class to you. Say you want to do pilates or yoga or dance or whatever, but privates lessons are too expensive. Create a class of your own. Get a group of friends with similar interests together, find a time that works for you, and go find a teacher. The cost would be minimized. The class would be fun. It’s also an excuse to get together with friends, or make new ones.

#3. Turn off CNN or Shut down your computer. We can all create more stress and the downward spiral of becoming news or internet junkies – needing to know how the Dow ended, and what John Stewart has to say about it. Cut out the headlines for a week or so, maybe 1 hour less a day, and give that time to yourself to take a walk outside in the fresh air, call a friend, write in a journal. Something just for you.

#4. 20/20/20 This is my at home mind and body workout. I tend to be ADD. So much I want to do at once, I often end up doing nothing. This formula seems to work for me most of the time. And if I don’t do all, I do at least one or two. I spent 20 minutes exercising or stretching (jumping rope, pilates mat, just stretching, etc), then 20 minutes journaling – which is almost like mental spewing to get certain stresses or ideas out of my head and onto paper, and then finally 20 minutes meditating or breathing – this is the hardest, but very beneficial.

Whatever you choose to do, remember that money rolls, but you only get this lifetime once…enjoy it!

Leave a comment

Tagged , , ,

The Dawning of the Age of Golfers

Posted on March 4, 2009 | Leave a comment

golf mustache for wind resistance

Pilates and Golf.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you might have heard of this popular combo.  I must fully agree with the pairing.  They both require the same skills: mental and physical conditioning from the inside, outward to the external.  In other words, practicing how you respond to your surroundings.

Unfortunately, like in most things, there is no magic spell to make this happen. It requires mindful repetition of movements which allow you to change and control your own habits without over-thinking, no matter what the external challenges might bring.   To be done properly, both golf and Pilates require precision controlled movements flowing outward from a strong and flexible center. One compliments the other indisputably. To create control and precision movements, one needs to be able to breathe properly, releasing tensing muscles, and quiets the active mind.

Living in the Midwest now, I realize golf is seasonal, as opposed to the West Coast, where it flourishes year round.  So now is the ideal time to start prepping body and mind for the upcoming season.  One movement every golfer needs to work on is twisting properly. My explanation here of twisting is pretty rudimentary, but this should convey the general concept. Keep in mind, just like with the English language, there are always exceptions to the rule.

In Pilates, the basic concept of twisting starts with the axis of the spine. Along the spine axis we have two attached bones structures we will focus on: the rib cage and the pelvis.

Twisting to stretch the back and strengthen the obliques, one must either A. Twist the rib cage, and stabilize the pelvis, or B. Twist the pelvis and stabilize the ribs. When we attempt a twist without stabilizing one part of the spine we often end up with back injuries. The twist of a follow through in your swing is only executed properly with the ability to stabilize ones pelvis  even as it moves with the spine. Hmmm. tricky. But, possible. Think of a rubber band: In order to stretch it, one point must be fixed. If both points are unstable, it’s a wet noodle. If both points are fixed, it is rigid and doesn’t move.

So how do you practice twisting?

Warning: Be careful and do not over do any exercise. I recommend only 3 sets. (1 set is a twist in each direction). If you have any back pain, do not do this exercise until you consult a professional.

Sitting on a large balance ball. Both feet and knees about shoulder width apart. Arms can stretch out to the sides, rounded in front, OR you can place one hand on top of the other on top of the head. Twist the rib cage to the right, but DO NOT MOVE THE BALL OR YOUR LEGS. This will limit your twist, so that you are twisting from your obliques and not your hip flexors. Repeat to the left. The stability of your legs, backside and the ball is more important than the amount of rotation from your chest. As you twist, think of spiraling up towards the ceiling, rather than twisting back behind you. Remember: twist up, not back. twist-on-ball

For the more advanced student, it can be done on the floor, keeping both legs glued together and the spine lifted up towards the ceiling.

spinetwist1

Spring and Summer 2009 I will be giving several workshops on Pilates movement for golfers. Please check back under classes and workshops to find out when and where. If you are interested in hosting a Pilates and golf workshop, please email me at: pilates@stephanieellison.com

Leave a comment

Posted in 1

Tagged , , , , ,

Posted on March 3, 2009 | Leave a comment

Dreamhost deals

Leave a comment

That whole breathing thing

Posted on February 23, 2009 | Leave a comment

stop_mouth_breathing

I’m not good at breathing either. You’d think it’d come easy, but no. Of course not. It’s always the simplest things that are the most difficult. When I’m not thinking about it, I often end up slouched with stunted breath. When I do think about it I try so hard, it becomes forced and I am a prime candidate for hyperventilation. There are a billion different ways of breathing; breathing to relax, breathing for energy, belly breathing, thoracic breathing. I often tell my pilates clients that as long as they are breathing at all, I am happy. But seriously, this whole muscular training for breath is extremely important.What’s a person trying to live a balanced life to do?

First, accept it is hard. Second, keep practicing, but not too much at once. Remember our motto here is moderation. If it becomes too forced, or you are not fully exhaling, you will end up feeling lightheaded, and that can be dangerous. Stop. Go back to it later.

Here are a few breathing exercises that help me train my lung capacity and mind for pilates. Pick one that works for you and keep it in your regular exercise rotation. Believe it or not, just training your breath muscles will help tone torso muscles, this includes the abdominals, as well as massages your internal organs.

#1. Umbrella Breath

Imagine there is a umbrella in your rib cage. As you inhale the umbrella closes  along the spine. As you exhale, the umbrella expands. Counter-intuitive? Perhaps, but it works.

#2. Pelvic Balloon

Imagine a balloon rest deep in the center of your pelvis, that would be a few inches under the belly button and back deep in the center of the torso.  As you inhale the balloon expands three dimensionally, filling the lower third of the torso. As you exhale it gently deflates back into the center.

#3. Inhale like you are smelling the Room/ Exhale onto your palm like you are fogging glass, but with no blowing air, just steam.

These suggestions are from fellow instructor Mary Zorich. By inhaling like you are smelling the room, the sinus cavities naturally open! It’s amazing how the brain can affect the body functions! When you exhale, in order to feel the deep abdominal muscles, place your palm in front of your mouth and exhale like you are fogging up a mirror, but don’t allow any air pressure to be felt or blown. Only a hot humid fogging exhale.

#4. Exhale everything out.

Try to let go of all CO2 in the lungs on your exhale until you feel there is nothing left. This will compel you to take a nice, deep, full inhale on the next round.

#5. Counting 50 breaths

This exercise is compliments of Yoga Instructor and Teacher Trainer, Pam Schulte. Pam recommends taking 50 normal old breaths, but counting them down as you go. Just by taking a moment to countdown between each breath will draw your attention and keep it center on breathing. It’s not forced. It just is. Once you have counted back to 0, sit quietly for a minutes focusing on your breath, but not counting. With practice, and remaining calm and still, one will have created for themselves a rather powerful and peacful meditation.

breathing_baloon_

Leave a comment

Tagged , ,

Finding Your Center Fulcrum Point

Posted on February 6, 2009 | 5 comments

fulcrum

There is no better place to take on the universe than from the CENTER.

Finding your own center can be a bigger undertaking than we often realize, but infinitely beneficial.

Have you ever known someone who has been fiercely into yoga or exercise, only to find that after years of practice, they have back problems?

This can be done when we overdo any activity, mental or physical, without knowledge of ourselves and without an awareness of a quiet, strong, and stable center point of balance from which to work outwards. We need one point of perfect stability. Depending on where you are in relation to your activity, gravity, etc., this point can move around. It is stable, but also must be flexible.  Finding this is a challenge for the advanced athlete and the novice who just rolled off the couch for the first time, the philosopher, and the ADD adult who’s just trying to get their to do list done.

And so to get you on the good foot, I present a simple exercise to help find a center…I’ve always refered to it as DEAD BUG.

deadbug

Lying on your back. Keeping the spine feeling long and heavy like iron from the base of the neck all the way through to the tailbone. lift the right knee (in a table top position) and the left arm up towards the ceiling, while keeping both shoulders and hips firmly down and even. Over a slow count of  5, take one long deep breath and simultaneously (and SLOWLY) switch arms and legs, while maintaining complete stillness and stability in the spine. That means, no tensing of the neck and shoulders or gluts. The belly pulls down to the back, the spine stays super long and stretched out, but does not move. Did I mention the slower you do this the better? Again the main arc: moving the arms and legs freely, but not moving the torso head and neck AT ALL.

5 Comments

Tagged ,

A Matter of Balance

Posted on February 6, 2009 | Leave a comment


“When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself,
art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless
and intelligence cannot be applied.” Herophilus

“Everything in moderation, even moderation.” Oscar Wilde

lighting-a-cigarette-off-a-100-candle-funny-old-la1


I am a Pilates Instructor, which I guess makes me a part of the fitness industry. Before you get the wrong idea about me though, I have a few confessions to make. I smoked for over ten years, only quitting 2 years ago. Have made friends with clinical depression (who hasn’t) for 20 years . I’m not tan, nor blonde. I once did public relations work for The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, so yes, I like meat. I love champagne, a good mocha, and generally anything with sugar, and I hate running or spinning or sweating too much. I’m not exactly what one might expect from a fitness instructor, but I’d rather just confess, like the recovering Catholic that I am.

On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve also worked for National Public Radio, try to eat some whole grains and veggies once in awhile, try to exercise, sometimes regularly, by finding activities I enjoy, like swimming, dance and taking up the trapeze. I love hearing life stories from my clients. I learn more from every person I meet, and I truly enjoy helping people feel a little better.

I also speak Japanese and have worked in a; costume shop, coffee house, comedy club, jazz club, italian restaurant, animation studio, trucking company, several public relations firms, a couple of pilates studios, and once as a cafeteria dishwasher. Either I have had a lack of focus in the past or I enjoy a good three ring circus.

The point of selling you my resume is that we are all human, making mistakes, stopping and starting, getting into routines, ruts, habits.  AND THAT’S OKAY. Life is messy.

It’s all a matter of balance, and balance is really just PHYSICS.


Leave a comment

Tagged