About Aimee McDonald-Anderson

Aimee McDonald-Anderson is a GYROTONIC and GYROKINESIS Master Trainer, STOTT Pilates instructor trainer, and owner of GYROTONIC Ann Arbor & The Movement Center. Aimee holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Michigan.

Welcome Julie Simpson

February 9, 2013 By

Movement Center Trainer Julie SimpsonThe Movement Center & Gyrotonic® Ann Arbor is thrilled to welcome new trainer Julie Simpson.

Julie holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Puget Sound and is a Certified Orthopedic Specialist from the American Physical Therapy Association, who has practiced in the field for the last 5 years.

She has a long-term love of Pilates, practicing Pilates over the years to further her own personal goals which include cycling, hiking, and running. She also knows first-hand how Pilates can help when pregnant and after childbirth.

Julie is thrilled to be working at The Movement Center while completing her STOTT PILATES Rehabilitation Certification. Teaching Pilates gives Julie an opportunity to work with the whole person rather than just treating one body part, and to see the client return to their full activity potential and beyond.  She’s excited to bring to The Movement Center her background and knowledge of working with injuries, impairments, and a wide range of rehabilitation needs.

Julie is available for private sessions and will design a movement program to suit your individual needs. New studio clients can schedule an intro session for  $45.00; individual session are $80 so save with a package of 10 private sessions for $700.

Call 734.761.2306 to schedule your first session with Julie.

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Fitness & Your Pregnancy — The Best Gift

August 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I’d always had some interest in pre and postnatal Pilates and Gyrotonic® training and had done several trainings and much reading on the subject. I felt confident working with pregnant and postpartum clients, and they all seemed to benefit from the work. But it was in 2009 that I became pregnant myself with my son, Graeme, and at that point my moderate interest exploded into a near obsession.

In going through the experience in my own body, working with talented midwife, Pat Kramer, and comparing my experiences with those of other very knowledgable movers, many answers came into place for me, as well as many new questions, all of which led to deeper exploration and understanding.

Here I will share with you some highlights, all of which I knew before my own journey, but never fully “got” until I’d been through it!

Prenatal Pilates at The Movement Center

1. You must move through your pregnancy! We hear this, but most women don’t understand exactly how. We hear general guidelines, mostly of contraindications; “don’t work your abs after the second trimester, don’t lie on your back, don’t stretch”, etc. Which may leave you thinking “Really??” and “Then what on earth DO I do???”

This is a great time to work with a pre-natal pilates or Gyrotonic® trainer, even for just one or two introductory private sessions, or to take a small group class (small being key here- if there are 20 people in your class you won’t get the attention you need to move safely and effectively).

2. Training for labor is training for the most intense, demanding, and, for those who haven’t experienced it before, unusual athletic event ever. One must be prepared physically for any number of scenarios. Imaging training for a triathlon, not knowing if it would last for hours or for days, not knowing if when you went to get your bike if you’d have a race bike, mountain bike, tandem bike, or unicycle. Labor unfolds as it goes, and I want the women I work with to be prepared for whatever may be needed.

In my case I came down with a horrible chest cold the day before I went into labor, and ended up taking from Saturday evening until Monday afternoon to have him. His elbow was poking into my spine and so I had to float in the birth tub with my arms supporting me for several hours. I ended up coming out of the tub to have him in a full squat position with my husband supporting my arms with such effort that I had bruises on my forearms for days afterward! Thankfully I’d kept up my general strength throughout my pregnancy to carry me through an extended labor, trained my upper body strength and endurance to be able to support my weight on my arms for an extended time, and had the mobility to attain and maintain a squat position (which many women do not).

3. Work consistently, but not intensely. Your energy is most needed to build a baby. This is not the time for intense training, but rather specific, deliberate training tailored to your changing needs. Those needs will change for day to day- and even hour to hour. You can work your abdominals, and need to do so, but in a manner that is very different than how you would work them before or after pregnancy. You will need to stretch some, but in a way that protects your loosening ligaments and doesn’t create strain on the positioning of your pelvic bones. Pregnancy is a time to work at a consistent, deliberate, focused, adaptable, and mellow pace.

4. Plan ahead for your postnatal recovery! In your final weeks of pregnancy you should already have a plan and an understanding of what are the basic pelvic floor and deep abdominal movements you can -and need to- do safely in the days following the birth. Many women wait until their six week check up with their doctor to resume any type of exercise. But if you haven’t been working with some basic breathing work and gentle muscular contractions for pelvic floor and transverse abdominals, you’ll have already missed a crucial stage of your reconditioning. But many movements during this time are contraindicated, meaning they should be avoided. The sleep deprived newborn days are not the time to start researching pelvic floor conditioning!

In the final weeks of pregnancy I start to give my clients a movement plan for recovery and a link to my online postnatal video. The plan is easily adaptable for variables such as C-section or tearing. I also make myself available by phone, email, or Skype, to assist them if needed before they are able to get back to the studio to begin their postnatal sessions.

5. A strong, healthy mommy who takes time for herself is key to a happy, healthy baby and to enjoying motherhood. Learn to see time for yourself and your body as a GIFT to your baby and your partner!

If you are mother-to-be (or know someone who is) The Movement Center’s 8-week Prenatal Pilates class starts September 4th.

Filed Under: Fitness & Wellness Tagged With: ,

Inspiration, Education & Movement

June 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

News from the STOTT PILATES Conference and Symposium

As I write this, I’m sitting on the train back from Tornoto where I just attended the Community of Excellence conference for Stott Pilates Instructor Trainers, Licensed Training Centers, and equipment distributers.

Despite us being a bunch of people who are more accustomed to moving all day than spending hours sitting in chairs talking business, it was a blast! We had come in from all over the world and so I got to meet interesting people like the Instructor Trainer from Dublin, Ireland, the guy who distributes the equipment in Australia, ITs from Brazil, London, Australia, and all over Canada and the US. I learned that Stott Pilates is apparently huge in Lima, Peru (who knew?!), and I got to hang out with old friends as well.

I was especially excited by one of the guest speakers who presented, Laurie McLaughlin, an orthopedic physiotherapist and expert on breathing and the myofascial system. For those of you who have worked with me as either clients or students you’ve most likely picked up on the fact that I’m somewhat obsessed with breathing and fascia, so I was delighted to see this topic and speaker featured. The selection of this topic signals an evolution of Stott Pilates toward a greater, more multilayered and complete understanding of movement. For many years I have been emphasizing these elements of healthy movement patterning in my teaching, so to have this information formally presented to us by such an amazing speaker as Laurie, who shared with us a depth of information supported by her own scientific research, as well as that by other innovators in the area of myofascial research, far exceeded anything I had anticipated for the conference.

They also fed us a ridiculous amount of food and coffee and then held a swanky gala dinner for us, where they gave us loads of wine and, as they say, good fun was had by all.

After the wrap up of the conference the Symposium began, which was open not just to the Instructor Trainers, but also regular trainers, some of whom also traveled from great distances. We got to try out the new programing, play with some new props, and the Instructor Trainers got to learn new workshops to bring home and present to their students as continuing education.

Fun programing I tried out was “Zenga”, which is basically Vinyasa style yoga on the reformer, so the traditional yoga poses can be either supported or challenged by the spring tension of the reformer. FUN!

I also tried out the new Stott barre class, which is better than any of the other barre classes I’ve see out there, in that it fosters a healthier postural alignment than other barre class. But I can honestly say it didn’t seem as well designed, detailed, or as fun as our Anatomie Barre class. But still, it’s a good class.

Among other workshops I also took Towel Conditioning, for which they’ve created the best movement training towel I’ve seen. You use the towel to create leverage, stability, and resistance, allowing for flexibility training as well as great upper body strengthening. I see using it a lot with various populations such as dancers and runners. Plus the towel is perfect for the GYROTONIC towel work, so anytime props or equipment can be multipurpose I’m happy!

I also tried the medicine ball workshop, which I think people are really going to love- I think it will be very popular and will be looking for medicine balls to buy locally as shipping them from Toronto seems like it would be insanely expensive.

The most fun part of all was that I got to share a room with my good friend Holly Furgason, who recently became the Licensed Training Center for San Francisco – Hooray for Holly!

Now I’m looking forward to getting home, seeing my little boy, and (after a nap), sharing this new material with everyone at The Movement Center!

 

Filed Under: Pilates, Pilates Teacher Training Tagged With: ,

Who Can Be a Pilates Teacher?

April 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

One of the most exciting aspects of the work I do is to see people transform as they turn their love for movement into careers as Pilates teachers. Common questions I hear from prospective teacher training students are “who can do the Pilates teacher training?” or “I love this work, but I not a dancer or anything like that. Could I still become a teacher?” The answer to these questions is that anyone with a true interest in movement and a dedication to learning can do the training.

Back when I did my Pilates training to become a teacher, it was true that almost all of us were dancers. It was natural for a population with so much movement experience – and so many injuries- to have a drive and interest in pursuing careers in Pilates. But over the years what I have seen is that as Pilates training has become more mainstream and available to a wider population it is important to have trainers who also come from diverse backgrounds.

Often a client will look at a dancer and say “sure, that’s easy for you to do, you’re a dancer!”, but if the trainer is a 60-something non-dancer who simply followed a passion for moving and feeling good, that trainer can be a great inspiration to clients who may otherwise be intimidated by Pilates training.

Another group of people who do really well transitioning to careers teaching Pilates are moms. The flexibility of scheduling and the ability to make a nice bit of money in just a few hours a day, a few times a week, can be very appealing to a former stay at home mom, or a mom wanting to transition to a career that allows more time for family. I’ve seen women set up studios in their homes, work part-time at established studios or gyms, or get really creative in working teaching Pilates into their lives.

Of course dancers still make great teachers and tend to take very naturally to the work. Teaching Pilates can be a great way to support a career in dance, or to keep involved in movement after a dance career.

In fact anyone, male or female, who has an interest in the movement, a good work ethic, and who craves the independence and flexibility of teaching private sessions or group classes would be a great candidate for teacher training.

The STOTT PILATES Instructor Training program is a great way to start off a career in movement. Recognized and highly regarded internationally, a certification in STOTT PILATES opens broad opportunities for teaching.

As an Instructor Trainer I have great confidence that the STOTT training program equips new teachers with the ability to program safe and effective workouts for different populations and postures, select or create modifications for various body types or limitations, and to teach an inspiring and fun class from which participants will really benefit.

Interested in becoming a Pilates teacher?  The Movement Center is hosting the STOTT PILATES  Intensive Mat-Plus and Intensive Reformer certification training programs this summer. I’m looking forward to training a new group of Pilates instructors and invite you to contact me directly if you have any questions.

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Spring Renewal

March 5, 2012 By 1 Comment

The beginning of Spring provides us the perfect time to think about renewal, whether that’s through a rejuvenation, cleanse, or simply a recommitment to a health and fitness routine. For myself as a busy teacher, mom, and business owner, I’ve realized it helps to use the change of the seasons as a time to regroup, refresh, and revitalize myself.

Having had my little baby turn two years old in February reminded me of how quickly the years pass and how important it is to rejuvenate through my own seasonal rituals. How you mark the change of the seasons is personal to you and your needs but I’d like to share with you how I’ll be marking the beginning of spring.

 1. REGROUP: Looking at what’s bugging me or getting in the way of my great life.

I’ll start by taking a look at how I’m spending my time and if that’s giving me what I need. Am I getting enough time with my family? Am I able to get in ample exercise each day? Does my day allow me to take time in the morning for even just five minutes of meditation, time in the evening to prepare healthy meals (and no, hummus eaten out of the container while tidying the house doesn’t actually count as a proper meal). Are my mornings calm and organized, setting a positive tone for the day?

2. REFRESH: Spring cleaning my house and my mind.

Spare moments are few and far between in my life, but I’ll be taking 10 or 20 minutes here or there over the course of a week to clear out the hall closet, take my son’s outgrown clothes to the basement so they don’t burst out of his dresser when opened, and to sketch out my daily and weekly schedule and slash out anything that doesn’t serve the needs I reestablished in my “regrouping”.

This will allow me to make sure my workouts, cooking time, and playtime with my son are blocked off on my calendar and that an avalanche of summer sun hats and dog leashes falling from the closet doesn’t eat up my meditation time in the morning. Maybe for you this would be a great time to schedule classes or private sessions so that they’re on your schedule for the coming season, reinflate that fitness ball that’s gathering dust, and clear out you drawer of any workout clothes that pinch, ride up, or just don’t make you feel enthusiastic about gearing up for your sessions.

 3. REVITALIZE: Giving my body a well deserved tune up!

I’ll designate a three week stretch to do some physical rejuvenation, which has the effect of also revitalizing and calming m mind. During this time I’ll do daily body “scrubbing”, which is a form of dry brushing Juliu Horvath, creator of the Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis work, teaches. It’s also a great time for a dietary “cleanse”. I don’t eat a lot of the foods that are generally restricted on most cleanse programs anyway, but in addition to my regular avoidance of sugar, dairy, gluten, grains other than brown rice, and of soy, I additionally will cut out rice, caffeine (yes, you read that right), and my weekly glass of wine. And I’ll tighten up on the sugar, which does tend to sneak into my regular diet here and there. (please note: if you’re thinking of doing any type of cleanse please work with a clinical or holistic nutritionist to find what’s right for you- it is out of the scope of my practice to give nutritional advice!). During this time I’ll also track my water intake and meditation time, to make sure I’m getting what I need.

How will YOU choose to regroup, refresh or revitalize this spring?  Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page so that we can support each other.

If you choose to implement some seasonal rituals this spring I think you’ll see, as I do, some great lasting habits that carry through the months. And just when you start to slip back into old patterns it’ll be just about time for your summer welcoming rituals!

 

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Back to the Mat: The Benefits of Working Without Equipment

December 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Aimee doing GyrokinesisIt may seem odd that in a studio bursting with such a variety of innovative, expensive, and brilliantly designed equipment I would be urging you to consider working with nothing more than a mat or a chair, but I find more and more often that’s exactly what I’m doing.

The pilates and Gyrotonic® equipment have great appeal and are excellent tools for finding deeper understanding, more challenge, and variety in your pilates or Gyrotonic® workout, but too often I’m seeing that the allure of the equipment overshadows the importance of finding connections within the body and of developing true understanding of the leverage, control, and focus that can best be found when working unassisted and unsupported by any apparatus.

People new to pilates or Gyrotonic® are often in such a rush to get to the equipment because, after all, isn’t that what they’re paying for? Well, no.

The value in movement classes is the expertise of the trainer, who can guide you through a series of movements selected for your particular needs and modified for you particular body. These may or may not be on equipment, but a well-balanced mind body movement program will spend at least a good bit of time working without the equipment.

Reformer springs and Gyrotonic® pulleys can not only challenge you, but also help you out by supporting the limbs and to some extent the torso as well. Wouldn’t it make sense that stepping away from the equipment regularly to work on true support and stabilization of your body weight and limbs-unassisted- would increase your awareness and round out your program? Then when you return to the equipment you do so with greater connection and understanding, which brings you further toward the results you want to see and feel.

Aimee training on Gyrotonic

For me personally the Gyrokinesis® work, which is done with no more than a stool and a mat, and sometimes without even a stool at all, is where I feel the most intense realization of the connections and effects we strive to create in the body through the Gyrotonic® work.

I remember years ago when I first began in a Gyrokinesis® class, I found that working without the support of the equipment challenged me physically and intellectually much more so than I had imagined.

Where the equipment would have served as a guide for many movements the Gyrokinesis® work challenged me to find the pathways, support, and realization of those movements entirely through my own understanding and capacity. Then, upon returning to the equipment, the connections I was able to find were much deeper than I’d been able to find previously.

The same is true for the Reformer, Cadillac, and Chair. The spring tension provides resistance, feedback, and support which can create more challenge, but can also serve as a crutch when not balanced with a good, regular dose of matwork training.

You can think of it in terms of the other aspects of health and wellness, such as healthy eating. Yes, you need some protein, but you still need your green leafy veggies. There’s not ever a point where you “graduate” from eating green leafies to eating just protein, you always need a regular intake of both.

Similarly, the goal is not to “graduate” from matwork to apparatus work, or from Gyrokinesis® classes to Gyrotonic® work. As in all matters of a healthy life, it is about continual balance.

So take a moment and sign up for that pilates mat or Gyrokinesis® class today. Make it a regular weekly date and you’ll soon feel the increased benefits of your well-rounded practice!

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