The AIM Academy for Somatic Integration Blog

AASI Free Gathering 1/11/12

2011-12-31T07:56:00.000-08:00

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SPECIAL AASI Free Gathering 11/11/11

2011-10-16T02:19:00.001-07:00

Your process, Our world!(or...What's hierarchy got to do with it?)"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." ~ Ralph Waldo EmersonOn this special day, join us for a special evening of conversation and exploration concerning AASI's perspective on the uniqueness of your body-mind journey--the foundation to creating a loving,

AASI Free Gathering 10/11/11

2011-09-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

Who's (or what's) in charge here?Join us for an evening of conversation and exploration concerning AASI's perspective on the professional-client relationship and how it relates to the relaxation-related, body-centered research that connects the client experience across disciplines.This gathering will be geared towards pilates teachers, bodyworkers and psychologists. This is always an

AASI Free Gathering 6/3/11

2011-05-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

What's relaxation got to do with it?"...the very essence of Contrologic philosophy is that each brain cell is trained to cooperate with others. Thus Pilates' system is natural rejuvenation of all the body-mind processes." -Joseph Pilates, 1957Join us for an evening of conversation and exploration around the idea of relaxation and its relationship to teaching and learning pilates.Of course, Free

Martha Graham Google Doodle

2011-05-11T13:04:00.002-07:00

Martha Graham's 117th birthday was celebrated today by Google Doodle. Here it is in slow motion:Hat's off to Ryan Woodward, the creator at Google Doodle and thanks to Skying Blogger for posting this on youtube!

Stepping Up

2011-05-11T13:04:00.001-07:00

Since the 1990s, as pilates has become more and more popular, a variety of styles and perspectives have developed. Also, body-mind practitioners of all sorts are excited about pilates and either incorporate or integrate "pilates" into their work. We consider this a wonderful thing! Now we have the task of helping the public understand the ways in which their body-mind processes can be

What a long road it's been...

2011-05-10T23:12:00.001-07:00

This is an exciting time for AASI. We are getting ready to unveil our new website in a few weeks. It's been a long time coming, in fact, August will mark the tenth anniversary of the formal launch of AIM Academy for Somatic Integration. Here's a brief look at how far we've come:For the launch, we gathered together all kinds of body-mind practitioners and "practicers" (as Joe Pilates once called

Recent UPDATES & Edits

2010-11-12T03:08:00.000-08:00

9-16-10EDIT to add links and new comment What is your AIM exactly?9-15-10EDIT Three Picassos7-14-10 I finally tackled defining The "Somatic Integration Loop" a post from 4-18-10; final edits 7-17-102-11-10UPDATE AASI joins ISMETA as an Associate Member

A screeching halt....

2010-10-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

(I began writing this post as the date shows, but it taken me a few more weeks to finish and publish it.)I had been home about a week from visiting and working with Tracey in PA and going to the ISMETA annual meeting and I was raring to get to work on the four (yes four!) books that we had mapped out. Then life had other plans for me.At the end of September, I was in an accident that totaled my

ISMETA's Annual Meeting

2010-09-14T07:14:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, Tracey and I attended the ISMETA annual meeting in New York City. AASI has been an Associate Member for a year now. Here's why:As you might know by now from reading the history and evolution of these blogs, I started a private blog back in 2008. I had done some research concerning ISMETA's organization and I had come to some realizations about the PMA. I felt that the work I

I'm "bursting"...

2010-08-31T07:38:00.001-07:00

...at the seams to share what I have been working on for decades!I've been writing~and reading~ online for a while now. I am so grateful for the work I learned about back in 1993 while I was a student on the Trager training track. How it has changed my life! And now that I've connected with other professionals who also resonate with the work, it has become more and more clear that sharing the

The Global Pilates Spirit: South Africa

2010-07-14T21:44:00.000-07:00

(A continuation of my 4-18-10 blog entry, The "Somatic Integration Loop". See also Romana, Africa, and Somatic Integration on my PCDB Blog)The Romanas Pilates Dvds; considering classical training/info? on the PCDB, was another one of those controversial threads. Since I am committed to fostering a cooperative, as opposed to a competitive mindset, in this post, I made the distinction between

Thanks, Professor Pilates!

2010-07-11T09:13:00.001-07:00

Each day, I count my blessings as I awake. Some days I wake up with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this man. Today is one of those days....: )Do you ever get that feeling?Maybe for someone else in the somatic integration "loop"?

The "Somatic Integration Loop"

2010-04-18T05:20:00.000-07:00

I originally planned on writing about this topic because of a discussion on the PBDC, Romanas Pilates Dvds; considering classical training/info?. Well, come July, 2010, and I still hadn't written it....so, time for a new blog. Please see my 7-14-10 entry, The Global Pilates Spirit: South Africa.By the way, here is the comment (#40, from page 2 of the Romana's Dvd's thread) in which I mention

Give Love Away

2010-04-12T22:07:00.000-07:00

The True Test of a Pilates Teacher

2010-02-08T10:12:00.000-08:00

Time and space are but physiological colors which the eye makes, but the Soul is light.Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Earth and the Heavens

2009-08-10T15:17:00.001-07:00

This is an edited version of an entry from the Ah, Those Lightbulb Moments.... entry this Sunday on my PCDB Blog.During movement practice, at any given moment, my focus could be on muscular sensation. It could also be on the postion of the bones and/or how they got there and more. In any case, in that moment, I am also engaging my mind, to the degree that I understand what I am doing, that is, I

Hot Topic: Pelvic Floor Connection

2009-07-12T06:27:00.000-07:00

I posted on the PCDB yesterday under a post entitiled: Assuming Pelvic Floor Activity. There have been many discussions on the pelvic floor. I felt it was finally time to give an answer from my perspective, especially since I liked that the questions were posed in a way that addressed scope of practice, an AIM Integration Topic.I'd love to hear from the cooperative networks on this

Bodywork Modalities and Pilates

2009-07-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

I began a post on AIM Academy Forum on the PCDB about Bodywork Modalities and Pilates. Click the link and join in the discussion.This is my post from today:bokfukata asks:For what kinds of "issues" (I hate that word but can't think of another right now) do you refer people to these various forms of bodywork?Hi bokfukata,Each modality has its own perspective and its

Happy Fourth of July!!!

2009-07-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share that I am looking forward to the re-launch of AASI in the next few months. Definitely feels like fireworks and cause for celebration today!Photo source: www.wbti.net/.../RandomPhotos/Fireworks4.jpg

Today's Note from the Universe

2009-06-19T06:02:00.000-07:00

click on entry title for linkAn unmistakable trait of every true genius, Carole, is their persistent awareness of how much more there is to know. And an unmistakable trait of every true sage is their persistent awareness of how much more there is to love.Loving you more today than yesterday, The UniverseWorks for me!I signed up and dared to take the oath at www.tut.com years ago when it was just

A New Home for AASI Online

2009-06-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

AASI Online is now hosted by the Pilates Connections Discussion Board! The AIM Academy Forum is now a subforum of the PCDB Trainers' Discussion Forum. I have just put up a post to welcome everyone. Check it out!I am so grateful to Tom Floyd for hosting our forum. We will be able to accomplish so much.This blog is now named The AIM Academy for Somatic Integration Blog and I'll still be posting

work in progress...

2009-06-06T06:12:00.001-07:00

I took a lot away from the BMC conference in terms of validating pilates.I have a lot to write on it. But for now, this:Pilates: Primary Physical Support for all Faculties.

Body Mind Centering Conference

2009-05-28T23:24:00.000-07:00

I am excited that tomorrow I get to go to the Body Mind Centering Association Conference in Sausalito, CA (click on entry title for link). It's about 20 minutes from my studio. The Headlands Institute is in a beautiful setting, perfect for a conference that's named "Awakening Desire, Finding Satisfaction." The last time I was at the Headlands Institute was with my son (now 20) and about 50 of his

My Heroes

2009-05-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

For Bette Midler's From a Distance and more On "Style" and Communication, click the entry title.Unity doesn't mean that everyone is/does the same thing.Unity is about a common interest, goal, or vision.Unity is about translation, not labeling.Unity is about having the insight and the desire to make distinctions.Unity is deciding to see more of the similarities.Unity is seeing things from a

The UPC Website and Forum

2009-05-14T17:32:00.001-07:00

Click entry title for linkThree months ago (time flies!), I wrote an entry called "Conversations Coming Soon." It was about how to sign up for a blogger account so that it would be easy to comment and so that readers would know your orientation. I have continued to work towards that goal, however, I now have some very exciting news.The UNITED PILATES COLLECTIVE website is providing a Forum. Yeah!

One Hot Topic: Classical Pilates and its "Derivatives"

2009-05-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to direct readers to a conversation on the PILATES CONNECTIONS DISCUSSION BOARD (PCDB) (See Forums and Favorites on the right). Click on the entry title for link to Tom Floyd's review of Peter Fiasca's Book, Discovering Pure Classical Pilates Theory and Practice as Joseph Pilates Intended/The Traditional Method vs. The Lies for Sale. I posted a review as well. The conversation about

What is your AIM exactly?

2009-03-31T16:19:00.000-07:00

I posted on the ANATOMY TRAINS Forum yesterday on the difference between Pilates vs. GYROTONIC® under the "Pilates And Gyrotonics" post. It’s true that it is quite common for pilates teachers to embrace GYROTONIC®. I personally thoroughly enjoy GYROTONIC® and I am a teacher of it. In my experience, however, the reverse is not at all common. How that seems to be taking hold is yet another

Hot Topics

2009-02-27T05:11:00.000-08:00

Recent posts on Pilates Pro, the PILATES CONNECTIONS DISCUSSION BOARD (PCDB), and the ANATOMY TRAINS Forum have helped to confirm the obvious need for further conversation in the greater pilates community. There are a number of these HOT TOPICS that I'd like to address now, rather than later. At the moment, these are primarily technical issues that will ultimately help the conversations at AASI

Three Picassos

2009-02-21T15:19:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to the full entry entitled Three Picassos and others Labeled On "Style" and Communication on the AASI Contributions blog.The Red Armchair (Thrust-Shape)Dance of Youth (Thrust-Hang) Blue Nude (Thrust-Swing)UPDATE: 4-1-09:I had been studying with Elizabeth M. Wetzig since 1993, when I met her through the Trager community. I began hosting workshops for her and later,

Thank you Pilates Pro

2009-02-20T04:33:00.000-08:00

Click on title for linkI have made the distinction between AASI Online and the AASI Contributions blog in my last post. These blogs grew out of posts made on Pilates Pro (www.pilates-pro.com). If I haven't said it enough: a huge thanks to Pilates Pro!It provides a place for pilates professionals to go to hear the latest news and gather information of all sorts. Its broad perspective has generated

Conversations Coming Soon

2009-02-18T09:35:00.001-08:00

AASI Online is a conversation about embodiment and movement practices to benefit the public. I am hoping to begin conversations soon. My experiences with forums have been limited, having just started browsing around last fall. What I have learned thus far is that conversations need to stay on track to be productive.The AASI Contributions Blog is for info about communication and the pilatical [

What is a General Movement Practitioner (GMP)?

2009-02-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

This was originally written for the October 2008 Private Blog.Many teachers in the SF Bay Area* teaching pilates are multi-disciplinary in approach. It is certain that many incorporate other modalities into a pilates session. There needs to be a conversation between teachers to actually name the processes by which they incorporate or integrate “other” ideas. An embodied conversation, as I call it

AASI Online Launch in the Era of "Responsibility"

2009-01-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to "AIM Academy Online"(AIM Academy Online is what we say, AASI Online is what we write)Consider that perhaps it's not My journey or Your journey as professionals.Perhaps, in fact, it's OUR journey, pilates enthusiasts, yoga enthusiasts, body-oriented enthusiasts of all kinds.... Many perspectives...one body.In other words, the public's journey.Wording and Intention can, in fact, change

Chronology of the Pilates Pro Posts

2009-01-16T08:07:00.000-08:00

Just thought I’d make a quick post for people just coming to this blog via Pilates Pro:Please click on the title above for the matching post on the AASI Contributions Blog. There you can read the conversations that led to the development of AASI Online.Come to any conversation in the middle and you might be prone to judgment. As we are all in the "middle" of our own process, it's sometimes

The AASI Online Blog begins

2008-12-30T09:01:00.000-08:00

This post describes the history of AASI Online. It has been moved to the AASI Contributions Blog; January 5, 2009 entry. I had planned for a test group for the online process until the blog went public. This turned out to be unnecessary, since I realized that I can monitor the conversations.Below is a description of the evolution of AASI, and the AASI Online and AASI Contributions blogs. Other