Pilates & Prevention
Posted on March 1, 2020 by pilatesnative
For the last decade, my career as a Welding Engineer has focused primarily on quality analysis and quality control (QA/QC). The majority of the equipment I encounter is pressurized and a failed weld could cause a lot of damage.
My days are spent ensuring that any potential problems are flagged and resolved before the welder even strikes an arc.
Occasionally, despite all of my best efforts in the home office to prevent failures, a weld will fail quality testing in the shop or something will start leaking before installation.
On rare occasions (thankfully), a weld will fail in service, and cause serious damage. Usually, the weld has shown symptoms of failure prior to this point and the serious failure is the final sign that things have not been right for a long time.
In addition to that original QA/QC check, my job includes finding the symptoms that lead to the leaks or the failures and figuring out how to fix the issue and prevent it from happening again.
By now, you’re wondering what all of this has to do with Pilates and Stretch Therapy.
The answer, my friends, is Prevention.
Just like a weld, there are early symptoms in a body that show increased potential for failure.
Poor balance
Lack of coordination
Lack of core strength
Lack of flexibility
Overall lack of fitness
Poor or improper posture
And surprisingly, over training
These are the things “flagged” in the initial QA/QC check. If repaired, the potential for damage caused by these issues can be mitigated and frequently avoided all together.
If we ignore these flags, we reach the next phase, the smaller annoying injuries that make us grumpy and prevent us from doing what we love.
Stress fractures
Knee tweaks
Sprained ankles
Pain in joints and muscles upon certain movement
Back pain
Decreased range of motion
Muscle strain
These things are the “leaks” in our welding analogy. The body is giving us flags to indicate that something has gone wrong and needs to be addressed asap.
Unfortunately, many of us ignore these “leaks” and we move right along into serious failure territory. Severe pain that limits our physical abilities.
Frozen shoulders
Dislocated knees
Rips, tears, or pulled muscles
Herniated disks
Broken bones
It is the catastrophic failures that usually get us to slow down and pay attention. They’re expensive. They hurt. They can be life changing.
As a recovering chronic over-trainer with a history of two dislocated knees, a wonky left hip, and micro-tears in one shoulder, I’ve ignored my fair share of flags and leaks and found myself on the sidelines, frustrated and bored.
Like so many of you, I discovered yoga, Pilates and Stretch Therapy as part of the overall injury recovery process. Along the way, I discovered a passion for body mechanics and how yoga, Pilates and Stretch Therapy can help mitigate and prevent that final stage of “catastrophic” failures.
Focusing on prevention as a Pilates Instructor fits right in with my technical training in QA/QC. It’s why everyone of my clients goes through an Initial Assessment. And it’s why my main focus as a Pilates Instructor is always on what you’re doing, what’s being flagged, what’s causing your “leaks” and finding the best proactive solution for your body, whether it’s balance work, stretch therapy or correcting muscle imbalances.
Pilates and Stretch Therapy can’t solve every body problem or prevent every ache and pain, but it can give us a good foundation to help prevent those catastrophic failures.
With the beautiful spring weather and sunshine, I know many of us are itching to hit the trails. Enjoy yourselves but remember to mind your “flags” and “leaks” and take time to take care of yourselves!
.Happy March!
-Rubecca
Rebranding for 2020: Pilates Native
Posted on January 1, 2020 by pilatesnative
Happy New Year! I hope you’re settling in nicely to your normal life routines after all of the madness of the holidays. We were in Mississippi for a few days last week and I couldn’t be happier to be back in Denver, where the sun actually shines in winter!
January is off with a bang. After a lot of thought and convos with my brother (and business consultant!), I’ve decided to rebrand. As of January 2020, Engineered Evolution has evolved into “Pilates Native Pilates & Stretch Therapy”. While Eng Evo helped get me started and inspired the initial push towards opening a Pilates and Stretch studio, Native feels like coming home. I’m excited to bring a lot more of my own culture into my Pilates and Stretch offerings.
Not to worry, all of the nerdy dork stuff from Eng Evo is sticking. (Can’t keep this girl away from her spreadsheets!) Initial Assessments are a huge part of our focus, and they’ll be here to stay.
Launching into “Native” also provides space for me to follow my heart and focus on “Pilates and Stretch for All”. As you’re probably aware, Pilates and Stretch can have a huge barrier of entry, especially when it comes to familiarity with the practices, the pricing and the locations. Focusing on the studio as a welcoming place for beginners and newbies to Pilates is a huge passion of mine.
January Events:
Jan 13: New Website is live! www.pilatesnative.com is up and running! Wooohooo!!
Why you should sign up for an Initial Assessment
Want to focus on your fitness, strength, or flexibility but not sure where to start? Already super active but finding yourself with minor aches, pains and limits that won’t go away? Weekend warrior hitting the wall more often than the high? The Initial Assessment is a great tool to provide guidance and direction on what you should be doing to hit your goals. To book your IA, click HERE.
Jan 21 @ 5:15 kicks off the Employee Wellness Pilates Class @ Red Rocks Community College. (Limited to RRCC Employees)
This 60 min class includes a 45 min full body Pilates session + 15 min guided stretch. Focus is on improving balance, developing and improving core strength, getting mind and body to work as one and developing/improving physical strength and flexibility.
Jan 25 1pm – 4pm Fashion, Fun & Fitness
@ Green Mountain Wellness Center
13655 W Jewell Ave Suite B201 Lakewood, CO 80228
This fun event includes three 30-min all abilities fitness classes, a fashion show, a raffle, vendors and much more! I’ll be there as a vendor and will be offering 10-min teaser stretches (woohoo!) Tickets are $44 and include a goody bag.
As always, thank you for your support! I can’t wait to see you.
Rubecca