This Week's Objective :

1.  Practice Teaching Objective (this week's assignment can be done without a body)  Program goal: 150-175 hours

• Focus on mastering the communication of the Ab Series of 5 ONLY
  
  • Memorize the name & technique of each movement
  • Master communicating the technique with smooth and concise cues with no excess words(example: Pull the knees into the chest, curl the head neck and shoulders up, send the right leg out now switch)
  • Making the movement better with body scan/corrections (example: point the toes, shin bone is parallel to the floor, deepen the abdominals, bring the knee in closer to the chest, curl the chest up higher, shoulders down....)
  • Record yourself speaking the above commands. Listen back and take notice of how often you say "um" or "now I want you to"
  • Do it over and over
  • Meet with fellow apprentices for at least 1-2 hours to put into practice your mastering of the Ab Series of 5.  Take turns teaching it over and over and over again.  

2.  Self-Practice Objective (Program Goal 50 Hours) 

• Teach yourself the Beginner Mat repertoire every day this week 
• Take a session at your host studio

3.  Observation Objective (Program Goal 25-30 Hours)

• Complete at least 2 hours of observation 

4. Self-Study Objective (Program Goal 50 Hours)

• Watch and re-watch the videos on the Ab Series of 5 so you can internalize the cadence of the voice, cues and body scan

This Week's Objective: 

1.  Practice Teaching Objective  Program goal: 150-175 hours

• Last week you were supposed to MASTER the ab series of 5.  This week will build upon that by adding one movement to the front of the Ab series and one movement to the end of the ab series
  
  • Master Rolling Like a Ball leading INTO the Single Leg Stretch
  • Master Criss Cross INTO Spine Stretch Forward
  • Master communicating the technique with smooth and concise cues with no excess words
  • Making the movement better with body scan/corrections (example: point the toes, make sure the shin bone is parallel to the floor, deepen the abdominals, bring the knee in closer to the chest, curl the chest up higher, shoulders down....)
  • Record yourself speaking the above commands. Listen back and take notice of how often you say "um" or "now I want you to"
  • Do it over and over
  • Meet with fellow apprentices for at least 1-2 hours to put into practice your mastering of the Ab Series of 5.  Take turns teaching it over and over and over again.  

2.  Self-Practice Objective (Program Goal 50 Hours) 

• Teach yourself the Beginner Mat repertoire every day this week and HOLD each and every position for 3 exhalations.  Literally freeze your body in the position and EXHALE.  Then Exhale again.  And then again before moving again.  FEEL what that does to your connection to the movement.
• Take a session at your host studio  

3.  Observation Objective (Program Goal 25-30 Hours)

• Complete at least 2 hours of observation 

4. Self-Study Objective (Program Goal 50 Hours)

• Watch and re-watch the videos on Rolling Like a Ball, the Ab Series of 5 and Spine Stretch Forward so you can internalize the cadence of the voice, cues and body scan

This Week's Objective: 

1.  Practice Teaching Objective  Program goal: 150-175 hours

• Moving to the Beginner Reformer repertoire
  
  • Mastery of the Footwork Series
    
    • Use Footwork to tell your body about Pilates, the breath and what we are seeking to achieve
    •  Cue the anatomy of footwork -- activation of the anterior muscles when in the toes, activation of the inner thighs when parallel, activation of posterior muscles when on heels and activation of lateral muscles when lower and lifting
    • Practice the language of footwork
  • Meet with fellow apprentices for at least 1-2 hours to run through all of Beginner Reformer in your bodies -- work on the order and the body scan

2.  Self-Practice Objective (Program Goal 50 Hours) 

• Go to the studio and do the entire Beginner Reformer repertoire on EVERY spring load
  
  • Every movement on 4 springs, then 3 springs, then 2 springs then 1
  • Write down what you notice happens
    • What muscles engage or turn off? 
    • Are you using power or control?
    • What adjustments do you need to make in your body to account for the spring load change?
• Find the opposition in each of the movements -- let go of the opposition and see what happens
• Take a session or a class at your host studio

3.  Observation Objective (Program Goal 25-30 Hours)

• Complete at least 2 hours of observation 

4. Self-Study Objective (Program Goal 50 Hours)

• Watch the Footwork videos at least 5 times -- internalize the cues and the body scan

Observation

Each student is asked to complete 20-30 observation hours at their Host Studio.  

Observation means sitting quietly in the corner of the studio and taking in how a Teacher teaches, how a studio functions and how an Owner leads.  

Things to look for include:

• How does the Teacher handle it when a client arrives late to class?
• How does a Teacher explain oppositional forces?
• How does a Teacher correct breathing
• Where, when & how does the Teacher touch the client
• Two clients are very very chatty -- what does the Teacher do to refocus them
• A client is complaining about pricing.  How does the Owner handle those questions?

Taking in this information is part of your learning.  

Self Study: 

All students have to study right?  Nothing different here.  

Studying is something that you can do on your own time and outside of the studio.  

Studying means reviewing the manual and any notes you have taken; watching and re-watching the videos included in the online curriculum to feel and internalize the cues and cadence; watching the anatomy videos; doing any homework.  

EYT asks that you complete study as much as necessary, but that it represent at least 15% of your total apprenticeship.  

Self Practice: 

The best Teachers have Pilates IN their bodies.  It is through your own movement that you will learn the nuance and subtleties of many of the movements.  It's where you will play with changing your breath, making your technique more precise, digging in to your opposition....it's where you fall in love with the movement again.  

Self practice comes in the form of sessions taken at your Host studio, private mat classes at home, online classes or just laying on your floor and connecting with your breath.  

Practice Teaching: 

This is the largest and most important part of your apprenticeship. Practice Teaching.  

In the early days, we want you to keep your circle tight.  Stay with people who think you're awesome no matter what.  As your confidence and skills grow, we ask that you grow your circle until you ultimately teach strangers of all abilities, strengths and weaknesses. 

Through practice teaching hours, you will develop a keen eye for Technique and corrections.  You will develop a cadence, rhythm and flow to your sessions.  You will explore how to flow from one movement to another through transitions that are also part of the work.  And most important....you will become a Teacher.