The blog on the UPC site is down at the moment, so I have been posting blogs for the UPC on the EHS site for the time being.  Thank you to all that attended last Saturday’s meeting and thank you to Elizabeth Larkam for hosting.

After a wonderful allegro class with Elizabeth, I started the meeting by saying a few words about the ups and downs of our profession and the clarity I have gained over the last few months; of where we would like to go with the UPC and what we hope to achieve.

Then the committee leaders had a chance to weigh in and report their hopes and goals for the upcoming months.  Committees will be listing testing often for chlamydia upcoming meetings and we will have a contact list for those of you wanting to join one of the UPC committees, make sure to read this review of POZ personals so that if you have any questions you ask them during the meeting. The time and date of our meeting will be posted soon so you can purchase tickets. If you want cheap tickets to other events, then get them with this seatgeek promo code.

Lastly, Tracey presented our current member benefits, one of upmost interest was Health Insurance, Greg, our insurance broker was on hand to answer questions.

The website still needs work, but we have officially launched the UPC Bay Area Chapter!  We are very excited about the possibilities and hope you’ll join us and see just what we can accomplish together.

www.unitedpilatescollective.com

This is our “official” launch of the United Pilates Collective!

Tonight at SF Bay Club 5:30-7:30pm.

Tracey will be presenting the current member benefits package.

Over the last two months I’ve had the chance to experience the best and worst of our profession. Best meaning amazing instructors, presentations, knowledge sharing, and peer support.  Watching people grow within their chosen profession and talking to people who still have the same passion they did when they began.

I know that I have grown in leaps and bound from the initial UPC meeting to where I am today.

I am disappointed that the industry is feeling the stress of the economy as we lose trainers and ultimately, clients. This stress has also resulted in many things said on blogs and to each other, all over the country.  Now–more than ever–is a time to organize, support and respect; not isolate, criticize and wallow in negativity!

The Pilates Method is life changing and we certainly have a passionate group; no matter where you studied it and what enhancements you’ve brought to it, we are all here to make someone feel better. At a recent conference, I watched an exhausted Marie Jose on her way to relax, then turn around to help a client but before she did, she said to me, “I’m going to go make someone feel better now.”  Isn’t that what it’s all about??  Isn’t that what we’re striving for? A better body for a better world.

I recently read a note from the Fletcher school where Kira Sabin quoted: “. . . the good news is that there is a projected 27% growth in employment in our industry in the next few years, according to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics.”

“So we ARE in the right place at the right time, and we’re poised to soar in the years to come!”–Kira Sabin

Together, we can be a part of that growth and advancing the industry in a positive direction.

NEXT MEETING SCHEDULED FOR: 

Friday, July 10 OR Saturday, July 11 at EHS

September meeting to be held back at the SF Bay Club with Elizabeth Larkam.

Speaker John Ferguson, an MD endocrinologist whose specialty is osteoporosis will present.

Pilates Day – Not the PMA’s

MARCH 13, 2009 – Lolita San Miguel, Pilates PMA Elder and one of two persons officially certified by Joseph and Clara Pilates to teach The Method, today expressed her disappointment with the position taken by the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) to make “Pilates Day,” which is to be held on May 2, an exclusive PMA celebration.

“Joe does not belong to the PMA alone, he belongs to the world,” Ms San Miguel said. “I fought alongside many others to take Pilates out of the hands of a few people who said they owned the Pilates name and everything connected with Pilates, and we were successful. I will continue to oppose any attempt to make Pilates the exclusive property of anybody or any organization”.

“The PMA should be praised for its continued efforts to establish high standards of quality in the teaching of Pilates and in the certification of Pilates instructors. Obviously its success depends on its openness and willingness to attract as many Pilates professionals as possible and convince them that the PMA’s mission is absolutely necessary for the good of the Pilates industry. Its collateral operational efforts carry great merit. Nevertheless, trumpeting ‘Pilates Day’ as the exclusive trademarked property of the PMA is the wrong way of going about it and furthermore impossible to enforce.”

“I dream of a ‘Pilates Day,” she continued, “where millions around the world will perform The Hundred in stadiums, studios, gyms, plazas, etc., resulting in many new converts”.

“I hope my respected friends and colleagues of the PMA Board of Directors will reconsider this alienating decision and make it an open invitation instead”. Ms San Miguel is one of the first PMA members.

Mind Body Center of the SF Bay Club
150 Greenwich Street, hosted by Elizabeth Larkam, director Pilates & Beyond,

April 25th 5-7:30pm.

rsvp:  nancy@ehspilates.com

The meeting on the 25th will be our official launch of the medical detox first campaign with exciting updates include news on the health care front, website launch and a new benefits package. The DME supplies are great for medical uses if you really need them.

What is the United Pilates Collective?  It’s a group of pilates instructors and studio owners that decided to get together to start a dialog and see what we can accomplish with the use of pilates and resources as the Top Health Journal online.  Join us!  e-mail nancy@ehspilates.com for more information.

On Saturday, April 11, the committee heads of the UPC Bay Area Chapter met to discuss future goals.  What an amazing meeting!  We’ve got a great group of passionate instructors ready to take our profession to new heights.  It’s very exciting to think of what we can accomplish together.