Houston's AerobitFit Gym Hosts Dec Course

Aerobifit Gym will be hosting Stylist Body Mechanics for local area Houston salons. Course attendees will be eligible for a 50% on Pilates packages.

Stylist Body Mechanics
Course #: 3981
TDLR #: 1526
Fee: $25, cash or money order
CE: 2 hourse

Sunday, December 7
2 - 4 pm
Call Aerobifit at 713.533.1500 to register

Attendance roster must be signed and ID/TDLR license # provided. Wear fitness attire. Payments are payable to Carolyn Bell Pilates.

Contact Carolyn with questions about course at pilatesforstylists@gmail.com

Stylist Body Mechanics

NOVEMBER COURSES FORMING

Carolyn Bell is presenting Stylist Body Mechanics Cosmetology continuing education on Mondays in November in San Antonio. Courses will be made available to individuals as well as small groups. Call now to make your reservation. Courses are conducted at the Pilates Room At Synergy, inside the Synergy Studio in the Pearl Street Brewery complex (across the street from the Aveda Institute San Antonio).

Stylist Body Mechanics - what you can expect...

...a discussion on Stylist functions that contribute to fatigue, injury and disability as well as Cosmetology workplace related musculoskeletal disorders.

...to learn specific body mechanics of the feet, legs, hips, abdominal Core, shoulders, head and neck and breath for optimally performing Cosmetology services.

...to experience Pilates static and active postures to promote a Stylist body that has strength, flexibility and endurance.

Stylist Body Mechanics Course #3981
TDLR Provider # 1526
CE: 2 hours
Course fee: $25, cash or money order
Attire: Yoga or fitness

Contact Carolyn at pilatesforstylists@gmail.com or 210.380.6800. Classes may also be arranged for in the studio with a minimum of 5 stylists participating.

Pilates For Pink

Carolyn Bell will be teaching a special Pilates class as part of Shape magazine's Pilates For Pink national event. The class will be held at Synergy Studio at 300 E Grayson, in the Pearl Street Brewery Complex, in San Antonio. A donation of $10 is being collected for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Wear a pink article of clothing in support of family and friends surviving or in their memory.

For more information or to make your online donation prior to class, visit www.bcrfcure.org. Money orders and checks will be collected on site. Sorry, no cash. Contact Carolyn at 210.380.6800 or pilatesforstylists@gmail.com.

FREE FINAL FRIDAY

FREE PILATES MAT with Carolyn Bell!

Bring friends and join Carolyn for a wonderful Pilates Mat class... 5:00 pm.

Date: Friday, September 26th
Time: 5:00 class
Cost: Free!
For information, contact Adelle at adellebrewer@aol.com
www.thesynergystudio.com

Stylist Body Mechanics

Pilates For Stylists' course, Stylist Body Mechanics, now approved for continuing education with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Out and About In San Antonio

Twice this month I have departed my Pilates studios to return to the world of beauty in San Antonio. On both occasions, I felt invigorated by being with Stylists.

J C Penny Salon, Alamo Ranch Grand Opening:
At Elsie's invitation, I made my second appearance for area Penny's locations. I spoke to a gathering of seasoned and recently graduated stylists. I relayed some of the discomfort and injuries that one can suffer with poor posture and alignment in the salon. A few tips that I shared with the group were...

• When the arm is raised during services such as foiling or cutting, lift up the "eye" of the elbow so it looks out to the side of the room.
  
• Shoulder lifts and rolls are simple movements that can ease fatigue during the work day.
• Barefoot, lift and lower your toes with the balls and heels of your feet pressing down.
  
• At the end of the day, lie on your back with your legs elevated, heels against the wall to alleviate heaviness in the legs.
  

Aveda Institute SA, Pearl Street Brewery on Grayson:
I joined Synergy Studio teachers of NIA, Yoga and Belly Dancing for a morning of demonstrations for the students enrolled in this fashionable cosmetology school. I performed Pilates, pointing out to the assembled estiticians the exercises that would be helpful to their particular line of work. Later, I addressed the cosmetologists then demonstrated Pilates as our studio owner informed the studio about classes and cross marketing opportunities.

Have Mat, Will Travel
These are two examples of the kind of presentations I offer to beauty schools (complimentary) and salons ($75 plus $10 per attendee). Salon owners may also arrange for exclusive Pilates For Stylists continuing education courses for their staff.

Getting out of the salon and into the Pilates studio is also a great way to have fun, learn Pilates and take care of your Stylist body.

Please email or phone me to discuss how I might help your salon or school.

Lululemon Quarry Market Grand Opening Fiesta

I'll be performing Pilates in the Lululemon Athletica window August 8 from 12-12:30 pm as part of the Quarry Market's Grand Opening activities. The official opening is Saturday, August 16.

The store will have expanded stock, with lots of seasonal color that lulu is known for. Come by and say hello!

Click to enlarge image to see details of Complimentary classes and Grand Opening events.

Feet Facing Forward

When I make postural and alignment assessments of studio clients and Stylists, the first place I look is at the bare feet. The feet are our connection to the earth. The feet bear the weight of our body. Because the body is a system, if there are problems with the feet, problems are likely to appear up the chain of the body.

There is a simple adjustment that any Stylist can make to improve the health of their feet, as well as their overall well-being: walk with all the toes facing forward.


Common misaligned patterns in the feet are toes facing in, ankles rolling out (supination), toes facing out, ankles rolling in (pronation) or one foot doing either on of these. They all indicate issues with the arch and typically indicate it is in stage of "falling".



The toes and feet should strike the ground facing directly forward in walking. The knees and front hip bones should line up together. Take time to watch your feet barefoot or in flip flops, where you can see your feet alignment. It may feel awkward at first, but work the feet into a straight, forward line. Your feet, knees, hips and back will thank you.

Boerne Course in May

Carolyn Bell with conduct the Pilates For Stylist: Posture and Alignment course on Wed, May 21st from 1-3 pm. Register now at 210.380.6800 or pilatesforstylists@gmail.com.

Next Course: Synergy April 14

Call now to register for the upcoming class on Monday, April 14, 1-3 pm at San Antonio's Synergy studio.

Stylist Shoulders

In the last Posture And Alignment course, all the participants were dealing with discomfort, pain or some limitation of range of motion in the shoulders. These stylists were exhibiting symptoms almost all of us have experienced. By applying the knowledge and skills they gained in the course, Patricia, Damian and Jade will restore functional movement in their shoulders, and bodies in general, in and out of the salon.

Here are some insights that were shared in the course...

• The shoulders refers to not just what is most visible, the ball and socket joint. The shoulder girdle includes the collar bones, the shoulder blades and the arm. The shoulder blades and arm positions are obviously important for without them, no hair would be done.
  
• The blades attach to the body at only one bony point. Muscles connect the blades to the arms, therefore no action of the arm is possible without the blades. Muscles attached all around the blades must be developed uniformly, versus what is commonly found: elevating muscular overworked, depressing muscular underworked.
  
• Arm position and movement needs to be controlled in the blade/back area rather than the shoulder and elbow joints. Shoulder blades need to pulled down as if the tips were being put in pockets on the hips. Arm design while working will often include the elbow being lifted to the sides of the room versus the floor.
  
• The blades move in 4 basic motions: up (elevation), (depression) down, forward (protraction) and back (retraction). The blades also upwardly and downward rotate in relation to the lifting and lowering of the arm.
  
• Conscientious stylists will expend time and effort to develop the opposing muscles in the back, and near the blades in particular, to combat the overuse of the pectorals prevalent in stylist lifted/arm forward position.
  

In the course, a few of the simple but effective exercises shared were...

Shoulder shrugs: Lift the shoulders as close to the ears as possible. Pull the shoulders low until you feel the armpit and side muscles engage.

Shoulder rolls: Make circles forward and in reverse.

Shoulder blade squeeze: Pull blades together in back as close as possible then release. Arms may be lifted chest high in front or on the side of the body. Imagine you are trying to crack a pencil with the blades.

Triangle Pull To W: With arms chest high, make a put index fingers and thumbs together, forming a triangle. Pull the arms to the sides in a "W" position, elbows alongside the torso with wrists and hands in a straight line above elbows.

*These exercises are provided here for the physically healthy. Discontinue these movements and/or consult your physician if you experience any pain.

Pilates For Stylists invites stylists to come and experience Pilates at Synergy Studio for Final Friday. Its Free at 5 pm March 28!

Girdle Of Strength

Place your thumbs on the lowest points of your rib cage. Now place your fingers on your front hip bones. Ron Fletcher refers to the space between your thumbs and fingers as the "girdle of strength." In contemporary Pilates and fitness language, it is also referred to as the abdominal "core" or "powerhouse." What is the state of your girdle of strength?

In the late 1800s, women would cinch their waists to create shapely silhouettes. Thankfully, at the turn of the century, women became interested in sports and athletics and corsets lost their whale bones and lacing for more comfortable and movable elastic shapers. Men had their own versions of fashionable torment, a waistcoat layered on top of high waisted pants, that were fastened in the front. In modern times, our girdles of strength do not come from reality-defying corsets. Rather, it is a combination of attentiveness to diet and exercise that creates toned abdominals reflected in flat bellies with waists smaller in circumference than our chests and hips.

As stylists, it is a health hazard and a risk to our artistry when we have weak abdominals or bulging bellies. We sentence ourselves to routine low back discomfort and/or pain when we ignore the torso. The demands of our profession require that we maintain a strong girdle not only for our health but because our profession is one that glorifies beauty.

What you might find fascinating about the powerhouse, or girdle of strength, is that the spine is supported by the muscles of the torso versus the spine supporting the torso. Think about that. The spine is like an elevator shaft in the center of a high rise. The elevator does not hold up the building. The building holds up the elevator. It is the same with the portion of your back that is located between your ribs and hips.

Here are some tips, based on the philosophy of Pilates, for maintaining a healthier back and stronger core:

1. Actively lift your ribcage away from your hip bones. This should be done without arching the low back or allowing the chest to come forward. Think of straightening the spine into a rod that doesn't bend.

2. Practice breathwork where you pull the belly to the spine as you exhale. This is most comfortably done lying down on your back. Make sure your pelvis isn't tilted and your ribcage, the back of your arms and shoulders maintain contact with the floor as much as possible.

3. Perform abdominal exercises such as the Pilates 100s. Check out other fitness disciplines to discover exercises that build the abdominal core muscles.

4. Eat a healthy and nutritious diet.

Unlike hip huggers, the waist whittlers of old aren't likely to make a comeback. Our girdles will have to become strong the old fashioned way; with hard work and thoughtful food consumption.

Posture And Alignment at Synergy Studio 3/18

What to expect at this workshop:

· The Stylist Body: 7 Key Areas

· Fun, Informative And Interactive

· Proper Posture And Alignment Practices In The Salon

· Pilates Principles & Movements

· Learn Valuable Cues For Standing, Sitting, Kneeling And Bending While Performing Salon Services

Class Protocol

• Arrive to sign attendance roster before start of class. CEU courses also require a photo ID and a Texas Cosmetology License number.
  
• Wear clothing that allows for freedom of movement and body assessment.

Pilates For Stylists accepts cash, business checks or money orders only. We apologize for any inconvenience. Course is open to stylists non seeking continuing education units.

The Synergy Studio is located at 300 East Grayson, Ste 100, San Antonio, 78215. Look for the Pearl Brewery Beer Can overhead. Across the street from the Aveda Institute.

See class details in column to right.