Pilates For Stylists: December 2010

The type of Pilates I teach emanates from the work of Pilates Elder Ron Fletcher. Being a Pilates Elder means that he was one of Joseph Pilates' original students. All of my teachers have worked directly with Mr. Fletcher. I am honored to have received personal instruction from him as well.

Presentations and courses that I conduct as Pilates For Stylists incorporate elements of exercises I learned as Fletcher Pilates TowelWork. I know from personal experience the value adding this type of exercise and conditioning for the hairdresser. This type of towel work will increase the hairdresser's flexibility and balance left to right.

To execute this at the salon or home, take a long towel and fold in half twice long ways and roll into a rope like manner. To order the braided towel seen here, see the bottom of this post. This workout was published in Pilates Style magazine. To view the article in its entirety, go here.

The Ron Fletcher Towel Workout

Use a simple braided towel for this dynamic set of movements

by John White

Towel work is indispensable in teaching shoulder girdle stabilization and correct movement of the arms. You will immediately appreciate the effectiveness of this work and the fact that you can practice it at home with an everyday piece of "equipment." Athletes and dancers love ... giving them an intense stretch and workout.

Here are two movements to get you started. The first introduces a basic action and the next elaborates it into a phrase of movement.

Simple Side Bend

Use this exercise to strengthen and stretch the muscles of the waist.

Step 1

Begin standing in a wide turned-out position with the taut towel directly overhead.

Step 2

Take four full breaths while slowly bending the body to the side: Divide the space between where you start (upright) and where you'll end up (side bend) into four equal segments, one breath for each. Each inhale lengthens the waist and each exhale bends the body more to the side. Maintain proper alignment! Keep the shoulders anchored down, the abdominals pulled in tight and the hips centered over the legs.

Step 3

Inhale as you briskly bring the body back upright. Exhale in place, deepening the connection to your core muscles.

Perform this movement twice on each side, alternating sides as you go. Then do it twice more, dividing the side bend into just 2 equal movements; finally, perform the side bend in one single motion, 4 times, side to side.

Shoulder Stretch with Contraction

This movement includes articulation of the entire spine and a large range of motion for the shoulders. Only perform this if your shoulders and chest are flexible enough. If you aren't sure, ask an instructor to determine your flexibility.

Step 1

Begin standing with legs and feet together, with the towel taut against the hips.

Step 2

As you inhale, circle the arms up and over the head in one continuous motion.

(Next Step)

When the towel touches the back of your body, exhale as the low belly contracts and the knees bend.

(Next Step)

Continue into a deep contraction, pulling the arms into the body, bowing the head and rounding the back.

To finish the movement, reverse the sequence. Perform 8 times. Give the long circle of the towel a flowing feel, with a moment of suspension at the top of the movement.

To purchase a the Ron Fletcher towel and the braided towel, go here. To find a Fletcher Pilates studio or teacher in your area, go here.