Inspiring Life from the Core

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Inspiring Life from the Core

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I Am Supported – Teach From The Heart

written by Carol Crincoli, Pure Pilates Director

The definition of Support. It’s a verb meaning “hold up” or “give assistance to.”  A noun meaning “a thing that bears the weight of something.” In Pilates, the springs on the Reformer or Cadillac support a student. The tension of the springs can be adjusted to allow the proper amount of assistance that may be needed in any given exercise. For me, as a student and a teacher of the method, understanding what is needed for my client or myself to feel supported in movement is more important than the exercise itself. To achieve the connection of the mind and body, I believe that you need to be present and it’s difficult to be truly present when you are not feeling supported. 

A wise woman reminded me a long time ago that in order to support others, I needed to support myself. So simple in theory; not so easy in practice. Lately, I have felt pretty good about how I have been taking care of myself, filling my resilience reservoir so I can show up for myself, my family, friends, team and clients. I know that it’s not about being perfect, but being consistent in self care is the key.

In my life, I find it’s always when you’re “on a roll” or “in the zone” when the universe throws a curveball. A cruel joke to see just how resilient you claim to be. I was put to the test recently when I injured my lower back and hip. The joke was on me and I was not laughing. The tears and the pain were real and I was aggravated that my self care routine that I was rocking out did not avoid this set back.

Supporting yourself not only requires consistency, but flexibility. And that is something I truly struggle with. In my teaching, I am a successful problem solver, able to tweak an exercise in the moment or change up my student’s workout after they walk into my studio and tell me they didn’t sleep last night.  In my world I like rules and I like routine so spontaneity is a personal challenge.

So, there was a bit of self pity and worry before I decided that I had no other option than to switch gears. I needed to find alternative ways to literally support my back and hip and soothe my worried mind. I had to be willing to make a shift and quick and be alright with not having all the answers to fix this.

Thankfully, there is nothing like physical pain to force one into being “present”. Dare I call this injury “a gift” from the universe. My body and mind came together as a team to assist me and my ego stepped aside so I could create spontaneity in my healing.

And this is what I learned:

  • My resilience reservoir was pretty full to handle this injury. Thank you self care routine!
  • There is nothing wrong with throwing a pity party for yourself. Just don’t make it a slumber party.
  • I am still a good teacher even when I don’t have 100% to offer.
  • I am human and there’s no hiding that from my family, friends, team and clients. They still love me.
  • Finding humor aids in physical and emotional healing.
  • And maybe, most importantly, in order to support others, I must support myself, but the true blessing is that when I support others, they are ready to support me in a moment’s notice!

As we approach the holiday season, I am grateful for being loved and supported! I wish you all the same.

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Katie is a passionate mover who was brought to Pilates through dance. After a professional dance career, Katie discovered her love of teaching-connecting the mind and body, and working with students of all ages and levels. Her appreciation and understanding of everyone’s ever changing body and needs only became greater as her own body went through pre and post natal stages, an experience which has helped Katie navigate problem solving, and bring a freshness to each session making them feel personal and specific to each body’s needs. Her sessions are full of flow and aim to challenge clients with a sense of comfort, and often a little humor, all of which she has brought to Pure Pilates since 2016. Katie thinks the gift of movement and self care is one of the best things one can do for overall wellness, and is thrilled to seek and fulfill milestones and goals with each of her clients. When she’s not at the studio, Katie is taking care of her three little humans- another job that also makes her smile, laugh, and challenges her on the daily.
Eighteen years ago I discovered my love for Pilates. After having my two children, I felt the need to move my body again. At the time I was living in North Carolina, and worked through many different exercise and training programs. I discovered Pilates, and instantly knew it was right for me. Forteen years later, and a move to New Jersey, I decided to share my love of Pilates with other people looking for some way to move their bodies. Pilates has also been a way for me to keep me strong and flexible to continue many activities. My family loves to be active, and I often find when we are all together (mostly vacations) our days consist of activity and movement such as hiking, kayaking, or skiing(more on this later). As I have gotten older I find it even more imperative now that I keep my body strong. Recently I was in a skiing accident that left me with many knee injuries and ultimately having to go into surgery. I found being able to do light Pilates a few weeks after surgery kept me sane and ultimately helped with recovery time. Pilates has not only helped me be able to keep up with my children, but has also provided me with a body that is able to function at peak performance. My approach to Pilates can be described in one, simple word: movement. Movement can help you, both physically and mentally. Movement, and Pilates, is ultimately about self care. Having a built in time to focus on your body and movement can help relieve yourself of feeling tired, anxious, and stressed. Movement awakens you. Even after one session you can leave feeling calmer and energized.
Enjoyment of life through movement is a vital part of Kathy’s philosophy. When not in the studio she leads an active lifestyle trail running, cycling, skiing and hiking. She also loves connecting with people while traveling with family and friends. One of her favorite cycling trips was riding along the coast of northern California. Learning new things and sharing knowledge is also important to Kathy. She has a passion for food, likes to cook for her family and experiment with new recipes. She is currently trying to achieve the perfect pizza. She is also an avid reader of historical fiction and biographies. Her latest endeavor is learning to play golf.
Carol M. Crincoli, owner Pure Pilates studio, has been in the fitness industry since 1990, with experience in corporate and commercial fitness, recreational programming and teaching as an adjunct professor. She began practicing Pilates in 2003 and received Pilates training through the PhysicalMind Institute in New York, NY. She holds certifications from the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a group exercise instructor, personal trainer and lifestyle and weight management consultant. She was also accepted into the IDEA-PFT Recognition System as an Elite Level Personal Fitness Trainer. She is the only trainer in the NY-metro area for Trent McEntire’s Arcus equipment. Carol graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music with a BFA in musical theater and a minor in dance. Opening Pure Pilates is the culmination of a lifetime dream, and her mission to "inspire life from the core" is a holistic approach to health and wellness—from exercise and nutrition, to stress management and self-care. Carol is also the inventor of 8th Avenue Rail, an organizing solution for Tower springs.