Episode Show Notes
Welcome to the second episode of this special short season of The Pilates Diaries Podcast created to support and promote the rebuilding of the business of industry colleague and long term Pilates teacher, Kimberley Garlick. Kimberley’s studio business, Northern Rivers Pilates in Lismore was completely submerged in the devastating floods that tore through the region in February and March earlier this year. In pursuit of getting their business back on its feet, Kimberley has reached out to her extensive industry network and along with studio manager and daughter, Madison have created the Teach to Preach Retreat that will run at their studio in Lismore, November 4th to 6th this year.
On this episode Kimberley welcomes Tessa Gillespie one of the Presenters at the Teach to Preach Retreat. Tessa comes from a Physiotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist background and has a focus on breath. She has a wealth of knowledge and a passion for Pilates and shares with us the detail of her retreat workshop.
The mission of this podcast is to share the stories of the impact of Pilates to help you live and move with more joy, physical vitality, and renewed vigor.
Pilates was a somewhat unknown word until it started creeping into conversation somewhere around the 2000s- maybe even before then depending on who you asked and amongst which circles, and has largely remained and enigma for many reasons- one of which perhaps is that Pilates really has to be experienced to be understood.
There are now a wide range of Pilates styles available when you attend a Pilates class, perhaps borne from the variation of interpretations of how Pilates was originally taught by its founder, Joseph Pilates.
With The Pilates Diaries Podcast we’re inviting Pilates enthusiasts around the globe to share with us what they’ve noted down in their Pilates Diary. Our hope is that the Pilates Diaries Podcast goes some way to answering the question ” What is it that makes Pilates so special?”
We’ll take a privileged peek into the Pilates Diaries of our guests to gain a greater insight into the impact Pilates can have in all of our lives and contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community at large.
I welcome you along for the journey and welcome your comments and discussions through the links found on your favorite podcast platform. Enjoy.
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Episode Transcript
Bruce Hildebrand: In the spirit of respect, The Pilates Diaries Podcast acknowledges the people and elders of the Bunurong people, members of the Kulin Nation, who have traditional connections and responsibilities for the land on which this podcast is produced.
Hi, I’m Bruce Hildebrand and this is The Pilates Diaries Podcast.
The mission of this podcast is to share the stories of the impact of Pilates. We’re inviting Pilates enthusiasts to share with us the notes they’ve taken down in their Pilates journey as we seek out the answers to the intrigue Pilates has been able to ignite inside millions all over the world. Our hope is that The Pilates Diaries Podcast goes some way to answering the question ” What is it that makes Pilates so special?”
Welcome to this special short season of The Pilates Diaries Podcast created to support and promote the rebuilding of the business of industry colleague and long term Pilates teacher, Kimberley Garlick. Kimberley’s studio business, Northern Rivers Pilates in Lismore was completely submerged in the devastating floods that tore through the region in February and March earlier this year. In pursuit of getting their business back on its feet, Kimberley has reached out to her extensive industry network and along with studio manager and daughter, Madison have created the Teach to Preach Retreat that will run at their studio in Lismore, November 4th to 6th this year.
On this episode Kimberley will take us through the exciting lineup of the Teach to Preach Retreat. Kimberly, welcome to the show.
Kimberley Garlick: Hi Bruce, I’m excited to welcome Tessa Gillespie to our chat today, Bruce- she’s going to be one of our presenters at our Teach to Preach. Tessa comes from a Physiotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist background and has a focus on breath. She has a wealth of knowledge and a passion for Pilates and I’m really excited to hear what she’s going to share with us in the retreat.
Bruce Hildebrand: Tessa, welcome to the show.
Tessa Gillespie: Thank you.
Kimberley Garlick: Tessa, tell us about your background and your relationship with Pilates.
Tessa Gillespie: So I started my early career in the hospital system mostly working in kids respiratory- lots of chronic respiratory illness and high dependency unit work, which I think often surprises people because not many people are aware that Physios treat lungs. As my career progressed I delved a lot more into breathing in a more holistic approach. When I was working in England, I was treating a lot of kids who had persistent pain conditions and a lot of them had concurrent mental health diagnoses as well. Funnily enough, I had a persistent pain condition when I was younger, so I approached them in terms of how breathing had helped me and then on top of that also wanted a mind modality to try to help them on a different level.
Kimberley Garlick: Wow- that’s cool because the history with Joseph Pilates- he had the illnesses of asthma and rickets as a child and that’s why he wanted to develop a exercise format that could benefit people like himself so it’s quite interesting how, even though that was all the time ago and now you are following a similar path with the breath because you had experiences like that too. So Tessa, what’s your relationship with Pilates?
Tessa Gillespie: I got introduced to Pilates when I was a student studying Physio- I think most Physio students come across Pilates from a clinical point of view and all of the benefits of the exercise. I think it’s a little bit of a different approach to what people would get to what if they were purely a Pilates instructor. Funnily enough it didn’t really click for me at first- I didn’t really have that deep appreciation for it like I do now- it wasn’t until I had some kidney operations that I wasn’t able to exercise the way that I normally do, so I started up taking advantage of Pilates at the studio that I rent at.
Bruce Hildebrand: Serious surgery by the sound of it- that would’ve taken a bit of abdominal trauma for you to get your head around? Your Physiotherapy knowledge would’ve given you some interesting insights- what was it specifically about Pilates that stood out for you?
Tessa Gillespie: I think just how it can be adapted all the way down to the easiest beginner level, but then it can also be quite a good workout as well. So I think having abdominal surgery like that, it was nice to go back to basics and learn the foundations again and fix up a few less than optimal movement patterns that I’d developed over time.
Bruce Hildebrand: That’s fairly common when you’re faced with such trauma- and this is part of the reason for broadcasting the general message of Pilates as you’re well aware Tessa- the more stories that we can share about the wide and diverse applications of Pilates the better I think.
Tessa Gillespie: Definitely. I’m a believer for sure.
Kimberley Garlick: So Tessa now, where are you sitting with your Pilates?
Tessa Gillespie: I’m still going regularly at the little studio that I rent out of- Recover Wellbeing- and I’m just really enjoying geeking out on different sensations and different movements. I really love the concept of doing the same movement, but in a different way over and over again. My Pilates Instructor Lisa is the best when it comes to teaching me different sensations and movements.
Kimberley Garlick: Tessa, we’re so excited to have you a part of the Teach to Preach Retreat. What will you be presenting with us?
Tessa Gillespie: It’ll be a nervous system regulation approach to breathing retraining , which I know sounds like a bit of a mouthful- essentially it’s a breathing retraining workshop with my own approach.
Kimberley Garlick: And what are you hoping the students are going to take away from the Retreat, from your particular workshop?
Tessa Gillespie: Everyone might take something different away but one of the main things is with breathing becoming so popular I hear a lot about the book Breathe by James Nestor and I think what’s come along with that is a lot of people coming into clinic who have been recommended to have their mouth taped which is one approach. The reason why I’m doing the nervous system regulation approach is because I want people to know that it’s not necessary to do that and that if you tape your mouth then you still may not have a permanent change in your breathing. We are still partially occluding an airway and that can be really stressful either consciously or subconsciously for some people. So I would love for people to learn that there’s a different approach to retraining your breathing that’s a little bit more gentle and bit more comfortable so that, everyone can feel as though they can approach it in some way, so it’s a bit more, inclusive.
Kimberley Garlick: And it’s so exciting, Tessa, that you’re bringing this because as you would be well aware partaking in Pilates, the importance of breath in the Pilates Method, then having the depth of your knowledge to come forward and have them understand it from such as strong concept is going to be really exciting and they’ll be able to put that into their teaching- I can’t wait to hear you speak.
Tessa Gillespie: I’m excited as well. I’m just so grateful to be part of it.
Kimberley Garlick: So Tessa how do you think the presentation is going to affect the Pilates practitioners that attend?
Tessa Gillespie: I’m hoping to give a slightly different perspective. I think Pilates instructors are aware of breath and breathing and it’s so ingrained in what they do. The carbon dioxide tolerance training is gaining in popularity but I think a lot of people are curious about it and haven’t looked into in depth. It can be really helpful when it comes to adding another layer to what people are noticing about breathing or particular clients.
Kimberley Garlick: Tessa with the carbon dioxide breathing how is that different to our diaphragmatic breathing?
Tessa Gillespie: It’s not necessarily different- diaphragmatic breathing is one of the steps in breathing retraining- probably the biggest difference is focusing on actually breathing more gently rather than oftentimes when people are breathing during exercise they’re encouraged to breathe quite audibly because there are certain advantages to training our breathing in such a way that you can breathe a little bit more gently or that it takes a little bit longer for you to have that audible breathing during exercise.
Kimberley Garlick: It sounds exciting because it almost as if you are going to break down all the different types of breath systems, and then they’re going to have the knowledge to choose what’s appropriate for their client and for themselves. Would that be correct?
Tessa Gillespie: Yeah, I look at the way that I approach breathing in that there’s a biochemical element, which is the carbon dioxide tolerance training. Then there’s also a biomechanical side, which I think Pilates instructors are are quite good at. Then the other way is through respiratory Physiotherapy knowing a lot about lung pathology and that kind of thing. Then there’s also that nervous system regulation where breath is that direct link between our autonomic nervous system and being able to switch between the two.
Kimberley Garlick: That’s going to be really informative and add a whole other aspect to their knowledge, to be able to take everything a little bit deeper into their current teaching.
Bruce Hildebrand: No doubt you get lots of invitations to various workshops Tessa- what is it that stood out for you about the Teach to Preach Retreat happening up in Lismore in November?
Tessa Gillespie: I think because I have such a huge appreciation for Pilates and Pilates teachers and I feel as though Pilates instructors are on the same wavelength as me so I really enjoy discussions with them. On top of that, there’s so many great presenters- I’m just so excited, I think I’m going to learn a lot as well, I’m a massive nerd- so , I’m always keen to learn as much as I possibly can.
Bruce Hildebrand: You touched on James Nestor’s book Tessa- how much of your training have you done through Breathability with Tess Graham with your breathwork?
Tessa Gillespie: Yeah, I did the Breathability level one and two with Tess Graham who’s a Physiotherapist from Canberra. There’s a few different breathing re-training methods but I think what I liked most about Tess Graham’s was that it is focused on that comfortable inclusive approach.
Bruce Hildebrand: Can you share with the, some of the main takeaways that you took from that training that you’re going to be implementing into the Teach to Preach Retreat?
Tessa Gillespie: I guess what Tess Graham’s course offered me was there was a gap in my knowledge, and there was a gap in the ways in which I was able to help people so what her training offered me was like a few little fillers in. She provided me with some really good foundations to build upon and to enrich the other elements of what I do with clients, as well as provide me with immense education on carbon dioxide tolerance, training, and the fundamentals of physiology- it’s like a good revision of the fundamentals of physiology.
Bruce Hildebrand: Having chatted to a number of Physiotherapy colleagues, who’ve done a lot of Tess’ training- they found that it was an incredible comprehensive insight into what we take for granted so often with breathing. My question to you is around the link between filling in gaps there and then filling in gaps with your Pilates- I’m assuming that from a Physiotherapist perspective, particularly if you’re self-professed nerd that there’s a bit of joining the dots and rounding out your skillset as a well trained practitioner offering your clients lots of different solutions. Would that be fair to say?
Tessa Gillespie: Yeah, probably where I’m headed at the moment is down this track of treating clients who have nervous system dysregulation. I have a few clients who have PTSD, I have a lot of clients who have anxiety I think bringing awareness to how physically affected these clients are even though their diagnoses are mental health concerns- it’s so fascinating to go down the neuroscience route of how your nervous system state affects your ability to sense into your body and therefore your ability to move in more optimal ways. If you can’t feel what’s going on then it’s really less than easy to take the instruction from a Pilates instructor and go ” You want me to do what with my tailbone? What?!” It can be really helpful to have that specific understanding of the changes in someone’s nervous system when that’s something that they might have to deal with.
Bruce Hildebrand: Having been in amongst lots of different Pilates instructors do you see this is just not present currently in Pilates training and Pilates teachers expertise of those that you’ve had contact with?
Tessa Gillespie: That’s a challenging question to answer because as a whole, I think Pilates instructors are so incredible at movement cues but I think where there might be a bit of a gap and this is true for Physios too- certainly was for me earlier in my career- where common feedback you get from instructors or professionals are “Oh my God, I’ve been trying to teach this client this one thing for so long and they’re just not getting it.” I think, part of that is actually looking at their nervous system state and coming at it from a place of understanding and going ” Oh, wow! The reason they’re not getting that is because it’s essentially like they’re feeling into numbness in some way, shape or form in certain cases. So I think they are really great at giving sensory cues- that’s maybe why we get along so well, because I can provide my perspective as well on some of those things and I think Pilates instructors who have come to previous workshops of mine. that’s been something that they’ve said has been really fascinating is the different ways I get people to cue or feel into sensations.
Bruce Hildebrand: Kimberley, that would probably be the reason that you and I have been drawn to working with Physiotherapists for such a long time- with the complimentary nature of both Pilates and Physio working so well together.
Kimberley Garlick: Yeah, it’s like we’ve got this perfect marriage going on with you there Tessa of the neurological, the physiological, the nervous system and then the anatomy components of our and muscular systems going as well. If they don’t all communicate, then that is when the results aren’t as great as they can be.
Tessa Gillespie: That’s exactly right- I’m very grateful to Physio and what Physio has given me, but I do think the way that it’s taught which is in separate kind of systems within the body- you’re taught the neurological side and the muscu little side and the respiratory side- and I think sometimes that makes it extra challenging to try to put all the pieces together. I guess that’s what the rest of your career is for! But no I definitely agree and I think that’s part of the fun is the deeper into my career I get the more I think ” Oh yeah, wow! That’s another layer, that’s another layer and that’s another way that you can look at how they all link – and I find it fascinating!
Kimberley Garlick: Thanks a lot, Tessa for joining us and I’m looking forward to hearing all that wonderful knowledge.
Tessa Gillespie: Thank you so much for having me and I’m really excited to come- I can’t wait to learn from all the amazing people there.
Bruce Hildebrand: We hope you enjoyed this episode of The Pilates Diaries Podcast. Drop us a comment online at the links in the show notes, and be sure to subscribe and rate the podcast to keep updated with episode releases and hear more stories from our guests’ Pilates Diaries. This podcast is made possible by the following sponsors- keep an ear out for exclusive Pilates Diaries Podcast listener discount codes. Thanks for listening. The Pilates Diaries Podcast is a proud partner with TRIMIO. TRIMIO is a much needed space and time utilization booking system for the Pilates industry. With TRIMIO you can return your focus to delivering the highest value to your customers. No longer be lost to the encumbrances of inefficient interactions and experience a new level of working freedom with the power of technology automation doing what it should. Maximize your profitability by optimizing the utilization of your time and physical space with TRIMIO. Find out more at www.TRIMIO.app.
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