Improvisation (& Adaptation)

IMPROVISATION

Don’t worry, there will be no amorphous movement* expected of you here, that’s not the kind of improvisation I’m talking about.

*my deep apologies to all of my dance friends, former co-workers - and myself - for the gross generalisation of what dance improvisation actually entails - you know I love it (& all of you too)

Ahem…

For the past ten days I’ve been doing dishes in my bathtub

Weirdly my bathtub is out on my verandah and that’s where we’ve set up our outdoor kitchen while our circa mid-nineties kitchen is being updated with new cabinetry and countertops as well as a new stove and cooktop - exciting times!

To brag about our new kitchen is not why I’m writing this post; thinking about having to improvise and be adaptable is where my brain is at today.

Where does improvisation come into play in Pilates? Have patience and all will be explained but for now, back to the kitchen...

How did we adapt and improvise so we didn’t need to order nightly take away for over two weeks?

Planning where possible, as much as possible.

We knew we were going to be without a functioning kitchen for two + weeks.

Luckily,

We’d already done a kitchen remodel in the past five years so knew what to expect (& also knew that we’d live through it).

We figured out the quasi bare minimum of things we’d need for the kitchen-free fortnight - for example, there are two of us so we kept out 4 plates instead of the 12 we have. Did we need the toaster? Yes. Did we need the pressure cooker? Nope, so that got stuffed on top of the hubby’s dresser (with its friends the wok and the slow cooker).

We  started moving things out of the soon to be gutted kitchen way earlier than we needed to so that it wasn’t overwhelming the day before the tear out.

We had the space and where-with-all to create our camp kitchen on the verandah. The nearby bathtub def helped but you might be wondering why is it on the verandah in the first place?

That's a verrrry good question and the answer is most likely the view. The tub was there when we bought the house and was one of the quirky things we loved.

Nice view, right? Why yes, that is a tumbler of wine perched on the corner!

Alrighty, let's tie my kitchen remodel planning to adaptability in Pilates.

Here are a couple of scenarios that might be Planned or Known interruptions to your Pilates practice.

How can you be adaptable and find a way to improvise when they happen?

SCENARIO #1 You're going out of town (on holiday? - yay! For work? - also yay?) and still want to keep up your Pilates:

• Not able to take your regular class or session? - easy peasy, with so much available online there are classes to suit your schedule and your level. As a matter of fact I have tons of recorded classes to rent that can be sorted by level, time, & type. Click for my Video On Demand Library. Or, try a Pilates studio in the town you're visiting. You might even have a lightbulb moment with a different teacher!
• No Mat in your hotel room, Airbnb, or your cousin Rita's house? Either bring your own or use a towel.
• Very little to no floor space? No probs! Do Pilates on your bed (yes it's squooshy but it's fun!) or for a challenge try my Standing Pilates Class
• Need props? Resistance Bands & small balls are easy to pack and some larger balls (like an overball) are easily de & re inflatable. No resistance band? Use a tie or bathrobe strap. Missing your hand weights? Use water bottles or cans of food.

SCENARIO #2 You're having planned surgery and will need time to recuperate but don't want to forget all your hard won Pilates knowledge and fitness.

• Do some Pre-hab so you go into your surgery as strong as possible.
• Communicate with your Dr. for what your physical restrictions will be and/or any movements that need to be avoided post surgery (and for how long?)
• Schedule physio with a provider that has some Pilates knowledge and understands the benefit of full-bodied movement. (A lot of times surgeons are not that great with post care)
• Find yourself a Pilates Instructor who either already has experience in what you're going through or who's willing to research and go on the post surgery journey with you.
• Move as soon as you're able.
• Practice Mindfulness. Need some ideas? Here's a blog post I wrote.  

Now, we've looked at things (like my kitchen remodel) that were planned but sometimes life doesn’t work that way, right?

So what about unplanned things? How do you improvise on the fly??

Some of the things from the above two scenarios can def help. If life throws you a curve ball with your schedule or an injury what resources do you have?

Again...

• Not able to take your regular class or session? - with so much available online there are classes to suit your schedule and your level. And as mentioned, I have tons of recorded classes to rent that can be sorted by level, time, & type: Video On Demand Library.
• Need props? No resistance band? Use a tie or bathrobe strap. Missing your hand weights? Use water bottles or cans of food. No yoga block? Sit on a book or two.
• Find yourself a Pilates Instructor who either already has experience in helping people with the injury you have or who's willing to research and go on the rehab journey with you.
• Move as soon as you're able.
• Practice Mindfulness. here's a blog post I wrote.  

Finally, here's another way to look at Improvisation & Adaptability:

First a quick question: Have you ever experienced frustration while practicing Pilates?

I'm pretty sure you answered yes. Yes?

Well, first know that you're not alone! And second, embrace that frustration and use it to fuel your creativity.

With our Pilates practice we have to be able to find adaptability and a sense of playful improv when things are not going our way on the mat or on the equipment, otherwise we'll go crazy!

As a teacher I have to embody this when my client(s) are not able to understand or feel the changes I want them to find in their bodies - how can I say things differently or what variation or modification can I offer?

It might be that you (and I) need to come at an exercise in a completely new and wonky way to shake up how we're thinking about it. 

So how might this look?

• Try an exercise on a piece of equipment (if available) or on a different piece of equipment. The footwork can be done on the Reformer, the Low Chair, and/or as a Mat exercise. 
• Regress the exercise for a couple of reps: take it back a few notches and ask, what could we feel differently?
• Use a prop!! This is one of my favourite ways to improvise. Even if you don't necessarily need one to accomplish the exercise you might find an 'aha' wile using it.
• Use a partner for feedback. Try going back to back in Spine Stretch or foot to foot in Spine Twist or Teaser.
• Welcome an assist from your teacher to help you get to a place you can't go to on your own - yet. You'll get an insight into the sensation you're chasing.
• A weird, off the wall image that all of a sudden works for you! (another one of my faves)

Now I'm going to go and wash those dishes in my tub and then run myself a nice hot bath.

And while I'm soaking, I'm going to remember that Pilates is supposed to be enjoyable (maybe even fun) and that Adaptability and Improvisation help us keep it that way!

Be Well, xBec

The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this blog are not intended to amount to advice and Rebecca Forde disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this post   

cover & social photo by Neil Thomas