I saw a post by Brooke Tyler, Clasique Acupuncture and Pilates, using the series of five for the month of October, as a CoreChallenge to her online subscriber class. Yes, I thought it was dope. I thought, What If I use the month of November and make a point to put it in my calendar as a reminder to be checked off each day? You know, self-accountability.
The plan was to enjoy my new, “soft as butter” mat that simply imprints the spine so well, courtesy of Pilates Designs. It was clear before the first weekend of the month that this was what the universe called for, perhaps as a way of honoring all my teachers, the Pilates method, its work and my graceful aging.
At 8:15am Friday, November 2nd, I saw Juan Estrada’s post and learned that Bob Liekens had passed away the night before from a heart attack. The Pilates world was reeling with shock and pain. He was 65. I knew Brett was traveling and texted him the news about Bob, I reposted my blog post of the last time I saw Bob and knew as I laid on that mat Friday afternoon that doing Pilates and the Series of Five everyday for the month of November was the best way for me to work it thru, flush it out and really live the work that I have embraced as my lifestyle through their teachings.
All the people I love and respect were touched and influenced by Bob Liekens. There was no escaping his critical eye and we all loved that about him. Virtual hugs, kisses and testimonials were voluminous across social media. Get togethers, memorials and remembrances were planned. We all remain in shock and are reminded of the preciousness of every moment, every breath and every friend.
Keeping my promise to hit the mat for the Series of Five became my personal ritual of release, as more chaos unfolded during the second week. Another mass shooting, devastating fires, accidents and canceled travel plans along with the deafening noise from the political world kept that Rollup on my soft butter mat even more inviting.
The week continued, Susan (my first Pilates Mat teacher) reached out to get together and check in with each other; Blossom welcomed my support for a post for her blog, and of course the 15 minute Series of Five easily stretched to 30 minutes of the full mat.
There was a new sense of appreciation for the matwork now, and if only for 15 minutes. While I have taught so many, for such a long time, it is matwork, that I tended to ignore and leave out of my own practice, as I much prefer the spring resistance of the apparatus, specifically the Reformer and Wunda.
In light of how the month began, my mind did wander a couple of times. Honestly, I don’t even know why I walked into that 23rd Street space to sign up for a Pilates Mat certification all those years ago. However, because of it, I find myself in a community of former dancers, lovers of dance, movement and action. A global community of some of the most amazing people, all connected through experience and teaching this work.
With all the losses of the first few days this month, spending at least 15 minutes of self-care rolling, breathing and focus on the mat feels like the absolute right thing to do. Today. Tomorrow. For the rest of the month. For as long as my body and breath will allow.
Gina Jackson, is a classically trained Pilates Teacher and has been teaching along the Gold Coast of Hudson and Bergen County, NJ for the past fifteen+ years.
Certified by Power Pilates of New York, Gina has trained with Master Teachers Bob Liekens, Susan Moran and Brett Howard; loved workshop training with Cary Regan and Blossom Leilani-Crawford and has particularly enjoyed listening to the personal stories as told by Pilates Elders, Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel.
An active teacher and blogger, Gina manages a private personal training business supporting a myriad of clients, teaching all to honor their health, strength and life with the principles of Pilates at its core.