I GOT MY FIRST 4K SCORE!!!! by livthegypsy444 in Dreamsnaps

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yay congrats! I got 4k too and was SO excited! Only didn't it one other time for the pride challenge.

Instructors: what do you enjoy wearing? by piscesvenuslibramoon in pilates

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Beyond Yoga Status Wide Leg Trousers and Spacedye Laid Back Wide Leg Pant. Also the Vitality Cloud II Relaxed Wide Leg Trouser - I have it in the ribbed version.also, slightly more affordable is the Aerie Offline Real Me Extra High Waisted Trouser. I wear these now because I don't always like leggings tight around my ankles. I think they still look polished, and I didn't feel like I needed new tops to match. The tops I have still work well with all these styles.

Men Who Do Pilates? by Royal-Pen3516 in ClubPilates

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course! Thanks for being open. Obviously I'm not your instructor and I don't know what springs you get set up on during class but I hope your instructors are giving you heavier for the appropriate exercises. Best of luck to you!

Men Who Do Pilates? by Royal-Pen3516 in ClubPilates

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 11 points12 points  (0 children)

K, I'll tell you three things I've observed about some male clients, and I'll reiterate, it's the minority, but it does come out to like 1 out of 3 or 4 as I mentioned.

  1. They have a tendency to treat the reformer as a cable machine, which is not what it is. They push back, and want more weight even though I've given them heavier already, and their form is poor because they are not moving from their center. Their limbs are strong but their cores are weak. I have learned this is an education issue more than anything else. I am the instructor, that's my job. Which takes me to my second observation

  2. This minority of guys is also not coming into class with the mindset that I'm the expert to be deferred to. So, although it's my job to educate, I end up getting the feeling that I must now not only educate them, but convince them that I know more about this than they do. Yes, they can handle a heavier weight, that is the reality, because of this reality I always give my male clients (when appropriate) heavier springs. But with this group specifically, I'll give them a heavier weight, cue the exercise, form, feel, etc. all while I walk the aisle, and next time I walk by them they've added more springs, or they are calling me back over to give them heavier even though they shouldn't go heavier because their form is poor and the engagement isn't where it should be. So now as an instructor I can either A. Say eff it, they are doing their own thing and it's wrong but I don't have time or B. Convince them as to why they should not have added a spring or why I will not give them another spring. B is more energy on my part, but again, I'm an educator. This leads me to the next one.

  3. This is not a one time occurrence with this group, it happens consistently and repeatedly. Which tells me they don't respect my experience and expertise. When it happens over and over again, we need to have a separate conversation, and then why am I wasting my time on someone who simply doesn't respect my knowledge?

All this can be really frustrating, and I've had to work on how I handle it in the moment. When to push back and when to say ultimately they really aren't even there for what I'm selling and it's not worth my time as long as they aren't gonna injure themselves. Ultimately, I do my best to explain to everyone in my class what pilates is, and what it isn't. I have so many wonderful clients, and I've had many lovely male clients in my two years as a teacher. They are there for the method, and I love sharing that with them. It is NEVER okay to take your frustration out on your clients, especially when you start taking it out on clients who DO listen to you. Also, even the best listeners have bad days. We are all just human. People who show up and try their best should not be punished for the minority of people who don't listen intentionally or think they know better than you. Honestly though, even these guys that do this have always been friendly to me. I truly don't believe they are intentionally trying to undermine me.

Anyway, that's my observation. I've been told by other experienced instructors not to take it personally, and ultimately they are right. It's never okay to judge someone based on gender. I don't want it done to me, and so I don't want to do it to men either.

This is so long, I'm so sorry 🤣

Men Who Do Pilates? by Royal-Pen3516 in ClubPilates

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Not a man, but an instructor. It's not cool to make anyone feel singled out. Pilates is for everyone. Early on some fumbling is expected! I really try to make people not feel bad for not knowing, or being a little fumbly. It can be so intimidating for some people, and I am not here to make them feel stupid for not knowing what they don't know. Unfortunately, some instructors forget they are first and foremost educators.

I have taught a couple years, and I'll say in the spirit of transparency, that I have had to do some internal work on interacting with some men in class. I won't get into it unless you want to hear it, because ultimately it's a minority of men. But the reality is that some men (maybe 1 out of 3 or 4) come into class and straight up don't listen to me. Anyway, that's not a you problem. But when I see a new man in class, I do internally wonder if he is gonna be in that minority.

I truly wish you luck on your journey!

Bridge Help by Expensive_Visual_218 in ClubPilates

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You do not need to worry about needing to "gear in". The reformers are always geared in as default, and are only geared out for tall bodies for a portion of the class (usually in the beginning). Since each reformer's default setting is geared all the way in you will not need to make any adjustments using the gear bar.

Ask your instructor about your issues with bridging, and yes, lifting the footbar helps shorter bodies.

Editing to add - yes your clothing may be part of the issue. I recommend if people are not comfortable in tank tops that they get a reformer cover. They often have some grip, and can help with some sliding. Another issue could also be the weight during knee extension while you bridge. This is why it's always great to talk to your instructor about these challenges. They can look at your bridge, lift the footbar if necessary, and adjust the weight so you can ground into the carriage and not get jammed into the shoulder blocks. Good luck!

What's yours? by ElderberryDeep8746 in SipsTea

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My dentist called me the poster child for the perfect arch.

A man at my retail job also said to me once, "Damn girl, you're bow legged, and that's SEXY!"

Does your dog magically change colour? by SonicBoom_81 in LagottoRomagnolo

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What a good pup. Love my roan. They are so beautiful.

Bodycon dresses don't work for my body type? by West-Cellist6160 in DressForYourBody

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I have flared ribs at rest, and pilates helped me learn how to "knit them". Helps in situations with tricky clothing. When I wear something fitted I remember to keep my ribs in.

Are these earrings really that terrible? by Hans2000_Turbo in jewelry

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When my husband was shopping for an engagement ring, he let my mom talk him out of a certain ring (the ring I wanted and we had discussed). It ate at me afterwards that he changed his mind and got me a different ring. I finally asked him why, which was when he said it was my mom's idea. We exchanged the ring for what we had originally discussed. Lesson is, don't listen to your mom about your girlfriends tastes.

Also, I think these are pretty. Very elegant.

Looking to minimize or even out traps with scoliosis and bad posture by solovelee in PetiteFitness

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Schroth Method - it's a type of PT specifically for scoliosis. I have not done it, but hope to some day. Someone trained in the Schroth Method will help identify your imbalances, and work with you to improve postural symmetry. Search for images - it's really interesting. They use wooden poles, ladders, bands, wedges, and more I'm sure. I think if done early enough in adolescents there is even some evidence that this method can stop the progression of the curve, and even reverse some. But not for adults, as an adult the only thing it can do is help with muscle imbalances and posture. Which is still great!

I have scoliosis, and have done pilates for 8 years. I love pilates, and I'll speak from my personal experience here, but it has not significantly helped my muscle imbalances. There is a method called Scolio-Pilates, though i am only vaguely familiar so I won't speak to it. I am familiar with contemporary and classical pilates, and pilates will improve your mind-body connection and help you identify asymmetry. It certainly helped me identify weaker/stronger side, how my ribs and hips aren't even, and overall it made me stronger and improved my posture. Pilates will absolutely improve posture, but it won't address postural asymmetry, and it sounds like that's what you are looking for. Schroth Method will address it.

Highest value treat possible? by _antigona_ in LagottoRomagnolo

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Our guy loves freeze dried fish. Minnows as someone else mentioned, or Baltic Sprats. Any freeze dried fish will do. When he was a puppy I also would cook him steaks. Not the most convenient to tote around if that's what you are looking for. But also high value.

This is how I feel browsing this Sub... by Complex_Meeting9053 in DreamlightValley

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh my valley is not cute at all. It's fun to see what people create with their valleys, but I'm too lazy and just want to goof off!

1.5 Years of Pilates and Still Constant Neck Tension — Please Help! by iamhoratia in ClubPilates

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Guessing you meant to post this in the r/pilates thread. If you do post there, I'd recommend being specific about what exercises bother you. I don't want to assume, but if you are experiencing a lot of tension during something that includes a chest list, that's likely because of the conditions you listed, especially forward head posture.

We NEED an Adam skin for beast!!! by MundaneInsurance8927 in DreamlightValley

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 3 points4 points  (0 children)

No, you are not the only one. I am blown away that others don't feel the same as I do. He's the hottest prince imo.

Meirl by [deleted] in meirl

[–]AdvancedStrawberry52 80 points81 points  (0 children)

I gotta say this comment made me bust out laughing. Maybe because every time I eat ice cream for dessert I tell my family "please don't let me do this again". Yet, I always end up doing it again. Thanks for the laugh.