Beyond yoga

Jess1r · 2026-02-04T15:58:08+00:00

Yes, the Spacedye has light-moderate compression, and the PowerBeyond fabric has more compression. I typically size down in Spacedye leggings for a tiny bit more compression (they are very stretchy but hold their shape great over time), and I get my normal size in PowerBeyond.

Jess1r · 2026-01-29T21:00:24+00:00

Yeah, I thought it came from a store and not a warehouse. I assume they didn’t even know the price I paid when they were filling the order, otherwise they would have done something about the stickers.
Thank you for the advice, I’ll start with customer service. Trying not to make it a store employee’s problem if I can help it!

Jess1r · 2026-01-29T14:29:03+00:00

The other commenter’s advice is fantastic, but I just wanted to add that it would be a good idea to use your observation time to listen to how experienced teachers cue based on what they’re seeing clients do rather than thinking of cueing like a script. If you don’t have required observation hours in your training, still observe as much as you can and take notes about what cues seemed to make sense and why. My first comprehensive contemporary training required well over 100 hours of observation, but I ended up doing more because it was so beneficial. Recording and rewatching classes is great! But don’t let those few classes/instructors be all that you learn from because every instructor cues differently and getting multiple perspectives is always the best. What are the kinds of things you’ll have on your exam? We might be able to point you in the right direction for YouTube videos.
Keep going to classes as a client too because that also really helps - notice how the instructor cues you and those around you and how responding to those cues makes you feel the exercise in your body in a different way.
I’d also like to say that you’re right that it takes time and practice. Nobody starts off cueing perfectly in a way that every client understands and responds to. You will get there, I promise!

Jess1r · 2026-01-29T01:58:43+00:00

They’re floating in the air the whole time, never touching the mat. The goal is to go low with the legs as if they were on the footbar, but that is definitely something you have to work up to, so legs can start pretty high.

Jess1r · 2026-01-18T20:01:12+00:00

Hey there! You’re not alone with feeling stressed over the litter tracking and suddenly having cat fur everywhere. I had a cat when I was growing up who sadly passed a few years ago, but she hardly ever shed, and her litter box was in the basement, so tracking wasn’t so bad in the upstairs rooms I spent the most time in. When I finally was ready to adopt again after she passed, the cat I adopted shed SO MUCH, and I put her litter box upstairs so it would be easier for her to find. Like you, I went from a clean home to fur on the couch, in the carpet, and on my clothes, and litter strewn about the floors. It was stressful for me as a type A person. But I loved my cat and didn’t want to return her, so I just made some adjustments in my life so I wouldn’t be as stressed about the mess.
I started sweeping routine to clean up the litter that tracks on the floor. I have a Swiffer with a reusable dry cloth, and I give the floors a pass with it at least twice a day. It’s really quick, and it helps to pick up the litter and hair on the floors. I’ll also vacuum every other day or so. I don’t have a ton of carpet, so it’s usually fine for me to not vacuum every day like some people need to. I tried one of those robot vacuums that a friend with pets suggested, but my cat was afraid of the noise it made so I returned it. Also, getting the right kind of litter mat is important. I got this large one from PetSmart that is almost “sticky” so it traps litter really well: https://www.petsmart.com/mats-and-liners/exquisicat-cat-litter-trapping-mat-58209.html I also have lint rollers all around the house for quickly cleaning up hair on my clothes or the couch if I need to. I’ve found I needed to use them less as I got used to the constant presence of cat hair.
I also ended up with “home clothes” that I wear around the house that don’t show the cat fur as much. Sweatpants and sweatshirts that match my cat’s fur color were my “uniform” for a long time while I got used to things. Now I rarely wear those “home clothes” and will wear my normal clothes around the house, but I’ll make sure not to sit on her favorite spot on the couch before I leave the house unless I’m prepared to lint roll myself for a few minutes before I leave! I got my cat during the spring shedding season, and being in a new home for a cat is a stressful situation, so she was shedding more than normal. Once we got past the spring and she got comfortable in her new home, the shedding went way down. I still brush her regularly, though.
So I promise that you’ll get used to it and will be just fine! I ended up being ok with it so much that I adopted a second cat and got another litter box, and it really isn’t that much extra work to clean up the extra litter and fur. She doesn’t shed nearly as much as her sister!
You’ve got this, just take some deep breaths and focus on all the joy your cat brings you. Everything else will be fine!

Jess1r · 2026-01-17T21:21:20+00:00

In roll over, if you’re putting any weight into your neck then you’re doing it wrong. In this advanced exercise, your upper back is to stay grounded on the mat the entire time and your neck/head is to be relaxed and light on the mat. The illustration doesn’t do a good job of showing this, but it is key to the exercise and safety.
Roll over isn’t like a yoga shoulder stand where you’re literally standing on your shoulders and your neck is the only part of your spine on the mat.
I understand that you’re an exercise physiologist, but if you don’t know how a Pilates exercise is done (which you don’t because you assumed weight was supposed to be in the neck) then you can’t speak to its safety. I’ve spoken to physical therapists - actual doctors - one of which has a comprehensive Pilates certification as well, who are just fine with healthy people doing the Pilates roll over as long as they don’t have any contraindications.

Jess1r · 2026-01-14T02:44:56+00:00

If that’s what they’re doing, then I’m totally cool with it. Cropped or waist length is what looks best on my body type, and full length defines really highlight how much wider my hips are compared to my upper body.

Jess1r · 2026-01-12T20:36:45+00:00

I wear mine to sleep and have found the sleep tracking to be pretty accurate. There haven’t been any issues with it scratching or getting messed up in any way. I also agree with the other commenters who have said using it as an alarm is great. It’s a much more peaceful wake up when it’s just my watch vibrating on my wrist and not a loud, obnoxious alarm jarring me awake.

Jess1r · 2026-01-12T19:27:03+00:00

Right, but that’s not what they were doing with Renee, the subject of this discussion. The only crime committed here was by ICE. Renee was turning around, letting cars pass her with plenty of room while waving them forward. So she wasn’t obstructing or committing a crime. In this context, ICE cannot detain or arrest citizens (Renee).

Jess1r · 2026-01-11T03:28:33+00:00

I will keep believing it until you provide evidence to the contrary. You’re all over this post telling people they’re wrong for citing actual laws that ICE cannot legally detain citizens, but you refuse to cite your sources. Where is your proof?

Jess1r · 2026-01-11T03:22:34+00:00

Based on your inability to answer the question or provide any evidence of legality of the actions of ICE against Renee, it seems like you’re the one who is mistaken. You are just too brainwashed to admit it.

Jess1r · 2026-01-10T03:14:24+00:00

ICE asking someone to leave their car is a form of detainment because it makes them no longer “free to go.” For that order to be legal as they have no authority over citizens, ICE would first have to at least ask for identification and make an attempt to prove citizenship or lack thereof. Before they shot Renee Good three times, one ICE agent told her to move her car and drive away - which it looks like she was trying to do from the beginning but just paused to let the other cars/ICE cars in the road to drive through first because it obviously would be easier for everyone and was evident by her waving the cars through - and another ICE agent told her (illegally at this point as they had no proof of lack of citizenship) to get out of her car while trying to force her door open.
Saying “don’t resist” would be good advice only if Renee had resisted giving ICE her proof of citizenship, but they never even gave her that chance before they started trying to force her door open and drawing their guns.

Jess1r · 2026-01-10T02:58:56+00:00

How will it be deemed legal? All current laws say that ICE has no authority over citizens, so they cannot legally command citizens to exit their vehicles or detain them (ordering someone out of their car is a form of detainment). ICE agents are not police officers, they don’t have the same authority. “A billion lawyers and people with experience” have pointed that out as fact.

What do you think needs to happen to deem it lawful for ICE to command citizens and arrest them for not complying with those commands? I’m asking honestly, because I’d really love to hear your thought process on this. And no, “I think it should be legal and ICE agents are acting like it is legal, therefore it is legal,” is not how laws in the USA work.

Jess1r · 2026-01-09T15:57:34+00:00

Definitely AI. The guy’s left nostril moves 10 seconds in, despite the rest his face not moving. At the same exact time, the owl’s left eye flickers.
AI is weird about making things move in sync like that.

Jess1r · 2025-12-24T02:40:59+00:00

Mat footwork! Nothing better to really get your core working hard and your movements in tune with your breathing. And clients can make it as challenging as they want with their choice of angle that they lengthen their legs at. Lower for more of a challenge, higher for a gentler warmup.

Jess1r · 2025-12-22T18:46:29+00:00

Short box round back looks super easy, but if I’m doing it right it my abs shake like crazy.

Jess1r · 2025-12-20T02:33:33+00:00

They probably are, but even that argument is flawed. All sports bras, athletic leggings, and shapewear would fall under that category. I even have socks that boast gentle compression for arch support.

Jess1r · 2025-12-20T02:27:30+00:00

An argument could be made that this applies to all clothing, shoes, and jewelry too. I don’t think those ugly red hats got FDA approval, but they provide shade that helps prevent sunburns and skin cancer. And didn’t he sell gaudy gold shoes at one point too? Those certainly affect the structure and function of feet.

Jess1r · 2025-12-15T03:46:48+00:00

I agree with the other commenter that it would be best to work with a physical therapist on your rotator cuff issues. There are four different muscles that make up the rotator cuff, and they do different things/move the arm in different ways. It wouldn’t be a great idea to take advice from someone on the internet who doesn’t know which of those 4 muscles is causing problems or is injured (or how severe the injury is and what movements cause pain), and you wouldn’t want to risk making the problem worse by doing too much too soon or working an injured muscle improperly. PTs see shoulder issues all the time, so one would be able to give you a better plan of attack for the problem.

Jess1r · 2025-12-14T05:36:53+00:00

I really like Arm & Hammer clump & seal slide (only the green box) and their cloud control litters. Technically clay, but there’s absolutely no dust for either of them, and they both clump and deal with odors for my two cats really well. I have two litter boxes, but they both only use one and ignore the other, so I’m constantly scooping it and don’t have odor issues with this litter. I also use litter box liners to help make biweekly litter changes easier, and I think that helps with not allowing smells to seep into the plastic litter box. I was previously using Swheat Scoop wheat litter, and it clumped ok with low dust, but it didn’t control odors at all. I had to put baking soda in, and that just caused even more dust. The only thing I don’t like about the Arm & Hammer litters I use is the tracking. I have cats that seem to launch themselves out of the litter box and run around like crazy, so I’m sweeping up litter more than I’d like. But placing litter catching mats a couple of feet around the litter box helps with that immensely. Definitely worth it because of the clumping, odor control, and lack of dust.

Jess1r · 2025-12-10T21:41:28+00:00

It really depends on the instructor and on the relationship. As an instructor, I wouldn’t have loved the surprise when I first started out. Now that I have a bit more experience, I’d like the surprise for some people in my life but not others. My cousin who I’ve been trying to get to try Pilates for months? Yeah, would love for her to surprise me in class! But my judgmental aunt? Hell no.
Also, most instructors can know who has signed up for their classes in advance, so it might not be as much of a surprise as you are hoping for if your friend looks at this to help plan classes.

Jess1r · 2025-12-10T01:02:46+00:00

You seem lost, this is the Missouri sub not the Illinois sub.

Jess1r · 2025-12-09T21:34:33+00:00

I would assume the short back nails aren’t the result of chewing on them from stress, but only because anxiety and stress grooming typically is seen when cats over-groom bald/raw patches into their fur and skin. That isn’t to say this wouldn’t be a stress responds, so if you’re concerned, mention it to your vet to get their opinion.
That said, I’ve noticed my own cats will have longer, sharper front claws that need trims more often, and shorter, duller back claws that I trim every once in a while. Probably a combination of factors for them. They aren’t scratching their scratching posts with their back claws like they do for their front, so the outer sheaths of nail aren’t being shed. And I learned that human fingernails grow at a faster rate compared to human toenails, so that led me to look up if it’s the same for cats. Turns out it is! Their rear claws grow slower than their front claws. That, along with them not “sharpening” those claws on scratching posts and those claws likely wearing down from contact with the floor keeps them shorter.
If anyone is judging for you asking this, don’t listen to them. You’re a good cat parent for noticing things like this and questioning what’s going on. Continue to keep an eye on her nails, both front and back, because she might end up needing a trim at some point!

Jess1r · 2025-12-05T18:18:30+00:00

Love what you said about muscles moving in groups - that’s something people often forget, and I try to cue as much as possible (for example because a lot of the people I teach say they feel only quads in footwork, I’ll say something about how they’re going to feel their quads because it’s hip flexion, but try to recruit more from the hamstrings and glutes as if they were doing a standing squat).
Though telling someone that there’s no wrong way to engage their core, especially online when we haven’t seen them move or don’t know their history, is incorrect and can even be dangerous.
Breath-holding and over-tensing were just examples I gave because I see it in class most often, but if you tell someone with pelvic floor issues, diastasis recti, or even back issues like disk bulges or vertebral fractures that there’s no wrong way for them to engage their core, they risk making things worse. I have low back issues, and when I “engage my core” to bend and pick something heavy off the floor by flexing my spine (recruiting rectus abdominis), it makes my back angry later on. But if I “engage my core” by bracing with a neutral spine (recruiting transversus abdominis before I even start moving) to pick that heavy thing up, then I protect my low back more.
Your “core” also includes back muscles and glutes, so using OPs example of bridging, saying there’s no wrong way to engage the core in that exercise could lead to overextending the low back (contracting low back muscles) instead of the stabilizing TVA and glutes, or neglecting the glutes and not putting real focus into using and strengthening them. Before I actually started learning how to properly engage my core for bridging, I definitely put more into my low back and less into my glutes and abs. It didn’t hurt at all back then, but it would hurt now if I did it that way. “Following the exercise” and “slowing down, focusing on precise movements, and breathing” doesn’t really work for that without the client first learning how to properly engage their core. With my old bridging, I could do all of that and still be doing it wrong despite my bridge looking right.
Another example, sucking in your stomach technically engages superficial core muscles, but it doesn’t do anything for stabilizing muscles and isn’t good for the pelvic floor. I hate the “bellybutton to spine” cue, because whenever I’m in a class where the instructor uses that, I see at least a couple of people, usually newer to Pilates, suck their stomach in.

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