BPP© Method
Our method is unconventional and out of the box thinking. Sylvia has combined the core foundation of mat Pilates paired with reformer Pilates and essential short circuit metabolic surges for an overall balanced workout that achieves results.
Movements and transitions are designed to flow at a faster pace to activate the afterburn effect. Which means at the end of a session your body burns calories well up to 24 hours after.
Beyond mat and reformer, the PBP© incorporates additional apparatus such as bands, rings, and small balls for an overall effective workout.
The flow pattern is one of the most complex and intricate skills which develops and improves over time. This system of BPP© flows from one movement to the next to ultimately gain the end result of a balanced workout session.
There's a method to the madness so to speak with the BPP© method, it derives from the fluidity of the body as it starts to progress from the beginning of a session to maintaining the endurance, oxygen flow and strength to progress to the next movement.
In other words, jumping from one exercise to the next is not advised or the system of BPP. Following the building blocks of BPP requires following the series of movements designed within the program.
Keeping the following in mind:
Understanding the flow
Clear and concise sequencing
Progression with smooth transitions
Clear communication
The 4 Pillars of Strategic Coaching
Visual
This is a huge component in the BPP method. Visual imagery assists in achieving certain goals by creating visual images that the client can relate to and is different for everyone. It contains a large amount of information. Visual should be used with care and with insight to avoid misunderstandings and break down or struggle in communication.
Common expressions used such as "draw the belly button to the spine" or "draw your ribs in and down" are examples of Visual imagery.
These phrases refer to the action of the transverse abdominals engaging to compress or draw the abdominal cavity in. This action results in the "belly" to flatten and lowers the belly to the spine.
The cue to "lengthen" which is commonly used across the Pilates community is a complex directive, which may take on different forms. One solution is the use of co-contraction of muscles so that all the joints along a kinetic chain are in full extension. It may give the sense and appearance that the whole kinetic chain is functioning as one long segment (reaching out to the sky) rather than short individual links.
In simpler terms, the concept of lengthening can also be encouraged by working in full range of motion at focal joints and optimal use of eccentric contractions. The goal is to work both the physical and mental parameters in a way that gives the desired result, without requiring the client to do something that is not physically possible.
There are different leaning and coaching strategies that may be more effective with different types of movement patterns. Which means, clients may prefer different learning strategies.
It's important to pay close attention to how a particular client responds to certain teachings for them to learn best and be versatile in adapting to offer different approaches to executing a particular exercise.
We have heard and will always be aware of the rib cage. It's an unusual concept for newbies to Pilates training. Grasping this concept takes time and patience for both client and coach.
The attention is given to the rib cage to address the tendency of the lower ribs to lift off the mat or carriage when supine or forward movement which can cause hyperlordosis. It is the thought of the ribs drawing in towards each other and down to the waistline.
What is essentially happening is the placement of the thoracic spine sinking down into the mat when supine which allows the lower back muscles to relax. It is common to hear cueing such as "Draw your ribs in" "Pull down and in" to achieve this results.
Cueing
Cueing is fundamental to coaching. Without it an exercise can be perceived as non Pilates based. It is the basis of communication of the coach to the client/class. Cueing is an intrinsic element of this method. Information must be conveyed, received and integrated sometimes in a split second to bring forth the desired result. This skill-based teaching directly relates to the PBP© method.
Cueing is the learned and improved with experience, both in the practice of the method and in coaching. This is not learned in one day, it is a process and takes time.
Just as it takes time for a client to learn an exercise with all the nuances in one class, it takes time and understanding it's an ongoing learning experience.
Carbon Copy
Carbon copy is a way of using the body or body parts as a copy on the floor (mat) or on the carriage (reformer). Specifically addressing the bones in the body rather than the actual muscle.
For example: articulating through the spine, this is when you roll through the vertebrae off the floor or carriage and place it back down on the carbon copy you just previously made with your body. Rather than using the muscle to execute the movement.
Flow
Knowing the transition and structure of a workout is crucial to the success of the program. The workouts of the day are structured as per the following the PBP block. A standardized format, which is the building blocks of progression for each client to gain strength, endurance and familiarity to the movement.
Each workout of the day (WOD) follows the PBP Block:
Core
Lower
Upper
Hip Work
Full Body Integration (FBI)
Lateral Flexion
Back Extension
**At the beginning and end of each you'll want to do a visual scan of the client. The visual scan is a roll down or a variation of the roll down.
It provides the coach an opportunity to assess the clients alignment and provide proper correction as the session starts or ends. As experience is gained, the assessment will be easier.