With the onset of Fall Break, you might think that all of the teachers in your child’s classrooms are also on break – enjoying a long weekend with the family or taking a last minute trip to the beach before the weather turns.  But in most cases, “Fall Break” for kids is actually a time for teachers to continue to work.  Staff development classes, curriculum planning, and paperwork fill up a work day for teachers while the children are on break.  So when do the teachers get a chance to relax?  One local school found a way to make it happen. 

Becky Carty, director of Ivy League Montessori School in Forsyth, began taking Pilates classes from Hard-Core Fitness when the studio opened in Dawsonville in early September and instantly fell in love.  She claims, “As a director of a Montessori school, my daily job ranges from teaching parenting classes to playing "Duck,duck, goose!" on the playground. I need a lot of energy and stamina, and I have found that Pilates is the best exercise to keep my energy high and stress level low!”  So at the next teacher work day for Ivy League Montessori, she asked her Pilates instructor to come give a class to the staff.

Julia Anderson, owner of Hard-Core Fitness and a certified Pilates instructor, jumped at the chance.  “I have such a high respect for the educators in our community.  They do amazingly important work and are often stressed-out and under appreciated.  So to have the opportunity to help them was very rewarding.”  The Pilates class started with some simple breathing exercises and awareness of posture.  “Teachers often spend their days hunched down in order to stay at the child’s level – which is great for the kids – but can be horrible for the teacher’s back!”, says Anderson, “So postural awareness and spinal alignment is key.”   

After the breathing warm-up, the group of educators was then introduced to some Pilates exercises to work the abdomen and low back – two vital areas for posture.  There were a few moans from the participants as they felt muscles engage that they hadn’t been aware of in quite some time.  At the end of the class, Anderson took them back to the postural awareness, helping them to sit up taller and breathe easier.  The thirty minute class allowed the teachers to take a much needed break from their day, reduce stress and improve muscle tone as well.  Carty indicated “Everyone loved the class – it was great!” 

For more information regarding Pilates or to schedule a complimentary class for your group or business, contact Julia Anderson at Julia@thepilatespoint.com  For more information on the Ivy League Montessori School, contact Becky Carty at ilms@earthlink.net