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Pilates Story – Ceci Lam Polestar Certified Pilates Instructor

It has been a while since I last had contributed a Pilates Story. This is about a Pilates Instructor that I met during my stint in Shanghai and she is one of the most energetic instructors that I have met.

I attended a Pilates event that she was teaching on a Saturday morning at a gastropub, and was amazed at how she managed to conduct a Pilates mat class for over 20 people, with a DJ playing in the background, and without a wireless microphone.

I was lucky to run into her at other fitness classes, and had the chance to get to know her and to conduct this interview. We have lots to learn from this young and highly driven Pilates instructor.

1) How did you first come across Pilates?
Funny story. When I saw that Miley Cryus had lost so much weight and she had flat abs, I was shock as she used to be chubby! So I did a research online and found out she practises Pilates 6 times a week. At that time, I still did not know what Pilates was, but I knew it could help me get Miley Cryus’ abs.

Fortunately for me, Cirque du Soleil was playing in Macau where I was living at that time and they hired Pilates instructors for the performers. Thanks to them, I managed to find a Russian girl who taught part time Pilates. That was my first time practising Pilates and her class was intense!!!

2) What is your favorite Pilates exercise?
Russian Splits on reformer, Teaser on mat. I love challenge.

3) How long have you been practicing Pilates? How long have you been teaching?
I started practicing since in 2012. I started teaching since in 2014.

4) What were your doing before your started teaching Pilates?
I have always been in Business Development and Marketing.

5) How did you feel when you taught your first class?
I was so nervous, I had no idea what I said. Lol.

6) What is the funniest moment that you’ve had with Pilates?
Teaching guys to do Russian splits.

7) What is your favourite Pilates cue?
Lengthening. That’s how Pilates has helped me to attain long and lean muscles.

7) Who did you train and attain your certification with? What is the point of differentiation of this school of training?
I did my training with Polestar Asia in 2014. It’s hard to get certified as Polestar’s system is very strict. If you are a certified Polestar Pilates Instructor, you must be very knowledgeable.

8) Where do you see yourself in two years’ time?
China’s Pilates Star. Lol. I want to promote Pilates either online or offline.

9) What reading or resources do you use to further your own Pilates learning?
Pilates Anytime works very well for me for self learning. I also continue one-on-one training with my mentor even though I have completed my certification. He has more experience in teaching and practising pilates, and I have learnt a lot from him. I attend different Pilates group class as well, so I can learn from different instructors, like how they teach in a group, what imagery cue or tactile cue they use, what music they play, how to modify a movement etc.

10) What advice would you give a newly qualified Pilates instructor?
Being qualified is just the start of your teaching life. Keep practicing, keep learning, keep teaching, go to different workshops. It’s all about experience. How much time you spend on it equates to how good you are.

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