Staying ahead of the latest exercise trends is essential for movement professionals looking to boost their skills, transform their practice and diversify their client offerings. By continuously expanding your knowledge and utilizing cutting-edge tools and techniques, you can deliver dynamic, effective workouts that keep clients engaged, motivated and progressing toward their goals.
Integrating innovative Pilates equipment, like Merrithew®’s new Cross-Bow Handles for the Stability Chair, can set you apart in today’s competitive market! At the upcoming Merrithew Mindful Movement Symposium, UK, you'll have the chance to immerse yourself in two new workshops featuring this exciting product, as well as other latest advancements in Pilates. Don’t miss your opportunity to register!
This year’s symposium will debut the Cross-Bow Handles, designed to expand the Stability Chair’s range of exercises. With an adjustable height and ergonomic, wrist-friendly design, the handles provide enhanced support and comfort, making them suitable for clients of all fitness levels — from active aging individuals to fitness enthusiasts. Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to try the Cross-Bow Handles firsthand, gaining valuable insights on how to incorporate this equipment into their Pilates practice.
Event details:
Date: November 14-17, 2024
Location: YMCA, OneKX in London, UK
Program: Featuring courses and workshops taught by Master Instructor Trainers PJ O’Clair, Pablo Vera and Jen Dahl.
Consultation session: Join our Senior Manager of Education and Master Instructor Trainer, Wayne Seeto, and our VP of Marketing, Meghan Gogan, for a one-on-one session. Get expert advice, ask questions and explore your learning path or career growth. Booking details will be shared with registered attendees one week before the event.
Key benefits of the Cross-Bow Handles:
Learn extensively about the features and benefits of the Cross-Bow Handles firsthand at the UK Symposium.
- Greater versatility: The Cross-Bow Handles expand the horizontal range of the Stability Chair, allowing for a wider variety of exercises that cater to different fitness levels. This versatility promotes a more dynamic and challenging workout experience, leaving your clients satisfied.
- Improved safety and support: With soft, padded handles, the Cross-Bow offers additional support and stability, making it easier for clients to perform exercises confidently. This feature particularly benefits active aging individuals and those needing extra support during practice.
- Adjustable functionality: The handles’ adjustable height ensures comfort and accessibility for all users, accommodating diverse needs in both professional and home environments.
Featured workshops and exercises
We are excited to debut two brand-new workshops featuring the Cross-Bow Handles for the Stability Chair at the upcoming UK symposium. One workshop focuses on Active Aging, designed to help you maintain strength and vitality as you grow older, while the other, Enhanced Tone and Conditioning, intensifies your workout for optimal results. These workshops are designed to educate participants about the unique functionalities of this equipment, offer in-depth training on how to integrate the Cross-Bow Handles into your practice and explore a variety of exercises you can perform with it.
Secure your spot and participate in exclusive workshops to experience this innovative product and be among the first to introduce this equipment to your community:
STOTT PILATES® Active Aging with Stability Chair and Cross-Bow: Building Strength & Flexibility for Falls Recovery
Developed by the Merrithew team, this workshop emphasizes fall prevention and effective recovery strategies, particularly for active aging clients. By integrating the Stability Chair with the Cross-Bow Handles, this program offers a powerful approach to enhancing postural stability, strength and flexibility. The Cross-Bow Handles expand the versatility of the Stability Chair, supporting a range of positions that facilitate fall recovery exercises by allowing different torso support whether the arms are positioned in front, above or behind the body. This adaptability is critical in executing movements that mimic real-life recovery scenarios, ultimately empowering older adults to improve their balance and maintain an active, independent lifestyle.
Let’s dive into this exercise featuring the Cross-Bow Handles:
Seated Push Off
Goal: Strengthen the upper extremities using a push pattern with the Cross-Bow Handles while promoting spinal decompression. This exercise also prepares the body for movement out of the chair.
Starting position:
- Sit with your pelvis and spine in a neutral position.
- Place the balls of your feet on the pedals, keeping your legs hip-distance apart and parallel.
- Hold the Cross-Bow Handles with both hands.
Instructions
- Inhale: Press the pedals toward the metal frame, simultaneously leaning your upper body forward.
- Exhale: Use arms to push your body off the seat to hover.
- Inhale: Sit back down on the chair.
- Exhale: Allow pedals to lift.
Repeat exercise 6-8 times.
STOTT PILATES Enhanced Tone and Conditioning on the Stability Chair and Cross-Bow Handles:
This workshop introduces the Cross-Bow Handles and offers unique opportunities to intensify your workouts while providing diverse ergonomic support for the hands and wrists. Explore challenging repertoire, enhance understanding of exercise progressions and regressions and improve accessibility for your clientele using the Cross-Bow Handles. Increase movement options and expand workout possibilities on the Stability Chair.
We’re thrilled for you to experience this exercise from the program:
Boomerang with Jack Knife
Goal: Improve scapular mobility and stability, hip mobility, endurance of spinal flexors, and strength and endurance of the shoulders and upper quadrant.
Starting Position:
- Position your pelvis on the mat, with your upper thoracic resting on the pedal in a flexed position. You may use a thin pad to support and cushion the upper thoracic.
- Hold the low slope of the Cross-Bow Handles with palms facing inward.
- Keep your lumbar spine flexed, with your legs extended in a long diagonal.
Movement: Flex your hips, bringing your legs towards your torso, increasing lumbar flexion.
- As your legs move, shift your torso back, transferring weight onto the thoracic region.
- Use your arms to lift your pelvis off the mat. Lower your head onto the wooden area of the pedal.
- Your legs, supported by the springs, will reach over the seat of the Stability Chair as your hips remain flexed.
- Hold this position, deepening your abdominal engagement, then extend your hips into a "Jack Knife" position.
- Begin articulating the spine back to the mat, lifting your head as you lower, and return your pelvis to the mat while maintaining connection through your arms and legs.
Repeat this exercise 4-6 times.
Whether you're a studio owner, hotel owner, rehab clinic professional, Pilates instructor or student, the Cross-Bow Handles for the Stability Chair offers many possibilities to transform your Pilates practice. You can order this equipment now and try out these exercises at home or take your learning further by joining us at the UK Symposium.
Join us in London for an unforgettable experience at the forefront of mind-body wellness! Connect with top experts and fellow enthusiasts while immersing yourself in pioneering Pilates advancements. Participants will walk away armed with fresh techniques, innovative ideas and a deeper understanding of how to transform their practice, inspire their clients and boost their career opportunities. This is the career-defining moment you’ve been waiting for, so be part of this transformative movement! For registration details and to view our full schedule, click here.