Definition: the time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator,
making night and day of approximately equal length all over the
earth and occurring on September 22.
The leaves fall, plants and animals prepare for winter. But how do our bodies react to this change?
In addition to digging out our scarves and boots, here are some ideas for preparing your body, mind and spirit.
massage therapist, Pilates instructor, personal trainer and Aston-Patterning Practitioner
It always interests me to find out how people discover Aston Kinetics. Living in the UK, I count myself very lucky that I came across Judith Aston’s work at all. I’ve always been obsessed with sport and exercise and had accumulated a large number of exercise-based qualifications just out of a love for learning. At the same time, I had completed a Business Degree at University as I obviously had to settle into a “good job” where I had to wear a suit and tie, be a grown up and serious.
I had a realisation in my mid 20’s that most people with “good jobs” didn’t in fact have a good job at all. They often had a job that paid well but which also came with a whole load of issues that included a great deal of stress to body and mind.
I have a thirst for knowledge. I ask a lot of questions. I’m always looking for an answer. How can I make this action more efficient? Easier? More challenging? More comfortable? These questions led me eventually to Pilates, but after a few years of teaching the technique that I’d invested so much time in, it was letting me down. Why did so many people experience neck pain using the technique? Why did people get stronger but then seem to plateau or even regress? When I’m teaching the exercises, why do I notice that they are not achieving the desired outcome? Why was I getting injured and experiencing issues with my own body?
It was suggested that I take a one-day training with an American girl from Texas named Sarah Irwin. She was going to be talking about something called Aston (Kinetics) Patterning. In one day, I learned to see the body in a completely different way. Above everything else, the work that Sarah talked about gave answers to so many of my questions, even ones I didn’t know needed answering.
The interest created by Sarah Irwin allowed Judith Aston to come to The UK herself to teach Aston Kinetics 101&102 (previously known as ATI & II). By this stage, my colleague Danny Bridgeman and I were integrating new concepts into our classes and personal training sessions and getting results. I was also noticing a large amount of change in my own body: my seeing skills were improving day by day and my problem-solving skills were giving me answers to questions I had about my own movement. My gait changed completely: no more blisters when running on a treadmill. My body shape changed, I went up a whole shoe size and I stopped getting injured.
Eventually, with Danny, I made the trip to Reno, NV for the first ever Aston Pilates training. There was an enormous amount of input to take in for people who had been teaching ‘traditional’ Pilates for years. On my return and with the help of my hoards of dedicated students, so many of whom I am still teaching today, I introduced the new methods.
It was tough.
Fortunately, virtually all of my students came with me on this new movement journey.
Danny eventually expressed that he wanted to take the full Aston-Patterning Certification. I wanted to take the training as well, but I felt it was impossible. The cost of the course, travel, accommodation, subsistence, loss of earnings whilst in America and most importantly, with spending so much time away could I keep my business operating? It felt impossible. My massage qualifications would need updating and I hadn’t taken ABI & II.
While sitting in my first class in beautiful Lake Tahoe, officially starting the Aston Certification Program, I wondered how I got there. I’m so grateful to all the people that helped- a trip to stay with Ms. Irwin in Austin allowed me to take ABI & II with the inspirational Mark Barber. They helped. My family and friends helped. My students and clients were understanding when I kept disappearing for weeks at a time. My wonderful colleagues in the Certification Programme helped. Judith and Brian helped. Danny helped. All these people helped make the impossible possible.
It was worth it.
I love the variety of my working day. I teach matwork classes, toning and circuit training classes. I do a lot of bodywork and see many clients 1:1. Some of them I see for fitness and exercise, some for rehabilitation and some to slow down the effects of degenerative diseases. Aston Kinetics has given me a huge variety of different methods to facilitate change in a person. I’m busy.
I’ve just opened a new Studio which is another dream come true. Life is good. For me, Aston Kinetics is about helping people. There are so many people that I have met through the work who have helped me.
The work allows me to help people every day. Many of those people wear suits and have a “good job.” I, however, have the best job.
I live in Yateley, Hampshire, UK with my husband Geovane and Lola, an angel.
My e-mail is: Paul@PaulHB.com
My website is: www.PaulHB.com
My Twitter: @PaulHBcom
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Aston Kinetics:
Beyond Fitness Teacher Training for Professionals Level I of III
A successful fitness instructor has the ability to see their clients as unique and are able to problem-solve for their individual needs. This 6-day course will introduce Aston Fitness sequences for general fitness, senior fitness and more. These sequences will be offered with sample progressions for a three class series that you can incorporate into your own teaching. This is the first level of three to be certified in Aston Fitness. Open to professional movement/fitness instructors and all Aston-Patterning Practitioners. Take Level I only or take all three levels to certify in Aston Fitness.
See Upcoming Classes below for details.
One-on-One Session with Judith Aston
With the incredible advances in technology, it's hard not to take advantage of remote learning possibilities. If you are not local to the Reno/Tahoe area, you can still train with Judith remotely. Judith is available for:
Judith Aston in action teaching the incredible techniques of Arthro-Kinetics. Our advanced practitioners just finished Phase Three of Aston Arthro-Kinetics in Incline Village.
The Aston-Patterning Certification
The next Aston-Patterning Certification program will begin April 8th, 2016. The deadline to apply is October 15th. The prerequisites are the four foundation classes: Aston Kinetics 101, 102, 103, and 104. If you are considering training, apply soon!
Our previous model sale continues! We have a limited stock of items so if you are interested, act today.
Here are the items still available for purchase:
Standard Seat
Standard Back
Medium Seat
Medium Ergo Triangle
Standard Ergo Triangle
Thin Standard Ergo Triangle
Thick Back
Medium Back
All items are $29.00. All sales final. No items will be available for a refund or exchange.
(Practitioners who are current in their 2015 membership can receive each piece for $26.00.)
Practitioner Spotlight:
