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Duncan teaches pilates from his studio in Littlebury. Originally a Financial Investment Broker in London, he tells us of his dramatic career change.

Introduction

After years of suffering with chronic back pain, Duncan's doctor and physiotherapist both suggested that Pilates might be beneficial. For Duncan, Pilates has been “truly life changing”.

Born in Bombay, India, Duncan moved to Bogota, Colombia at age six. He stayed there until age eleven, moving to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At fifteen another move, to England attending St Christopher’s School, Letchworth (one of the few vegetarian boarding schools in the UK). After leaving school he began his career, as a Financial Investment Broker, in the City. 23 years later he morphed into a Pilates teacher. So what brought about such a dramatic change in career?

Why Pilates?

Long City hours meant continual backache and aches & pains, so the initial recommendation, Duncan began to feel the benefits of Pilates, practicing more and more. Starting Pilates coincided with Duncan’s mother being seriously ill with terminal cancer at a fairly young age. One day alone with his mum, at her hospital bedside, she asked if he would be happy if one of his children ended up in the same job. Duncan said he would hate that, a pretty miserable existence. She agreed, “Yes, I know I feel that way about my son”.  That was the turning point, he decided to find something better to do with his life and Pilates seemed the natural choice. Fortunately Duncan’s mother lived long enough to see him set up for the first three months. Teaching his first ever class was incredibly nerve-wracking and quite painful (he had been out for a run and developed an inguinal hernia which required surgery two weeks after his first session).

Pilates

Pilates is a series of exercises and controlled movements developed by Joseph Pilates (1880-1967), which deal very much with posture, spinal stability, natural movement and overall strength & flexibility.

The man himself

Joseph Pilates was a strange, yet inspired character; very sickly as a child with asthma, rickets and a whole series of illnesses. This led him to follow the “heal thyself” mantra. With increased world travel in the late 19th century, awareness of yoga and the Far East had worked its way into European culture, and Joseph became interested in the health benefits of different forms of exercise.

He worked variously as an anatomical model for medical students, an acrobat and then here in the UK training people at Scotland Yard in self-defence. It was during this time that the First World War broke out and he was interned for the duration of the war as a German national. He worked as a medical orderly in the hospital, and it was here, working with ill and injured prisoners and soldiers, that he developed many of the principles, which he worked with for the rest of his career. After the war he moved to New York, meeting his wife Clara on the boat on the way over, and he lived there until his death aged 87.

After setting up a studio near the New York School of Ballet, though not a dancer himself, all the great dancers of the time came to his studio to work with him on their own strength and core stability in movement. He was a great believer in the body’s need for fresh air and could be seen, even in his mid 80s, running every morning wearing his large swimming trunks, plimsols and nothing else!

Diet

Duncan has been a vegetarian for 30 years and tends to eat healthily – as a keen marathon runner as well, he burns a lot of calories so has to eat a fair amount, fresh fruit and vegetable being paramount.

Who and why

People in Duncan's classes range from age six to 80. Many go because they suffer from some sort of back pain, many just to keep mobile, and several runners and tri-athletes use Pilates as a part of their overall training routine. The best part of being a Pilates teacher for Duncan is doing something that people come to because they want to, because they enjoy it and, in many cases, because they feel a huge health benefit as they progress. The breathing and concentration aspects of Pilates can all help with stress. Plus the fact that having an hour where you are focused on what you are doing and not the day-to-day stresses of life can always help.

Training

The training to become a Body Control Pilates teacher is quite rigorous. Before starting you are expected to have worked hard already on your own Pilates. There is a list of books to read covering Anatomy, Pilates and body movement. Duncan decided against the intensive course, opting seven full weekends spread over several months. After finishing the course there is a practical assessment exam where you have to demonstrate a good knowledge of a list of exercises central to Pilates and take a written theory and anatomy exam. Then come at least 50 hours doing supervised teaching. After an initial then a final sign-off session you are ready to teach. From then on you have a continuing process of training through the Intermediate & Advanced exercises, and can go for a new qualification as a Level 4 REP Specialist in Exercises for Lower Back Pain.

Life motto

You only live once

Website - www.dopilates.co.uk >>