Spotlight: Laura Anderson Mancini, Pilates teacher extraordinaire from Guernsey
'One thing I realise – human beings have great powers of adaptation if they put their minds to it'.
If I was a tree...
I would be a Maple – constantly changing through the seasons. Shifting colours to suit the light and warmth that the sun has to offer. I realise in the Spring I am literally come into bud – the desire to relaunch myself outside. I run and often start my sea swimming at this time of the year – a complete boost to my lymphatic system, which feels like it goes to sleep during the winter months.
So here is to the sunshine and the fresh air. In a time where we are assaulted by media coverage of viral horrors, we must be mindful and respectful of people. It is a time to nurture and show love to people. Try not to pass judgment. As bodyworkers we hold a very special place in people’s lives – never take it for granted, but step up to the plate. We can all do our bit to make this better for people and ultimately take us to a better place.
What inspires me
The years of training first of all in Pilates, and most pivotally with Marja Putkisto, has given me an extraordinary insight into the potential of the body to achieve functional movement irrespective of age and fitness level when starting one’s journey with this sort of bodywork. Putkisto focuses on the need for sufficient length in the muscles to allow the skeletal structure to sit most easily in a good postural place in order to allow the stabilising muscles to do their proper job. For example, the importance of the head’s position and freedom on top of the spine, the essential need for length in hip flexors and focus on functional diaphragm to form the basis of a body’s core structure.
Its is a thrill to watch clients awakening to the endless possibilities of their own bodies. To see them literally change shape and movement habit before my eyes. It is a life changing experience for them and makes my work as a Pilates instructor the most personally fulfilling career of my life.
Challenges I am currently facing
The need in these extraordinary times to reinvent the way I share my work is essential not only for the obvious reality of maintaining financial stability, but I recognise that the work I do with people forms an important aspect of their daily lives. The restrictions on us and self isolation can only be tolerated by a person, if body and soul are sustained and nourished.
Over the past weeks I have taken my studio entirely online. I am a mother of three teenage boys and I cannot risk the possibility of me spreading any illness to my clients at this time. I have got my clients working on Zoom. There were the natural technical hiccups with some of my less technologically savvy people, but Zoom is very user friendly and it is amazing how quickly people adapt to seeing everything through a screen! I mean both teacher and client!! What is interesting is how I recognise this technology allows me to reach a much wider audience than just my clients on Guernsey. How many times I have been asked to make videos of my teaching. I remember when I was pregnant my clients used to gather in the studio in my absence and play a voice recording I had made of the sessions!…well maybe this situation is the boost I need in this direction.
Online I am offering one to one sessions of an hour and an hour and a half and group sessions in bodywork. I also teach face work and vocal training to improve facial muscles, head placement, voice function and the vital connection with the diaphragm and breathing.
For the Guernsey people I am Nordic Walking training on the beach. It is a perfect way to get people outside in the fresh air yet having the opportunity to retain social distancing.
I love Nordic Walking - it is like teaching Pilates whilst walking! The client’s chance to focus on their gait and understand how to change their movement to improve postural alignment and literally alter their walking forever. Nordic walking done properly engages 90% of our muscles, probably the best functional movement discipline I know.
My background
After a career working for the Royal Academy of Dancing and then as an equity actress and singer, I started Pilates teaching career in London in 1999 under the guidance of Gordon Thompson and Lynne Robinson of the Body Control Pilates Association. BCPA is the largest UK Government recognised training body. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to work with Alan Herdman, Mary Bowen (Pilates Elder), Rael Isacowitz and Marja Putkisto.
I am qualified in Pilates for older people, Parkinson's, hip and breast surgery rehabilitation, Gyrotonics and the Franklin Method. I have also studied Mindfulness with Mindful Guernsey and Meditation with internationally renowned Burgs.
Marja Putkisto, originator of Putkisto Method, has been my mentor for the past ten years. During this time I have trained in Putkisto Body and Face Method plus qualified as a Nordic Walking Instructor under the tutelage of Francis Mitchell who brought Nordic Walking method to the UK.
In 2004 I went on to become one of the BCPA supervising teacher trainers, apprenticing students through My Pilates studio to go on and fulfil their BCPA qualification. I has trained five Pilates instructors in Guernsey, the majority of whom now run their own Pilates studios.
I launched my own studio Glow Wellbeing and it is now located at the Old Telephone Museum on the island of Guernsey. I offer matwork and machinery training. My clients range from Triathletes and competitive cyclists through to those with Parkinsons and pre/post op hip, knee and spine rehabilitation. I have taught internationally on Pilates retreats and courses.
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