Daisy Fuentes Teaches Pilates
By Alycea Ungaro
Yes, it’s true; the Pilates technology you’ve been waiting for is about to be released. Pilates has come to the Wii, merging fitness and fun in the newest incarnation of mass-market health and wellness. Your teacher is none other than the delightful and engaging Daisy Fuentes.
Wait, what? Daisy Fuentes? Uh, ok. Why?
I knew Daisy Fuentes did Pilates but when did she become a teacher? Common sense dictates that she must have expanded her credentials and become a trained Pilates instructor. I mean the corporate bigwigs at Sega wouldn’t have dared to allow her to instruct what will be roughly, oh, I don’t know…millions of people for fear of injury. Hmmm…maybe not.
I’m thinking Daisy did not enroll in a certification course and log in hundreds of practice hours so that she could teach you the perfect form and proper execution of the Pilates method. I’m guessing she didn’t hit the books hard to learn human anatomy or the basics of exercise physiology either. [You can see snipets from the Wii Pilates program here.]
To be clear, I’m not really picking on Daisy here. I’m sure she’ll make do just fine. Maybe as good as Jane Fonda even, or the myriad other celebrities that suddenly become fitness experts overnight. Personally, I just like to believe that my teachers are really teachers and that the experts I let into my life are really experts. So far as I can tell, Daisy’s claim to fame here is…her fame.
Think for a moment about the people you learned the most from in your life. Your first grade teacher: not famous, I’m sure. A coach or dance teacher: similarly off the radar by media standards. A professor somewhere along the way? These people were educators. Trained not only in their discipline but also in the discipline of teaching. Teaching is a craft. A skill set not easily learned and one that is very difficult to master.
Legend has it that Joe Pilates was not a very good teacher. He was a remarkable inventor, an unparalleled innovator but none to impressive with his communication skills. By contrast, his wife Clara is touted as the real teacher at the original Pilates studio. Her gentle touch and soothing voice are recalled even today by her devoted students.
I’m happy that Pilates has come this far and that people worldwide will have the benefit of Pilates in their homes. It’s thrilling to see the growth of this method still soaring after all these years. And I guess that celebrities not only endorsing but now branding Pilates as their own is a hallmark of the method’s success. So what’s next?
Will Miley Cyrus launch a Teen-ilates DVD? Let’s hope not.
Alycea Ungaro is the owner of Real Pilates in New York. This essay was originally published on Alycea’s blog.
_________________________________________________
RELATED ARTICLES
Teachers-Only Pilates Classes
Going Green in the Studio
Hosting a Successful Holiday Event
Amy Leibrock
in Alycea Ungaro, Clara Pilates, Daisy Fuentes, Joseph Pilates, News/Research, Pilates History, Teaching Strategies, Wii
|
6 Comments
|
1 Reference
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to FriendReferences (1)
-
Response: Wii the People
Reader Comments (6)
Alycea,
THANK YOU for saying this! When I first read of the new Pilates Wii title, I sort of cringed. As you said, I think it's great that Pilates is getting "mainstream" attention; but it truly is scary to me that people unschooled in teaching the method are out there doing just that. I practiced Pilates as a student for over 12 years before I began my certification, and I can absolutely confirm that learning to TEACH it is an entirely different story!
-Lara
Just to clarify a bit of history on all of this. Jane Fonda came out of Ron Fletcher's studio in LA and opening admitted that she did not know what she was doing when she made her famous workout video. It was strictly business and she happened to be lucky enough to be the flavor of the month. How many people bought her video? Something like a gizillion.
Joe Pilates declared profession when he came to this country was "teacher" and later "director of physical culture" Clara's was originaly "head of household" and later "asst director of physical culture." If you research the history at the time. Exercise was a huge craze in the '1920s and there were gyms on every corner. Joe wasn't the first to do the roll up or to invent spring resistance. He had Hollywood vanity in his corner,and that was good enough to get people in his door. He also was lucky enough to be the flavor of the month in the his time, thanks to the Reformer. Believe me, the competition was steep...even in Joe's time.
I have learned that history doesn't change. We just keep recycling the same stuff over and over.
You can't blame Daisy for taking advantage of the opportunity. Realistically, how many teachers would choose integrity over money?
Is it far-fetched to imply that individuals could injure themselves attempting to practice Pilates at home with the guidance of a celebrity who has no training as a Pilates instructor? Not really.
Have you read the warning labels that are printed on most products these days? Some of them sound absolutely ridiculous (case in point, Hand Sanitizer - do not use in or near eyes), and yet, almost all exist as a result of some individual having done exactly what is being warned against and then suing the product maker for the resulting injury.
More importantly, however, Pilates is a system of intricate movements that require precision and attention to detail to be performed correctly. At best, individuals may get the wrong impression of Pilates when they don't receive the intended benefits of the exercises. At worst, someone could in fact injure themselves by performing a move incorrectly. I haven't viewed the Wii Pilates, but if it includes the pelvic curl, a basic Pilates move, there is the potential for significant cervical damage without proper guidance. Even a seasoned instructor wouldn't actually be in the living rooms of those millions of Americans doing Pilates on their Wii, but with years of experience teaching and observing common mistakes and misalignments, they could instruct the moves in a way that would minimize the risk of avoidable injuries.
I am excited that millions of American are being exposed to Pilates, yet disappointed that they are also being exposed to the potential risk of injury by the choice of the game maker to have an untrained celebrity "teach" the classes rather than a certified and experienced instructor.
Stacy's right: Where there is money to be made, integrity takes a back seat. I am so used to seeing supermodels, actors, etc doing fitness videos that it's just business as usual. This doesn't mean I like it; but I have learned to come to terms with it. The population craves celebrities and what they have to say and offer. These people are no more Pilates instructors than they are politicians.However, for some reason the population seems to think they are experts in everything. The thing we can do as certified and experienced instructors is to not encourage our clientele to purchase these videos. Other than that, there isn't much we can do.
Does anybody here realize that Daisy Fuentes is not "teaching" anything? I'm pretty sure the people who developed the game were smart enough to get a professional to do the COMPUTER ANIMATED movements for the game.
You speak of this as if it was a video of Daisy teaching. If anything, this is bringing Pilates into the mainstream and making it more likely that people will make it a part of their lives. The fact that people are trying to be active is something we should encourage.
Don't fault any celebrity for putting their face on a product. Yes, they're making money. They're also taking something good and making it well known throughout our culture.
I read the article because I think Wii Fit is such a great thing. Then I see a bunch of bashing and it's just not necessary. Your comments aren't accurate either.
Let's work together to encourage these types of things instead of the usual violent, vulgar video games that are published every day.
http://casapilates.blogspot.com/2009/08/daisy-fuentes-pilates-en-nintendo-wii.html