Instructor in Focus: Tracey Nicholson

Instructor Name: Tracey Nicholson

Studio(s) you work at: Tensegrity Studio

Location: Sunshine Coast

Instructor training: APMA Level 2 Instructor Course, Diploma of Contemporary Pilates & Teaching Methodology, Graduate Certificate in Pilates Based Rehabilitation, Diploma of Contemporary Pilates and Teaching Methodology

PAA level: Principal Trainer

Questions

What originally motivated you to try Pilates and then go on to train as an instructor?

I had injured my back and a fellow Dancer friend working with Sydney Dance Company suggested Pilates and I did. It really helped my back and improved my overall strength, which I applied to my work as a Dancer.

What did you eat for breakfast?

Omelette and fruit

In one word, describe your first Pilates experience?

Intense

What’s the best thing about your job?

Meeting so many different types of people of all ages and walks of life

Your ‘go to’ website for all things Pilates (other than PAA)?

I use ZOOM.us to do live classes with Pilates and movement colleagues around Australia and many who live overseas.  It’s great as we all get to practice new exercises on one another and each unique session gets recorded & is available for re-watching any time.

I also end up on www.tensegritytraining.com.au quite often- there are some great courses out there!

The best advice you’ve ever had?

If you’re not happy with how things are right now, take steps to change it. Our life path is created by the choices we make now and in the future.

An indulgence you can’t live without?

Snippets of time alone creating moves in the studio to music that I love.

How long have you been a member of PAA and how did you hear about PAA?

For quite a few years – maybe 8? I’ve been in the Pilates industry since 1999 so have been aware of the PAA since its inception.

Do you have a motto?

Never give up as there’s always something to learn by seeing a project or idea through to the end.

What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?

Time management is my challenge! With so many tasks to attend to it’s often challenging to prioritise, that’s my goal for 2020 – to learn to prioritise effectively instead of trying to do everything!

How do you use PAA?

As a professional network in the Pilates field and a source of information about workshops on offer.

Who is your Pilates idol or would love to meet, and why?

The obvious answer here is Joseph himself but in terms of who has influenced my approach to Pilates, it would be Eve Gentry who worked intensely with Joseph after undergoing a radical Mastectomy in the 1950s when they removed the entire Pec Major muscle. Not only did she work with Joseph and regain full range of motion,  but she was influenced by the work of Rudolf Laban, an all time idol of mine in the field of Movement Analysis. I feel that Eve Gentry and I would have had some great conversations about movement and dance.

What do you appreciate most about your body?

That it does some pretty amazing things and it miraculously recovers every time I manage to injure it. Albeit with some dedicated attention to detail from within.

The book you’re currently reading?

The Telomere Effect by Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD & Elissa Epel, PhD