Tuesday 29 October 2013

#Take #Five : Take five minutes to learn more about Desi Tamati

What is your professional background? Your qualifications/ your career highlights. How long have you been practicing pilates ?

I have been in the Health and Exercise Industry for the past 15 years. I worked at the University of NSW as a health and exercise specialist for 13 years. I am a registered fitness professional with  Fitness Industry Australia. I have a Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Health, Fitness and Sports Training and a Certificate 3 and 4 in Fitness. I have been teaching Pilates since 2005. I have done quite a lot of intensive training in this field. I have a Certificate 4 in Pilates. I am an Accredited and Certified Pilates instructor in the following;
•      Matwork Pilates
•      Swiss Ball Pilates
•      Prenatal Pilates
•      Postnatal Pilates
•      Remedial / Rehab Pilates
•      Personal Training Pilates

I also teach Body Pump Classes, RPM (Cycle) classes and Aqua Aerobics.
Having all the years of a vast variety of experience and education, when it comes to personal training clients I prescribe exercises that are very specific and individual to my client’s needs also taking into consideration their postural alignment and any pre-existing injuries or muscle strains / tension. I can either offer them a Fitness / strength training / fat burning /  or just a Pilates session or the best of both worlds.

For those that have never done pilates, can you explain a little about what its all about? do you use machines? or is it all mat work?

My classes are Mat Work Classes. Sometimes I use therabands for some extra resistance. The way I structure my classes is that I meet all new participants before the class starts. This gives me the opportunity to do a postural analysis on each individual as this will tell me what each person will need to focus on in the class to make the work out more specific to them individually. I also make sure people know how to engage their core muscles effectively, as I have come across many people who have never been shown on a one on one basis and don’t really understand what their core actually is and how to activate it effectively and safely.

When did you start practicing pilates ?

I started practicing Pilates 9 years ago and saw first hand the benefits of Pilates classes. I saw this was a great way to really help people with ongoing injuries, pregnant women, new mums and people with postural issues. I loved it so much and was so passionate about it that a year after I started practicing Pilates I became fully qualified to teach Pilates Classes. Since then I have been continuously keeping up my education in this field in order to keep up to date with all the latest research and to keep my skills polished in order to deliver to my clients the best and safest workout.

We notice you also offer classes in pre and post natal? Can you tell us a little on how pilates is helpful for women going through pregnancy and how practising pilates post natal can improve women’s life.

In the prenatal Pilates, I focus on strengthening the appropriate muscles and stretching the appropriate muscles that a pregnant woman will need for her changing body throughout her pregnancy. By doing so my pregnant women feel less aches and pains associated with pregnancy and a greater sense of well being. I also give my prenatal clients exercises that will help with recovery after labor i.e exercises that will help minimize Rectus Diastus (abdominal muscle separation), and pelvic floor work.

My Post Natal Pilates classes are mums and bubs classes so the mother can attend the classes with her baby. In these classes we look at rehabilitating the pelvic floor muscles, abdominals and spinal muscles post labor. I check each lady individually for any abdominal separation and work to rehabilitate. A lot of new mums get lower back, upper back and neck strain from breastfeeding, leaning over the cot to pick baby up, getting baby in and out of car seats / capsules and lifting heavy prams in and out of car boots. In the prenatal classes I try to develop the correct strength in the body to make all this less strenuous once baby arrives. In the post natal class I strongly address these issues.

What is it like having your pilates practice in Dulwich Hill?

I love teaching Pilates in Dulwich Hill. There is a real sense of community. Local businesses support other local businesses. My clients bring their neighbours, friends or family to the class. It’s always great when you have someone to exercise with. The best part is there are so many lovely cafes in Dulwich Hill that after class they then catch up for a coffee.

What do you think makes a great pilates instructor?

To be a great Pilates Instructor I think firstly you must have the right education and qualifications behind you as you are dealing with people’s health and well being which I take very seriously. It is important to keep up to date with the latest research and techniques. As an instructor it’s important to be able to execute correct technique as the clients do what you show them. It is important to be able to modify exercises for each individual depending on any pre existing injuries, aches or pains, postural issues etc, correct their technique if need be and show different levels of the one exercise.

Because everyone is different and attends Pilates Classes for a variety of reasons I make sure I do a 15 minute one on one with every single person that attends my classes. In the one on one I do a postural analysis which will tell me what each person needs to focus on in the class to make the workout specific for them, I make sure my client knows how to effectively engage core muscles and I explain to them some terminology that I use. By doing this I can have a person that has been attending my classes for 8 years and an absolute beginner in the same class and everyone gets a safe effective workout without feeling lost at any stage in the class.

As well as getting the most effective and safe workout for each individual, I try to educate my clients about their bodies and teach them to be in correct postural alignment throughout their daily activities.

What are the reasons why some people swear by pilates? Detail some people who have injuries and how pilates has helped improved quality of life.etc

I have a client that had two bulging discs in her lower back. She told me that before she was attending my classes she would just spasm and be in agony unable to move. She then fell pregnant and was worried that her back will give out more often with her growing belly. She started attending prenatal Pilates at the beginning of her pregnancy to the very end. She told me her back felt so much better throughout her whole pregnancy than what it was before she fell pregnant. She then went on and did post natal Pilates and is now attending my normal mat work classes. Two years on and her back has not given out.

Another client of mine is a builder. He started coming to Pilates because when he woke up in the morning his back was so stiff and he was in so much pain that to brush his teeth he could not stand upright to look in the mirror. Of course as the day progressed and he started moving around he could not stand up straight. He now has no issues. He can get out of bed without the aches and stiffness. He can stand upright to brush his teeth.

Both these clients attended my classes only once a week, however they are quite consistent with their attendance.

How often do you think someone should attend pilates in order for them to see and feel the benefits of pilates?

As in the examples I gave above, once a week is sufficient, however you have to try and be fairly consistent with it. If you attend one week, then not again for 2 weeks etc results will not be effective. If the individual can do it a couple of times a week, they will see results a lot sooner.

How can clients get in touch with you?
Clients can either ring me or email me. I also have a website and a face book page clients can visit to get more information or more of an understanding of my classes.

PH: 0415 676 261



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