I learned a brilliant word this week - "Shaghalabaghala" - just say it quickly and drop the h's.
It is Swahili and means chaos or disorder and I am going to add it to my essential library right up there with Scrumptious, Discombobulated and tickety boo! Expect it to appear from time to time - such a brilliant word.
So last week someone not only had their phone with them on their mat, but actually sat there messaging and faffing about while the class was running. I strongly suggested that they leave and I very much hope that they don't come back.
I am genuinely curious. Why would anyone think that it is ok to let their phone ring during a class? It has happened to me several times and I find it not only extraordinarily rude but why does that person think it is ok to disturb an entire class who have left their phones off? Does that same person let their phone ring during a theatre performance or at the cinema?
What does this have to do with Shaghalabaghala"?
Well, I think most of us have some disorder and chaos in our lives, I know I do. However, gving up time to attend a class is an escape from life - a time to foucs on being present, movement and mind body connection.
I was reading an article about lifting weights recently and how the challenge can be so great that we are not able to think of anything else. This is similar in thinking to the ever growing passion for cold water or ice bath therapy - that it is so intense, the brain can focus only and entirely on breath. I have not been brave enough to ice bath yet but I have hit some really heavy weights recently and I can assure you I can think of absolutely nothing else but lifting for one more rep and breathing. I am exhausted afterwards but really calm and it is a welcome break from all the to do lists in my head.
Joe Pilates was ahead of his time with his understanding of the connection between the mind and body. I like us to have some banter and a bit of a joke, but likewise, I also talk a lot about the power of mind over body. and just how much more we achieve - control, precision of movement, focus and moving with purpose.
When we really connect and concentrate , we achieve so much more and I know lots of us have seen how, just letting our mind wander even for a moment, can see technique and form start to fall apart.
It is a form of therapy - exercise is SO MUCH MORE than movement. We are building those neural pathways, improving our ability to concentrate and connect our thinking to our movment. How many times have you found that the time has flown by, that you sleep better and feel calmer and more relaxed simply by parking the chattering chimp outside for an hour and focusing on being present, moving with purpose and doing your very best, be it lifting weights, Pilates or some gentle stretching.
So do yourself a favour - get to your screen or face to face class ready to sit, prepare and start on time with your phone turned off and if you have "an essential call", do the rest of your class and your teacher a favour and skip this one and let the rest of us work without your distraction. We are enjoying an hour of escape from our Shaghalabaghala" and we really do not want to share yours.
Fortunately, nearly everyone I have the pleasure of working with feels as I do.
I make absolutely no apology for how strongly I feel about this. Other more tolerant Pilates teachers are available. This one takes her work and your wellbeing very seriously!
You're welome.
