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How did I become a Deaf Pilates Instructor? Here is my story.

I have bi-lateral cochlea implants and these changed my life at age 17. After the implants, my confidence grew and my speech improved. I had no idea what I wanted to become one day. Then I decided when I was in High School-but had a backup plan as well - I wanted to become a dancer.



17 years old me just before I went to New York.


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I had two options for my future career, a ballet teacher, or a Pilates Instructor. I am very lucky that I have a strong ballet background and this helped me a lot when I became a Pilates Instructor. During my school career, I did Biology and Dance as subjects. This is where I studied the anatomy and movement of dance in the human body. I was a ballet dancer from a very young age and I made my dream come true to be a dancer in New York. I wanted to become a professional dancer but unfortunately, it did not happen due to my hips, knee, and ankle injury.  I have also been through a deep depression after my best friend, a dancer too, passed away in South Africa while I was in New York.

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It was not an easy task for me, because I am profoundly deaf and I have to work extremely hard on my speech and pronunciation. Pilates has a lot of higher English terminologies than ballet and I find it sometimes difficult to pronounce it, but this is not a problem in the long run. Afrikaans is my home language and English my work language. Sometimes I use my hands like sign language to explain to my clients what I mean when I demonstrate movements, to make it easier for them to follow me rather than only listen to me speaking. Of course, I count 1,2,3.... and so on with my voice to spur them on & keep count of repetitions.

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I failed in my first Pilates Exams, my Pilates mentor, former Russian ballerina, and a teacher, Katya Kinski realized that writing exams are not an option for me. She preferred to have face to face practical exams with me which is a lot more stressful than writing exams. She knew that I am hugely talented with an inborn ability to make exceptional eye- contact with clients. It was still not easy for me to do face - to- face exams. I realized that I wasn't confident in myself to share my Pilates style with the best Pilates Instructor in South Africa and on top of it with my deaf accent!! My mom sat with me and translated my books, instruction manuals, and notes into Afrikaans. I then passed my Pilates exams and found my niche. Confident to teach my Pilates style in my accent!

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At first, I show the exercise to my clients and they will copy what I show to them. I also fixed small things such as “Roll Pelvis Up” - lots of my clients when they roll the pelvis up they arch their back which is not good except for Flat Back people. The pelvis needs to be tucked more so that you can feel your glutes are working harder than the hamstrings. This is how I showed and explained it to my clients. I also like to name the exercise with my imaginary style such as I named this one - Banana Split, Dead fish, Bubblegum Stretch, and much more. This makes it easier for my clients to remember the exercise.

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I am currently teaching now for years. I am very lucky that I have amazing clients who support me. The more I teach and the longer they stay will transform them from clients to friends and my Pilates family. This is how I became a Pilates Instructor. I love what I do and believe that it is a privilege to do what you love.
 


During Covid-19 Lockdown it is a privilege for me to do online matwork classes with my clients in Skype/Zoom/Whatsapp Video Call. 



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