How Movement Training Elevated My Pilates Practice
Discover how Jacqueline Martin’s integration of Ido Portal and Anat Baniel Neuromovement sharpened her Pilates teaching—bringing precision, deeper awareness, and creative flow to every session.
Jacqueline Martin
Pilates and Movement Teacher
From Triathlete to Pilates Master: A Personal Evolution
I spent my 20s chasing podiums, international top-10 triathlon finishes across six countries and a runner-up at Ironman Canada. Yet the repetitive strain of training led to stress fractures, chronic hip pain, and an urgent quest for a smarter, more sustainable movement practice. Enter Classical Pilates.
In 2016, I completed Master teacher training under legends like Jay Grimes—a rare direct disciple of Joseph and Clara Pilates. Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, Barrel: I immersed myself in every apparatus, refining technique through intensive apprenticeships and global workshops. Teaching at dozens of conferences worldwide and contributing to Vogue Poland and the book Before, During & After Menopause cemented my belief that Pilates was more than rehab, it was a blueprint for lifelong strength, posture, and mindful living.
Unlocking Body Intelligence with Ido Portal
Yearning to transcend isolated exercises, I discovered Ido Portal’s method of natural movement. Crawling variations, hanging drills, and playful locomotion awakened muscles I never knew existed, and taught me to appreciate the body’s innate capacity for exploration.
By integrating Ido’s drills into Pilates classes, I learned to:
Enhance Coordination: A simple bear crawl prior to Reformer footwork primed students’ shoulders and hips for safer, more effective loading.
Build Adaptability: Dynamic hanging transitions improved shoulder stability, directly translating to cleaner Push-Through sequences on the Cadillac.
Spark Creativity: Encouraging playful movement moments, like weighted animal walks—shifted the focus from “perfect form” to embodied discovery.
This cross-pollination helped me cue with laser clarity, guiding each student to feel rather than just follow choreography.
Rewiring the Brain–Body Connection with Neuromovement
Anat Baniel Neuromovement® introduced me to the power of “mini-movements”—slow, deliberate explorations that literally reprogram neural pathways.
In practice, I guide students through:
Micro-rib articulations to unlock breathing tension before side-lying series.
Subtle fingertip traces along the spine, heightening proprioception for deeper Roll-Up engagement.
Gentle joint rotations to prepare wrists and ankles for Mat Teaser drills.
These small shifts compound into dramatic gains: reduced chronic pain, greater ease in transitions, and a newfound sense of agency over one’s own body. On a personal level, I’ve found my own alignment refining over the years—my spine feels more fluid, my core more responsive, and my teaching more empathetic to each student’s learning curve.
Conclusion
Teaching with Precision, Flow & Creative Adaptation Blending Pilates, Ido Portal, and Neuromovement reshaped my teaching philosophy around four pillars: Precision: I use movement patterns to spotlight exact muscle recruitment—no more vague “engage your core” cues. Flow: Transitions between exercises now honor breath and rhythm, making sequences feel effortless and purposeful. Functional Connectivity: Rather than isolated drills, I frame each exercise within whole-body patterns—so shoulder mobility informs hip function, and spinal articulation enhances balance. Adaptability & Creativity: Every body is unique. When a student has limited shoulder flexion, I’ll introduce a crawling variation from Ido Portal. If someone’s pelvic floor is under-recruited, we’ll layer in a Neuromovement mini-lift before classic Pelvic Curl. The result? Students move with newfound confidence off the mat—climbing stairs without pain, reaching overhead freely, and carrying heavy items with stable posture.
My movement journey—from triathlon to Classical Pilates mastery under Jay Grimes, through explorations with Ido Portal and Anat Baniel Neuromovement—has shown me that true vitality emerges when we unite body, mind, and imagination.
If you’re ready to break free from rote repetition and step into a practice that’s dynamic, deeply informed, and tailored to your unique needs, join my FREE 5-Day Movement Challenge. Over five days, you’ll:
Explore foundational crawls and mini-movements.
Practice enriched Pilates sequences that emphasize flow and precision.
Receive expert guidance on breath, timing, and alignment.
Transform how you move—on and off the mat—and discover why holistic movement is the key to lifelong strength and joy.
Join the FREE 5-Day Movement Challenge →
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