Thoughts on Teaching

I pattern my classes like a dramatic piece of theater. In every theatrical production you have the overture, the setting, the dramatic action that pushes the story forward, the falling action and finally the resolution. People leave the show feeling content and happy. If this structure is changed then everything falls.

My classes are structured with the same thoughts in mind. We begin with a warm-up, move into the exercises or poses, (they build and develop as we move further into the class) the big, power moves finish off the exercises, and then we move into the cool down (stretching and releasing tension that we built up during the class). People leave my class feeling content and happy.

All of my classes (Pilates, yoga, yogalates, Spinning, chair yoga etc.) follow this dramatic arc. it ensures that every sequence has a purpose and they all connect together. Nothing happens by "chance" in my classes. There is a natural flow that your mind/body/spirit adheres to. Every class I teach improves how I "deliver" the product. Even after teaching a few thousand classes I am still learning from each and every one.

I have taken classes where there is no flow to the class. It is painful to me. If people come together for a group fitness class and the instructor drops the ball it is such a waste of time and spirit. I work very hard to ensure that EVERY class has it's own feel and personality. We come together to make our lives better (even extraordinary) in group fitness. To think any less would be a shame.

Sean Vigue

What will Pilates do for me? Let me tell you...

• Improve strength, flexibility and balance.
• Tone and build long, lean muscles without adding bulk.
• Improve circulation.
• Offer relief from back pain and joint stress.
• Engage the mind and enhance body awareness.
• Reduce stress, relieve tension, boost energy through deep stretching.
• Restore postural alignment and create a stronger, more flexible spine.
• Improve the way your body looks and feels.

These are just a few of the benefits. I teach Pilates Matwork more then any other class and they are by far the most popular. All you need is a mat, a bottle of water and the possibilities for improving your physical, mental and spiritual health are endless. Also without weights and machines you can make proper adjustments in a blink of the eye to suit your individual needs. It is just you and the mat.

When I teach yoga to my students at The Montessori School I refer to their mat as their "island". It is all their's and there is no limit to what they can accomplish when they are on their own, personal island.

Contact me to learn more about Pilates Matwork and why millions more Americans practice it each year.

Sean

Sean appearing at Platinum Dance Academy!

The Platinum Dance Academy will be opening in the middle of May in Celebration and I will begin teaching Pilates and yoga there the third week of June! I am going on vacation the first 2 weeks of June so it will give me plenty of time to rest up to hit the ground running! Platinum Dance will be offering TONS of children and adult classes of all shapes and forms. The classes will be "pay as you go" or buy a large number up front for a discount. Contact the Academy to get all the details. This is a VERY exciting opportunity for all of us!

My schedule beginning June 23rd (we may add more classes depending on the interest...which I hope will be HUGE!):

Monday
Pilates noon-1 pm
yoga 7:15-8:15 pm

Wednesday
Pilates noon-1 pm

To contact Platinum Dance Academy:

29 Blake Blvd. #106
Celebration, FL 34747
(321)939-1793
www.danceatplatinum.com

Off to plan for my exciting classes this weekend!!

Sean

Guestbook is up and running!

My guestbook is up and running again thanks to my web-master Richard. Excellent! Feel free to sign it on your way out...

Pilates classes for Walt Disney World

As many of you know I am THE Pilates instructor for all of Walt Disney World Florida property and I work through Cast Activities. I have taught at Team Disney, Animal Kingdom Cast Services and have been teaching for the last year-and-a-half at the Feature Animation building in Disney's Hollywood Studios. I just taught my 150th Pilates class at this excellent facility and could not be more excited with how the classes have been going. Cast Members sign-up for eight-week sessions with me through the Cast Portal/Hub and these classes run several times during the week. I am very pleased that so many Cast Members keep coming back for more of these dynamic and invigorating classes that end their day at Disney. Each class ranges from 10-20 people and hundreds have attended at F.A. We are in discussions about adding even more classes at Feature Animation because of the huge interest that has been generated. We will keep packin' em' in our studio!!

So thanks to all who have attended my classes and the best is yet to come!

Sean Vigue

"I am 50 years ahead of my time."
-Joseph Pilates

Love it!!!

I love what I do!!!!!!

That is all...

Sundays off!

The only day during the week that I don't teach classes is Sunday. It is my official day off! I was looking forward to going for a looooong bike ride all week and it is RAINING! I think I may go out anyways and bike so fast I avoid the rain drops. It can be done. Two years ago I was biking on a wooded trail in town while it was raining and the bike shot out from underneath me. I was upset because my rim was all bent up...but I still rode it all the way home. That wasn't the most exciting story was it?

Anyways...off I go!!!

Sean Vigue

Sean will be teaching at Platinum Dance Academy in Celebration!

Well the Dance Experience in Celebration, Florida is history and I am very grateful for the hundreds of classes and clients I experienced there. There is a wonderful new dance studio opening in Celebration in early June that promises to be a state-of-the-art facility and destination for dance, Pilates and yoga! It is called Platinum Dance Academy and I will be teaching my world class Pilates and yoga classes there starting in the middle of June. An official schedule has not been created yet but it is in the works and I will make it available to everyone as soon as I know. Here is their info:

Platinum Dance Academy
29 Blake Blvd. #106
Celebration, FL 34747
(321)939-1793
www.danceatPlatinum.com

Contact them now before the classes fill-up! I am very pleased to join this top-notch academy!

Sean Vigue
www.Mr-Fitness.org
"Trainer to Thousands!"

The Dance Experience has closed.

I just saw a note taped to the door of the Dance Experience that says, "Sorry for the inconvenience but The Dance Experience has closed". I know nothing more and this is a total surprise to me as well.

Sean Vigue

Dynamic music for Pilates Matwork!

Some of the artists that you will hear in my classes (these are all on the current mixes I use in my Pilates classes):

INXS, Bob Dylan, Queen, The Decemberists, Matchbox Twenty, Enya, Depeche Mode, Billy Squier, Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, Clannad, REM, Crowded House, Weezer, Debussy, Heart, Enigma, Bon Jovi, The Cranberries, Barry Manilow, Bangles, Nirvana, Spoon, Gin Blossoms, The Shins, Feist, The Corrs, J.Lo, James Blunt, Vanessa Carlton, George Winston, Schubert, Mary Black, Cat Power, Richard Buckner, She Wants Revenge, KT Tunstall, Bond, No Doubt, Coldplay, Wallflowers, Mozart, Big Star, The Sundays, The Smiths, U2, Billy Joel, CCR, David Bowie, Madonna, Prince, Simple Minds, Snow Patrol, Journey, Tears for Fears, The Cars, Bryan Adams, KT Tunstall, Electric Light Orchestra, Deep Forest, Moby, Bach, Cirque Du Soleil, Michael Buble, Beck, Extreme, Altan, Peter Gabriel, Human League, Erasure, Barenaked Ladies, The Bravery, Fatboy Slim, Book of Love, Zero 7, Thievery Corporation, Everything but the Girl, Alison Krauss, Celtic Women, Josh Groban, Duran Duran, Neil Diamond, Schumann, Kitaro, Yanni, Seal, Nickel Creak, Spandau Ballet, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Maire Brennan, Secret Garden, Phil Coulter, Jim Brickman etc. etc. etc etc...

I LOVE music! I LOVE good music. Music adds to the tremendous experience of these classes. I will be posting examples of what I use for Spinning, Yogalates and Yoga. The music is always evolving and changing with my classes.

Sean "listening to Glen Campbell" Vigue

Dance Experience schedule beginning Monday, April 7th!

Spring Break is almost over and it is time to get your bum back to class! My classes resume full force at The Dance Experience (downtown Celebration, Florida) this Monday, April 7th. Here is my full schedule:

Monday
Pilates noon-1 pm
Yoga 7-8 pm

Wednesday
Pilates noon-1 pm

Friday
Pilates 4-5 pm

Saturday
Pilates noon-1 pm

The Dance Experience (321-939-3213) is located in downtown Celebration, Florida behind On a Roll deli. Classes last one hour, mats are provided and they are open to people of ALL ages and fitness levels. Classes are $10 each or 12 for $100. Go to their web-site for more info: www.thedanceexperience.zoomshare.com

See you in class!

Sean Vigue

Music for Pilates...an art form.

Selecting music for my Pilates classes is always a pleasure. I have heard that some instructors don't even use music in their classes. I would go INSANE! Music elevates the experience and invigorates the mind and body to perform as one. Over the past few years of teaching I have made hundreds of mixes for Pilates classes and am still trying to form the "Perfect Mix". I don't know if it will ever happen...I have come very close a few times. As long as there is plenty of Enya, Enigma, Delerium, Bond, Moby and a sprinkling of Barenaked Ladies and Depeche Mode all will be right with the Pilates world.

The best song ever for Pilates is Kashmir by Bond. Next week I may change my mind about that...

Sean Vigue

Mr. Fitness in 2008!

January through the end of March was a CRAZY time for Mr. Fitness LLC! Over those 3 months I personally taught 216 group fitness classes (Pilates Matwork, Hatha Yoga, Yogalates and Spinning) all over Central Florida. Whew! This past week has been Spring Break so my schedule was slightly lighter...only 10 classes!

I could not ask for a more rewarding and exciting profession. I have the opportunity to work with individuals, small groups (5-10 people) and large groups (11-50+ people) and show them ways to improve their physical, mental and spiritual selves. Every single class has been built up over the past couple years into something extraordinary. Thousands of people have attended my classes and my turnover rate is around 95%. This is only the beginning for Mr. Fitness LLC.

Every class is unique. Every class is an opportunity. Every class is a gift.

Sean Vigue

"What is this Wonka? Some kind of funhouse?!"
"Why? Having fun?"