Pilates Instructor Spotlight: Jennifer Lawrence
At Whole Pilates Studio, we are so fortunate to have such a fantastic team whose dedication and hard work has allowed our mission to be seen and activated in our clients as they experience healing movement. Our team diligently and humbly works with each client to help them find alignment and regain vitality. In our Pilates Instructor Spotlight blog series, we are interviewing our leadership team at Whole Pilates Studio so you can get a close and personal introduction of each instructor. First on our roster is Whole Pilates Owner, Physical Therapist, and Pilates Instructor, Jennifer Lawrence. Find out what motivated her to turn towards Pilates and how instructing others has given her life new meaning.
Name: Jennifer (Jen) Lawrence
Whole Pilates Title: Owner, Co-founder & Whole Pilates Instructor
Hometown: Hilo, Hawaii
Family: My husband, Vaughn Lawrence, and I have three amazing children. Life in the Lawrence household is constantly evolving as we learn and grow. We love homeschooling, playing the piano, and nature study. Most days you will find our little ones running wild both indoors and outdoors while singing their favorite tunes.
Go-to Weekend Activity: Our favorite thing to do as a family is to head down to “Grandma & Papa’s” for an afternoon of trail blazing, four wheeling, fishing, and creek hopping. God’s nature is the place we love to let our hair down and reconnect not only with each other but with this beautiful planet we have right under our toes.
Favorite Bible Verse: Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;” When we realize that God intimately knows us beyond anyone else, it is life altering. To be known and destined for purpose brings the true meaning of life into focus.
Why Does Health Matter to You? For most of my life I took my health for granted. In my youth I felt invincible and disregarded the wisdom of my mother to take care of my body and make wise decisions related to food and my lifestyle. It took 30 years, but eventually the poor choices began to pile up and my health began to show the signs of it. It was this turning point in my life that sparked a revolution in my heart to turn back to God and his nature for health and healing. Looking back I can say that it has been completely worth it. I am still on the journey, and I have found that my state of health is best when I slow down to make the (sometimes difficult) daily choices that bring balance emotionally and physically. I am learning that a healthy life is not just about the food choices I make, but the balance and rhythms of life that I choose. It is those rhythms that empower me to love and serve God, which then leads me into loving and serving others well.
How did you first hear about Pilates? Windsor Pilates was my first experience of Pilates during my college years. I remember trying out one of Windsor’s home exercise videos, and it seemed impossible to keep up with her high repetitions and the intense positions that seemed nearly acrobatic. Fatigued and discouraged, I decided Pilates wasn’t for me. Ten years later, after a back injury, I was referred to a physical therapy clinic that specialized in Pilates as a form of rehab. I was skeptical that Pilates could dramatically change my body and take away my pain, but after a year of minimal change with traditional physical therapy I was beginning to consider the possibilities.
What made you want to be a Pilates instructor? At the time of my injury I had been a physical therapist and sought the help of many well meaning colleagues. But to no avail I did not improve. Within a few sessions of Pilates, my view of the body began to change. I began to learn the foundational principles of Pilates and how funneling it down to these concepts created the ultimate rehab experience through a whole-body approach. After experiencing these dynamic changes in my body with a Pilates-based rehab, I knew that I would never treat the body as parts again but only as a whole, interconnected and inter-related. But most importantly, I realized that we cannot only teach this philosophy of movement to those experiencing chronic pain, but we can help people avoid pain and prevent injury by practicing healthy movement regularly.
How has Pilates impacted your life? Pilates has completely transformed how I move and think about movement, posture, and alignment. It has given me an awareness of movement that allows me to live the dynamic life I believe God intended for us all. As a mom of three, it has been an integral part of my preparation and recovery after childbirth and keeps me active in my 40's to enjoy dance and other athletic passions with my family.
What is your favorite thing about your job? I love to see the moment the "light goes on" for my clients. Often it is hard to change something until you know you are doing it wrong. Pilates is all about changing old patterns that don't serve you well. Sometimes it can take a few sessions to recognize those patterns and find a new one. The "ah-ha" moment is life-changing for some when they feel something different for the first time and realize that they have the power to change.
Share one story of how you've seen Pilates change someone's health for good: Early on, at the very beginning of Whole Pilates, I had the opportunity to work with a woman that had struggled with chronic hip and back pain for many years. She was an avid walker, enjoyed being active, and loved playing with her grandchildren. Her physical pain was limiting her, and although she had tried numerous personal trainers and physical therapy, she had never tried Pilates. It seemed we had a common thread to our story. Although she was nervous to try another failed therapy, we began private sessions a few times a week. We started slow and steady, keeping things pain free and focusing on creating new healthy movement patterns. It took time and diligence to adopt a new way of movement, but within a month she was doing a regular home exercise program that was decreasing her pain and helping her find a new normal. She never imagined she would be able to do Pilates, and now she won’t miss a week. To this day she not only continues with occasional privates but has now added in our group classes and regularly practices Pilates at home to keep her body moving well and living the active lifestyle she has always desired.
Thank you, Jennifer, for all you do for Whole Pilates Studio. Your willingness to go the extra mile wherever there is a need is greatly valued. It's that kind of flexibility and dedication that propels Whole Pilates to grow to its full potential.
Book a class with Jen at Whole Pilates Studio.