Ep08: Joakim Valsinger - Bälans Pilates Studio, Perth, Scotland

The Pilates Diaries Podcast

In this episode we're joined by Joakim Valsigner - founder of Bälans Pilates Studio in Perth, Scotland. Joakim has been teaching Pilates since 2004, having trained with the Pilates Foundation and Body Control Pilates in the UK before completing the two-year Pilates Master Mentor Program with Lolita San Miguel, and then becoming an Educator with the Lolita's Legacy™ Program.

02:02 Joakim gives his background
04:38 Joakim was led to Pilates by the injuries he acquired in the Commando selection.
07:36 Joakim's desire to age well motivated him to do Pilates. Acknowledges the influence of having men as two of his teacher training instructors, in a very female dominated industry.
09:38 Joakim’s first contact with Pilates - he remembers struggling compared to the middle-aged women
12:24 Joakim was a sports therapist, his clients were not interested in homework, whereas Pilates clients always did homework. He felt out of place as a Pilates teacher in an industry that, 20 years ago, was very dancer and female oriented.
14:33 The changes Pilates had on Joakim’s life early on, working with small apparatus until he moved into larger premises and set up the first apparatus studio in Perth.
16:12 Joakim gives some background to a neck injury that led to paralysis of the right hemisphere of his diaphragm. Pilates helped him recover more completely and quicker.
18:02 Joakim recalls his two years learning with Lolita San Miguel through the Passing the Torch mentorship program. For his thesis, he created a three-strand “Pilates for the Military” program.
24:55 Joakim working for British Military Fitness (BMF) - ex-military PTIs teaching fitness classes in the park to people often starting at a very low fitness level.
29:33 Joakim describes how rupturing his Achilles tendon taught him empathy
31:22 Joakim gives insight into the effect having Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) has on his son, Albie
35:34 Joakim’s background as a movement professional and his experience having a son with a disability gives him a unique perspective.
39:55 Joakim contrasts the professional high of presenting at the PMA conference in Monterey a few years ago with the personal fulfilment of doing a road trip working with special needs families.
43:19 Joakim discusses some of the challenges of PWS.
44:43 Joakim thanks the pandemic lockdown for making his life better.
47:27 Joakim’s plans for the future
49:19 Joakim’s advice for every person going into the Pilates industry is for them to value their background and the unique abilities.

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