P10 PROFILE: Heather Ingram
-displaying the power in vulnerability-
By now it’s likely that most of you have met or worked with Heather, she’s been teaching at Pilates on 10th for almost a full year now and become a fixture on the schedule, a valuable addition to the team, and a favorite instructor of many clients.
If you work with Heather often you’re probably familiar with her propensity to check in, often! She evaluates how you show up to your session each time she sees you, and regardless of how well she knows your abilities or routine she will always ask how your body is feeling today. This is very intentional, and something Heather has built into her style of instruction (or flavor of ice cream?!) because of her specialized training and most importantly her own experience.
Why do you think it's important to share your story / be vulnerable with your community?
We all have so many layers to our story, so many ‘prior lives’ and experiences including careers, travel, and trauma. When we share our stories we find so many common threads that work to deepen our interaction/connection/community.
Ironically, when I decided to hang up my corporate career and pursue my Pilates passion I was very private about my diagnosis, and then one day someone asked me ‘why pilates’ and without thinking I blurted out ‘cancer!’ then laughed. I quickly found there was value in being authentic - while it’s just another chapter, my experiences are part of who I am. I have been impacted tremendously by countless strangers sharing their stories along the way, and the idea of doing for others what others did for me really made me realize it was time to start sharing my story.
Heather was working in London when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer at the age of 43. She opened up about how she faced this devastating new reality and huge shift in direction on an Instagram Live sessions with @studiotpilatesmi earlier this year. You can connect with Heather on Instagram and find the whole story below.
How has your experience with Breast Cancer shaped you as a Pilates instructor / influenced the way that you teach clients?
One of the most poignant things I learned from my experience is how important it is to feel safe when you are vulnerable. To be clear– vulnerability does not equal cancer, and our vulnerabilities are not to be compared. They are all valid and real, whether from illness, injury, ability, self-confidence, feeling comfortable in your body, or just the fear of trying something new...
After surgery Pilates was a big part of my recovery in London. My Pilates trainer created a safe space for me to just show up as ‘me,’ not always easy to do as I worked to rebuild a body that was a stranger. It was hard some days to feel like I was showing up authentically when I was looking at someone who was no longer an avid runner or skier, but I realized that in order to focus and do your very best, often all you need is permission to ‘just be’ without judgment or comparison.
This experience drives me every day as an instructor. Physical exercise is for every body, regardless of limitations or constraints, and I am really passionate about making sure that anyone who needs healing from movement has a safe place to explore that.
Some days will be easier than others, some days our bodies are cranky and can’t do exactly what we want them to do. That’s ok! Try your best and celebrate that and continue challenging yourself, pushing boundaries to explore what is possible for you. And remember to laugh & have fun along the way!
What experiences as both a client and an instructor stick out to you as powerful and influential?
As a client, after the initial shock and recovery wore off I quickly learned that my breast cancer experience actually gave me a confidence I was not used to. It allowed me to feel empowered to stop comparing my form to others in classes. We are all different shapes, sizes, joint abilities, limb lengths, etc. What is most important is being connected in your body when you’re moving, not what that movement looks like. My form will never look perfect and I learned to be ok embracing and valuing ‘ugly Pilates.’ It's progress, not perfection.
I found my strength again in this new confidence and was able to advocate for myself / choose to modify certain exercises in class settings based on what I had learned in recovery to make them safe and accessible for me. This is what really made me want to become an instructor, I wanted to make sure anyone seeking it could find the joy and value in the movement for themselves.
As an instructor it is so rewarding when a client trusts me with their movement practice and is willing to experience something new. I love seeing that sense of accomplishment, the lightbulb moment. Recently I introduced a client to the Reformer rowing series for the first time, and she nailed it with a giant smile plastered on her face! That sense of pride and accomplishment is so rewarding to witness.
This also sticks out: I had been working with a client who was 16 years old for two years, and when I moved to Seattle from Boston she sent me a text saying “ thank you for making me feel strong and confident, I’ve never felt so comfortable in my body as I'm feeling right now.” That’s what it’s all about for me.
Why is it important for clients to share their health history? What would you say to someone that might be nervous to share?
The client intake form is the easiest way to share high level history, and I encourage clients to share in as much detail as they are comfortable when we meet for the first time and update as needed. Sharing this info is important for safety, but it also allows instructors to empower you with different options for certain exercises so that on any given day you feel like you can do what is best for your body.
Pilates is progress not perfection! Sharing authentically allows you to take control of your practice through trust and collaboration with your instructor.
What keeps you going / motivates / inspires you on those days that we ALL have when you just don't wanna get up and move?
Reminding myself how far I’ve come, and that it’s ok to take baby steps.
Start with just one minute if you have to, then another. Build strategies that fight excuses–even if you only have 5 minutes, set a timer and see what you can get done in that time! You may see me on a Reformer or Cadillac doing a few exercises when I have time between clients to keep myself moving. I always feel stronger and more energetic after.
Most important thing to remember when you are feeling low is that every little baby step, all the tiny wins–they add up.
When I finished my treatment I made a goal to run the London Royal Parks Half Marathon, something that would have been normal for me before and seemed insurmountable. But one year later, I DID IT. One step at a time.
Heather has devoted her time and resources over the past few years to completing multiple Pilates teacher training programs in addition to her comprehensive certification to become a Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist including The Pink Ribbon Program and The Jill Hinson Method for Breast Cancer.
I have a unique opportunity to bring both my client and instructor perspective to working with this population, and others who have experienced a trauma. I hope to put both to good use in the future to become an affiliate of The Core Compassion Project non-profit within the local cancer community.
She also has her National Pilates Certification (NCPT) and is currently enrolled in a year long advanced mentorship program with master instructor Lesley Logan to eLevate her Pilates continuing education.
Anything else you want to share?
I love being part of the P10 community! Thanks for making this east-coast native, and recent Anglophile feel so welcome in Seattle. As the sign in the studio says “Change happens through movement and movement heals” - indeed it does, I am a product of that!
