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Monica Bondi -Pilates Movement Educator

@birdonaperchpilates

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1:1 Pilates Studio w/ Former Dancer
Health/Wellness Team @houstonballetacademy @_iadms_ Member Helping dancers & non-dancers move better, feel better

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A bit about what I do 🤗 #pilates #houston #houstonpilates #privatepilates #pilatesfordancers #houstondance #houstonballet #ustdance #houstonballetacademy #birdonaperchpilates #sawyeryards #montrose #houstonheights #houstonartsdistrict #pilatesforall by @birdonaperchpilates

Behind the scenes at Houston Ballet Academy’s Summer Intensive — using the Konnections Band to help dancers find deep connection, expansion, and full-body integration. ✨

It’s not just about stronger technique — it’s about moving with clarity, support, and intention from head to toe. Thank you level 8 students for exploring movement with the Konnections Bands! Thank you @viktor_pilates for creating such a wonderful tool for Pilates and beyond. Thanks to @akihirothegreatofficial for adding this to our Health & Wellness program @houstonballetacademy I know the dancers will benefit greatly from these bands! #KonnectionsBand #HoustonBallet #DanceTraining #PilatesForDancers #MindfulMovement #hbasummer25 #FullBodyIntegration #SummerIntensive #BirdOnAPerchPilates #houstonballetacademy #ballet by @birdonaperchpilates

Konnector reformer for those who craves movement 🫶🏻
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thank you @birdonaperchpilates for the Konnected movement. by @birdonaperchpilates

Port de bras with a little extra resistance. ✨

Playing with the Konnector straps around my upper arms brought such a strong sense of connection between my arms and trunk.

As one arm reaches back and the ribs rotate, the work is in coordinating the reach, shoulder-blade control, and support through the trunk - while keeping the movement fluid.

My favorite part? Taking the straps off afterward and feeling that strength translate into a freer port de bras.

Save this for your next exploration on the reformer #pilatesfordancers #konnector #konnectorreformer #portdebras #birdonaperchpilates by @birdonaperchpilates

Reach and glide.✨

Side-lying rond de jambe: exploring the femoral head turning within the socket while keeping the pelvis steady. Letting the turnout unwind as the leg travels back, with a sense of staying centered in the hip.

Don’t let the spring tension shrink you. Reach through it to find expansion from head to toe.

Reverse the circle, keep the reach, and let femur glide in the socket .

The reward at the end? A delicious twist. 🤍
#BirdOnAPerchPilates #RondDeJambe #PilatesCadillac #MindfulMovement #pilatesfordsncers by @birdonaperchpilates

After a full weekend of teaching teacher training, my body was craving some feel-good movement. 🤍

Slide 1 - a hamstring stretch with the pelvis gently articulating around the femur, finding space throughout the hip.
Slide 2 - Extension and rotation for chest opening and decompression, oppositional reach through the arms for extra elongation.
A little time to move, breathe, and feel good. #BirdOnAPerchPilates #FeelGoodMovement #PilatesPractice #PilatesCadillac #pilatesfordancers by @birdonaperchpilates

Another @kinected_kaneschool teacher training weekend in the books! This module focused on the hip and knee, connecting anatomy to movement and giving these future teachers the tools to problem solve and support the individual in front of them.

I meant to capture more throughout the weekend, but I was focused on teaching! Glad we finished the day with a group photo. ❤️

I’ve now taught 128 hours of lecture material to this cohort, with just 12 more to go. We’re in the home stretch of our lecture modules, with plenty of practice hours ahead to put that learning into action.

Proud of the work this group is putting into becoming thoughtful, skilled teachers! by @birdonaperchpilates

Strong women. Strong backs. 🤍
Love working with these three Houston Ballet mamas. So much respect for the strength and dedication they bring to their art, their families and themselves.
@houstonballet @jescollado @karinagonzalezedwards @estheysism_dancer by @birdonaperchpilates

Shoulder stability does not mean holding the shoulder blades down and back.
As the arms rise, the scapulae need to upwardly rotate and glide wide and smoothly around the rib cage. The Konnector straps give me feedback into that relationship while connecting the movement of my arms to my trunk.
With additional straps around my thighs, my hamstrings, abdominals and posterior chain respond to the changing tension and organize the rest of my body.
The arms and legs are an extension of the core. Breath and stability support movement.
Can you see the scapulae moving as the arms rise? #pilatesfordancers #konnector #MovementEducation #PortDeBras #ScapularMovement by @birdonaperchpilates

How high you lift doesn’t tell the whole story. The more useful question is: Where is the extension happening?
In the top video, the movement quickly concentrates in my lumbar spine, my most available area, while my thoracic spine contributes very little.
In the bottom video, I elongated first, maintain abdominal support as the abdominals lengthen, and invite more of the spine to participate before lifting higher.
The lumbar spine should extend. The goal isn’t to eliminate that movement. It’s to keep one area from doing all the work.
Sometimes a smaller, longer, more evenly distributed extension is the stronger choice.
#Pilates #SpinalExtension #PilatesEducation #MovementEducation #pilatesfordancers by @birdonaperchpilates

More ways to move, explore, challenge, and connect.
Loving my recent additions to the studio - the Reformer Trapeze Combination and Spine Corrector alongside my longtime favorites, the Konnector Reformer/tower combo and EXO Chair.
So many possibilities in one little space.✨#birdonaperchpilates #balancedbody #konnectorreformer #houstonpilates #pilatesinstructor by @birdonaperchpilates

Rolling in + out—using the springs for support, resistance and feedback as the spine moves from flexion into extension and back again.
Lots to explore with this one. #pilates #pilatesinstructor #pilatescadillac #spinalarticulation #birdonaperchpilates by @birdonaperchpilates