Unite Health Presenter Of The Month - John Contreras
We are proud to award John Contreras, Physiotherapist, APPI Pilates Method Master Trainer and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, as Unite Health Presenter Of The Month. A man of many talents, John has taught various APPI courses Internationally, including in the UK, Brazil, Europe and in the United States. He has also developed both the APPI Pilates for Runners course and APPI Pilates For Cyclists course as well as the RTR Strength & Conditioning course. Currently studying his second Masters, John is an inspiration and we are incredibly lucky to have him as part of the team. We sat down with John to talk all things Pilates and APPI.
What do you love most about Pilates?
I really enjoy the process of working with a patient towards a particular goal. Pilates only works when teacher and patient and working well together. We both have our roles to play. For my patient to perform a movement successfully I need to teach using various cues, observe and then provide real-time feedback. Simultaneously, my patient needs to follow my lead and use my feedback as well as their own awareness to achieve the goal. The outcome of the session, be that improved co-ordination, strength, flexibility, balance or even confidence is the result of teamwork.
You teach the APPI Running and Cycling programs for Unite Health. In your opinion, why is Pilates so integral for both runners and cyclists?
As a physio, my main aim is to keep my client fit, healthy and training. The current evidence paints a picture where injured runners and cyclists tend to demonstrate certain physical characteristics which Pilates can positively address. Also with running and cycling are repetitive actions so for those clients Pilates may simply be an place to explore different movements and provide a form of cross training.
What is your favourite APPI course to teach at the moment and why?
I think Pilates is going through an interesting time within Physiotherapy. Each week more and more literature is published that Pilates instructors can use to better inform our practice. As a result I find each course I teach is my favourite (cliche i know) due to the discussions we have regarding evidence informed Physiotherapy and how Pilates may play a role. For example, on a recent Pilates for Runners course we discussed the role Pilates may play in tendinopathy management.
Strength & Conditioning - why has this become a specialised area for you?
I find the science of strength training a fascinating topic and something that relates to every single patient I work with. It's this avid interest that has lead me to work in this area of rehabilitation. I feel that Physiotherapy should play a much larger role in returning our patients to sport/activity with greater capacity and Strength & Conditioning provides the ideal platform to achieve this goal. Overall, adding S&C to my skill set has enabled me to further progress my patients during rehabilitation.
What is your favourite Pilates exercise and why?
Easy. It has to be any variation of Joseph's 'Swimming'. These days we have variations movements like Breast Stroke (Preps), Dart, and Arrow. These type of exercises are my favourites as they are performed prone with the focus on thoracic extension. A simple and effective exercise for any type of client and one of the few that has decent evidence in the literature (Sinaki et al, 2002)
What are you inspired by (person, place or idea)?
I'm inspired by the idea that we can always improve. Being a physio I tend to think of this physically as improved strength, endurance, coordination, mobility etc. Seeing my active older clients is inspiring. Also seeing people follow their true passion is inspiring.
Do you have a personal motto?
One quote that comes to mind is the one credited to Socrates; "I know that I know nothing". The idea being that acknowledging you don't know something is the first step towards gaining new insight and wisdom.
Website - www.
What do you love most about Pilates?
I really enjoy the process of working with a patient towards a particular goal. Pilates only works when teacher and patient and working well together. We both have our roles to play. For my patient to perform a movement successfully I need to teach using various cues, observe and then provide real-time feedback. Simultaneously, my patient needs to follow my lead and use my feedback as well as their own awareness to achieve the goal. The outcome of the session, be that improved co-ordination, strength, flexibility, balance or even confidence is the result of teamwork.
You teach the APPI Running and Cycling programs for Unite Health. In your opinion, why is Pilates so integral for both runners and cyclists?
As a physio, my main aim is to keep my client fit, healthy and training. The current evidence paints a picture where injured runners and cyclists tend to demonstrate certain physical characteristics which Pilates can positively address. Also with running and cycling are repetitive actions so for those clients Pilates may simply be an place to explore different movements and provide a form of cross training.
What is your favourite APPI course to teach at the moment and why?
I think Pilates is going through an interesting time within Physiotherapy. Each week more and more literature is published that Pilates instructors can use to better inform our practice. As a result I find each course I teach is my favourite (cliche i know) due to the discussions we have regarding evidence informed Physiotherapy and how Pilates may play a role. For example, on a recent Pilates for Runners course we discussed the role Pilates may play in tendinopathy management.
Strength & Conditioning - why has this become a specialised area for you?
I find the science of strength training a fascinating topic and something that relates to every single patient I work with. It's this avid interest that has lead me to work in this area of rehabilitation. I feel that Physiotherapy should play a much larger role in returning our patients to sport/activity with greater capacity and Strength & Conditioning provides the ideal platform to achieve this goal. Overall, adding S&C to my skill set has enabled me to further progress my patients during rehabilitation.
What is your favourite Pilates exercise and why?
Easy. It has to be any variation of Joseph's 'Swimming'. These days we have variations movements like Breast Stroke (Preps), Dart, and Arrow. These type of exercises are my favourites as they are performed prone with the focus on thoracic extension. A simple and effective exercise for any type of client and one of the few that has decent evidence in the literature (Sinaki et al, 2002)
What are you inspired by (person, place or idea)?
I'm inspired by the idea that we can always improve. Being a physio I tend to think of this physically as improved strength, endurance, coordination, mobility etc. Seeing my active older clients is inspiring. Also seeing people follow their true passion is inspiring.
Do you have a personal motto?
One quote that comes to mind is the one credited to Socrates; "I know that I know nothing". The idea being that acknowledging you don't know something is the first step towards gaining new insight and wisdom.
John is presenting the following upcoming courses:
APPI Pilates For Runners MELBOURNE 3 Sept APPI Pilates For Cyclists MELBOURNE 4 Sept To find out more about John and the courses he offers click through to his website and social sites below.
Website - www.