Instructor in the Spotlight

Tina Tricomi first became interested in Pilates & Yoga 16 years ago, after the birth of her fourth child. Exhausted and sleep deprived, Tricomi started experiencing back pain to the point where it took great effort to sit up straight.   

Intent on feeling better, Tricomi joined a local gym and signed up for the first available class, which happened to be a Pilates class. Unclear as to what Pilates was or if she would like the class, Tricomi decided to give it a shot. She left her first class wondering if she did anything right.

"I felt the instructor spoke too much; I wasn't sure what I was doing, or if what I was doing was being done correctly," she said.

Despite her reservations, Tricomi continued to take weekly Pilates classes, eventually adding a Sunday power yoga class.

"One day, I realized my back pain had disappeared, my waistline was looking slimmer, and I was feeling better overall. I began going to classes every chance I could," she said.

The more strength and results she saw, the more encouraged Tricomi became. She started to follow the same instructors, including Roots owner Ginger Boermeester, who had become her mentor and friend.

"I was actually Ginger's very first client at Roots and was so excited for the studio to open," she said. 

After 10 years of practicing Pilates, Tricomi's favorite instructor left the gym to start her own business. Feeling the loss of a great mentor helped Tricomi, who has been a medical assistant at Lahey Hospital for the past 19 years, realize it was time for a second career. Becoming certified would be a win/win; Tricomi would be able to share her love of Pilates and also supplement her income. 

"My kids were heading off to college. If I was going to work a second job, it may as well be doing what I love to do," she said.

Tricomi became certified at Balanced Body in Belmont, MA, but her training didn't stop there. In 2012, she added Barre certification to her resume, and is currently studying to take the PMA, an exam that provides standardized credential for teachers of the Pilates method.  

"Training and studying can be difficult with my already full schedule, but in order to be a good Pilates instructor, I think it's important to continue to learn and grow in the field," she said. 

When she first began teaching, Tricomi mistakenly thought that teaching a beginner's class would be easier than teaching more advanced students.  

"Teaching beginners proved to be very challenging. You need to start off slowly, give very precise cues, and remember that modifications are important. It feels very rewarding when a new student tells me that my class was both challenging and great," she said.   

Tricomi, who is all of five feet, believes that Pilates has not only helped her back, posture, and overall strength, but it's kept her from shrinking by helping to lengthen her muscles.  

"I personally think Pilates and yoga keep you young and fit. Both practices are suitable for all age groups," she said.

For those who believe that yoga or Pilates is too difficult, Tricomi offers the same advice that someone once gave her. 

"When folks say it's too hard, I'll say Rome wasn't built in a day! Sometimes I'll even quote Joseph Pilates, who said, "In 10 sessions you'll feel a difference, In 20 sessions you'll see a difference, and in 30 sessions you'll have a whole new body." I really believe this. Consistency is the key to great results," she said.

Tricomi plans to continue to educate herself in Pilates and teach others how to attain better physical health with less pain.

Life is funny," she said, adding, "It's been a great journey so far!"

Tricomi's fav pose is the Roll-Up, which helps to elongate the spine using major core muscles.  

Here's how:

To do a full roll-up, lay long on a mat, reach your arms back over head. Squeeze your legs and heels together, then squeeze your bottom and back of legs to keep them glued to your mat. Start to move the arms up then the head lifts, pull your ribs toward your hips. With control, you articulate the spine one vertebra at a time as you reach your fingers over your toes, constantly pulling your abdominals in. Keep squeezing your legs and pressing through heels to reach arms long, fingers past your toes. Allow yourself to feel the opposition between your heels and your belly. Then roll away from the toes articulating the spine back down and reach arms back to start position.  

Roots Yoga
220 Cambridge St. Burlington, MA 01803
781-272-YOGA
rootsyogaburlington@gmail.com

http://myrootsyoga.com/