Classical Pilates for Modern Life
(Harmonious Pilates, Inc. original publication)
by Joanna Telacka
Classical Pilates Teacher
Business Owner
Triathlete
June 3rd, 2023
Shining light on Pilates truths, honoring Joseph Pilates,
and supporting you in your Pilates journey.
Pie and latte or a 7-layer cake?
You may have heard the expression or seen t-shirts or signs made with this funny play on words:
“Pilates? I thought you said Pie and Lattes?
This witty phrase makes me think of another dessert - the 7-layer cake, carefully constructed into a pattern of layers of cake and filling.
I want to use the image of the 7-layer cake to help me explain what often gets lost in conversations about Pilates. The fact that any given Pilates exercise also consists of layers, each layer offering a different benefit.
In Pilates, you will get as much out of it as you put into it.
If you are willing to slow down, be thoughtful about how you move, take your time learning about breathing, getting to know your body better, you will experience the lifelong benefits of this movement method and not just the short-lived moment of feeling stretched and energized.
Here are the layers of Pilates exercise as I understand, practice, and teach them:
- movements/choreography: teaches us coordination,
- breathing patterns: improve our lung function
- muscles that need to be released: alleviates muscle pain and discomfort
- muscles that need to be engaged: activating muscles strengthens them
- joints that need to be decompressed: decompressing joints elongates the muscles, mobilizes the joint; and alleviates the pain associated with joint compression.
Here is an example of the difference in teaching as well as doing the same exercise in two different ways: basic and more in depth.
| Reformer exercises |
Basic instructions |
Get deeper into it |
|
Footwork |
With feet on the footbar, move the carriage out and in straightening and bending the legs. |
Inhaling through the nose engage the core muscles to stabilize the low back/pelvis and move the carriage out to stretch the springs, exhaling bend the knees resisting the spring tension, bringing the carriage in maintain control over the springs. |
|
Leg circles |
With feet in straps, circles legs in both directions. |
Focus on pelvis/low back stability engaging deep lower abdominals, Inhale through the nose during the first half of the “circle”, and exhale through the mouth during the second half. |
Joseph Pilates on his method of Contrology
"Contrology is not a system of haphazard exercises designed to produce only bulging muscles. Just to the contrary, it was conceived and tested ( for over forty-three years) with the idea of properly and scientifically exercising every muscle in your body ignorer to improve the circulation of the blood so that the bloodstream can and will carry more and better blood to feed every fiber and tissue of your body".
Return to Life
My two cents
I have had many “one-time-clients" in the course of my 25 years of teaching Pilates.
At first I used to blame myself for it, thinking that I didn't know how to explain well enough, and didn't know how to “sell” Pilates.
Over time I have come to realize that it is not what I say, it is the new client’s mindset that they bring to the lesson that gets in the way. Trying to learn something new while applying old beliefs is counterproductive. Trying to learn something new with an open mind makes room for success:).
If you know someone who can benefit from the content of my newsletter, please share it with them. My goal is to reach as many people as I can to help them have a better quality of life through Pilates philosophy and movement technique.
Thank you :)
Joanna
Copyright@Harmonious Pilates, Inc 2023
