Classical Pilates for Modern Life

Shining light on Pilates truths, honoring Joseph Pilates,

and supporting you in your Pilates journey. 

                                   Keep Your Levels Leveled

Just like with learning any new skill that you hope to understand, like, and practice for a long time, it is important to be introduced to Pilates the right way.

It is a process. You do not simply “do” Pilates– you study it. You master the skills necessary to perform the movements safely and with long-lasting benefits. 

“Safely” and “long-lasting positive impact” are two overarching goals you should set for yourself when studying and practicing Pilates. Here is how you can achieve these objectives and one fact you should know about the Pilates method to stay the course.  

Whether you are just considering starting your Pilates journey or are on it for a while, make sure that your levels match. 

What kind of levels? 

One is your level of comprehension. How well do you learn, understand, and practice the way that you need to move your body in order to effectively build strength and flexibility? Fundamental concepts and basic movements lay the foundation for the entire Pilates program. You hold the "remote control" for your body. You must master it, to use it correctly in every movement you execute. Know your level of comprehension because if you don’t, you will struggle to meet your goals of moving safely and for long-lasting benefits.  

The other level exists within the Pilates program. Three levels to be exact: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. The division reflects the level of skills needed to perform the exercises correctly. 

To progress from one level to the next, you must simultaneously apply the physical strength and flexibility you are working on improving, and the mindful control over your body you are mastering. 

Your levels of comprehension must match the level of difficulty of the exercises you are performing. 

When the movement is too hard, that means that you are not ready for it because your body is physically not ready. When the movement seems too easy that means that you are not ready for it because your mind is not ready to comprehend what it takes to execute the movement correctly. 

With exceptions of contraindications, there are no exercises in the Pilates program that are bad for your body, there are exercises badly executed. 

So know your levels. 

Here are two videos that accurately illustrate how a seemingly "easy" looking movement can quickly turn into a struggle between the mind and the body, if the levels don't match. Performing them requires far more understanding of the Pilates fundamental concepts and one's own body than often assumed.

The first one, "Coordination," is about timing the movements as well as awareness and connection to the straps, which are connected to the springs to move the carriage. All that and the fact that one must demonstrate the skill of holding the head/neck up continuously and controlling the pelvis/lower back area while moving legs make this exercise a solid intermediate level.

The second one, the "Stomach Massage Round," is a beginner-level exercise that requires a certain level of flexibility in the lower back and hips, knees, and ankles to be performed correctly. The abilities that the Modern Age beginner Pilates student has to work hard at mastering.

How do make sure that your levels match? That’s a topic for an entirely new newsletter. So stay tuned. 😊

Carefully study the movements that make the choreography of the Pilates exercises. When you learn, understand, and practice controlling your body to improve your body mechanics, you will improve the way you “walk, work and play,” and sit :)

Joseph Pilates laid the philosophy of his method out clearly in his book “Return to Life,” but that is a topic for my next Newsletter. So stay tuned. 😊