Classical Pilates for Modern Life

Shining light on Pilates truths, honoring Joseph Pilates,

and supporting you in your Pilates journey. 

How to get better at doing Pilates?

Whether you are already practicing Pilates or still thinking about taking it up, here are my first two tips on how you can ensure that you get the most out of your workout.

1. Breathing correctly: I talked about the rhythm of breathing and the reason behind it in last week’s newsletter. If you missed it, here is a link to my website page where I have recently started saving my previous newsletters so that they can still be accessible to my readers. There you will find the June 29th edition where I explain and demonstrate the Pilates breathing “ how to “.  https://www.harmoniouspilates.com/blog.html  

2.  Realizing that performing each Pilates exercise is a learning process for the body as well as the mind:

Each Pilates exercise is made of building blocks, of elements that when mastered individually will come together in a coordinated, supported by core muscles, correct form/choreography. The result is quite satisfying. 

Approach each exercise as an opportunity to gradually develop skills that move you closer to a more advanced state. 

For example, when working through 100s (Hundreds) start in a position that is accessible to you physically. If holding your legs straight and/or lower than 90 degrees is hard and puts strain on your low back and/ or neck, don’t start that way. Start with your legs bent and if in the course of the exercise, you feel strong and in control, then challenge yourself. You have 10 repetitions of the same breathing pattern to make improvements and the rest of your life to get better overall at it. :)

Roll-ups is another example of the power of progression. Since it is only a second exercise in the beginner and intermediate Mat repertoire, the body is still in the process of warming up. The first Roll-up will be definitely different than the last, and that’s the point. You don’t start the exercise wishing that you could be better at it in that instant, you use the 8 repetitions to gradually turn your abdominals on more and more, to feel the stretch in the back body, to allow your breath to get in sync with the movement. I guarantee that each consecutive repetition will be better than the previous one but you must allow yourself to allow your body to go through this process.

If you approach each exercise with the purpose of learning rather than just “doing” you will find that over time your stamina and//or flexibility will improve and you will be making progress in every exercise you will patiently deconstruct. 

Joseph Pilates on his method of Contrology

 "Concentrate on correct movement EACH TIME YOU EXERCISE, lest you do them improperly and thus lose all the vital benefits of their value. Correctly executed and mastered to the point of subconscious reaction, these exercises will reflect grace and balance in your routine activities. Contrology exercises build a sturdy body and sound mind fitted to perform every daily task with ease and perfection as well as to provide tremendous reserve energy for sports, recreation, emergencies.    "Return To Life"

My two cents 

One of the challenges of teaching corrective movement is getting the clients to move correctly:)

I try to inspire my clients to realize that a Pilates workout is not a test of one's skills but rather an opportunity to make improvements in the way that they move.

I emphasize that Pilates is that extra push that we give our body, that “cherry on the top” that works out the kinks and makes us feel better. So it is worth putting an effort in, patiently learning, exploring, and getting better at moving correctly, because, life is better when we feel better, and practicing Pilates is not a competition, it's a way of life.:)

If you know someone who can benefit from the content of my newsletter, please share it with them or share this link for them to sign up: https://www.harmoniouspilates.com

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

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