Classical Pilates for Modern Life

Shining light on Pilates truths, honoring Joseph Pilates,

and supporting you in your Pilates journey. 

The steps we can take to progress in our Pilates practice 

Recap from previous editions: 

1. Breathing: Inhale while beginning the movement, exhale while completing it.

2. Realizing that each Pilates exercise is made of building blocks and all of them need to be mastered in order to progress.

3. Shoulders down, stomach muscles turned on. 

4. Theme: If you are working with a Pilates teacher, they “provide” a theme for you. At the beginning of your lesson, as you start moving through the choreography of the exercises, the teacher identifies a theme that you can focus on throughout this session, on this specific day. 

A theme can be as simple as reminding you before each exercise to lower your shoulders and turn your abs on. A theme can also be a particular issue you may be struggling with at that moment or needing to improve on such as the ability to flex the spine, access hamstrings, stop hyperextending the knees or elbows, decompressing the hip joints, etc. 

When you are working out on your own (which you should do at home regardless if you are taking lessons or not):), it makes your Pilates practice more effective when you find a focus, a theme for each workout. Since the routine is always the same ( the same exercises in the same order), it makes it easier to zero in on a particular skill and carry that effort through all the exercises you are doing that day. You will notice that your workout flows better and becomes cohesive. 

You can start by picking a theme for yourself when you are doing the first 10 exercises from the classical Pilates Mat repertoire. (video included below)

Your first theme can be making sure you breathe and not hold your breath (if that is what you tend to do) while moving. The second workout can be about scooping the abdominals and breathing simultaneously. The third can be about your ability to access the inner thighs. The fourth can be about keeping your shoulders down ......

Joseph Pilates on his method of Contrology

 "The acquirement and enjoyment of physical well-being, mental calm, and spiritual peace are priceless to their possessors if there be any such so fortunate living among us today. However, it is the ideal to strive for, and in our opinion, it is only through Contrology that this unique trinity of balanced body, mind, and spirit can ever be attained". 

   "Return To Life"

My two cents 

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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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