Newsletter

Pilates Is A Way Of Life

Shining light on Pilates truths, honoring Joseph Pilates, and supporting you in your Pilates journey.

It’s easy to think that you need the perfect space, the right time, or all the equipment to do Pilates “properly.” But in reality, if you have room to lie down, you already have a Pilates studio. :) "How should I start learning Pilates if I can't do it at a studio?" I get asked this question quit...

by Joanna Telacka — Oct 15, 2026 at home pilates mat mat at home mat exercises mat exercises video mat intermediate level mat intermediate video mat intro mat intro video pilates mat video tutorial

Before You Put Corkscrew Together, Take It Apart :)

Sometimes Corkscrew tells me exactly what a client is unsure about. They circle their legs quickly. The rest of the body gets pulled around, and the lower back often loses support. The person is not quite sure where the movement should come from, so they try to “get through it” by moving their le...

Oct 09, 2026 abdominals classical pilates corkscrew fundamentals learned skills pelvis stability shoulder stability spinal rotation spine rotation

Before You Put Corkscrew Together, Take It Apart :)

by Joanna Telacka — Oct 08, 2026 abdominals classical pilates corkscrew fundamentals learned skills pelvis stability shoulder stability spinal rotation spine rotation

Pilates Has a Way of Sneaking Up on You. Doesn’t it?

It's not like you are thinking to yourself: “Thank goodness I practiced The Hundred,” every time you are carrying your groceries home and putting them away. :) But you may notice that carrying the bags feels easier, that reaching up to put something on a shelf takes less effort, or that bending d...

by Joanna Telacka — Oct 07, 2026 abdominals aging ankles arms balance bending bakwards bending forward bending to the sides coordination equipment flexibility hip mobility knees legs longevity mat pilates benefits pilates exercises pilates method pilates way of life shoulders spine rotation strength wrists young age

Pilates Has a Way of Sneaking Up on You. Doesn’t it?

by Joanna Telacka — Oct 03, 2026 abdominals aging ankles arms balance bending bakwards bending forward bending to the sides coordination equipment flexibility hip mobility knees legs longevity mat pilates benefits pilates exercises pilates method pilates way of life shoulders spine rotation strength wrists young age

Pilates Has a Way of Sneaking Up on You. Doesn’t it?

by Joanna Telacka — Oct 01, 2026 abdominals aging ankles arms balance bending bakwards bending forward bending to the sides coordination equipment flexibility hip mobility knees legs longevity mat pilates benefits pilates exercises pilates method pilates way of life shoulders spine rotation strength wrists young age

Did You Know Kathy Grant Had a “Song”?

Last week, I shared with you the story of the Swan stick figures on the whiteboard in my studio. If you missed it, you can read about it here:) Over the past few months, I have drawn many more stick figures to illustrate different Pilates concepts. I have now gathered some of them for you to revi...

by Joanna Telacka — Sep 24, 2026 imagery kathy grant kathy's song pilates exercises pilates song power of imagery ron fletcher whiteboard image

Why This Stick Figure Stayed on My Wall for Three Months

This rather simple stick figure drawing remained on the whiteboard in my studio for more than three months. It was the first whiteboard drawing I created. I drew it to help my clients understand how the head, neck, upper and lower back should be organized when performing Swan and ALL other spina...

by Joanna Telacka — Sep 17, 2026 awarness back extension back muscles cadillac chair classical pilates lower back lower back joints movement pilates exercises pilates mat progress reformer swan trapeze table

Remember To Forget

What feels natural is often simply what you have practiced the most. Think about that for a moment. If you have repeated a particular way of moving thousands of times, of course it feels familiar. :) That doesn't necessarily mean it is the best way for you to be moving. Every time you walk into t...

by Joanna Telacka — Sep 10, 2026 body awarness classical pilates concentration control contrology habits mindful movement movement education movement habits movement patterns pilates

What Did Joseph Pilates Mean by “Elevates the Spirit”?

Last week, we talked about what happens when your mind becomes fully involved in moving your body.But Joseph Pilates didn't stop at body and mind.He included one more aspect. Spirit.He wrote that Contrology:“...invigorates the mind and elevates the spirit.”But what does it mean to elevate the spi...

by Joanna Telacka — Sep 03, 2026 balance body awarness body mind spirit contrology joseph pilates pilates pilates practice spirit

Pilates Is Physical. But Your Mind Has to Show Up Too.

There is a comment I still hear regularly:“Wow. There is so much to think about.”And every time I hear it, I think: “Yes. Now we are beginning to understand what practicing Pilates asks of us.” :)You most likely know by now that Pilates isn't supposed to be a workout you perform while your mind i...

by Joanna Telacka — Aug 27, 2026 body and mind breathing classical pilates classical pilates mat joseph pilates mat pelvis stability pilates practicing pilates quote shoulders video

Already Strong and Flexible, So WHAT’S Missing?

Joseph Pilates wrote in his book: “Ideally, our muscles should obey our will. Reasonably, our will should not be dominated by the reflex actions of our muscles.” Let’s think about what that means. Here are two thoughts I had: Being strong is not the same as knowing how to use your strength. Being...

Aug 20, 2026 aligment awarness basic exercises body awarness flexibility mobility pelvis stability shoulder stability strength

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