I find that one of the challenges of teaching corrective movement is... getting my students to move correctly. 😊
I believe that a Pilates workout should not be a test of their skills, but rather an opportunity to make improvements in the way that they move.
So I encourage them to take their time, explore, and give their body a chance to learn and their mind to expand.
Whether you are already taking Pilates or still thinking about trying it, here are some thoughts I’d like to offer from my experience to help you get the most out of your practice.
1. Breathing correctly
I talked about the rhythm of breathing and the reason behind it in one of my previous newsletters. If you missed it, here is a link to my website page where you will find this and some of my other past newsletters.
2. Realizing that performing each Pilates exercise is a learning process, for the body as well as the mind
Approach each exercise as an opportunity to gradually develop skills that move you closer to the next level of proficiency.
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.
For example, when working through The Hundred, start in a position that is accessible to you physically. If holding your legs straight and/or further away from your center is hard and puts strain on your low back, don’t start that way. Start with your legs bent, and if while perfoming the exercise, you feel that you can handle it, then challenge yourself and gradually start straightening your legs. You have 10 repetitions of the same breathing pattern to make improvements and the rest of your life to get better overall at this exercise. :)
The Roll-up is another example of how progressing through the method works. 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 may feel different from the last, and that is the point. You move through the 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.
You may find more control or ease as you repeat the exercise. But you need to give your body time to go through this process.
If you approach each exercise with the purpose of learning rather than just “doing,” you give yourself an opportunity to notice what needs attention. Over time, as you patiently explore the exercises, improvements in your stamina and flexibility may quietly sneak up on you. :)
In my next newsletter, I will talk about how to approach challenging exercises, and what strategy will always make your workouts meaningful.
To Your Health!
Joanna
Do you find some exercises harder to perform than others, and not easy to teach either?
Explore my Exercises Library here.
You will find step-by-step tutorials, in-depth explanations, and my perspective on approaching them.
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