Take Pilates as a Daily Multi-Vitamin Images from Adaptive Bodywork – Biotensegrity and Movement Optimization When we practice Pilates, we are practicing tensegrity. This word is a portmanteau of “tension” and “integrity”. It is used most often in construction when describing a system of struts, bars, and beams that are held together by cables and […]
Tips
Chicken or Egg, Part 2: Strength or Flexibility?
Chicken or Egg, Part 2: Strength or Flexibility? If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old. If it is completely flexible at 60, you are young. ~ Joseph Pilates Last month, I had a deep dive on the chicken/egg analogy of Stability or Mobility – which do you focus on first? There’s […]
Chicken or Egg, Part 1: Stability or Mobility?
Chicken or Egg, Part 1: Stability or Mobility? Pilates is gaining the mastery of your mind over the complete control over your body. ~ Joseph Pilates If I had to translate how Joseph Pilates defines Pilates into my own words, it would be: It is a mind-body connection that engages a full body workout. It’s […]
The Two-Way Stretch in Pilates
The Two-Way Stretch in Pilates Pilates, Joseph H. and Miller, William John. Photo of Joseph Pilates at 60 years young practicing the Double Leg Pull [Return to Life Through Contrology, originally published in 1945] One of the fundamental concepts of Pilates is the two-way stretch. Other terms you may have heard are oppositional reach, dynamic […]
Standing Pilates exercises
Standing Pilates exercises We’re in the holiday season when you may be traveling quite a bit, and may not have a lot of time for your regular Pilates practice, or maybe you don’t want to get on that floor because it’s icky, or you don’t have your mat, or even a towel on the floor […]
Pilates Principle: Flow
Pilates Principle: Flow We’ve arrived at the last of the Pilates principles – flow. Let’s review what we’ve covered – there are 6 guiding principles: breath, concentration, center, control, precision, and flow. This month, let’s discuss FLOW, and its relationship to Pilates! During my teacher training program, there was required reading, and they were 2 […]
Pilates Principle: Precision
Pilates Principle: Precision For the next few months, I want to do a deep dive into each of the Pilates principles. There are 6 guiding principles: breath, concentration, center, control, flow, and precision. I covered breath, concentration, and center at the beginning of the year. Last month, I wrote my thoughts on control, and what […]
Pilates Principle: Control
Pilates Principle: Control For the next few months, I want to do a deep dive into each of the Pilates principles. There are 6 guiding principles: breath, concentration, center, control, flow, and precision. I covered breath and concentration at the beginning of the year. Last month, I nerded out about core vs center, and how […]
Pilates Principle: Center
Pilates Principle: Center For the next few months, I want to do a deep dive into each of the Pilates principles. There are 6 guiding principles: breath, concentration, center, control, flow, and precision. I covered breath and concentration at the beginning of the year. Let’s get into our CENTER, and its relationship to Pilates! During my […]
Pilates Principle: Concentration
Pilates Principle: Concentration For the next few months, I want to do a deep dive into each of the Pilates principles. There are 6 guiding principles: breath, concentration, center, control, flow, and precision. I covered breath last month. Let’s get into CONCENTRATION, and its relationship to Pilates! During my teacher training program, there was […]