Dawn, my Pilates Mat

Dawn, my Mat

For the next few months, I’ll write a blog per apparatus that’s available at my private studio.  For those of you who have never been, or it’s been a while since you were here last, and wondering what I have for equipment now, this will give you a preview of what you’ll see.  Recently, I had a little fun naming my apparatuses.  I love each and every one of my girls for the unique character and value they offer.  I have no favorites.  They’re all lovely, and they simply want to help you find the internal connections I write about in my blog, and teach through my classes and privates/duets.

First up, meet Dawn, my Pilates mat.  I came up with Dawn because the mat came first before Joe built any of the apparatuses.  Joe built the various apparatuses to help everyone do the mat better.  The mat is where it’s at.  This is where Joseph Pilates started the creation of his 30-some exercises called Contrology, before it became known as Pilates.

Dawn is an authentic recreation of the original mat design that you could find at Joe’s Gym, yet can be folded away for easy storage.  I know many of you have been practicing your mat at home since covid, right?  Right?  This folding mat is perfect for your home.  

• Let me start with this foam.
  • This high-density foam gives you just the support you need without the “squishiness”, which means you won’t sink into it.  And by you, I mean your spine, your head, your wrists, your forearms, your knees, your feet.  All right, let’s get to the other good parts of this mat that truly make it an apparatus, besides that foam.  Note:  I’m seriously addicted to this foam.

• The dowel handles for your arms.
  • If you’ve been taking classes or privates with me lately, then you’ve heard me say your arms are connected to your back.  ABC = (A)rm (B)ack (C)onnection.  The hands hold on to the dowel handles.  Your hands are connected to your arms that are connected to your back.  You need ABC working for any exercise that is overhead.  Why? These handles teach that connection by giving your body feedback during the exercises where your hands are reaching into them, or pressing down into them.  With your hands pressing down into them, your body will find the lift it needs for extension exercises.  And your body upside down needs a strong base/foundation.  You need to strengthen your upper back to open your chest.  You need to find the length of your spine while keeping the reach through your legs.

• The strap for your feet.
  • This goes across your feet, right above the ankles.  If you’ve been taking classes or privates with me lately, then you’ve heard me say your legs are connected to your center.  Woo wee – does this strap tell you whether your center is on or off during exercises.  It’s not used for every exercise, but where it is used, it will quickly tell you if you’re engaged through your center, or if it is turned off.  It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself a beginner or super advanced, everyone benefits from this feedback.

• The moon boxes – again for your feet.
  • These moon boxes help you with positioning of your legs and feet, and increase difficulty for some exercises.  Again, all feedback on whether your center is on or off during exercises.

I purposely ordered my mat in this fabulous gray to help you see me better in my online group mat classes.  Plus, it’s one of my logo colors.  Tune in for future blogs to check out my other apparatuses/my girls.  They’re a beautiful bunch.