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 […]
strength
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 […]
How I got into teaching Pilates
How I got into teaching Pilates Just a couple months ago, I shared how I got started practicing Pilates. It was a movement practice that I started and stopped many times before it turned into a start, and a never stop. I’ve had a daily Pilates practice for many years that I’ve lost count of […]
How I got started with Pilates
How I got started with Pilates You are only as young as your spine is flexible. ~ Joseph Pilates This month I thought I’d share with you my introduction to Pilates. I first heard about Pilates, and was introduced to it at my junior high school’s gym class. My gym class offered different sports and […]
Return to Life with March MATness!
Return to Life with March MATness! “Pilates has been the perfect solution to maintaining strength and vitality in my life”. ~ Trudie Styler (Sting’s wife) Let’s review the 5 spine shapes: flexion/round back, tall back, extension/arched back, lateral flexion/side bend, and twist/rotation. With each of these spine shapes, there are challenges to each because there […]
5 Pilates Wall Exercises for a Workout
5 Pilates Wall Exercises for a Workout “Civilisation impairs physical fitness.” ~ Joseph Pilates It’s no surprise that our DOing our modern life takes a toll as human BEings. Hours staring at our computers, hunched over our desks, stresses of job-bing. Yep, I turned it into a verb. Pilates is known to reverse our natural […]
5 Fundamental Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk
5 Fundamental Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk “By all means, never fail to get all the sunshine and fresh air you can.” ~ Joseph Pilates Besides getting as much sunshine and fresh air you can, I would add to get as much movement as you can EVERYday. I know many of us sit […]
5 Pilates Mat Exercises for Better Balance
5 Pilates Mat Exercises for Better Balance “The Pilates Method teaches you to be in control of your body, and not at its mercy.” ~ Joseph Pilates Pilates mat exercises are excellent for improving balance as they engage the core, use strength and stretch to gain mobility with control, and challenge stability. All you need […]