Pilates Principles.

The number one Pilates Principle is concentration – concentration promotes the mind body connection and ensures you receive the most physical value from each movement. Any Pilates session requires complete concentration and body awareness to ensure our bodies are moving correctly.  This includes focus on position, posture, movement, breath and muscle activation.  The goal of the Pilates method is to get our bodies to function more efficiently which requires the optimal level of concentration. 

Pilates method refers to the center of your body as the “powerhouse” it is from the powerhouse or your center that each exercise is derived as.  You must ensure that your core is activated for all exercise as this provides a stable base from which to work. Core activation  not only ensure your abs are working but  also promotes good posture and prevents injury.

Joseph Pilates believed that breathing is the most integral part of exercise and even if one follows no other recommendation learning to breath is the most important thing. 

Each Pilates movement involves a breathing pattern which improves the exercises effectiveness.  Breathing patterns help to activate the correct muscles required for the exercise. Deep controlled breathing activates blood circulation and awakens cells and muscles delivering oxygen throughout the body. 

The Pilates method focuses on mindfulness including control. Control ensures correct form and safe practice. Maintaining control is very important, in Pilates no part of the body is unattended.  We work not only on strengthening the muscles but also controlling the way the body contracts and moves. Smooth movements reduce the risk of injury, jerky movements not only increase this risk but don’t work the muscles effectively.  

In Pilates every movement needs to be with purpose, direction and precision.  Executing one exercise with deliberate action is more important than completing multiple reps with poor form.  To ensure precision instructors provide detailed instruction on all of the exercise elements, including, what muscles to engage, breath, body position and much more. We work with you to ensure your movements are going to obtain the end goal.

It is the dynamic fluid movements of Pilates that set it apart from other exercise programs. In Pilates movements need to be continual and flowing throughout the session. We focus less on repetition and more on duration. When transitions from one pose to another are smooth and continuous movements they build strength and stamina. Flowing movement means muscles are being worked in all directions of the movement and more eccentric control is required.