#TuesdayTips: What is Pilates?

Today's Question: What is Pilates?

This is a question that I often receive from anyone who's curious. So here we go:

Pilates is a whole body fitness workout which ensures that all muscle groups are targeted without over-working or neglecting any. We want to work towards achieving a balanced muscle development, stability & mobility.

With specific focuses on dynamic postural alignment, core stability and use of breath to facilitate correct muscle engagement, Pilates adopts a total body-mind integration which allows for a more integrated practice.

When working in different positions, be it supine or prone, turnout or parallel, Pilates ensures that both the superficial and deeper muscles are activated. Thus maintaining balance between strengthening, toning, lengthening & flexibility. Additionally, modifications can also be used to either regress or advance depending on their individual bodily capabilities. Pilates instructors are required to have an understanding in Anatomy. Perhaps this explains why Pilates are often implemented during rehab, and as a supplement for further training.

Precise, Full-Bodied, Reset.

5 Core Pilates Principles:

1. Flow & Creativity

Ensures that clients will be working seamlessly from one exercise to the other through creative sequencing and precise language.

2. Alignment

The way in which the body is aligned before, during and after movement to place the joints and surrounding structures in the least amount of stress.

Focusing on dynamic alignment - effortless organisation of your alignment as it moves from one position to the next, creating biomechanical efficiency. Improving alignment through movements aims to create efficient, coordinated and healthy movement along with balanced muscle tone.

3. Breathing

Steady, focused breathing helps to engage the core muscles to support in movement, relax and connect into your body and movements. It can help us centre our body & mind, or it can be a tool used to challenge or ease.

4. Stability & Mobility

Pilates explores two types of alignment: stability & mobility. Some exercises are exclusively one, or a combination of both. It is about finding stability within the movements in an effortless way, allowing the parts to move with ease and grace.

5. Coordination

The way we apply all of this principles together - move, align, breathe, communicate and connect all of the exercises.

Pilates is highly adaptable to suit most clients including pregnant clients, the elderly, teenagers going through puberty, professional athletes & the working adults too! In my next post, I will be explaining the neutral spine and why it is important to work from this position in Pilates. #TuesdayTips

P.S If you have a curiosity that you want satisfied, drop me a message in my CONTACT page.