The Principle of Pilates

After Joseph Pilates passed away, his students developed an original 6 principles of the Pilates method. These principles enabled the students (to this day) to create a fully integrated workout that exercised body, mind and spirit.

Breathing

Develops awareness of the body assists in regulating oxygen levels in the tissues of the body. Allows one to release tension and prepares the mind for the movement.

Concentration

Focus on the movement and the body, actually thinking about the body moving.

Centering

Each movement coming from the support of the centre (stabilising muscles of the torso – Pelvic floor, transverses abdominus, adductors, multifidous)

Control

Working to find control over the movements. Control can also be thought of as coordination and discipline.

Precision

Being accurate and exact when executing each exercise.

Flowing Movement

Aiming to flow with ease from exercise to exercise, to create a fully integrated work out.

The above are the 6 principles of Classical Pilates (teaching consistently with how Mr Pilates himself taught). Contemporary Pilates (Evidence-based Pilates). An extra 2 principles were added to bring the method towards the 20th Century;

Alignment

Developing awareness of how and where your body sits in space (Proprioception).

Commitment

Practising regularly, to provide continued consistency. Consistency is where results are seen and felt.

With these now 8 Principles of Pilates in the back of my mind, it enables me to plan a thorough and exact program for my clients. By working along with these principles, the body and mind are encouraged to work synchronically to create change for a stronger, more resilient (physically and mentally) population.

See you at the studio soon!

Control, precision and FUN!

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