More than muscles: Unravelling the Wonders of Pilates!

Pilates isn't your average workout— it's an intricate skill that develops complete control of both body and mind, where each exercise is a gift with many layers to be unwrapped:

  • Precise alignment - from the start position and through the whole movement path.
  • A particular rhythm and a particular tempo.
  • Optimal breathing pattern.
  • Stretch - optimal range of movement without overstretching.
  • Strength - to work against gravity and/or spring tension.
  • Control - of balance and momentum.
  • The mind - to work with precision and focus.
  • Endurance - to move continually from one exercise to the next.
  • Satisfaction - your reward for persevering with a challenging task.
With all of these components in place you will find that, to quote Joseph Pilates himself:

"Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure."

But here's the real magic: as you learn more Pilates, you uncover even more hidden treasures within each exercise. There is an ideal to work towards, and a beginner may - counterintuitively - find the same exercise easier than a more advanced participant who is working more precisely and challenging their own ability to work towards the ideal. And reaching advanced levels? It's not about brute strength—it's about complete control of all of the above components.  In the exercise, 'boomerang' (pictured) a strong beginner could just throw the legs overhead - but without the required control or flexibility, the benefits of the exercise would be lost, and the beginner could end up with their bodyweight going through their neck. As I look at this picture, if I were teaching myself, I would ask myself to find a deeper curve in my back to lift the hips higher while keeping my shoulderblades down - this would build even more abdominal strength, help me to stretch my tight lower back and allow me to perform the movement with more precision.
 

Whether you're a Pilates newbie or a seasoned pro, there's always something new to discover in every exercise.

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