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Writer's pictureChi Ingledew

A Journey through the Pilates Principles

Welcome to the captivating world of Pilates, where the true essence lies not only in the exercises and equipment but in its profound principles. Pilates is a holistic mind-body system that transcends mere physical fitness. It delves deep into the realms of awareness, balance, control, and harmony, intertwining strength and endurance. Through this comprehensive approach, Pilates cultivates stabilization, refines posture, improves movement mechanics, re-educates muscle recruitment patterns, and reinforces overall function and well-being. Brace yourself for a transformative journey as we explore the history and significance of these principles.

Our story begins with Joseph Pilates, a visionary who established the foundation of Pilates with his three Higher Principles:

  1. Harmonise the mind, body, and spirit: Pilates recognised the vital connection between these three elements, extending beyond the boundaries of exercise and encompassing all aspects of daily life. By achieving harmony in this trinity, we feel the true potential for profound transformation.

  2. Attain a natural rhythm: Joseph Pilates sought to embed actions into our unconscious competence, creating a state where movements become automatic and effortless. This natural rhythm enables us to align our physicality seamlessly, tapping into our innate capabilities.

  3. Apply the natural laws of life: Pilates understood the significance of aligning our practices with the fundamental laws that govern our existence. By embracing these natural laws in our everyday lives, we realise the wisdom within ourselves and cultivate a harmonious connection with the world around us.

Building upon this legacy, Rael Isacowitz, the brilliant mind behind BASI Pilates (Body Arts and Science International), identified ten movement principles that merged Pilates' original principles with his own invaluable experience. These principles serve as the guiding lights for promoting overall well-being:

  1. Become Awareness: This principle ignites the power of change, emphasising the importance of cultivating self-awareness. Through awareness, we gain the ability to make informed choices and embark on a journey of transformation.

  2. Achieve Balance: Balance, as Joseph Pilates envisioned, is the cornerstone of Contrology. It fosters uniform development, corrects posture, restores vitality, and elevates both the body and the mind. Achieving balance in both physical and mental realms creates a foundation for optimal health.

  3. Breath Correctly: Breathing is not merely the act of inhaling and exhaling; it is the very essence of life. Joseph Pilates believed that proper breathing, starting from childhood, plays a vital role in our well-being. In Pilates, lateral breathing activates the abdominals independently, oxygenates the blood, nourishes our cells, expels toxins, improves circulation, and provides a meditative quality to the practice.

  4. Concentrate Deeply: Concentration acts as the bridge that connects awareness and movement. By engaging in a cognitive process of understanding the movement, concentration enhances the transformative power of Pilates. It promotes a meditative quality, enabling us to succeed in correct movement patterns, enhance efficiency, and intensify the experience.

  5. Center Yourself: The concept of centering goes beyond its physical implications. It unites the mind, body, and spirit, allowing us to tap into our core power and strength. Finding our center of gravity on a physical level creates a solid foundation for holistic unity.

  6. Gain Control: Control, as Joseph Pilates envisioned, commences with mind control over muscles. Through dedicated practice, we develop conscious competence, eventually reaching a state of unconscious competence. Control empowers us to acquire good posture, ensuring that our entire body functions with perfect harmony and control.

  7. Be Efficient: Efficiency lies at the heart of Pilates. By focusing our energy on the work at hand, we achieve a state of relaxed calmness throughout the rest of our body. This sense of efficiency extends beyond our Pilates practice, enhancing our everyday lives.

  8. Create Flow: Flow encompasses both the physical and mental aspects of Pilates. It emerges through the precise timing of muscle recruitment and movement. When muscle recruitment is not only correct but also timed down to the millisecond, we achieve a state of flow. Throughout a Pilates session, this flow becomes evident within and between exercises, contributing to an uninterrupted, transformative experience.

  9. Be Precise: Precision is the key to unlocking the true essence of Pilates. Without precision, our Pilates practice loses its profound meaning. By working with precision, we deepen our connection to the work, experiencing its transformative power on a profound level.

  10. Seek Harmony: Harmony encompasses the whole-being in balance with oneself and the environment. It represents the ultimate reward for committing oneself to the Pilates journey. It is the feeling of rejuvenation that washes over us after a Pilates session. It is the heightened awareness of our muscles, the mindful breaths we take, the focus, centeredness, control, efficiency, flow, and precision that infuse our movements.

In conclusion, the principles and philosophy of the Pilates system are what set it apart and enable it to transform lives. Movement alone is mere motion unless integrated with these principles. Let us embark on this exhilarating journey of Pilates, embracing its principles, and seeking the transformative power that lies within. Through integration and dedication, we discover the true essence of Pilates, unveiling its potential to enhance every aspect of our lives.

Blog inspired by "Pilates Anatomy" by Rael Isocowitz and Karen Clippinger.

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