Some people say that 80 percent of life is about just showing up. This is not the case with Pilates. Classical Pilates teachers, like Romana Kryzanowska, blend six Pilates principles in their teaching methods to create a system that promotes health and relaxation. Leave one principle behind and the system falls apart, both in physical and mental results, Kryzanowska notes.
Concentration
The Pilates method of exercise is not a mindless activity in which you can zone out as you go through the motions. You must think about what you are doing -- the muscles that are involved and the way each movement feels, Kryzanowska says. Visualize your movements in your mind and think about what you are doing as you perform your exercises. This is how you get the synergy of mind and body. At the end of an hour of concentrating on every movement, your mind will feel refreshed and relaxed.
Control
As you move through each Pilates exercise, it is essential that you maintain control over your body, notes Joseph Pilates in his 1934 book, "Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising that Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education." The body parts that are not moving during your exercises are working as hard -- or harder -- as the moving parts. This method of moving with control teaches your body to balance the energy that it spends, which equates to a less stressful life.
Centering
Pilates referred to the center of the body as the powerhouse. Kryzanowska teaches her students to work from the center by anchoring their movements in the abdomen, lower back and buttocks. By initiating all movements from this area, Pilates enthusiasts can gain stability and strength while they use a minimum of effort to complete each task.
Flowing Movement
Each exercise in the classical Pilates sequence flows from one to the next, with graceful transition movements. The sequence is much like a dance, Kryzanowska says. When performed properly, none of the movements feels rushed or jerky, yet there is continuous relaxed movement.
Precision
As you gain strength and flexibility by practicing regularly, your ability to move with precision will increase. "Concentrate on right movements each time you exercise, or else you will do them improperly and lose their value," Pilates says.
Breathing
Pilates thought that proper breathing during his exercise method oxygenated the blood and removed toxins from the body. To him, proper breathing includes wringing all of the air out of the lungs during the exertion phase of each exercise. A full exhale takes concentration, but the body will follow with a spontaneous, complete inhalation. Performing Pilates exercise using this breathing method relieves stress and inspires relaxation.
References
- "The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning: Introduction to the Core Exercises"; Romana Kryzanowska, et al.; 1999
- "Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising that Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education;" Joseph H. Pilates; 1934
Member Comments