Principles of Pilates

Centering

A place in the middle

Pilates exercises are initiated and controlled from the center or core of your body. All movements in Pilates should begin from the center and flow outward to the limits.

Concentration

The action or power of focusing all of one's attention

It’s the mind that guides the body. Maximum benefits are derived by placing full commitment to and concentration on the exercise at hand. The five parts of the mind we use to achieve this are:intelligence, intuition, imagination, will and memory.

Control

The power to influence

Pilates exercises are done with complete control of the muscles working to lift against gravity and/or the resistance of the springs and thereby controlling the movement of the body and the apparatus.

Precision

Being exact and accurate

Pilates exercises were created to achieve a precise goal in mind to fulfill the benefit of each movement. There is an appropriate placement and alignment in relation to other body parts. The goal is to do precise movements and for this precision to eventually become second nature, and coarry over into everyday life as grace and economy of movement.

Breath

Air taken into or expelled from the lungs

Pilates exercises are done to the rhythm of the breath. Exercises coordinate with the breath, and using it properly is an integral part of the Pilates method. Pilates breathing encourages deep breath into the back and sides of the rib cage.

Flow & Rhythm

Moving steadily and continuously

Pilates aims for sufficiency of movement which creates flow through the use of appropriate movement and transitions. Once precision has been achieve, the exercises flow from one to the other in order to build strength and stamina.