The Six Principles of Pilates

1. Breath

Breathing is one of the most important aspects of Pilates. The purpose of the breath is to circulate the oxygen throughout the body to cleanse and rejuvenate. I always say that your breath is your fuel for each movement. Without the proper breath your movements will be weak and lifeless. The key is to take big inhalations that expand the lungs to their fullest capacity. Joseph Pilates would say, "Squeeze out the lungs as you would wring a wet towel dry". There is also a focus as to where you put your breath. The Pilates breath is described as a posterior lateral breath, meaning you breathe deep into the sides and back of your ribcage and not into the upper chest and neck as many of us shallow breathers would do. When you exhale you are to engage your deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Each Pilates movement has its own coordinating breath. "Even if you follow no other instructions, learn to breath correctly", said Joseph Pilates.

2. Centering

Joseph Pilates called the center of the body which housed the abdominal, lower back, hips, buttocks and pelvic floor muscles the "powerhouse", or core. It is from a strong center that all other movements are made upon, like a ray of light that radiates out from its core. Once a strong center is achieved movements from the arms and legs would be strong and stabilized as well. You wouldn't build your house out of tooth picks, so why would you do the same with your body?

3. Concentration

Pilates is said to be the "thinking man's exercise" and requires focus. You are essentially exercising through the mind's eye and thinking about what muscles you need to produce a certain movement. Those who concentrate on the muscles they are working get faster and better results than those just going through the motions. In stressful times Pilates forces you to reconnect with yourself and not think about work, kids or what you plan to make for dinner. Pilates exercises are usually very small and concentrated in which each movement gets its own breath requiring complete great attention to detail. And because the movements are precise Pilates continues to keep the Pilates student challenged through one's practice.

4. Control

Before Pilates was called Pilates it was called Contrology. All movements are performed with complete muscle control and no movement shall be done sloppily or with momentum. When you control your movements you are less likely to cause injury and the slower you go the more muscles you recruit which lead to positive results. Pilates is not about numbers, but the quality of the movement. I'd rather my students perform one perfect repetition than 100 poor ones.

5. Precision

Each exercise is performed with correct form and precision of movement. Joseph Pilates spent much of his time perfecting his exercises and putting them in proper order. Therefore the sequencing of his exercises has great purpose and value. When learning an exercise you want to practice it with precision so that eventually the movement becomes second nature. The slowly body begins to realign itself in better function and quality of movement.

6. Flow

Each Pilates exercise is comprised of a series of fluid motions and each exercise flows from one to the next in succession. This continuous mobility creates heat in the body allowing one to build strength, endurance, stamina and even a sweat.