Pilates Principles Flashcards
What are the Pilates Principles?
6 Classical:
1) Concentration & awareness
2) Breathing
3) Centering
4) Control
5) Precision
6) Flow & Lengthening
added at WBM
7) Connection
Explain concentration and awareness
You have to be aware of what you are doing all the time. The mind connects to the body. The exercises are not performed haphazardly or lazily. Every movement matters.
- paying attention to what you’re doing, being present
- focusing mind on purpose of exercise
Explain the pilates principle, breathing
Breathing should be properly coordinated with the movement.
* sondtrack to an exercise/movement
* brings mind back into body
We want full and thorough breaths
* exercises lungs & increases lung capacity
* improves flow of oxygen
* helps avoid unecessary tension –> body control
* can help activate deep support muscles
Explain the pilates principle, centering
The center is the focal point of the Pilates method.
* Every movement emanates from the center to drive power through the body
Want to develop a strong, flexible, and stable center.
Achieving a stretched strong and supple center is the result of practicing Pilates.
What is the center?
It is the part of your body that forms a band between the bottom of the rib cage, and the line across your hip bones
Why develop a strong, flexible, and stable center?
- so we can organize our movement
- develop muscles in a uniform/balanced way
by organizing and moving from our centers we allow our extremities to be free to perform each movement with greater ease
Explain the pilates principle, control
- to understand and maintain proper form, alignment, and effort during entire exercise
- especially in hip and shoulder joints
Control every aspect of every movement. Every Pilates exercise must be performed with the upmost contro. It’s not about intensity or multiple repetitions of a movement; it’s more about proper form for safe effective results.
Explain the pilates principle, precision
Precision of motion and body placement goes hand-in-hand with concentration and control.
“control with spatial awareness”
- where does a movement start and end?
- where should the body be positioned?
i.e. angle of legs
head/neck position
placement of arms
Precision carries over into every day life as graceful, conscious movements.
Explain the pilates principle, flow & lengthening.
Pilates exercises are performed fluently and always lengthening out of your center. There are no static, isolated movements, because our bodies do not naturally function that way. Smooth, lengthen, and even flowing movements are necessary.
flowing from one movement to the next
Explain the pilates principle, Connection
The mind and body are intricately connected. They work in partnership to feel sensations and emotions. Deepening this connection, benefits, your workouts, immeasurably as you partner with your body to listen and learn from it.
As instructors, we are also finding better ways to connect with each other and with our clients.
