Pilates is an astounding form of exercise that can help to improve core strength, stability and overall fitness. Regular Pilates can improve posture, muscle tone, balance and joint mobility, as well as relieve stress and tension.
However, if you’ve never tried it before, there are some basic principles related to the discipline that you need to get your head around.
With the rise of online workouts and YouTube tutorials, it is more important than ever that you learn the basic rules before throwing yourself in – or you could develop bad habits, or even risk injury.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a workout which allows the practitioner in order to develop stability as well as control. Mainly, strengthening the core is the only purpose of this practice however, all the movements which are done in Pilates are dedicated to training the body as well as giving the body the opportunity to move with grace, efficiency as well as ease.
These qualities, or Pilates principles as they are termed, are applied in every Pilates exercise. It is very important to know that this practice focuses on developing all muscles evenly by use of different movements.
It has the intention of targeting the weaker part of the body so that muscle can be built up. While it doesn’t make use of any weights, it includes many repetitions of each movement in order to strengthen the core as well as allow you to build up precision in your movements.
In addition, the technique focuses on quality over quantity. Rather than having the user repeat the same thing over and over again, Pilates focuses chiefly on doing the movements properly so that the exercise may strengthen the core. The idea is that by doing each exercise with precision and focusing on the breath you are able to achieve notorious results in a smaller period of time.
What Are The Principles Of Pilates?
Concentration
This highlights that during Pilates you need to focus on your entire body in order to ensure smooth movements. This is difficult. In Pilates, exercise technique – as well as how exercises are performed – is, in many respects, more important as opposed to the exercises themselves.
Control
Every exercise in Pilates must be performed with control. Essentially, it’s about you being in control of your body.
Centering
To effectively control your body you need to have a starting place and that place is your centre. You’ll frequently hear this called the ‘powerhouse’ which is a term that means your centre and includes the abs, upper and lower back, hips, glutes and inner thighs. All movement in Pilates should start from your center, your powerhouse and flow out to the limbs.
Flow
Exercises within Pilates are meant to flow into each other in order to help build strength and stamina. The usage of appropriate transitions and economy of movement is highly prized and is one of the main things which differentiates novice and advanced practitioners.
Precision
Pilates is not about doing a lot of repetitions poorly or with poor technique. Instead Pilates seeks for precise and perfect movement. With frequent Pilates and expert instruction this precision will ultimately become second nature as well as carry over into everyday life. An expert Pilates instructor may tell a lot about a person by just watching them walk.
Breathing
Usually in Pilates you focus on breathing out with effort and in on the return. Coordinating breathing with movement is a very important part of Pilates and good instructors will frequently remind you when to breathe in as well as when to breathe out. Like everything in it, you should concentrate on each breathe and feel the engagement of your powerhouse.
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
If you would like to discover how to become a master Pilates instructor then you need to do our Pilates Instructor Course. Click on this link to find out more and to register.
