What are the Pilates Principles?

The Pilates method is built upon six core principles which when applied create the foundation of the Pilates discipline. Once understood & practiced throughout your regular Pilates practice, you can quickly observe them flowing into everyday life & becoming part of your lifestyle.

Centring:

The centre of the body, the core or ‘powerhouse’ is the beginning of each exercise. By bringing the focus to within, you can provide protection for the spine then movement will flow outwards to the rest of the body.

Control:

Every exercise in Pilates needs to be done with control. Control of your body, breath & mind is the central theory that umbrellas the philosophy of Pilates. When controlling your muscles & movements the whole body is included & you will see greater benefits than an uncontrolled or chaotic approach.

Concentration:

In Pilates how the exercise is performed & the technique used is as important as the exercise itself. This requires a focus on how the whole body is moving through a movement. Mindfulness movement can also help the body relax as outside thoughts & distractions are let go.

Precision:

Each movement is done in a specific way for a reason. Being mindful of where the body is sitting in space & realising that every movement has a purpose will ensure the success of the movement.

Flow:

While there is an emphasis on form, movement in Pilates is not robotic instead a flow is created to allow for poses to go from one to another building strength & stamina. The breath sets the rhythm & the difficulty can be changed to suit the practitioner.

Breathing:

Pilates wrote that to breathe correctly is the most important part of your practice. Deep, controlled & co-ordinated breathing using the diaphragm is integral to deliver oxygen to the muscles being used for effective movement.

The next time you’re in class, see if you can bring to mind these six principles to enhance your Pilates practice.