Why Pilates?
Pilates is all about learning how to move your body well. It concentrates on the deepest core muscles (those closest to the spine and joints) on the understanding that, once the fundamental structure is sound, everything else will slot into place. If you have poor skeletal alignment (posture) any strength training or conditioning will be totally compromised.
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We focus on the stability and correct mobility of the spine and joints and the strength and flexibility of muscles. There's no point being strong if you aren't flexible.
During my classes I endeavour to give clients an understanding of how particular joints are designed to move, and which muscles should be mobilising or stabilising the motion.
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The keystone of each class are the following:
Alignment - refers to how the head, shoulders, spine, hips, knees and ankles relate and line up with each other. When our bodies are in correct alignment the weight of the entire body is distributed evenly through the skeleton. If one element is out of alignment, an imbalance is created and compensations may occur in the body, leading to aches, pains and even injury.
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Balance - in this case, balance refers to the balance of muscles as opposed to wobbling when standing on one leg. Muscles work in pairs and during movement, one muscle will contract and its partner will relax in order to allow the action to happen easily. Hip flexors and gluteus maximum are a good example here. Hip flexors, as the name suggests, flexes your hip, bringing you thigh nearer your torso. The glute max extends your hip, taking the leg back behind the body. If your hip flexors are tight they will inhibit the gluteus max, it won't be able to contract fully and will eventually become weak. Both muscles in a partnership need to be flexible enough and strong enough to do their job and enable their partner to their job too.
Strength - Once we have established good alignment we focus on strengthening the core muscles, and the more superficial muscles. Core muscles include the deepest muscles of the body, including muscles of the spine, the transverse abdominals, pelvic floor and the rotator muscles of the hip and the shoulder. Larger muscles are not neglected and we always work hard to strengthen gluteal muscles, abdominal muscles, thighs and arms. In short, we want to be str
Mobility and flexibility - last, but by no means least, we focus on mobility and flexibility. A strong, flexible body moves well and puts the least amount of stress and strain on the spine and the joints.
