The key elements and Focus areas of Pilates
The key elements of Pilates
Focus– Bringing awareness to your body, and the activity at hand so you can improve technique, alignment, posture and concentration.
Breathing– Relaxed tummy breathing is essential, reducing the sympathetic nervous system overdrive, with a focus on exhalation during effort.
Alignment – Keeping correct alignment during the exercise improves posture, improves activation of the deep stabilising muscles and ensures safety and allows progression quicker.
Control – Movements are performed with control, in a smooth, sequential pattern, allowing careful execution of the exercise.
Flowing movement – movement is co-ordinated with the breath, representing normal everyday functional activities.
Focus areas in Pilates
Abdominal Breathing
It is really important that your breathing is relaxed, in your tummy, and that it is co-ordinated with the breath.
Centering
Is the maintenance of the natural curve in your lower back, through good alignment and gentle deep core activation when appropriate.
Ribcage Placement
Ensuring the ribs are aligned and not flaring with movement or breathing.
Shoulder Blade Placement
Shoulder and shoulder blade positioning is really important as this is where we often hold tension, and are weak from poor desk postures and inactivity, so important to cue in pilates
Head and Neck Placement
A real focus of pilates is maintaining good head and neck control, keeping the head in line with the rest of the spine is very important.
If you want to try a simple beginner friendly pilates session, check out my video for a beginner friendly pilates class.
If you are struggling with your pilates or have some injuries that you think would benefit from pilates, get in touch.
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