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The Five Principles of Pilates

Unless you’ve just crawled out from under a rock you’ll have heard something, good or bad, about the famous Pilates system. Created by Joseph Pilates in the 1920’s, this system of exercise focuses on strengthening the core postural muscles to provide support for the spine and help keep the body balanced. More specifically, Pilates teaches the art of breathing correctly which creates self awareness in the body. There are five principles of Pilates to help center the exerciser.

First and foremost, breathing properly is the root of all Pilates exercises. By breathing deeply and correctly, you can force blood to circulate more thoroughly throughout the body. Inhaling more deeply allows more oxygen to be transported to the muscles for complete muscle fatigue which then whisks away the metabolic waste left after energy is expended. The amount of self awareness that stems from learning how to breathe properly is almost astounding as you will begin to feel each and every muscle throughout your body.

The second principle concerns the alignment of your skeletal structure to not only prevent injury but to get the most out of each and every exercise you perform.  It takes some practice to get your body to completely line up with each part respectively but will have a significant impact on the technique and form of your exercises as well as prevent injuries.

Strengthening your powerhouse, also known as centering, is considered the third principle of Pilates. It is believed that all the energy for Pilates exercises originates from the center and radiates outwards to the extremities. It is important to build your powerhouse, also known as the core, for improvement not only in your exercises but in everyday life.

Being able to focus your mind to pay specific and careful attention to your body is the next principle of Pilates. Not only does this increase the effectiveness of your exercises but it also strengthens your mind-muscle connections. You should be completely in tune with your body and able to understand what it is telling you.

Muscle control and precision is the final principle of Pilates.  This educates you on how to move your body in a controlled and graceful way which lends to your everyday life. Using controlled movements decreases the risk of injury as well as slowing down your movements.

Pilates isn’t just a form of exercise; it is also a way of life. By lending the principles taught in Pilates to normal life situations, you become more aware of what your body is constantly doing and can this make your life better.

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