Pilates is a great exercise modality: it not only strengthens the deep core muscles of the hips, trunk and shoulder girdle, but more importantly, it allows for dissociation of the arms and legs from the stable trunk, providing optimal motor control and coordination. It’s not just “stretching and stuff” as you might have heard it referred to.  Bottom line, if anyone tells you Pilates is easy, they probably aren’t doing it correctly, or are missing key components.

If you’ve been practicing Pilates for a while, your body can get used to the exercises as you get stronger.

You can easily “phone it in” as you use more phasic muscles (quads, rectus abdominis, etc.) rather than tonic muscles (deep core). You can totally get into a hollow body position and do the 100, hang out in your hip flexors, and never engage your abdominals. But Pilates is actually pretty difficult when it’s done correctly.

For one, it requires that as you progress toward exercises that require more coordination and lengthier choreography, you maintain both abdominal engagement and breath. The tendency is to hold the breath, but breathing is a major component of Pilates. There’s an old adage: “If you can’t breathe during a movement, you don’t own it.” So, make sure you can, or are attempting to breathe during the exercises.

Pilates involves cueing by your instructor, but they’re not doing it just to hear themselves talk. An effective instructor will cue timing in core engagement or guide an inhale during a specific movement. When you receive those cues, take inventory of your body and make sure you’re honoring the tenets of the Pilates method. Pilates is defined by control; slow a Pilates exercise down, and you’ll doubly feel its merit. Lots more to learn about this modality. If you are curious and want to learn more, schedule a one-on-one session with Beacon’s Pilates master trainer, Erin King!

Beacon Physical Therapy

At Beacon Physical Therapy, we support our clients in establishing healthy movement patterns that help maintain strength, flexibility and mobility. If you are having an issue, make an appointment today. We’d love to meet you and get you back to doing what you love.