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Pilates
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“In the Pilates
Method, the emphasis is on doing and being. your mind is
directed toward your body, concentrating on what is happening as it
happens. Learning, growth, and integration, like the changes in the shape
of your body, are brought about by the activity itself, without conscious
stress on the goals. You worry about the present; the future takes care
of itself."
from The Pilates
Method of Physical and Mental Conditioning
By Philip Friedman and Gail Eisen
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What
IS Pilates?
Pilates is based on six
original principles:
- Control
- Concentration
- Centering
- Precision
- Flowing Movement
- Breath
These principles are the
underpinning for every single movement you execute when practicing Pilates.
When taught correctly and understood, these principles are irrefutably the
reason why people who practice Pilates properly “get it”, and also the
reason why those who are not properly instructed and observed don’t really
understand what the big deal is. The benefits of
Pilates are virtually endless and they all begin with the correct and
thorough understanding of the principles. At Symmetrical Energy Arts, we
have classes on the schedule that emphasize the principles and are specifically designed
for those who are new to Pilates or those who may not yet understand them.
The time spent in the "Pilates Mat" class includes plenty of
individual attention to help the individual beginning their Pilates program
learn these six principles.
 However, Pilates is not just about the mat work, which more
often than not is what you get at a gym, or what is emphasized on virtually
every Pilates video. The Mat Work is at the core of the Pilates
experience, but the proper execution of the mat exercises is complex
even for the most experienced practitioner. So it is important to emphasize
here that the Pilates Apparatus is another major component in any
Pilates practice/experience. The apparatus is chiefly responsible for the
remarkable effects Pilates has as an alternative to physical
rehabilitation. But it also allows beginners to really understand proper
musculoskeletal recruitment, as well as offering a myriad of challenges to
the expert. All instruction on the wide variety of apparatus available at
the Symmetrical Energy Arts studio is done one-on-one in an individual
session to make sure that each client receives correct instruction and
maximum benefit from their experience.
Pilates demands as much
mentally as it does physically. It does not exclude anyone. As long as you
can move (sit, stand, walk, etc.) and are over the age of 10 this is the
perfect alternative or adjunct to traditional exercise. It is for everyone;
young, elderly, obese, or athletic. At Symmetrical Energy Arts, we do not
stress the aesthetic benefits of Pilates. Instead, we focus on assisting
clients to understand their own movement patterns and habits and support
them in developing the flexibility, strength, agility and resiliency they
require for their individual daily needs.
Please use the links
above just under the banner to visit the rest of our Pilates section for
more important information and benefits of a Pilates program at Symmetrical
Energy Arts.
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