The Six Principles of Pilates Concentration
The mind is the conduit for relaying information to the body. The more focus you have, the more determined the effort. Control - Joseph Pilates' exercise method was originally called Contrology. Muscle control is the key to maximizing the effectiveness of your workout and making sure it is injury free. Careless equals dangerous.

Centering: Pilates insures that during every exercise you learn to initiate from your Powerhouse. These are the muscles surrounding the abdomen, lower back, hips and buttocks. Connecting the movements of the extremities to the core muscles is what allows you to make solid, defined, graceful movements.

Precision:  The detail of the movement in each exercise is designed to guide you to optimum efficiency. The entire body is working in every exercise. Each movement has a purpose that adds to the value of the whole.

Flow: The progression of exercises will ultimately flow from one to the next with rhythm and energy. You transition between exercises with deliberate intensity, not speed.

Breathing: Each exercise is energized by a rhythm of motion and breath. The deeper the breath, the more powerful the movement. And the importance of oxygenating the blood continuously cannot be overstated. These are your goals in each and every exercise.

Happy New Year!
If your New Year's resolutions include fitness, we want to help. But, we want you to start off right, and knowing your goals is the fastest way to accomplishing them.

Our new Get Going series will come to you each month by email. In each newsletter, we will feature one of the seven basic Authentic Pilates exercises. Beginning with the warm-up exercise, The Hundred, we will guide you through each exercise, step-by-step. We'll tell you what to watch out for, and have a photo of the correct positioning.

We're very excited to present this series and welcome your feedback, questions and ideas for a future series to keep you inspired. If you know others who might benefit, either email this page/link to them, or place their email address in the window at the left.

*Please note that this information is not intended to replace the individual attention of a professional certified instructor. There are modifications for every injury and issue that can be addressed in our studio. Always consult your physician before beginning a physical fitness program.