When it comes to breath Joseph Pilates believed that this was foundational, he said “breathing is the first act of life and the last” and of course that is true but what happens to our breath in the inbetween. Breathing is an automated process but what if that automation has become laboursome, less functional and just below par.

He made breathing a core principle in Pilates because he believed that if we could teach everyone to breathe efficiently then we could encourage better health, more vitality and effective movement.

PrinciplesVictoria Ragan19 March 2021Blog, Sixprinciplesofpilates, Breath, Principles of Pilates, BreathworkComment

The Six Principles Of Pilates - Precision

Precision, I feel, is the one principle that sets Pilates apart from all other exercise disciplines.

Every single movement taken is done with precision. Becoming aware of where your body is in space, your proprioception, is key to mastering the method and getting the very best from it.

Pilates is not about making shapes it’s about feeling into your movement. Knowing how far your can move your body whilst maintaining control. Practicing each exercise repeatedly until the movement becomes second nature, a habit, an automatic response.

PrinciplesVictoria Ragan10 March 2021Blog, sixprinciplesofpilates, Principles of Pilates, PrecisionComment

The Six Principles Of Pilates - Flow

Possibly my favourite principle; to flow.

The idea behind Pilates was always to have flowing movement, to create movement with grace and poise. To allow your body to move with elegance and flow, free from stiffness or restriction.

When mastered correctly Pilates can be practiced in a continuous flow, where there appears to be no beginning or end. Just continual movement of poise, grace and power.

“Contrology is designed to give you suppleness, natural grace, and skill that will be unmistakenly reflected in the way you walk in the way you play and the way you work” - Joseph Pilates

PrinciplesVictoria Ragan4 March 2021Blog, Principles of Pilates, Sixprinciplesofpilates, FlowComment

The Six Principles Of Pilates - Control

I feel as though this is one of the most important principles in Pilates, considering Joseph Pilates himself originally called the method Contrology!

He wrote “Through Contrology you first purposefully acquire complete control of your own body and then through proper repetition of it’s exercises you gradually and progressively acquire that natural rhythm and coordination associated with all your subconscious activities.”

PrinciplesVictoria Ragan5 February 2021Blog, Principles of Pilates, Pilates, ControlComment

The Six Principles Of Pilates - Concentration

This is one of the key principles of Pilates, a method developed by a man lightyears ahead of his time. Who stated “this very rapidly progressing world with its ever-increasing faster tempo of living demands that we be physically fit and alert in order that we may succeed in the unceasing race with keen competition which rewards the ‘go-getters’ but bypasses the ‘no-getters’.”

He wrote these words in 1945! He could see that our world was increasing pace and we were struggling to keep up. Now more than ever I believe this to be true.

PrinciplesVictoria Ragan5 February 2021Blog, Principles of Pilates, Concentration, Pilates Comment