The Principle of Pilates
Pilates is a unique mind-body-spirit modality that distinguishes itself through a set of principles that guide its practice. These principles, introduced by Joseph Pilates, emphasize whole-body health, commitment, breath, and specific guiding principles including concentration, centering, control, breathing, precision, and flowing movement.
Concentration
Centering
Concentration
- Focus deeply on mastering each movement.
- Be aware of every part of the body during exercises.
- Listen to cues and incorporate them into the practice.
- Let go of daily distractions for deep concentration.
- Understand that concentration improves with practice.
Centering
- Recognize the Powerhouse as the focal point of Pilates exercises.
- Initiate movement from the center, allowing limbs to move freely.
- Use the Centerline as a reference point for movement.
- Cultivate a centered mind and body beyond Pilates sessions.
- Coordinate body, mind, and breath for physical and emotional change.
- Perform each movement rhythmically and with control.
- Achieve good alignment with perfect control of the entire body.
- Embrace "effort with ease."
- Inhale and exhale through the nostrils, focusing on full exhalation.
- Use lateral, upper lobe, and back breathing for thoroughness.
- Connect the mind and body through breath, emphasizing exhalation.
- Inhale during extension and effort, exhale during flexion and rotation.
- Execute each exercise exactly as instructed.
- Coordinate movements with mental control.
- Focus on specific starting and ending positions.
- Practice precision to re-educate faulty movement patterns.
- Place the body with care and attention to detail.
- Link breath and movement transitions.
- Perform each movement smoothly and evenly, avoiding rushing or jerking.
- Work without stress or strain, allowing for natural flow.
- Facilitate functional translation of Pilates movements into daily life.
- : Understand and integrate facets of each exercise.
- : Recall exercise order, details, and body placement.
- : Stimulated by imagery for enhanced memory.
- : Informed by body awareness, limits, and potential.
- : Fueled by the determination to be present and do one's best in each exercise.
ASSIGNMENT: Write and submit a short paragraph about how the pilates principles and ideals make pilates unique. How does the pilates principles speak to you in your personal practice? Submit in person or via email at [email protected]
How to get to 500 hours.
A Pilates instructor who has completed comprehensive training totaling 500 hours has undergone the following breakdown of hours for Level 1:
50 hours self practice
30 hours practice teaching
27 hours observation
10 hour of assistant teaching.
Self practice hours: Your own personal practice
Practice teaching hours: Teach someone pilates either at home, a gym or the studio
Observation hours: Watch a 500 hr trained teacher teach a class. Online or in person but we recommend that at least half of your observation hours are in person.
Assistant teaching: Teach a portion of a 500 hour training teacher's class. No more than 5 minutes. Coordinate with the teacher ahead of time.
It is highly advisable to complete a substantial number of Observation Hours at a studio. This allows you the opportunity to engage with the instructor and seek clarification on any queries following the class. The approved Observation websites, listed alphabetically, are as follows:
A Pilates instructor who has completed comprehensive training totaling 500 hours has undergone the following breakdown of hours for Level 1:
50 hours self practice
30 hours practice teaching
27 hours observation
10 hour of assistant teaching.
Self practice hours: Your own personal practice
Practice teaching hours: Teach someone pilates either at home, a gym or the studio
Observation hours: Watch a 500 hr trained teacher teach a class. Online or in person but we recommend that at least half of your observation hours are in person.
Assistant teaching: Teach a portion of a 500 hour training teacher's class. No more than 5 minutes. Coordinate with the teacher ahead of time.
It is highly advisable to complete a substantial number of Observation Hours at a studio. This allows you the opportunity to engage with the instructor and seek clarification on any queries following the class. The approved Observation websites, listed alphabetically, are as follows:
- Provides a free 2-week trial, with a subscription required for continued use
- Offers a free 2-week trial, with a subscription required for continued use
- Authentic Pilates Learning Center
- BASI Pilates
- Balanced Body
- John Garey TV
- New Anatomy and Physiology Video
- STOTT PILATES
- Studio Pilates
- The Balanced Life Pilates with Robin Long
- Videos should be a minimum of 50 minutes in length to count as one hour.
- If videos are shorter, you may watch multiple videos to reach a total of 55-60 minutes.
- When watching a single video, it must be at least 50 minutes.
- When combining multiple videos, the total duration must be a minimum of 55 minutes due to the introduction and closing remarks "fluff" in each video.
- Notes are required for each video, irrespective of its length.