Pilates is a system of exercises designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture, and enhance mental awareness. And, the practice takes us far beyond this!
For me, Pilates is a mindfulness practice. We feel into the natural curves of our spine. We invite in space and length and fluid movement. We pay attention to balanced weight, to which muscles are active, over-active, asleep. We then sense, visualize, imagine and move ourselves back towards balanced strength and fluid grace, towards healthy integration of limbs into the torso.
This is a practice of learning the inner landscape of the physical body and paying attention to the ocean waves of breath. This is a practice of deep listening, of building confidence, of remembering possibility, even after injury and even as we age.
A student wrote me an email the other day. She said she had just participated in an annual MRI. The doctor told her, as if confused, “We don’t usually see improvement in your age group.” She was so happy.
Pilates is a practice of deep respect for body and mind– and of realizing that tissue can change throughout our lives with love and attention.