This month, I hope it’s ok if I just share some thoughts on the subject of the process of Pilates as well as the process of aging.
Being alive is a blessing. And, to keep having birthdays is a blessing. But, I also feel that if we keep having birthdays, there is also a responsibility that comes with it – to take care of this body we live in! What is amazing is that the body is so willing to repair itself:
Our brains have the ability to repair themselves, most of our organs will repair themselves.
We merely have to have an understanding of how we can facilitate this process. Yes, none of us are getting out alive as they say…but the QUALITY of our lives as we continue to have birthday’s can be largely in our control – both in how we think about aging and in how we take care our our body.
The Body’s Incredible Willingness to Heal
Here’s something amazing that we often forget: the human body wants to repair itself.
- Your brain has the capacity to rewire and restore.
- Most of your organs can regenerate.
- Your muscles and joints can rebuild, recalibrate, and reset.
But it’s up to us to give our bodies the conditions they need to do that—through mindful movement, conscious breathing, and a deeper understanding of how we’re designed to function. The quality of our lives as we age is, in many ways, within our control.
What Joseph Pilates Taught Us
Contrology is what Joseph Pilates called his method. He wrote this in his book, Return to Life:
“Contrology develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.”
Mr. Pilates took years to develop his method and he considered the “whole” of the human when he did – body, soul and spirit. As Robert and I continue to teach, practice and study the method of Pilates we become more and more convinced in the method’s power to heal us and to really slow down and even reverse our aging.
Here’s what that looks like practically in your lessons:
1. Pilates Trains the Brain, Not Just the Body
Each exercise requires your brain to think it through. We will be encouraging YOU to know these exercises and think them through yourselves. Pilates is designed to teach your BRAIN to control your body! So, if we say an exercise name and then pause..we are giving you space to remember the exercise and set yourself up for it.
I know, you might say, ” i just want you to tell me what to do – oh we will and we are (more on that in a moment). But we want your brain to work and connect to your body. Remember: exercises are part of the Pilates Method. When you start doing that…you’ll be so surprised just how many you know. And this keeps your brain healthy and active!
2. Pilates Strengthens Your Body, From the Inside Out
The MAT is Pilates. The reformer and all the other equipment is meant to help you do the mat better and better and better. I’ve been doing Pilates since 2008 and let me tell ya, I learn some new nuance and get deeper in the exercises all the time.
There is no “arriving” there is only more and more with this method. So, our jobs as teachers is to help you bring your body closer and closer to “uniform development”. This means that you are moving with greater efficiency, strength and ease. As our sign our front says: strength, stamina, stretch and stability and that’s what we are leading you towards as we teach the Pilates Method.
So, I want to encourage you to rise up to the exercise to the best of your given ability each lesson! If it seems crazy or past what you feel capable of…just try! You’ll be surprised and you’ll find that you’ll be having breakthroughs regularly in your lessons where something feels easier or even more full bodied or you get hot or feel your powerhouse more…there are so many ways to recognize your progress.
Remember I said, we will tell you what to do? Well, we do that by nuancing each exercise just to you and what your body needs; we use the equipment and specific exercises to strengthen, release and teach your body proper movements. To teach this way is both the science and the art of Pilates. It is to teach the method instead of just a workout!
3. Breath Is Your Superpower
Keep breathing: through your nose please and thank you. This oxygenates your body while the movement facilitates blood flow. This increased circulation brings detoxification, healing and yes, mental clarity and physical energy to you!!
Returning to Life—Not Just Working Out
Yes, practicing the Classical Pilates Method brings so many benefits. We’ll keep working on being the best teachers we can as we learn and practice and teach.
We hope you’ll keep practicing and receiving the many, many benefits so that we can keep getting BETTER not just older. Or at least slow the process way down.
Thank you for being on this journey with us, for trusting us and for growing in the Pilates Method with us.
A Note From Kimberly
The Pilates Method is not merely a “work out” it’s a method for returning to LIFE. You will not find the method in many so called places offering Pilates – you may find the exercises which will be taught as merely a “workout”…so the transformative benefits can not be found with this approach.
Often the exercises are dumbed down and stripped of their power so that they are “safe”. Safe for 12 people in a class to be taught by 1 instructor. This is completely opposite of our approach, appreciation and application of the method at Today Pilates.
As a teacher to offer the method means to understand Pilates as a system that incorporates all the apparatus and all the exercises. It takes quite a few years to develop as a teacher – you can’t become a pilates teacher in a 3 weekend training program. Just sayin’. Rant over. :-)
As I took on the honor and responsibility to teach Robert, I was strategic in what I taught him so he could apply the method sooner and more effectively to his clients. :-)
And if I sound passionate—it’s because I am.
Onward and upward,
Kimberly & Robert
Today Pilates
Want to experience the difference for yourself? Come try a private session or ask us about deepening your practice—we’re always here to support your journey.