WHAT IS AT THE CORE OF MAT PILATES?
By Valerie Kacian, © August 2, 2024
As a yoga and Pilates teacher, I often assist students on their goals of gaining more strength while reducing discomfort. I have found that the key is to offer a variety of strength and flexibility exercises in a series of repetitive movements that stabilize the abdominal wall while simultaneously stabilizing another muscle group. When we ask the abdominal wall (“the core”) to work with other muscle groups, something magical happens. Not only do we get stronger, but there is potential for other areas of the body to be able to release tension creating more ease. This is what mat Pilates is all about.
In addition to gaining strength and flexibility, the mat Pilates practice helps you “unlearn” movement habits that may have created discomfort and “relearn” or retrain your body to stabilize the core. This means that off-the-mat daily activities such as walking upstairs or going for a run will involve more core activity automatically. For many of us who have a desk job or drive a lot, the core has learned to be dormant, and the Pilates practice can help reignite the core and get it to be more active.
Mat Pilates is also a terrific compliment to your yoga practice. Mat Pilates will improve your ability to “center” or feel stable in a variety of poses. You will also gain strength in the arms, legs, and glutes, and have opportunities to enhance overall flexibility. Since mat Pilates is also a mind/body practice, you will continue to work on incorporating mindfulness in your movements.
Below are a few of the benefits of taking a mat Pilates class. I hope you will join us, and I look forward to seeing you on the mat.
- Enhances Core Stability
- Improves Body Awareness (proprioception)
- Reduces tension & strain
- Improves Posture
- Supports Balance
- Improves Toning of Legs, Glutes, and Arms
- Improves Endurance for Fitness, Exercise and Yoga Asana
- Reduces Stress
- Supportive Community
- Greater Resilience – Pilates is challenging for both mind and body!
By Valerie Kacian, © August 2, 2024
Valerie Kacian is a yoga and Pilates instructor at Revolution Community Yoga + Fitness in Acton, Massachusetts.
