What better time to consider the mastery of your mind over the complete control of your body than when the house is full of halloween candy? Joseph Pilates did not call his method of movement Pilates, but rather Contrology. Pilates considered Contrology to be a method of movement designed to purposefully acquire control over ones body and then through proper repetition of the exercises gradually and progressively assume a natural rhythm and coordination with all subconscious activities--for instance lifting a child, raking leaves, or swinging a tennis racquet. Contrology begins with mind control over muscles. This is hard.
I worked with a physical therapist this morning on reformer exercises designed to enhance pelvic stability. The amount of concentration required on her part to disassociate hip movement from a stable pelvis was enormous. She frequently mentally reminded herself to relax the upper body, recruit the transverse and prevent lumbar spine movement. She as a P.T. has great knowledge of the biomechanics required to change faulty movement patterns so it was interesting for me to observe the intensity of her effort to complete a basic leg circle with proper symmetry and control.
Beginner Pilates students as well as athletes are often amazed to discover the difficulty in executing a basis Pilates move. Without concentration and control, the body's stronger muscles will tend to do all the work and stay stronger, while the weaker, smaller muscles tend to remain relatively unused and thus remain weak. Pilates serves to reawaken thousands of otherwise dormant muscle cells and brain cells, thus activating new areas and stimulating further the functioning of the mind. This might sound a bit far-fetched but it is essentially what walking backwards, learning a new instrument, or participating in a new sport does for us both mentally and physically. The movements are initially awkward and unfamiliar but with time and repetition new movement patterns are created much in the same way that a child learns to ride a bike.
In the words of Joseph Pilates, the practice of Contrology should enhance the coordination of the participant's spirit, mind and body. It should create a freedom of movement within all of life's activities. When the core is strong the limbs have improved mobility. In the rehab world, a stable scapula (shoulder blade) should result in improved shoulder function and the same being true for the relationship of the hip and pelvis.
Now, with absolute control and precision i.e. scapula stable, pelvis stable, abdominals connecting....reach for the basket of candy on top of the refrigerator...focus...focus....Thanks for reading!
I worked with a physical therapist this morning on reformer exercises designed to enhance pelvic stability. The amount of concentration required on her part to disassociate hip movement from a stable pelvis was enormous. She frequently mentally reminded herself to relax the upper body, recruit the transverse and prevent lumbar spine movement. She as a P.T. has great knowledge of the biomechanics required to change faulty movement patterns so it was interesting for me to observe the intensity of her effort to complete a basic leg circle with proper symmetry and control.
Beginner Pilates students as well as athletes are often amazed to discover the difficulty in executing a basis Pilates move. Without concentration and control, the body's stronger muscles will tend to do all the work and stay stronger, while the weaker, smaller muscles tend to remain relatively unused and thus remain weak. Pilates serves to reawaken thousands of otherwise dormant muscle cells and brain cells, thus activating new areas and stimulating further the functioning of the mind. This might sound a bit far-fetched but it is essentially what walking backwards, learning a new instrument, or participating in a new sport does for us both mentally and physically. The movements are initially awkward and unfamiliar but with time and repetition new movement patterns are created much in the same way that a child learns to ride a bike.
In the words of Joseph Pilates, the practice of Contrology should enhance the coordination of the participant's spirit, mind and body. It should create a freedom of movement within all of life's activities. When the core is strong the limbs have improved mobility. In the rehab world, a stable scapula (shoulder blade) should result in improved shoulder function and the same being true for the relationship of the hip and pelvis.
Now, with absolute control and precision i.e. scapula stable, pelvis stable, abdominals connecting....reach for the basket of candy on top of the refrigerator...focus...focus....Thanks for reading!
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