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What do you think of the post I have screenshot here below? What does it make you feel about yourself? And what does it help you to understand about the Pilates method? What does it make you feel about the Pilates industry?
I saw this post shared in a Pilates group on Facebook and it made me sad and a little frustrated. Read on for the nuance. The person who wrote it posts beautiful videos of themselves doing Pilates movements - like many others on the internet. To many people they will be inspiring and people may aspire to move or look like that person.
Where does this idea of Controlling movements come from in Pilates?
Chapter 6 of "Your Health" by Joseph Pilates is titles "Contrology" (this is the name Joe gave his method of exercise which we now call Pilates). Here is an excerpt:
"The ancient Greeks probably knew better than anyone else, the true meaning of "Balance of Body and Mind," as tangibly expressed in terms of supreme physical health, supreme mental happiness and supreme achievements along the highway of human progress. They even believed that the soul itself is inextricably bound up with the physical functions and mental manifestations of the human body. They fully understood that the nearer one's physique approached the state of physical perfection, the nearer one's mind approached the state of mental perfection. They knew that the simultaneous and co-equal development of one's ability voluntarily to control one's body and mind was a paramount law of nature and that the unequal (abnormal or subnormal) development of either the body or the mind, or the neglect of either or both, would result in the complete failure to realise the very first law of civilisation - (preservation of life) - the attainment and maintenance of one's bodily and mental perfection. Failing realisation of this desirable aim, the body would become, as it were, an 'enemy' of the mind and vice versa, whereas the mind should become as it were, a 'friend' of the body and vice versa."
Joseph continues discussing physical perfection being an ideal and that people in the modern world have let physical training slip, that they don't realise that you cannot be fully healthy without having both a sound mind and sound body - this is the balance of mind and body. I like that and we are now understanding the importance of mental fitness as well as physical fitness.
But, the idea of aesthetic physical perfection...? Personally I don't agree.
In reading Joe's words it appears to me that he believed if the outward appearance of someone's physique was developed in a way that he viewed as 'perfect', that meant the person was healthy and strong - their best self.
And let's not forget that he emphatically and repeatedly states in Your Health that "...the spine must be straight" as well as stating that every child has a straight spine until they are subjected to "unnatural positions" that "react upon several groups of muscles...which is reflected in their tensed or semi-tensed condition, according to the extent of the child's deviation from the normal-natural positions."
So, he insists we should educate children in physical exercise (brilliant!)
But he says that "The great majority [of children] mechanically exercise without metal concentration - an utter waste of time and effort. Such exercising leads to false conceptions and conclusions in adult life highly detrimental to the ultimate welfare of the grown-up child."
When I read this my mind goes to children running around playing freely. Regardless of whether that was what he was referring to her, Joseph does state that exercise is pointless without mental concentration.
We know this is not true! A sedentary lifestyle is dangerous to us. Any kind of movement is beneficial - the more the better whether we are having fun and not really focussing on the movement or focussing on it doesn't make any difference to it being great for our overall health and wellness.
He seems to be suggesting that the lack of concentration during exercise - a lack of seriousness about it - would affect a person's life as they grow up. I believe had a deeper meaning for Joseph Pilates than the Control people generally refer to in Pilates which we take as meaning consciously contracting certain muscles in a specific order to make the movement happen slowly and smoothly.
And yet if you were to try to control every individual movement that your body makes with your mind you would not move with fluidity or ease. It would be jerky and you'd move with obvious effort.
When you walk up the stairs do you consciously think about which muscles to contract in which order? Where to send the weight in your body? What do do with your arms and hands and exactly where to place your head? Do you think about how to articulate your feet and which exact part of your foot hits the step and how you lift the foot away?My guess is that you don't.
The fact is, when you learn to do something new, especially if it's challenging for you, it's probably not going to look beautiful! You might struggle. You might fail in the movement. And that's ok! Because if you only ever do things that you are perfect at, you'll never grow or learn anything new.
The more you repeat and practise movements, the less you will need to consciously control movements with your mind. As a result you'll move with more fluidity and look effortless. Each person is unique and you'll find your own ways to move in your body.
So, whilst the author of the above post might look amazingly fluid and in control of their body in their videos, you might not (yet). And that is ok! It's part of the journey of movement. That's what disturbs me about the post...
It suggests that either people shouldn't ever struggle with a movement, and if they do, they are doing it wrong and not controlling it properly. Or, that they shouldn't be posting videos of themselves practising Pilates unless it looks perfect.
There is no such thing as 'bad alignment'. This person is talking about aesthetics: is how someone moving pleasing to their eyes?! You might want to change your own posture and that's ok, you can! You might film yourself doing some movements and think that you want to send your collarbones out wider instead of rounding the shoulders forwards, and that's ok. That might be part of your journey.
Moving your body in 'bad alignment' isn't dangerous or wrong.
If you're moving for every day life then you'll probably move naturally in 'bad alignment' so why not train there to protect yourself when you do move in that way?
When you try something difficult for the first time or when you use more load than you are used to, it is natural for your body to move in a way where it can manage the load or the challenge, and that might be in this so-called 'bad alignment'.
There is no good evidence to show that 'bad alignment' increases the risk of injury.
Using momentum doesn't mean that someone is out of control. Using some momentum can be a game-changer for people who do not yet have the strength to perform a movement and understanding how to use momentum to your advantage is a helpful way to learn to move and harness energy!
Rolling like a ball, the Open leg Rocker, Boomerang, Seal, Crab, the Rocking - these are all matwork Pilates exercises that use momentum during the actual movement. It's controlled momentum where you learn to use your body just the right amount to get the moments of balance. Using momentum to help you achieve the Roll Up when it's out of reach for you right now can help you to feel successful and it can help you to build the movement awareness, skill and strength required to do the Roll Up without momentum down the road. It's also a nice variation to use.
If you use momentum it is not 'bad' or 'wrong'!
And lastly, Eve Gentry - just like any other person - doesn't hold all the answers. She is one person who did the Pilates method and developed the Gentry technique based on her own life experience and the people she was working with.
She didn't hold all the answers or the 'truth'. And neither do/did any of the other first generation Pilates teachers.
Everyone's 'truth' is their own. My beliefs around movements, what works for me, whether I want to find some connection with my mind or soul or spirit, the universe, God or energy is for me to decide and cultivate.
Anyone who has practised the movements in their own body, who cultivates awareness and who has an open mind to learn and grow can be a great Pilates teacher. We are not in an era of life where skills can only be passed directly down a descendent line - there is no secret that you will magically discover.
You can discover great movement in your own body just by moving it. The end. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below
Rounding your back when lifting has not been shown to increase lower back pain
Saraceni et al (2022) PMID 35098885
Knee cave during squats has not been shown to increase knee pain
Rabelo et al (2018) PMID 29157738
Allowing the knees to move forwards over the toes during squats has not been shown to increase your risk of injury
Illmeier et al (2023) PMID 37109294
#1.. only training under first or second generation instructors is a good way for Pilates to die.
Second, most of my students have made it known that they are very happy that they don’t feel like they are doing something “wrong” in my classes and that I don’t walk around and correct everyone all the time. I let them find the movement- yes, I refine, but in “their” time, not my own.
Third- even if there is a good alignment for someone, study if the human body shows that bodies are all different. You literally can not expect everyone to move the same.
Fourth- none of these folks have ever worked with seniors that have been immobile or living with…