Pilates is a Practice : Casey Van Newenhizen

One of the aspects of Pilates that draws people in is its specificity. There’s an intention for each exercise that leads a chain of muscles to activate, which in turn builds strength, precision, and control. This process can be overwhelming at first. Some people have never moved this way or thought about how they breathe or how breath affects movement. The specifics of Pilates are a lot to learn, especially when the equipment comes into play. You practice and adapt to be more aware of your body and what is happening as you move.

Joseph Pilates said, “In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 sessions you’ll see the difference, and in 30 sessions you’ll have a whole new body.” Once you feel the difference in your body, you become more aware of how you move daily. You begin to think about how you sit as you drive, walk down the street, and sit up out of bed. How can these day-to-day motions be executed efficiently and correctly? Pilates can help with that.

The more you do Pilates, the more aware you become. The more aware you are of your body, the more specific you become in your practice. And just as many things are, the more specific you become, the more difficult things get. It happens in my classes sometimes when people are trying to fix several different things within their bodies at one time and get overwhelmed. They learn new information about Pilates as well as themselves, and try to apply everything as quickly as possible, which can sometimes be discouraging.

But Pilates is a practice. Someone’s execution of Pilates can never be perfect because there is no such thing as perfection. We don’t need our bodies to be perfect; instead, we need them to be functional. We need them to keep us moving and living our lives without inhibitions. It is important to remember to enjoy the process and practice that is Pilates, regardless of how challenging it can get. Our bodies are ever-changing as we are always learning more. Let those things teach you instead of deterring you. Let the practice of Pilates lead you through the movements of your life.