There’s nothing down we want. We don’t want to be put down, kicked down or looked down upon. We don’t want our cheeks, eyes or the corners of our mouths to turn down. We want those butt cheeks lifted. We need our energy lifted. Lord knows, as Mary Bowen said, we want those “Nipples Up!”
Those are a few of the reminders I find myself frequently giving students when their gaze, energy and body falls during so many of the Pilates movements, either on the mat or the apparatus. Chins fall, eyes fall, chest collapses as gravity pull us down. In contrast, we want to use the movement of the body and the intent of Pilates to stay lifted and upright.
Mermaid and Side Bending exercises provide an opportunity to open the obliques, the serratus and lift up and out of the respective hip. Teaser and Open Leg Rocker are the ultimate “gravity fighters” requiring a full lifted heart, sternum, abdominal, arms, legs and gaze.
Whether kneeling and side lying, as with Chest Expansion or Side Kicks, the chest, heart and gaze is open, lifted and focused forward — never down.
None of the rolling exercises , i.e., Rolling like a Ball, Rollup, Rollover, have a “downward” energy – but an “inward” focus. There’s nothing down we want. Even the dreaded pushup is more effective when we focus on lifting up and away from the the ground rather than allowing ourselves to be pulled down to it.
What about the overhead exercises?
If you look up and back (rather than down toward the chest, as most do) one can actually open the chin, heart and release the downward “jam” into the neck. Follow the lift of the movement with your gaze and eyes with Corkscrew, Jackknife/Overhead as well as Balance Control and change the energy in the movement.
The only thing that requires full downward energy when working our bodies is the grounding of the feet or hands to push away from it. Resist the pull down and push away to lift up, out and upright.
Stay Lifted and Upright. The alternative is just so flat.
Related Posts:
- Movement Therapy 2024
- Conversation with Pilates Teachers at 6am
- Joyously Back At It – Finally!
- It Is All About the Angles!
Gina Jackson, is a classically trained Pilates Teacher and has been teaching along the Gold Coast of Hudson and Bergen County, NJ for the past fifteen+ years.
Certified by Power Pilates of New York, Gina has trained with Master Teachers Bob Liekens, Susan Moran and Brett Howard; loved workshop training with Cary Regan and Blossom Leilani-Crawford and has particularly enjoyed listening to the personal stories as told by Pilates Elders, Kathy Grant and Lolita San Miguel.
An active teacher and blogger, Gina manages a private personal training business supporting a myriad of clients, teaching all to honor their health, strength and life with the principles of Pilates at its core.