{"id":4440,"date":"2014-03-31T07:00:24","date_gmt":"2014-03-31T07:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pilates4fitness.com\/site\/?p=4440"},"modified":"2016-01-17T14:25:07","modified_gmt":"2016-01-17T14:25:07","slug":"its-all-about-the-angles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pilates4fitness.com\/site\/its-all-about-the-angles\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s All About The Angles"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is always about the angles. The angles, twists, turns, curves and lines we find and create with our bodies. How much mobility, length, strength and flexibility do you have in the angles of your body?<\/p>\n

With just a little daily, regular practice with the Pilates method – both on and off the mat, you could work out the kinks and stay pliable, flexible, stretched and strong for a long time.<\/p>\n

\"box2\"<\/a>
Image by Cie. Willi Dorner, http:\/\/www.ciewdorner.at\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I like to keep it simple. Particularly when working with a newcomer to Pilates movement. \u00a0The first thing to do is to frame out the area of your work.<\/p>\n

Center yourself in the box<\/em><\/strong><\/span>: \u00a0whether it be on your mat or the reformer bed (both are rectangular boxes, right?!) By aligning your body’s “box” – the powerhouse – the space between your shoulder-to-shoulder and hip-to-hip<\/em> frame – in the area of your workspace you correctly center your body for the work intended.<\/p>\n

Concentrate on staying<\/strong> inside <\/strong>your body’s box<\/strong><\/span>: 1)<\/em>\u00a0top to bottom, 2)front to back, 3) side to side. \u00a0Work inside the powerhouse frame, by focusing on “hugging the center” median line. \u00a0In other words, keep your focus, energy and muscle aligned toward the center of your body’s box – top-bottom, front-back, side-side. \u00a0Every movement made, from this point forward; every angle, twist, turn or curve will be made from the center of that line.<\/p>\n

Lines & Angles<\/h2>\n
\"NYBODIES\"<\/a>
Image by: Cie. Willi Dorner, http:\/\/www.ciewdorner.at<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The angles of movement on the mat or reformer, all begin with building a solid, grounded base. \u00a0Once you have established an engaged “front-to-back core placement” on the mat, Pilates presents the challenge of development and strength building of the body with the precise movements\u00a0away from the cent<\/em>er<\/em><\/strong> of the “body’s box”. \u00a0The fun part in all exercise comes from the challenge of moving our extremities (the arms and legs) at precise angles “away” from the center of the body, i.e., the powerhouse. \u00a0The box we are laying on as well as the “box frame” of our body.<\/p>\n

Angles of Challenge<\/h2>\n

[su_icon_text icon=”icon: hand-o-right” icon_size=”33″]<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n
    horizontal = 180 degrees = flat<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n
    vertical = 90 degrees from center<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n
  • \n
    diagonal = 45 degrees from center[\/su_icon_text]<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The farther we move away from the center line, the more challenging work we give to the core stabilizers (our powerhouse core) to hold the line. \u00a0Every exercise on the Pilates Mat or Apparatus \u00a0– as well as all the transitions between the exercises – are designed to work the body thru the four corners of the box at varying degrees of challenge and in every angle of direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Circles & Rotations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Then there are the sweet, juicy curves and rotations of the “ball in socket” joints. \u00a0Those of the legs, hips and arms in addition to the twists, turns and curves of the waist afforded us by our sideline muscles, aka, the obliques.<\/p>\n