"Es ist der Geist, der sich den Korper baut" Fredrich Schiller. "It is the mind (spirit) that guides the body." This quote was posted on our chalkboard when I was an apprentice. It was translated as above, although it may also read, "It is the mind that builds the body.". We would also discuss the five parts of the mind in apprentice meetings, too. We would joke that "memory" was always the one we would forget. Of course, the spiritual side of me really appreciates that "mind" and "spirit" are synonymous. 

Concentration is the second of the Six Principles of Pilates. It is the focused effort to center the mind and body together to move your workout. It's not about just flailing the body through the exercises. It's about paying attention and adding effort to creating movement. It's a like specialized dance. When you watch advanced Pilates, that's what it looks like, a dance. It doesn't look like a workout anymore. It takes a lot of focused effort to make your body do the movements precisely.

This principle of Pilates can be lost by many. Not everyone wants to do this work. And it is work! Why would anyone want to when "mat" classes are rampant in gyms where it's mixed with other modalities and called "Pilates". They just want to "burn". They just want fast, hard movement where they don't have to think.  Not everyone will be able to concentrate. There are people who have disorders and issues that make this principle harder to attain. When in a private, I move them as safely through the workout as possible. They are adults and need to be minorly aware of their own responsibility. 

Back to learning Pilates. I often have beginners just work on paying attention to their body. That's hard enough, let alone remembering the order and equipment setup. Although, that is also part of the work. It takes a decent level of awareness to realize that all of that work falls on the student/client. And that works takes years to perfect. The order becomes pretty clear, as it never changes. That's easier to grasp as you go along. The equipment setup is the last element. The lifelong commitment to learning your body never ends. That is more advanced, so even a person doing "beginner" work for years is hopefully working at an advanced level years later. You will always do "Footwork", but how you did it when you first started, as opposed to months or years later should be different. 

Some people will never commit to this level of learning, no matter how long they have been doing Pilates. That's ok. It's their workout. Some people just come in because it's their way of being social, or some people just figure if they show up, they've committed enough. They can be and do whatever they like, and they are where they are in life. Just like the rest of us. The six principles outline the workout and where it can take you, if you'd like to go. Some people will skip a few principles. Some of us work diligently on all of the principles. It's your workout, what is your focus?

I'd love to hear from you and your workout. Do you have a focus? What is your favorite thing about Pilates? What don't you like? Is there anything you'd like to see or do that you'd like more information on, whether it's an exercise or execution? Where are you in your level?

I'm here if you need to reach out, so reach out. Love, Light and Blessings,

Julia, XO