There was a client in the studio I was teaching part time in South Park. He is a "die-hard" Pilates fan. He has a strong Intermediate workout and enjoys learning the inner workings of the regime and his body. He was allowed to come in and workout on his own. Diligent with his paper of the exercises in order, the spring settings and equipment setup. We would joke that maybe he'll go into the program and become an instructor. To that he responded, "There's too much to remember!". (I'm paraphrasing, but that's the gist.)

There is so much Memory in learning Pilates. There are over 600 exercises, let alone what their functions are and what they feel like in the body. Don't forget the equipment setup, too, on all the apparatus. There are at least twelve, off a rough count. (See, even I have to stop and think). 

We used to have little sayings in the apprentice program to help us remember the order. The great thing about the order is it never changes. You may add or subtract, but you'll never do Front Splits before doing Footwork. It just doesn't make sense within the method. 

"Dance the pads" was a great one in learning the Advanced Reformer. I used to practice the alliteration of "…long, short, long, stomach…" for the Intermediate workout. It's Long Box, Short Box, Long Stretch Series and Stomach Massage. It helped, and just extended into the Advanced!

Besides knowing the order, you also have to know the equipment setup for each and every exercise. On the Reformer, you have to know the spring setting, the headpiece setting and the footbar setting, besides the box and gears if and when they are used. Maybe you add head pillows are shoulder pads. Maybe you add the small box. Feeling a little overwhelmed yet? That's not adding what each exercise is "for", which you have to articulate on your written test.

Personally, when I teach regular Pilates people, I just try to get them into their bodies. I don't really care if they remember what exercise is next and how many reps they are to execute. Most people have a difficult time trying to get into their bodies, especially after the last few years. It's also a big difference I've noticed since moving from NYC to Charlotte, NC. It's much harder to get people into their bodies.

I always say the best way to do Pilates, is to feel your body! And Joseph Pilates used to say, "The body remembers". I add to that, "You may not remember, but your body does". It's ingrained and if you connect to your inner self or inner knowing, you will connect to the exercise and remember.

I have one client who gets on herself because she doesn't remember the exercises. In her defense, she hasn't had the consistent workout that would help solidify the order in her body. It's another big attribute to remembering Pilates and getting it in your body. Consistency. Most people don't understand that they aren't as consistent as they believe. Twice a week for three months is excellent consistency. No time off. No half sessions. Focused work. Unless it's a traumatic experience, one time isn't going to cement it into your body. 

You're not going to learn everything in one session, either. Some people have this wild idea that they're going to close their eyes, feel their body, and get every aspect of this regime in one lesson. I hate to break it to you, that's NOT going to happen. Ever! I've been doing Pilates for over twenty years and I'm still learning. Romana used to say that, too. All the best teachers realize this of the work.

Another aspect I haven't mentioned in Memory is fun! Yes, FUN! You have to enjoy what you're doing! Your teachers will always tell you to "smile".  Again, Joseph Pilates studied the facial muscles and their impact on the rest of the body. It's important to smile because you're teaching your body that it enjoys the work! How much easier is it to remember the lyrics to your favorite song as opposed to remembering how to factor a math equation? Enjoyment is a huge factor in learning and Memory!

What's funny is how anytime we would recite the 5 Parts of the Mind in an apprentice meeting, we would all forget Memory. Funny, right? It would usually be last on the list. This time, I made it third.

How are you with Memory? Do you feel like you forget things or have a "bad" Memory? In your Pilates workout, how do you fair with remembering the order and your equipment? Let me know. I'd love to hear from you!

Love, Light and Blessings,

Julia