Six Key Principles of Pilates

Pilates is an exercise method that takes into account each person's needs, aiming at physical conditioning and/or rehabilitation. Depending on the school of Pilates, this list of principles may vary, however these principles form the basis of many approaches of Pilates and they are mostly known as its foundation:

Breathing - Breathing correctly during exercises is an easy task, but in practice it requires a little more effort. All movements are associated with breathing, in addition to better oxygenation, it improves the execution of the movement.

Concentration - Imagine performing an exercise any old way. It won't have the expected result, will it? Being focused is essential for the exercise to be done more effectively, with a greater perception of our body. 

Precision - The precision of the movements leads the practitioner to make several postural adjustments that influence the improvement of posture and minimize the recruitment of unnecessary muscles, with total awareness of how their body moves. 

Flow - When you perform the exercise fluidly, your body works in harmony, in a balanced and continuous manner, avoiding impacts and with greater lightness.

Control - Controlling your body during the exercises improves spinal stability, postural alignment and coordination of movements. This reduces the risk of injuries and increases body awareness and self-control.

Centralization - In other words, starting the movement from the center of the body, activating the core muscles of the trunk (PowerHouse), allowing mindful support for the spine, more balance and strength when performing the exercises.

Keeping the principles in mind during your Pilates practice will help you obtain better outcomes.

Written by: Physiotherapist Marília Monteiro – CREFITO 129693-F

AI-assisted translation support: ChatGPT (OpenAI)

Reviewed and Edited by: Aline Marques de Castro – CREFITO 175170-F