PILATES EMPOWERMENT
May 2013 Scoop
by Kerry De Vivo
"Don't Let The Floor Hold You Up!"
Back, well way back, when I was 18, I regularly took modern dance class at The Martha Graham School in New York City. Class always began with a series of movements executed in mostly a seated position on the floor. One action has a lot of similarity to the scoop action we use in a Pilates workout. One of my teachers, Carol, was not as tough as nails..... she, was tougher!! Carol used to stomp her alligator skinned boots on the wood floor and say, well... shout, "Don't let the floor hold you up!".
Not that anyone could forget Carol's words, but I continue to draw a direct relationship between Carol's point and a Pilates workout. When on the apparatus, including the studio mat, in most cases we start the workout lying down. Oh so easy to sink into the upholstery and innocently allow the mat or carriage to "hold us up". Certainly we want to be efficient in our efforts and not overly exert, and the apparatus is designed to provide a certain degree of support. However, when we are lying down, even sitting up, we need to organize into our core. Then take that organization and experience, actually create, a relationship with the springs and the parts of our body that are not on the apparatus.
Have you ever tried the reformer exercise, running, which is done lying down on the reformer, in a standing position standing next to the reformer? Romana, my mentor, would have me do this when my hips sloshed around too much during the exercise (and I've had many students experience this too). This quickly reveals how we allow the "floor"/mat/carriage, to hold us up. This reveals how it's necessary to maintain an organization to the core as well as dynamic and activity in the body three dimensionally vs. just on the side of the body not in contact with the mat.
Yes, I understand, at this point you're thinking, "One more thing to keep in mind in my workout???? Really?". Really, taking this approach to your workout will streamline all the concepts of the work and establish a much more powerful relationship with the apparatus. In fact a relationship that mirrors the intentions of the work. Who is moving who? Are you controlling and moving the apparatus or is it moving you? Do you ever feel on the reformer, pushed into the shoulder blocks? Or in the stomach massage series like you're holding on for dear life? These moments reveal we're allowing the "floor" to hold us up. Integrate to your core, create the relationship with the springs. You'll even finish the series with your pants intact! During the short box series, rather than feeling the upholstery wrap around your hips, use the luxurious plushness of the upholstery to inspire a lift from the core muscles you are sitting on. They should be actively supporting and contributing to the exercise. Pick you core up out of the luxury. On the studio mat, find the same organization and you'll be guaranteed a great response.
Comments
Post a Comment