Tuesday Technique Tip: It's About Control

Pilates is about control. Control is about using muscles to counterbalance the natural force of movement or gravity in the same direction as the force. In other words, purposely using your muscles to resist what wants to happen when you move. Simply put, the machines use springs, springs like to pull you in, you let them pull you, but consciously control the movement by resisting that pull.  OR in simpler terms:  We spend most of our time trying to PUSH against a force in order to move.  We push a door to go inside, we try to lift a heavy object, we even walk into wind in order to get where we want to go.  We do this without thought, and don't realize that the harder we try, the harder we push, the harder it is to move.  So try turning it around.  Walk with the wind, just remember the wind is strong, so control yourself so it does't knock you down.  You'll have more power, more strength, and more speed if you go with the wind than against it.