PILATES: NEUTRAL POSITION & THORACIC BREATHING

The first things you learn when you enrol on a Pilates course are:-

Don't attempt a Pilates exercise until you know your neutral position, can engage your core muscles and can breathe laterally

• how to find your neutral position,
• where your core muscles are and how to engage them,
• thoracic/lateral breathing and
• pelvic/shoulder stability. 

You need this knowledge to make your practise safe and effective.

Now with so many Pilates video clips popping up all over the internet, anyone can have a go at a Pilates exercise – even the most advanced versions – without knowing the basics.   With this in mind, the featured video this week is a beginners guide to the fundamentals so that you can safely try each new exercise every week.   To get the most out of this, practise several times, particularly the alternate leg lift exercise to start strengthening the core.

The featured videos change every week but this is available on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFGOveevEw

For further information, read these articles: http://vitalflow.tv/2009/09/core-muscles-core-stability/ ; http://vitalflow.tv/2009/09/correct-breathing-for-pilates/

Once you’ve got the hang of it, why not embark on the Beginners Course and change your body?  These Pilates video downloads can be stored on your laptop/PC or stored on your iphone or MP3 player.