PHILOSOPHY

  • Adaptive

    Having an ability to change to suit changing conditions.

  • Alignment

    A position of agreement or alliance.

  • Anatomically-Aware

    Understanding how the body can and should move effectively and efficiently in movement through appropriate cuing of muscle activation and release, anatomical alignment and breath patterning. Clearly communicating to movers when, where and how they should be feeling movements in the body and directing them away from common “pain” points.

  • B.E.A.M.

    An acronym for the core principles of Pilates: Breathe, Energise, Align, and Move.

  • Centering

    To strengthen the center of your body. Also referred to as ‘setting your center’.

  • Consent

    Permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.

    To give permission for something to happen.

  • HOLDING SPACE

    1. Viewing someone without judgment and seeing him or her through loving kindness.

    2. Offering another person the opportunity to be seen and heard fully.

    3. Actively listening and providing a neutral, safe ground for another person to share their perspectives and emotions.

  • Holistic

    1. Characterized by the belief that the parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole.

    2. Characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms.

  • Integrative

    1. Serving or intending to unify separate things.

    2. Combining allopathic and complementary therapies.

  • Integrity

    1. The state of being integral — whole and undivided. Everything works as it should.

    2. The quality of operating in alignment with your moral principles.

  • Kinesiology

    1. The study of the principles of mechanics and anatomy in relation to human movement.

    2. The science of movement.

  • Mindful Movement

    1. The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.

    2. A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

  • MODALITY

    1. A modality is the way or mode in which something exists or is done.

    2. A particular mode in which something exists or is experienced or expressed. (For example: Pilates is a modality of movement as is Strength Training and Yoga)

  • Pilates

    1. A system of exercises using either a mat or an apparatus known as a reformer, designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, posture, and to enhance overall mental awareness of the body.

    2. Pilates is a type of mind-body exercise developed in the early 20th century by German born physical trainer Joseph Pilates, after whom it was named.

  • Practitioner

    1. An expert who uses that knowledge as part of a profession.

    2. Someone whose regular work has involved a lot of training. An individual(s) with education, training and expertise in their field of practice

  • Proactive

    1. Efforts made prior to

    2. Creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened.

  • Reformer

    A gliding platform fitted with straps, bars, and pulleys in order to practice Reformer Pilates designed by Joseph Pilates during the early 20th century.

  • Safe Space

    A space that is intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism, or potentially threatening actions, ideas, or conversations. Note that safety can only be determined by the individual to which the situation applies. Practitioners strive to create a space that is as safe as possible.

  • Self-Expressed

    The fullest expression of one's feelings, thoughts, or ideas, especially in writing, art, music, or dance.

  • Somatic

    Relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind.

    Described or relating to, arising from the body as separate from arising in the mind.

  • Trauma-informed Care ('TIC')

    1. TIC is an approach, based on knowledge of the impact of trauma, aimed at ensuring environments and services are welcoming and engaging for service recipients and staff.

    2. TIC is based on growing knowledge about the negative impact of physical, emotional and psychological trauma. Trauma is common in society and among service recipients.

Anatomy

  • Abduction

    An exercise that focuses on bringing your limbs away from your midline.

  • Adduction

    An exercise that focuses on bringing your limbs towards your ‘midline’.

  • Anatomy

    The branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms, especially as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts.

    A study of the structure or internal workings of something.

  • Anterior

    Movement or body part near or toward the front of the body.

  • C-Curve

    The shape the torso makes while you are in a flexed (rounded forward) position (aka “Cat”).

  • Cervical Spine

    Description here

  • Coccyx

    Description goes here
  • Dorsiflexion

    The movement of flexing only the top of your toes towards your shin while pushing away with the balls of the feet.

  • Extension

    Straightening movement that increases the angle between two points. Straightening your arm is an example of extension.

  • Flexion

    Bending movement that decreases the angle between two points. Bending your elbow, or pulling your knee toward your chest are examples of flexion. Flexion is the opposite of extension.

  • Intercostal Muscles

    The muscles found between each rib cage that are responsible for helping you breathe.

  • Lumbar Spine

    Lower back region below the thoracic spine and above the sacrum comprising five vertebrae. When it is in the neutral position, there will ideally be a slight curve known as lordosis. The degree and shape of this curve is unique and individual to each person.

  • Midline

    The straight line that runs from the top of your head to your feet.

  • Pelvic Floor

    The pelvic floor or pelvic diaphragm is composed of muscle fibers of the levator ani, the coccygeus muscle, and associated connective tissue which span the area underneath the pelvis. Simplistically put, these muscle fibres connect via the bony landmarks of the sits bones, pubic bone and coccyx (tailbone).

  • Plantar Flexion

    The movement of flexing the top of your toes away from your shin (aka pointing the toes).

  • Rotation

    A spine rotation along the axial skeleton (head and vertebrae), either medial or lateral.

  • Supine

    1. Laying down flat on your back is referred to as the ‘supine’ position.

    2. When you are lying in savasana, you are lying supine. If your palms are up when you’re in savasan - perhaps we delete this line or write something like “while practicing yoga, this is often referred to as “savasana”.)

class cues

  • Alignment

    1. How the head, shoulders, spine, hips, knees and ankles relate and line up with each other. Proper alignment of the body puts less stress on the spine and joints allowing the body to support itself as designed through anatomically appropriate posture.

    2. A position of agreement or alliance.

  • Cervical nod

    Stretching your muscles in the neck by bringing your chin towards the throat. AKA ‘tucking the chin’.

  • Core Strength

    1. Muscles of the trunk that help to stabilize the spine. Though most people think of the abdominal muscles, core strength also refers to the muscles of the back, diaphragm and the pelvic floor.

    2. Core strength is developed through balance and the coordinated use of these muscles. Core strength allows us to move in a functional and safe manner.

  • HIIT

    High Intensity Interval Training.

  • Neutral Pelvis

    Description goes here
  • Neutral Spine

    1. When your spine is in its unique, natural and anatomically desirable position. This occurs when all 3 curves of the spine — cervical (neck), thoracic (middle) and lumbar (lower) — are present and in appropriate alignment with one another.

    2. This is the strongest position for the spine when we are standing, lying or sitting and will result in optimal muscle activation and balance.

  • Ribcage arms

    Description goes here
  • Scoop

    Drawing your abdominal muscles inward and upward toward to support pelvis and spine.

  • Stretching

    1. Straighten, lengthen or extend one's body or a part of one's body to its full length, typically so as to tighten one's muscles or in order to reach something.

    2. A form of physical exercise in which a specific muscle or tendon (or muscle group) is deliberately flexed or stretched in order to improve the muscle's felt elasticity and achieve comfortable muscle tone.

  • Table Top

    1. This is common terminology used for a fundamental Pilates position known as quadruped. It involves legs making a 90-degree angle from the hip to the knee and ankle with handles positioned underneath the shoulders. Pelvis and spine should be in neutral position.

    2. Also references the 90 degree angled position of the legs when one is lying on their back. The knees are over the hips and ankles aligned with your knees. Spine and pelvis are in neutral with arms extended and engaged along the side of the body.

  • Tuck

    Term commonly used by instructors to indicate that you should round the low back. To tuck the pelvis the abdominal muscles should contract forcing the hip bones to roll back out of a neutral position. In a tucked pelvis (aka Coccyx Curl), the pubic bone will be forward of the hip bones, resulting in a rounded lumbar (lower) spine.

  • Zip

    The movement of pulling your lower abs up and in.