5 Key Ingredients to the Perfect Pilates Posture

Any one that has been to a Pilates Class before knows that there is a lot to think about if you want to achieve the Perfect Pilates posture. Tuck this under, stick this out, suck that in…. oh and don’t forget to breathe. It can all get a bit confusing, and sometimes overwhelming, especially if it is your first time in a Reformer Class. New machine, new space, new people and new posture…woah. Well, I am going to try to make it all a bit simpler and break it down into 5 Key Points.

When setting up your posture, the easiest way to make sure you have everything in check, is by doing a little body scan. So, lets start at the top shall we?

Start lying on your back with your knees slightly bent and feet on the floor and let’s scan from the head and neck first.

1.       Head and Neck Position

Gently tuck your chin towards your chest, as if you are holding a peach between your chin and your chest. You just want to hold the peach softly without squishing it.

Then imagine that your head is a helium balloon, and think of your head just gently floating above your shoulders

2.       Shoulder Position

With your arms resting by your side, reach your finger tips towards your toes letting your shoulder blades reach down your back. Then shrug the shoulder blades towards your ears. Once you have done this find a resting place half way between the two of these positions

Next gently open out through the front of your chest and feel the backs of the shoulders sink down into the floor.

3.       Rib Cage Position

Try to imagine that you have some heavy books resting on your ribs and let the base of your ribs sink into contact with the floor.

4.       Lower back position – Neutral Spine

To Find your neutral spine keep everything else nice and still and then gently flatten your lower back into the floor, reaching your tail bone to the ceiling. Then arch your lower back pressing your tail bone to the floor, creating space between your lower back and the floor. Once You have found these two positions come and rest half way in between, in Neutral Spine.

5.       Hip, knee and foot position

Finally, with a slight bend in the knees, try to make a nice straight line from your hip to your knee to your foot on both sides. And try to have your weight nice and even through both feet.

Once You have done all of this you have found your Perfect Pilates Posture, and it is time to activate those deep abdominals… and Breathe. But, that’s a lesson for another day.

This may seem like information overload to begin with, but I promise you, if you practice this, it will all become second nature soon enough.

Next thing you know you’ll be strutting the streets of Buninyong with the best posture ever!

Steph & The Pilates HQ Team

HQ CLIENT LOVE

The one thing we love most about seeing everyone's smiling faces  in class each week, is when we see people achieve something they didn’t think they could, or when we see how much people have improved since they first walked through our doors.

This month we would like to shine the spotlight on one of our HQ clients, Suanne Murdoch, and everything that she has achieved since starting Pilates Classes with us.

Suanne started coming to our classes around nine months ago with the aim of improving her posture and helping her aching shoulders. She began with beginner exercises, learning how to activate her deep abdominals and trying to get both legs into table top (in the air). Suanne has attended classes once a week, almost religiously since her very first session and in this time has improved so much.

In the nine months that Suanne has been coming to Pilates HQ, she has gone from attending beginner classes once a week, to now, being able to jump into an intermediate class, when the time suits. 

We had a chat to Suanne recently to ask her a few questions about her Pilates Journey so far.

 Why did you start Pilates?

 I was having trouble with my shoulders and lower back at work because I work at a desk all day. 

How long have you been doing Pilates for?

I started in March/ April this year.

What is your favourite thing about coming to classes at Pilates HQ?

 The laughs, comfortable environment, the new challenges every class brings and Steph for her caring nature and knowledge. Thank you. 

 What has kept you interested in Pilates and why do you keep coming back to class each week?

 Comfortable environment, the small personal sized classes, the challenges each class brings and the feeling of accomplishment at the end of a class.

 What improvements have you noticed since coming along to Pilates Classes regularly? 

I can now get through a day at work without aching shoulders. I can get my legs into table top with no problems (this was impossible when l first started). The other bonus for me has been, l have dropped a dress size. This wasn't my aim but a great result. 

Anything else you want to add about your Pilates Journey so far?

I have felt very comfortable and at Ease at Pilates HQ. Thank you.

 

Well Done Suanne!

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST PILATES HQ REFORMER CLASS?

It can be daunting and scary thinking of starting something new, venturing into a new environment with people you don't know and machine's that look like they may be some form of medieval torture device.

Everyone who has walked into a new gym or studio has felt this way at some point. Perhaps if you knew what to expect before your first class, this experience would be a little less daunting.

Your First Visit to Pilates HQ

When you walk in the door you’ll see 7 Reformers, all lined up in rows and will be greeted with a smile from your Pilates Instructor. You will be asked to fill in a small pre-exercise questionnaire, so we can find out a little bit about you, and will be shown the Reformers. We will then explain a little about the Reformer and how to use it.  If you forget, it’s not an issue, because the instructor will be there throughout the class to help you along. The Reformer Classes run smoothly from start to finish aiming to get you moving and working on each area of your body.

The Class

You will probably feel a bit strange gliding up and down on the reformer for the first time, and will no doubt feel somewhat vulnerable the first time you put your legs in the straps. Don’t worry though. I guarantee you that everyone in the class is remembering back to the first time they did these same things and feeling reassured that they aren’t the only ones that found it weird and awkward.

BUT you will be comforted by the fact that the other people in your class were all once in your position.

And YES they did came back a second, third, maybe even tenth time.

 And YES they now look very comfortable on these strange machines.

And YES, this will be you in no time!

The longer the class goes on the more you will get used to the way the Reformer works and you will soon realise that the sweet Pilates Instructor who greeted you at the start of your class, is not as sweet as they seemed.

You will leave your class at Pilates HQ, surprised that such small movements could leave your muscles trembling.  You will feel energised and invigorated and will be excited to book your next visit, or two or three or more.

Soon enough you will be the person making those once weird and awkward movements look easy, smooth and fluid.

So come on in and try your very first class at Pilates HQ, I guarantee you we will try to make your Pilates journey as enjoyable as possible.

We can’t wait to see you soon.

Steph & The Pilates HQ Team