Let's Talk Mindful Movement: Embracing the Heart of the Matter

I have been digging around the internet recently, and something very poignant I've been wrestling with for the last two-ish years came to light. And I figured I would share it with you and the other fitness pros and Pilates teachers out there because I think it'll help.

What’s Missing in Pilates?

Jules Mitchell, prominent in the biomechanics and yoga world, threw out a question in one of her emails asking, “What's missing in yoga?’ You can translate that to what's missing in Pilates, what's missing in Gyrotonic exercise, what’s missing in all these like mindful movement modalities? The answer? Nothing. Twenty years ago, I was given my entry point into mindful exercise. I’ve seen what works and what doesn't work for clients. Instead of trying to tweak the Pilates repertoire to fit what I feel is missing, I took a step back and realized it's its own thing. It has its philosophies and principles; if something about it does not work for my clients, I probably need to bring something different.

Respect the Mindful Movement System

I don't need to change the programming of Pilates. The movement system is exemplary, and it has a ton of benefits. I've seen plenty of those because I've been teaching them forever. Let's keep the movement systems pure instead of trying to fill the gaps by tweaking the repertoire or equipment for what I deem necessary from a movement profile for my clients. It is what it is. As movement teachers, we need to stop trying to fix, change, and adjust.

Stop Bad Mouthing What’s Lacking in Pilates

Also, we should stop bad-mouthing it (totally guilty). I didn't see the benefits I hoped to see after my 20-year career and was not seeing what was working. My fault. So, I apologize to the community for being short-sighted. Now, I bring in other movement modalities that I believe can fill the holes while keeping Pilates Pilates.

All Movement Systems Are Not Created Equal

Look at your movement modality. Look at the philosophy behind it, the purpose behind it, and the person who created it. They're pretty brilliant. I'd say there's a reason those movement modalities continue today. And let's try to stop fixing something that may not be broken. If there are certain things that you see your clients need, then provide them. I won't take my Gyrotonic workouts and make them resemble weightlifting because those are two different movement modalities, right? I won't take my Pilates repertoire and make it look like yoga. Those are two different modalities. They have very different purposes, functionalities, and philosophies. Hopefully, other people feel the same way because I'm seeing this in the community, and I'm guilty. So, a blanket apology. Know better, do better.