Pilates principle: Concentration

pilatespain relief
Written By Lisa Day Harvey
Woman lying on her side using a theraband to do hip abductor exercises

I ❤️ Pilates. 

It's what finally made me feel strong, fit and most of all - not broken!! (which was how I had been feeling for years ever since a car accident at age 19).

I still get excited sharing it with my clients and seeing the difference it makes in their lives.

I still smile and giggle when people tell me how graceful I am or ask if I was a dancer (NOPE - that’s 100% due to Pilates).

The exercises are great (and a great challenge) but I think what makes it magical are the Pilates Principles.

What the heck are the Pilates Principles?!

I’m so glad you asked. 

They're the intent behind the workout -  and - what makes it different from other forms of exercise. The Cliff Notes version of these principles would say. . . 

Pilates isn’t just about WHAT you do but HOW you do it.

These principles taught me (and are the foundation of what I teach):

  • How to move better. . . with less pain and more ease

  • How to move more efficiently (working smarter, not harder)

  • How to maximize my workout so I get results without spending hours at it

  • The power of breathing properly


I ❤️ Pilates so much and have been doing it so long. . . I sometimes assume that everyone else must love and know what it is too. . . But. . .we all know what assuming does. . .

So I thought I’d share a little more about it. . .starting with perhaps my favorite principle of all!! 

. . .okay, that's a lie, I can't pick just one! But I promise it's a good one!

PILATES PRINCIPLE SPOTLIGHT: CONCENTRATION

Joseph Pilates believed:

“It is better to do 5 repetitions perfectly than 20 without paying attention."

He believed in working smarter, not harder. There's no need for endless repetitions if you're getting the most out of each one.

Don't just go through the motions. CONCENTRATE on:

  • the movement & CONTROLLING it rather than letting momentum pull you through

  • the muscles you're trying to work

TRY IT. . .

Want to feel this Pilates Principle in action and experience how small adjustments to a movement you've done hundreds of times before is an absolute game changer?

With concentration, these simple exercises go from boring to powerful (who's up for a challenge?)

It's worth taking the time to get these right. Strengthening these muscles is key to:

  • Reducing back and hip pain

  • Improving balance

  • Walking (or running) with greater ease and endurance

Lisa Day Harvey

Known for her knowledge of the body and empowering positivity, Lisa Day Harvey is a Pilates teacher in Jupiter, FL.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lisa was initially drawn to Pilates to relieve the pain of multiple neck, back and shoulder injuries (a car accident, sports injuries, and concussions among them), worsened by long work days at a desk. After years of working with one specialist after another and trying seemingly everything else with little success, she was amazed at how quickly she not only found relief from pain but additionally built strength, toned and reshaped her body, improved coordination and posture (growing almost a full inch due to spinal decompression), and regained a sense of ease and delight in her body.

This experience of transformation led her to become a teacher, now specializing in working with injuries and chronic pain.

Based on her own experiences, Lisa believes that pain is simply the body’s way of asking you to do something differently and that injuries can be your greatest teachers if you slow down and pay attention to their signals. Having experienced the possibility of moving without pain first hand, she delights in empowering her clients with the knowledge, tools and felt experience to challenge, strengthen and enjoy their bodies

http://www.LisaDayHarvey.com
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