To celebrate, the newsletter is highlighting a couple of articles about “Pilates: The Man and The Method” and some of his inventions that you may never have heard of.
Wishing you a Happy Pilates Day ~
Every Day!
Pilates: The Man and The Method
Did you know that Pilates didn’t call his exercises Pilates? To find out what Mr. Pilates called his system, check out the article here.
Mr. Pilates thought his work was 50 years ahead of its time. And that proved to be true.
Pilates Day and the Lost Equipment
Even if you have practiced Pilates for a while, you may not have ever used a “breath-a-cizer” or a head harness.
Did you know Pilates even invented a bed!
If you would like to check out some of the more rare pieces of equipment, please read this short article here.
The term “underwater dancing” probably brings to mind synchronized swimming and the olympics.
But imagine performing a dance completely underwater –
without coming up for air!
Julie Gautier is a pioneer in underwater dancing.
I think you’ll appreciate the artistry and physicality in this video.
You can get a glimpse of her breathing exercises at the beginning of the video.
It’s interesting to hear her background and creative process. The video, of course, finishes with an underwater dance (in a natural pool of water in the jungle)!
“Breathing is the first act of life, and the last. Our very life depends on it. Since we cannot live without breathing… above all, learn to breathe correctly.”*
~ Joseph Pilates
With all the changes in the world this past month, continuing the muscle groups theme did not seem appropriate at this time. Instead, sharing Mr. Pilates thoughts on breathing seems more beneficial during this historic season. The poignant quote above is from his book “Return to Life”.
To provide a little more context, this book was first published in 1945. Right after World War II, Mr. Pilates urges, “above all, learn to breathe correctly.” This likely wasn’t a feel good sentiment but a practical one. As a fitness expert who trained boxers and who is purported to have been invited to train the German army in the 1920s (before he immigrated to the U.S.) and trained police in Scotland yard, Mr. Pilates first recommendation to become physically hardy after wartime is – “learn to breathe correctly”!
Mr. Pilates survived both World Wars. As a German living in England, he was interned at the Isle of Man during the first World War. This would also mean Mr. Pilates would have been in Europe when the Spanish flu broke out in 1918. It is legend that the prisoners Mr. Pilates trained did not succumb to many of the diseases common in the camps at the time.
Though not much is confirmed in scholarly historical research on Mr. Pilates boyhood days, it has often been told that he was sickly as a child, even struggling with asthma. These early struggles and his subsequent studies are thought to have shaped both Mr. Pilates and his work.
Mr. Pilates emphasis on the importance of breathing rings true as the world is currently on pause due to a pandemic that is respiratory in nature. As many are starting to be mindful of nutrition as a way to boost immunity, it only makes sense to practice breathing exercises as a way to help the respiratory system into peak condition. For Mr. Pilates, the foundational element, even “core” piece to being physical fit starts with breathing.
Breathing can not only help calm the mind and emotions during stressful times but can also improve lung function. With stay-at-home order deadlines extending, it is important now more than ever to stay active. Enjoy a walk outdoors (while social distancing from others) and practice Pilates to stay strong on both the inside and the outside.
*Pilates, Joseph H. and William John Miller. Return to Life Through Contrology. Pilates’ Primer: The Millennium Edition. Presentation Dynamics, republished 1998, p 12 &13.
“Breathing is the first act of life, and the last. Our very life depends on it…. Above all, learn to breathe correctly.” ~ Joseph Pilates*
With all that is going on in the world, breathing may not seem to fall into the “above all” category. Breathing is so automatic it is sometimes taken for granted. During the daily stresses of life, breath can be held or forgotten altogether. Sometimes people wonder why breathing is important.
The respiratory rate is one of the vital signs of life and without oxygen the brain would be dead in 10 minutes. In addition to oxygenating the blood, some of the benefits of breathing are that it can help improve posture and activate core musculature.** Breathing can also assist with mental focus, stress relief and even aid those with high blood pressure.
It is true that breathing is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, so it does “automatically” regulate itself without any conscious thought. Oxygenating the blood is the primary purpose of respiration. The body beautifully calibrates itself all the time to adapt the breath to the needs of the body. All of this happens at a level with the organs and like other processes, such as digestion, occurs all on its own.
The interesting thing about the breath is that while it does operate under involuntary control, it is one of the systems of the body that can consciously be controlled. You won’t be able to mentally send a message to the stomach to digest dinner a little faster, but you do have some mind over matter when it comes to breathing.
A number of skeletal muscles are involved in respiration. The lungs do not inflate on their own. They rely on the muscles to make the movement of respiration happen. It’s as muscles contract (like the diaphragm) that a vacuum is created as the rib cage expands and air is sucked into the lungs.
Many of the muscles involved in respiration have a role in posture as well. The breath supports the posture and is also a wonderful tool in accessing the core. For example, the abdominals can be consciously engaged when exhaling. This activates the core and results in a deeper exhalation cleansing out the lungs more than if the breath were passive.
Breathing is not only a vital life function but also has other roles in emotion, expression, speaking and singing. Breathing is the bridge between the mind and body. Because the breath can consciously be controlled, the breath can be utilized to help with mental focus. While bringing us back to a more centered state, physically and mentally, breathing can help minimize some of the negative impact stress has on the body.
Breathing is a natural way to handle high blood pressure. Slow breathing sends the message that the body can come out of “fight or flight” mode. As that happens, the blood vessels widen causing things to flow more easily.
Through the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season, please take care of yourself. Consciously, set aside some time to relax. Don’t let the season pass you by and don’t forget to breathe! 🙂
*Pilates, Joseph H. and William John Miller. Return to Life Through Contrology. Pilates’ Primer: The Millennium Edition. Presentation Dynamics, republished 1998, p 12 &13.
