Pilates Soulful Sunday: The Space Between Movements – Finding Magic in the Pause

A male diver stands still, preparing with focus before launching into powerful motion.

In a world that constantly urges us to go faster, do more, and fill every moment, finding stillness can feel unnatural, even uncomfortable. But within the Pilates method, we are reminded time and again that it is not just the movement itself that matters. It is the space between the movements where something quite extraordinary can occur.

These pauses, those brief moments between the exhale and inhale, the contraction and release, the effort and recovery, hold a unique kind of power. They are not voids to rush through, but rather invitations to check in. They allow us to feel, to listen, to notice. What is happening in your body? Are you holding tension somewhere unnecessarily? Are you truly grounded? Are you present?

Lately in my teaching, I have been leaning more into this idea, not just the pause, but the preparation. Think of an Olympic diver standing still at the edge of the board before the dive, or a gymnast centring themselves before the routine begins. That moment is not hesitation. It is control. It is presence. It is a recalibration of focus before action.

In Pilates, that preparation is just as powerful as the movement itself. As one movement closes, there is a moment to realign, to reconnect, and to consciously step into the next. It is a transition point that is rich with intention, not simply a pause, but a gathering of self.

In teaching, that preparation matters. When we build this into our classes, we invite our clients to experience their practice more fully. We are not just moving bodies from one shape to the next. We are nurturing the connection between thought, breath, and motion. It is what elevates Pilates from exercise to mindful movement.

And in life, the same principle holds. The space between decisions, between chapters, between actions, those are opportunities to reflect and refocus. Before speaking, before committing, before moving forward, we prepare. We realign with what matters.

So today, on this Soulful Sunday, I encourage you to embrace that space, not just as a pause, but as a preparation. Whether you are on the mat, in the studio, or simply navigating your day, give yourself the power of the in-between. It is not the absence of movement, it is the foundation of meaningful movement.