Pilates Technique Thursday: You Are the Chef of Your Pilates Session

A Pilates-inspired kitchen scene blending the six principles with wholesome movement ingredients.

One of the things I always remind teachers is this you are in charge. Whether it is a group class a private session or even an online matwork flow you are the chef in the kitchen. And just like any good chef you are not just throwing ingredients into a pan and hoping for the best. You are creating. You are curating. You are responding to the diner's tastes while gently guiding them toward better nutrition. And that is exactly what a great Pilates teacher does.

In the culinary world if someone walks into a restaurant craving something spicy the chef might rise to the occasion. But the truly brilliant chef also sees an opportunity can I meet their expectations and make it healthy balanced and full of good ingredients

In our Pilates sessions we often face a similar challenge. Clients may walk in asking for a killer core workout or a fast paced high energy Reformer burn. Now I am not against that movement should be joyful sometimes even playful. But my job like the chef is not just to satisfy cravings. It is to elevate them. To educate them. And to nourish them with quality movement.

So what are the ingredients in our Pilates kitchen: The Principles

They are the foundation of everything we do just like a recipe depends on its base ingredients. Miss one out and the dish might still be edible but it will not be as satisfying as balanced or as effective. Especially for beginners it is vital we take the time to explain these. It is not just about doing the Hundred it is about why we are doing it how we are doing it and what it is teaching.

Here are the six classic Pilates principles and examples of how we can use movement to teach them

1. Concentration Use The Roll Up, Encourage focus on each vertebrae articulating down and up without losing awareness. This teaches the client to stay mentally present.

2. Control Use The Leg Circles, Demonstrates that movement does not need to be big to be challenging. The control comes from stability through the pelvis not momentum.

3. Centre Use The Single Leg Stretch, Reinforces the idea of movement originating from the core. Cueing the navel to spine connection while keeping the pelvis stable teaches this beautifully.

4. Precision Use The Spine Twist, Precision is about clarity how far do you go where are your shoulders what is your eye gaze Precision helps the client understand their own body better.

5. Breath Use The Saw, Coordinating exhalation with rotation helps deepen the twist and shows how breath supports movement.

6. Flow Use The Side Bend, resisting on the downward phase to create a sense of Flow which gives the session a sense of movement continuity like a well composed dance.

And just like a recipe when one of these ingredients is missed something is off. Maybe the dish still fills the belly but it does not satisfy the soul. The same goes for Pilates. Without the principles you are just exercising. With them you are teaching movement with meaning.

So yes give your clients that spicy challenge now and then. But do it with smart seasoning. Teach them to enjoy vegetables they did not know they liked. Help them savour movement that is good for them. When I lead a dynamic Reformer class I always say I am going to kill you with technique. And they leave feeling like they have not just worked hard but worked well.

Remember you are the chef. You write the menu. Make it nourishing.