Pilates Thoughtful Tuesday: Are You Watching the Right Things?

Observing subtle imbalances helps us retrain movement patterns, not just strengthen muscles.

When a client moves, what are you really watching?

Are you seeing how strong their abdominals are, or are you noticing that their right shoulder lifts every time they roll up? Are you impressed by their flexibility, or do you see that the control disappears halfway through the movement? As Pilates teachers, our job is not just to count repetitions or correct posture on the surface. It is to observe patterns, recognise imbalance, and design movement programmes that retrain the nervous system, not just build muscle.

One common issue we see in the studio is synergistic dominance. This occurs when stronger muscles compensate for weaker ones, disrupting the movement chain. A client might present with shoulder tension, but the real issue could be a weak glute on the opposite side or a lack of foot stability. These imbalances often travel through the fascial sling systems of the body, creating tension, fatigue and, over time, discomfort or pain.

Let us take a simple example: a client with a weak left leg. What you might see is an overworking of the right shoulder and oblique. That is not random. It is a neurological adaptation. Your client is simply trying to stay upright and function, but in doing so they create compensatory patterns that the body begins to memorise. Once those patterns become the new normal, we often end up layering strength or stretch work on top of dysfunction.

This is particularly common in clients who play sports or practise activities that favour one side of the body. Tennis players, golfers, footballers, martial artists, dancers — anyone using asymmetrical movement patterns on a regular basis is at greater risk of developing these imbalances. Postural adaptations set in over time. The body becomes neurologically efficient at the movement required, but at a cost. The supporting muscles stop firing correctly, and fascial tension builds across diagonal lines of the body.

This is where we need to remember that Pilates is about neuromuscular control. We are not just asking muscles to fire. We are training the nervous system to sequence movement efficiently. That means we need to look at how someone organises their body during movement, not just how strong they are.

Tools like unstable surfaces, shifting resistance or using the Reformer and Cadillac can help clients experience instability in a safe, controlled way. That instability forces the brain to find new strategies for stabilisation, remapping neurological pathways and retraining proper sequencing. We are building reactive tissue, tissue that is elastic, responsive and coordinated.

When designing a Pilates programme, it is tempting to think: “They need more strength here.” But the better question is: “Why are they not using what they already have?” Maybe they do not lack strength. Maybe they lack access to strength because of poor movement habits, outdated patterns or postural misalignment. A good movement programme is not about building more muscle. It is about creating smarter, more integrated movement.

So next time you assess a client, go beyond what you see. Ask questions about their sport, their past injuries, their dominant side. Watch how they move when they are not thinking about it. And then design your programme not just to correct what you see, but to reconnect what has been forgotten. Because real change does not just look better. It feels different. And that is the power of teaching the Pilates method.