Pilates is an exercise system that was developed by Joseph Pilates around 100 years ago. Pilates based his system around various principles which he believed contribute to having a healthy body. The early followers of the Pilates method were elite athletes and dancers. This means that most classic Pilates exercises are quite challenging and not suitable for beginners. Basic Pilates or beginner Pilates programs therefore have to either modify the original exercises or use other exercises to build the skills necessary to do Pilates. This program starts by building a foundation using simple exercises. Then it goes on to introduce some of the classic Pilates exercises.
The Benefits of Pilates
Doing Pilates benefits physical and mental health in lots of ways. It has a strong mind-body element and a focus on breathing, which help with relaxation and mental health. Physical Pilates benefits include:
- A strong core
- Flexibility in muscles and joints
- Correct posture
- Smooth, controlled movement patterns
- Healthy spine
- Improved balance
What are the basics of Pilates?
Although there were only 34 mat exercises in Pilates original method, many other exercises are included in Pilates classes and programs. Generally, it’s considered acceptable to include any exercises which follow the basic Pilates principles. These include having a strong core to support all body movement, correct body alignment and focusing on smooth, controlled movement.
Basic Pilates routine
Notes on doing this workout
Please read the general exercise safety guidelines here.
Although an exercise mat isn’t essential, you’ll be more comfortable with some sort of cushioning on the floor, folded blankets for example. In particular, make sure you have enough cushioning for the shoulder bridge and “rolling like a ball” exercises. The exercise instructions are below and at the end of the post you can get a printable download of the 4 week plan.
Week 1
Finding neutral pelvis
To do Pilates effectively, you need to be able to hold your pelvis in the “neutral” position. Our pelvis hinges on our thigh bones and can tilt forwards and backwards. This is essential to allow for a good range of movement, but when the core muscles are weak, the pelvis ends up tilting when it shouldn’t. For most Pilates exercises, the pelvis should be held in the neutral, non-tilting position. This is how to find your neutral pelvis:
When you are confident where your “neutral” is, you can move on to these 2 exercises:
Toe taps
In this exercise, the core muscles must hold on to the neutral position, while you lower one leg at a time to the floor.
- Find neutral as described above, then take both feet of the floor and hold your legs as shown:
- Holding on to the neutral pelvis position, lower one leg to the floor. It’s important not to let your pelvis move – your core muscles will have to work to hold on to neutral. Bring the leg back up to the starting position and repeat with the other leg. Do 10 on each leg.
Abdominal hollowing
Abdominal hollowing is just sucking the core muscles in. You can do it in any position – standing, sitting, lying, kneeling .. but doing it in the all-4s kneeling position is good because you are working directly against gravity.
- Get into the all 4s position, then suck your abdominal area in as much as you can without your back moving.
- Hold for 5 seconds, release and repeat for a total of 5 times.
Week 2
New exercise: shoulder bridge
The Pilates shoulder bridge looks similar to a glute bridge, but it’s done differently. Whereas in the glute bridge, the objective is just to lift your hips up and down to work your glutes, with the Pilates shoulder bridge the objective is to work through the joints of your spine. It improves mobility in your spine and core control.
- Start by lying on the floor with your knees bent and your feet about hip distance, with your pelvis in neutral. Now press your lower back into the floor, tilting your pelvis backwards.
- Follow this movement through so that your lower back starts to peel off the floor. You should be aiming to come into the bridge position with a smooth, controlled, curling movement. Concentrate on working through one vertebra at a time. You will probably find this difficult at first as parts of your spine will be less flexible.
- Stop when your whole spine is lifted and your weight is resting on your shoulders. Now reverse the movement, lowering back down one vertebra at a time. Again, it should be a smooth, controlled movement, working through each joint in the spine.
- Do 5 of these.
Week 3
New exercises: spine twist and single leg stretch
The spine twist is good for core control and upper back strength and mobility. You need to sit up with your back straight and your pelvis in neutral. If you have tight hamstrings (muscles at the back of your thighs), you’ll find this difficult. If necessary, bend your knees a little to allow you to sit up straight.
In the single leg stretch, your core stabilising muscles need to work hard to keep your pelvis in neutral. Make sure that you don’t allow your back to arch.
Single leg stretch
- Lay on the floor with your arms by your side, your legs about hip distance apart and your pelvis in neutral.
- Bring both knees in towards your chest, then extend one leg as shown. Your core muscles should be working to hold onto neutral (ie stopping your back from arching).
- When you have straightened your leg fully, bring it back to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.
- Keep going until you’ve done 15 on each leg.
Spine twist
- Sit with your back straight and straighten your legs out in front. (If it’s difficult for you to have your legs straight, then bend them a little.)
- Raise your arms up to shoulder height, so that they are parallel with the floor.
- Keeping your back straight and your arms lifted, engage your abdominal muscles and rotate your upper body to the right.
- Come back to the centre and keep turning to repeat the movement to the left.
- Repeat for 8 each way.
Week 4
New exercise “Rolling like a ball”
In this exercise, the core muscles should be controlling the movement, you shouldn’t be relying on momentum. Try to make the movement smooth and controlled.
- Sit on the floor. Balancing on your hip bones, bring your knees towards your chest and put your hands on your lower legs. Point your toes.
- Keeping a curve in your spine and your chin tucked in, engage your core muscles and roll backwards.
- When your upper back is on the floor, contract your core and buttock muscles strongly to start to roll back to the starting position.
- Repeat for a total of 10.
Related to basic Pilates
