Pilates Exercise Techniques

Deep breathing is an essential component of Pilates exercise. Learn about how deep breathing is used in Pilates and about deep breathing exercises.

Learn to make your ab workouts more effective. Here are 5 important tips on how to get healthy, flat abs. Includes lots of sample Pilates exercises for abdominal muscles and core training.

Pat Guyton is a Pilates instructor and third level instructor in the Franklin Method. Here she shows us how the imagery developed by Eric Franklin relates to the Pilates studio.

This interview with yoga and Pilates instructor Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle goes in depth about how to support your posture by allowing your body to respond to gravity. This is dynamic posture at its best.

The backs of the arms are an important part of most Pilates exercises, even if they aren't arm exercises. Learn to tone the backs of the arms as you workout.

Pilates instructor Alisa Wyatt has contributed her notes on neck pull from Pilates Elders Romana Kryzanowska, Jay Grimes and Kathy Grant.

The Book, Pilates Anatomy, written by Real Isacowitz and Karen Clippinger is a wonderful guide to the muscle groups used in Pilates exercises. Read this review.

Learn from these before and after photos of a difficult plank exercise on the Pilates reformer.

Learn about the psoas muscle. The psoas is an important core muscle that is often blamed for low back pain. Find out more about the psoas muscle.

One of the best ways to improve your alignment in exercise is to know where your bones should be. Learn an easy Pilates exercise that will improve your inner sense of your your bones.

Here are 5 questions you can use to help evaluate your Pilates training.

This explanation of the human spine includes pictures and diagrams of the anatomy of the spine. It will help you understand how Pilates exercise help support the spine and relieve back pain.

Rolling exercises stimulate the spine and strengthen the core. Get tips on how to make them work.

Pilates exercise, the roll over, is full of potential as a stretch for the back and hamstrings, a full abdominal workout, and a way to practice your Pilates principles.

Inner thigh exercises can help you or be a waste of time. Learn how to use inner thigh exercises effectively.

Modifications can make exercises easier or harder, and help protect your back and neck. Learn how to modify Pilates exercises.

Pilates push up is different than regular push ups. Take a look of what not to do in your Pilates push up exercise with this example of a Pilates move done wrong.

Learn about the importance of pelvic alignment in exercise. These sample Pilates moves show the difference between a tucked and neutral pelvic alignment, and why you want to avoid a very tucked pelvis.

Learn diaphragmatic breathing - a technique for breathing fully that enlivens the body and reduces stress.

Lateral breathing helps you breathe fully throughout Pilates exercises.

Using your powerhouse is one of the most important concepts in Pilates training. Learn what makes up the powerhouse part of the body.

Shoulder stability is very important in exercise. These pictures show you how to stabilize your shoulders and scapula.

Pilates creates long, strong muscles by using eccentric contractions of the muscles. Learn about eccentric muscle contractions and how they are used in Pilates.

Read about why the pelvic floor muscles are important and how to strengthen them.

Learn to use the box image to help balance and lengthen the body during Pilates exercises.

Pilates stance is a powerful position for the legs that is used in both Pilates mat, and equipment exercises.

Good posture and effective exercise technique depend on good leg alignment. Learn a basic leg position we use in Pilates and other exercises for alignment training.

This free Pilates program is your ticket inside Pilates moves. Each lesson includes an essential concept in Pilates movement, practice exercises, and related articles.

Your hip flexors might be taking over your abdominal exercises. Learn to use Pilates to increase the power of your abdominal exercises by staying out of your hip flexors.

Lots of people have trouble with the roll up. Here are tips to make roll up the gratifying (strong, flat abs and flexibility) exercise it can be.

This online video will help you see the positions of the scapula and what makes for more scapular stability.

We call a lot of exercises core exercises but many target just a few abdominal muscles and miss the full core. Find out how to make your core training count.

This is a unique set of exercise instructions focusing on fully embodied movement, domes of uplift, and spirals from Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle.

The latissimus dorsi muscle is the widest muscle on the back though it mostly acts as a shoulder muscle. Learn about lat exercises and how the latissimus move the arms and torso.