Pilates Principle - Concentration: Movement without focus loses intention by Anneli McCullagh

Movement without focus loses the intention of what we are trying to achieve -

it’s not enough to just follow instructions and letting your mind wander if you

want to improve!

Concentration is key to doing Pilates, in order to create body awareness and

perform each movement with intent.

For example, if you are doing the Dead Bug (lying on your back on the floor

with arms and legs lifted, stretching opposite arm and leg away) you can

stretch your arm and leg away without thinking about your core - but then

your lower back will move up and down, and you are changing the intent of

the movement, from one strengthening your core to one that creates pain in

the lower back. Each Pilates exercise requires concentration to keep the

intent of the movement.

Doing Pilates whilst bringing in the breath, control, centering and the other

principles requires concentration from beginning right to end. Concentration is

a skill - practice it during your Pilates, and you can bring it into all other

aspects of your day that require focus!