The angles, twists, turns, curves and lines we find and create with our bodies. How much mobility, length, strength and flexibility do you have in the angles of your body?

I like to keep it simple. Particularly when working with a newcomer to Pilates movement.

First draw the box of base support. Shoulder-shoulder….hip-hip.
Stay inside your box and hug the center line. Top to bottom. Front to back.

Then there are the angles of movement

horizontal = flat
diagonal = 45 degrees from center
vertical = 90 degrees from center

The farther we move away from the center line, the more challenge we give to the core stabilizers to hold the line.

I wrote this article/post many years ago.  I can tell by the photo and the length of my hair, in that picture above, that it was at least 10+ years ago.  It was in a folder on my drive that I labeled “Keep.”  The application of words and movements remain the same and consistent today, in the way I teach and the way I move my body.

Angles on the Mat

Beginner angles of movement on the mat start with building a solid, grounded core on the ground. Engaging a front-to-back core placement on the mat and challenging its development and strength by playing with the angles from the box.

The Hundred, initially vertically aligned; later diagonally aligned,  and more advanced students seek a horizontal alignment.  All working the premise, the farther we move away from the center line, the more challenge we give to the core stabilizers to hold the line.

The Abdominal Series

Single Leg Circle, Corkscrew, Leg Series on the Mat work the delicious curves of the hip and pelvis. Practice to ensure stability of the core powerhouse while reaching for the length of the angle in the curves of the body.

All movement, with Pilates, builds strength by working the angles, beginning with the challenge of holding the center core and its alignment, steady.

I use all of these cues, thoughts and concepts as the foundation principles of all movements I teach, no matter where, or with what tool or piece of equipment.

The Curves & Rotations

Our bodies have a few natural curves created by the ball-in-socket joints that feel divine with rotational movement.  Our lives, in these times of stressful living, computer posture, pinched nerves, etc., make rolling through our curves, rotating through our bodies, opening and breathing one of my favorite healing movement sequences.

We do it over the Ladder Barrel, the Spine Corrector, the short box extention on the Reformer.  We do it on the mat, over balls, BOSUs, yoga blocks and wheels.  For there are three ways to move the body.

• Deepening the scoop in and up to work and open the curve of the spine
  — scoop the front wall of the body toward the back wall of the body
• Lengthening the line to lift and create space in the vertebra of the spine
• Wrapping the twist to rotate the waist around the spine.

Full breasted women have a few more curves to contend with and will be challenged with taking a deeper breath to move and curl to the point of comfort.

Fuller, rounder bellied bodies will also present a challenge for individuals. In this case, the range of motion may be much smaller, yet not avoided.

A supportive movement session teaching the student basic movements and stretches through all the angles of the body.  Designed to encourage healing breath and movement, active stretching and strengthening of the whole body.

Movement Therapy – with Slant Board 

A heated SmartSpine and SmartSpine cervical pillow are divine on a flat surface and used with the slant board may  help facilitate release and stretch.

Movement Therapy – with Silk Swing

Utilizing the Silk Swing for support and resistance, coordination, balance and postural realignment are successful outcomes.

Movement Therapy – with Mat and Orbit Rotations

Pilates Mat and movements are the foundation to this session.