Pilates is based on six original principles:

• Control

• Concentration

• Centering

• Precision

• Flowing Movement

• Breath

These principles are the underpinning for every single movement you execute when practicing Pilates. When taught correctly and understood, these principles are irrefutably the reason why people who practice Pilates properly “get it”, and also the reason why those who are not properly instructed and observed don’t really understand what the big deal is. The benefits of Pilates are virtually endless and they all begin with the correct and thorough understanding of the principles. At Symmetrical Energy Arts, we have classes on the schedule that emphasize the principles and are specifically designed for those who are new to Pilates or those who may not yet understand them. The time spent in the "Pilates Mat" class includes plenty of individual attention to help the individual beginning their Pilates program learn these six principles.

However, Pilates is not just about the mat work, which more often than not is what you get at a gym, or what is emphasized on virtually every Pilates video. The Mat Work is at the core of the Pilates experience, but the proper execution of the mat exercises is complex even for the most experienced practitioner. So it is important to emphasize here that the Pilates Apparatus is another major component in any Pilates practice/experience. The apparatus is chiefly responsible for the remarkable effects Pilates has as an alternative to physical rehabilitation. But it also allows beginners to really understand proper musculoskeletal recruitment, as well as offering a myriad of challenges to the expert. All instruction on the wide variety of apparatus available at the Symmetrical Energy Arts studio is done one-on-one in an individual session to make sure that each client receives correct instruction and maximum benefit from their experience.

Pilates demands as much mentally as it does physically. It does not exclude anyone. As long as you can move (sit, stand, walk, etc.) and are over the age of 10 this is the perfect alternative or adjunct to traditional exercise. It is for everyone; young, elderly, obese, or athletic. At Symmetrical Energy Arts, we do not stress the aesthetic benefits of Pilates. Instead, we focus on assisting clients to understand their own movement patterns and habits and support them in developing the flexibility, strength, agility and resiliency they require for their individual daily needs.

Please use the links above just under the banner to visit the rest of our Pilates section for more important information and benefits of a Pilates program at Symmetrical Energy Arts.

"Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body with a sound mind fully capable of naturally, easily, and satisfactorily performing our many and varied daily tasks with spontaneous zest and pleasure."

from Pilates' "Return to Life Through Contrology"