Pilates is great, but...

[Robert V]

...it is still biomechanically limiting!

As I've stated before, I change my class themes often. Last night, I took my class through a traditional Pilates class, like I was trained to do. I wanted them to feel the movement limitations as we worked the "core" but continuously moved in only one dimension. There are a few movements that exceed one dimension, but only a few.

The class was use to exploring different ranges of motion and moving on more than one plane through "BodyFlow".

Pilates is a great supplement for "core" stimulation, but it can be as "simplified" as squat thrust and push-ups.

Also, you are usually only working your core muscles while resting on your back. Most athletes are rarely in that position as they activate their core muscles. They are usually standing, squating, kneeling or crouching.
SPP?

[Mark]

Having done both pilates and body flow-

pilates only has one plane of motion? the rolling back thing and its variations are in body flow!

regardless, just becasue athletes dont do their sport in the exact same posistions as pilates they definatley dont do their sport in a double leg roll.

pilates strengthens and balances your muscles, body flow removes tension and can take you out of your comfort zone, teaches you more efficient muscle coordination. What's the problem?

no disrespect intended.

peace
-mark

[Robert V]

Mark,

Great comment and thanks for contributing, for many probably have the same question, but didn't ask.

There is nothing wrong with Pilates. I think it is more appropriate for athletes as GPP than yoga. Why? Because it is dynamic.

The "Rolling like a ball" movement is an excellent example of "simple" movement, good but simple. I teach it in almost ever class to prepare my students for a more sophisticated movement from "BodyFlow" which is the "Spinal Arch". In "Rolling like a ball"(which is also a yoga movement), your spine is locked, yet the "Spinal arch" from "BodyFlow" articulates the spine, allowing it to be lubricated with synovial fluid.

As athletes (professional, amateur or occupational) we move. Any exercise that enhances/sophisticates movement capability is a plus for us.

The overall theme of the class I teach is "Sophistication of Movement". We do that by melting the tension from our muscles, strengthening muscles in its full range of motion, exploring joint movement outside its expected range of motion, and properly activating "core" muscles.

If I stuck with traditional pilates, my core would be stimulated, yet my exploration of movement would be less sophisticated.

As far as the tension is concerned, you can do that with BodyFlow, yoga, pilates, Tai Chi or Feldenkrais. It's just that "BodyFlow" is a more complex movement program.

Mark, if you are doing both, you are on the right track. I love Pilates. I recommend Pilates. I did my first teacher's training in Pilates. All I'm saying is that "if" you want to sophisticate your movement potential, you need more than traditional pilates. If you don't care, then no one is suggesting you must do "BodyFlow" and forget Pilates.

We should always be looking for ways to improve the quality and sophistication of the way we move as athletes. Just doing more of the simple movements, increasingly cements simple movement patterns in our body. That is not what we want if we look to enhance our athletic performance.

Thanks,

Robert

[Mark]

great explanation Robert and thanks for replying


I have another question though:

My sport is track. I run 100-4000meters. Everytime I run i am "cementing simple movement patterns in my body" so doing body flow (or yoga or pilates or whatever) is to break the newly cemented concrete with a jackhammer (metaphorically speaking)?

thnaks for your time
-mark

[Scott Sonnon]

Mark,

Running can be a highly sophisticated technique. If you view it as "Stuck in Simplistic Stupidity" then your form will definitely suffer.

Don't think of Body-Flow as merely rehab for running (at best it's rehab for improper form in running). View Biomechanical Exercise as a means of transforming your running into Body-Flow (read the Essential Elements of Body-Flow in the book.)

[Mark]

I didnt mean that running is a "sissy" exercise, i mean i have never expierenced a higher stress on my system than running at "high" speeds. it takes tremendous coordination to run fast.

Rather, I meant that running, without doing any other kind of exercise, will cause alot of residual tension that needs to be broken up with, in my case, body flow so repetitive injuries (i dont remember the actual term) dont happen.

does that make sense?


View Biomechanical Exercise™ as a means of transforming your running into Body-Flow™ (read the Essential Elements of Body-Flow™ in the book.)

I lent the book to a friend so i cant look at it right now-
do you mean attempting to successfully integrate movement, breathing, and structure?
I find if i only work on form during slower runs than i dont have to think about it during my sprinting, running becomes natural and free. Zero posistion is one of the greatest feelings in the world (have you seen "World Record" from the Animatrix)

thanks,
-mark

ps: i checked out Waking the tiger:Healing the Trauma, its an awesome book

[Scott Sonnon]

Scan down through Grow Up to Lift Up (http://www.circularstrengthmag.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=53) in order to find out how to make your stride into a Biomechanical Exercise and your running gait into a Kinetic Chain.

[Mark]

that was fast, your like superman
thanks

I read the article:

each stride is a BME, while running as a whole is a KC. BUT while sprinting, those elements all happen subconsciously because of the higher speed; the components are all still there.

I dont know where to go with this (or even what "this" is)...around the track and back to the beginning maybe?