Center and Balance
Centering
In Pilates
Every movement in Pilates originates from the center. The center of the body refers to the deep abdominal muscles, lower back, and pelvis. It is often referred to as the “powerhouse” or core. The center is the energy generated within the body, as well as the source of stability and support for any type of movement you perform.
In Daily Life
The term “core stabilization” refers to maintaining and balancing mental calmness in this chaotic life. It also pertains to physical activity. Learning to work from your body’s center will help you act in a more focused manner. If you are connected to your core, you will feel strong, calm, and there is a lower risk of feeling overwhelmed or losing control.
The physical center of the body and focus on it improves athletic performance in all aspects. A strong connection to the core creates more efficient, safer, and stronger movements. The next time you watch a master in any sport, pay attention to how effortlessly they seem to perform each of their movements compared to a less trained athlete. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is a great example. He set a record at the Olympics, even though there was not a drop of sweat visible on him. This is due to the learning of moving efficiently from the center of the body, rather than using just the limbs to generate energy.
Muscle Balance
In Pilates
The ultimate goal of Pilates is to create even and balanced musculature. This relieves the joints and helps produce efficient movement patterns. The end result is a body that can last longer without injury, as it is neither overused nor underused in any of its areas.
In Daily Life
No one is perfectly balanced, but striving for this goal will help you develop a habit that will teach you to change it.
Muscle balance enables and defines how we perform everything in our lives – from sitting at a desk to throwing a frisbee. Many of our actions are not balanced by nature – for example, holding a child on one hip. However, we can practice the idea of balance by trying to hold them on the other hip while sitting, simultaneously focusing on both sitting bones and not leaning to one side.
Combined with physical focus, developing balanced musculature will help us become more stable physically and mentally. When we are focused and balanced, we are also able to respond more adeptly to many life challenges, without creating stress-inducing situations within ourselves and around us.
I am a graduate in Managerial Economics as well as Finance and Accounting, with a specialization in Marketing. Since 2018, I have been working as a Copywriter at Balanced Body, where I create marketing content for the fitness and Pilates industries. One of my particular strengths is translating complex topics into accessible language and accurately analyzing the needs of target audiences. Outside of work, I am passionate about fire shows and volleyball, which helps me better understand the needs of physically active people.