Pilates Alignment
For those of us who study the Pilates Method, and it is as much a lesson as a workout, seek to develop a neutral spine and pelvis (head over shoulders, shoulders over hips, hips over knees, knees over ankles). This requires an increase in body awareness, as well as the flexibility and tone to adjust the skeleton into proper alignment, and the muscular endurance to maintain this alignment throughout the day.
Imagine a plum-bob hanging on a string from the crown of your skull and passing down through your spine. It should end up right between your ankles. Now imagine a line that runs from the tip of your left shoulder to the tip of your right shoulder, while passing through your spine. Finally, imagine your pelvis as a dinner plate perfectly balanced upright on its edge, facing straight ahead, no twist or tilt. Granted, these are over simplifications, but are effective for visualizing our alignment.
If you have chronically tight and weak chest muscles, you will have difficulty filling your lungs, and your shoulders will be pulled forward of your spine, making just standing upright more difficult, as well as any physical activity you attempt.
If your abdominal muscles are weak, gravity will cause your pelvis to tip forward, increasing the curvature in the lower back, causing chronically tight and thus weak back muscles, and quite possibly some pain.
These are just two examples of the many things that can go wrong with our alignment, and when corrected, will make moving through life so much easier, and will instantly improve our general sense of wellbeing.
