The Pilates method lives in the details. We can get caught up in all of the many tiny adjustments. So when I come across a shortcut to fix someone’s alignment without saying much I frolic.

The three-point-contact is one of those shortcuts. Neutral spine is a term that has been obsessing...

Q: I have a question about the Supine Spine Twist. When the student has rotated her hips to one side and the opposite shoulder is lifting off the mat, should I correct the shoulder? Is it better to use a verbal or tactile cue?

A: Excellent question! Before I give you the answer, I’m going...

Q: I have a hard time pulling my ribs in. I love to flare them. How do I overcome this? How do I help my students to keep their ribs down?

A: Let's look at a little bit of anatomy first. Which muscles attach to the rib arch? Internal obliques, external obliques, rectus abdominis and the...

Q: My question is about finding cues to activate the lower abdominals and the pelvic floor. For example, in “The Hundred”, using cues such as “belly button to spine” or “bring the sit bones together” can create excessive pelvic tilting and/or the rectus...

Have you ever wondered whether you should choose the flat back version of Short Box on the Reformer or Ladder Barrel or the round back version?

If you were trained classically, then you might do both, but if your approach is more contemporary or rehab oriented, you might be unsure of what’s...

I received a question the other day about positioning the spine and pelvis while on your stomach. Are we supposed to tuck under?

• If you feel your lumbar spine shortening and compressing, then keep lengthening the tailbone, thighs and feet back towards your heels.
• Be aware of how it feels...

Neutral versus Imprinted.  Which is better?  What’s the difference?  I get these questions all the time and in the video below I’ll show you why an imprinted spine is transitional towards our goal of a neutral, natural spine and why your abdominal wall plays a huge role...

Pilates often uses images to explain a movement. Since our mind and our body are communicating, images often create a shortcut between the two.  

You might have heard the image of suspenders before. It can also be called "ribs to hips." I like using the cue "put your suspenders on" or...

If you've missed the first part of this series, you can find it here:

Side Kick Series: Part 1

After learning the most appropriate position for the side of your body that's touching the floor (bottom arm and leg), we will now look into the movements of the top leg.

The moving leg is the one that...

As you probably know, the Chest Lift is a foundational Pilates mat exercise, which is part of many other exercises as well, i.e. all exercises of the Stomach Series (Single Leg Stretch, Double Leg Stretch, etc.), as well as The Hundred (on the mat and the Reformer), Coordination, Backstroke...