We’ve all heard of super foods and the “miracles” that they
create…But whenever I hear someone speak of the benefits of olive oil, I find
myself wondering how awesome I’d be if I could take a shot of olive oil at
every meal. Seriously I’ve almost
bought a shot glass for this very purpose…It’s so simple and easy to use, and
olive oil can literally cure ills.
The “miracle” that I feel in olive oil is that it is not
pharmaceutical. olive oils aren’t
concocted in chemistry labs; olives grow on trees and are pressed for oil. Why isn’t olive oil the most
obvious choice? Why don’t we start
with olive oil? Actually many
recipes do start with olive oil…
This brings me to the Pilates Exercise of the Day Recipe
Cards. So far we have created
recipes for agile feet and strong and flexible ankles, and for the last ten
days the Pilates Exercise of the day has been a different breath pattern. I’m sure that you have been waiting
with baited breath for the breath recipe card. Well, my friends that would be like handing you a recipe
card listing ten different kinds of olive oil and calling it soup. Breath is the beginning; it is the
place to start. It is the one
principle of pilates that is consistent in all of the pilates studies and
writings. Breath is the olive oil
of any Pilates Recipe.
Just this morning I was working with a new client, and she
told me about a muscle spasm underneath her shoulder blade that happened every
time she performed certain actions. As she was talking about the movement that this mystery spasm
prohibited, I started mapping out a strategy in my mind, a recipe of
sorts. Well this recipe started
with breath. I watched the action
of her breath. Then I placed my hand on the place that hurt, asked her to
breath into my hand. She took a
few breaths, and I felt the tissue under my hand expand. Suddenly, she sat up and said,
“It’s gone!” And then preceded to
do all of the movements that she had just told me were impossible because of this
pain underneath her shoulder blade.
Now, this was no miracle. It just so happens that she had never cooked
with olive oil before.
Is a years worth of pain relieved every time I ask someone
to breath into my hand? Is breath
that much of a miracle? Of course
not! This woman had tried many
things to relieve this pain, but this was the first time that her “recipe” had
breath as the first ingredient.
During the session, we continued to move and correct muscular imbalances
that may have helped to cause the pain, but we started with breath, just like
lots of great and healthy recipes start with Olive Oil.
So now below when I list links to the breath patterns on the Pilates Exercise of the Day Blog, consider it as a shelf full of gourmet olive
oils. Each with subtle variations
to get the most out of any Pilates exercise.
Katrina Hawley C.M.A, R.S.M.E
Co-Director of The Pilates Studio
P.S. As I was
sitting at Esselon café typing this blog post Jenni one of the fabulous instructors
at The Pilates Studio, who you might only know as the model in the Pilates Exercise of the Day Blog, came in and asked about the post. As we were chatting, she laughed and told me how sore her
deep abdominal muscles were the day after we took all of the breath pattern
pictures. …Hmmm another reason to always start with the breath!
The most obvious con of a structured settlement is that you don’t get all of your money up-front.
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The blog beautifully emphasizes the significance of breath as the foundation of every Pilates exercise, comparing it to the "olive oil" that enhances the flavor of a dish. This analogy brilliantly illustrates how breathing harmonizes movement and builds strength. At Sheetal's Core Pilates, a premier Pilates studio in Bandra, we focus on integrating breathwork into every session, helping clients unlock their full potential through mindful and efficient movement.
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