This is a Story About Control…
Lately I’ve been talking a lot about “control” of movement in my group mat classes. It’s one of the six general principles of a great (and classical) Pilates practice. Others include balance, coordination, flow, centering and precision of movement.
As we start new goals and maintain certain ambitions, don’t we think about “controlling” ourselves in some way? Whether it’s to tone up our muscles, spend more time with our family or take more time for ourselves; it takes discipline, as well as control over our actions and thoughts, to accomplish any goals. We sometimes have to control our emotions with those we love if we are impatient. We also have to control the way we use our energy if we want to rest well. Controlling our breath will either stimulate or sedate our nervous system. The idea of control translates so much into everything that we do every day.
Pilates teaches us that our energy is precious and rich. It teaches us that when we control that energy, we can use it to improve the quality of our lives. Seemingly mundane acts like chewing our food, can be heavily affected by how we control these acts. When we chew thoughtfully and thoroughly, we won’t have to ever worry about overeating. “The principal point to remember with regard to diet,” Joseph Pilates simply states in his unambiguously titled book, Return to Life Through Contrology, “is to eat only enough food to restore the ‘fuel’ consumed by the body.” By chewing thoughtfully and controllably, your body will naturally tell you when you have had enough. You would be surprised at how long it actually takes to consume one cup of sautéed eggplant!
Of course, having control over our bodies, and thusly our lives, is incredibly empowering and satisfying. When we get our bodies to do what our minds want, then we experience ourselves as whole beings and are able to realize our full potential. We are confident, energetic and ready to face challenges. I get so elated when I see the focus on my students’ faces as they concentrate on the controlled Pilates exercises in class. They work so hard to tap into their deepest physical and mental core, and in turn, accomplish feats that they couldn’t even imagine doing at one point! It takes a healthy dose of discipline, focus, consistency and of course, control. “I hope you enjoy this as much as I do…because it’s all about control, and I have lots of it,” Janet Jackson says in that song where she declared her independence as a young adult. That song, not coincidentally, propelled her into mainstream pop, igniting her career as a true superstar. If we didn’t have this control, we would be running around unorganized, tattered and scattered…which may not be so bad for recreational purposes, but for the accomplishments and successes we want to enjoy for ourselves, isn’t it best to keep it all together?
– Regina Santos
Regina Santos is a fitness professional and author who recently published a recipe book entitled, “Running in Heels, Quick and Smart Snacks and Entrees” featuring 40 gluten-free, paleo and/or vegan recipes.
http://www.matterbyregina.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Running-Heels-Quick-Entrees-Volume/dp/0615935885
