BASIC SYSTEM ~ WATER
Joseph Pilates referred to the Basic System as the heart and soul of the method. It is the foundation of the classical Pilates work. It’s the footings, the roots, the foundation of the classical Pilates work and the place and knowing from which we build a practice, for ourselves and for our clients. We have to establish a solid, true, stable root system before we can begin growing and advancing into the Intermediate material, the Wood Element of our workout and our instruction.
In truly comprehending the Basics, we connect (as both practitioner and instructor) to the essence of the exercise, the movement. The essence has everything to do with why we do this movement, in addition to what the form is, where we do it, how we initiate and execute, and when in a unique workout. The why is the Water energy, and it is essential to begin with and to return back to again and again.
Pausing and diving in for deeper understanding of the essence of an exercise calls on all the senses, asks for genuine connection and presence, and requires tuning in to find resonance in the moment, in the body.
As an instructor, our teaching skills take root in the Water Element, where we remain connected to why we are teaching this client, this exercise. Why we might modify or add a variation. And they help us know when a client is ready to progress and advance.
Remember, that even the most simple, the most basic exercises truly LIGHT UP if the client is connected to the essence. The entire body lights ups and is engaged, turned on, has resonance if connection is true. If it’s not, ask for a little more, move to a different apparatus, move on and come back to it, or just engage the conversation with the client.
The Four Foundations of Movement are pillars rising soundly from a well laid foundation: Frame, Powerhouse, Opposition, Flexibility.
The Four Foundations are present in every exercise, every workout, every transition of a Pilates workout. Leaning into these helps both the client and the instructor stay connected, clear, and attune :
Alignment of the frame
Engagement of the powerhouse
Creating opposition and stretch
Complete flexibility of the spine
Aim to help your client understand these concepts of movement in the body (not just conceptually in the mind). Be clear in your instruction, thus helping your client build a disciplined Pilates practice. Be patient and persistent to ensure that the foundation is strong before advancing. When a client first begins their journey into Pilates, your role as the instructor is like planting a seed. Germination takes time, and the timing of growth is unique to the individual. The work and the process of growth is the client’s to own. As instructor, be deliberate, clear, simple, and tactful in your instructional cuing as to not overwhelm the client with too much information too soon.
Educate your client that Pilates is not only an incredibly effective form of exercise, but is also a way of moving through the world. Clients will then understand that what they gain through the Pilates work will have a positive impact on their activities in everyday life and will improve their overall quality of life. Every Pilates workout enhances the client’s connection of mind and body.
Revisit the exercises in the Basic system again and again, in your personal workout and with your most advanced clients. The Water Element energetics remain omnipresent. There is so much to gain from the fundamentals in the development of the body, the refinement of the mind, and the grounding of the spirit.