Powerhouse: A Core Concept

Joseph Pilates started his exercise regimen and philosophy with the aim of getting practictioners to focus on their core; the area of the body comprised of the muscles between the upper pelvic bone and the bottom of the rib cage including the abdominal, lower back, glute and hip muscles. He referred to this zone as The Powerhouse.

The muscles in the powerhouse zone work in harmony to create a protective band that stabilizes your core. Every motion in Pilates from basic stretching to more complex positions begins and ends with a strong core.

Whether you are new to Pilates or a seasoned veteran it is vital that you concentrate on the powerhouse zone. It will give you the energy, strength and control needed to progress to more intense reformer Pilates workouts.

The benefits of powerhouse conditioning extend beyond the Pilates mat. A strong core will help you improve in a variety of physical activities, it will help you avoid injury and it will give you improved posture.

And of course as one of the six guiding principles, concentration is of the utmost importance. Concentrate on your powerhouse and will see improvements in your Pilates routine and in your overall health.