Why should I pick up the box?

By Daniela Escobar

Why should I pick up the box? The importance of being independent in your Pilates practice

I’ll never forget the day one of my long time clients asked me why she should pick up the box when doing the short box series, instead of me picking up the box for her. Of course, the question was followed by a long lecture by me, being the Pilates nerd I am. It’s easy for me to see, as a Pilates instructor, that things we do in the studio can be all translated into our everyday lives, but if you were never taught that, it may be hard to recognize it.

So let me take you back in time to Joseph Pilates’ studio on 8th avenue in New York City, while he was still alive. It was an open gym, just like my mentor Jay Grimes and most recently John Steel, in his book called “Caged Lion”, recall. You would get there for your first lesson, Joseph Pilates or Clara Pilates would teach you a few exercises on the reformer and maybe the mat and after that, a couple of lessons later, you would be on your own. Of course, there were pictures on the wall with the exercises and they would be around correcting and helping everyone as needed. Eventually, when the client was ready to progress, they would add a couple of new exercises, but that was it. No notes. You, the reformer and your routine. That means, the client was independent since day one and they had to be focused enough in their own bodies to know what to do.

This way of working taught the client, since the very first day, that they were responsible for their own workout and their own safety in the studio. The instructor was just a facilitator, a guide, someone who watched the client for better alignment, more effective pace in the workout, hands on adjustments, among other things. But independence goes way beyond knowing the order of exercises.

“There’s a point where you become Pilates and Pilates becomes you”. That’s one of the many jewels Jay Grimes says in his workshops. When I heard that, it really resonated with me. You see… the way you pick up the box in the studio when you are connected to your center, will translate into how you pick up your groceries at the supermarket. The way you have to figure out how to sit on the short box, pick up the strap and tuck one foot after the other, takes a lot of problem solving. This may come naturally when we are young, but as we get older, simple things like that get harder. Another one, setting up the extension straps to do frogs and circles, this little maneuver teaches you a great deal of fine motor skills. Oh boy, I could spend the whole day talking about this… In short, you take Pilates to your life outside the studio if your instructor is not doing them all for you!

That’s exactly what being independent teaches you, to be self-sufficient, to recognize in your body when you go up the stairs, that you are basically doing “Going up front” on the Wunda/High Chair and apply it. Or when you have to sit up, remember how to use your center just like you do during Rolling Like a Ball or the Roll Up. Being independent and remembering the things your instructor tells you in the studio will help you tremendously on making good choices outside the studio and therefore, prevent injuries.

So I challenge you.. next time you are in the studio, or at home doing your virtual workouts, surprise your instructor by showing her/him you know what the next exercise is or, even better, go grab that box yourself and show her/him how you use your center, pull your shoulders down and use your feet with balance and efficiency.