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Abs – The Four Layers of the Abdominals (ep 010)
While we hope you enjoy the Pilates exercises we bring you weekly, we want to be sure that Pilates beginners and advanced Pilates practitioners alike know as much as possible about their abdominal muscles! Knowing more about these important muscles that support the spine and low back can help you perform Pilates exercises more effectively and get the most out of your Pilates workout.
All true Pilates exercises should engage all 4 layers of the abdominal muscles as much as possible. The key to core strength and thus the most effective Pilates workout is engaging the deepest layer of the abdominal muscles, the transversus abdominus, at all times. Even advanced Pilates practitioners will not see the results they could if they neglect the deepest abdominal muscle! So if you are a Pilates beginner, it is best to set yourself up with excellent Pilates exercise habits now so that you can enjoy efficient and effective Pilates workouts.
Pilates yoga enthusiasts can use this knowledge to make simple exercises much more difficult. For instance, Pilates beginners who feel that the Pilates exercises they do are too easy, but the more advanced Pilates exercises are too hard, can focus on drawing their belly buttons to their spines and narrowing their waists as much as possible while executing their Pilates workout. Pilates yoga practitioners can apply this knowledge to yoga exercises, Pilates exercises and all workouts for that matter! The more you practice engaging all four layers of the abdominal muscles in your Pilates workout as well as all your workouts, the more it will become a habit – a good habit! Your Pilates yoga workouts will be more efficient and effective!
