It’s that time of year to reflect and give recognition for all the hard work you’ve done. Gold stars for all of our mat class participants!
You’ve successfully Pilates-ed your way up the kinetic chain, reaching the final piece of the skeleton—the head. Along the way, you’ve worked through the feet, knees, hips, spine, and shoulders. That’s no small task, and it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate how much ground you’ve covered.
The head, as the top of the kinetic chain, has a significant impact on the rest of the body. Did you know the average adult head weighs around 10-12 pounds? When it’s properly aligned over the spine, this weight is evenly supported, minimizing strain. But when the head is misaligned—too far forward, tilted, or off-center—it places extra stress on the neck, shoulders, and upper back, creating tension and even altering the body’s balance. Understanding and maintaining good head alignment is crucial for efficient movement and reducing unnecessary wear on the rest of the body.
We’re packing in four head-centric classes into the first two weeks of December, with recordings available until January. Be sure to sign up for all four—you and your head won’t want to miss them!
December Schedule:
Monday, December 2nd @ 12pm with Destinie
Wednesday, December 4th @ 12pm with Molly
Monday, December 9th @ 12pm with Destinie
Wednesday, December 11th @ 12pm with Molly
Class Themes:
Monday, December 2nd @ 12pm with Destinie:
The fascia just beneath the skin of your face does more than you might think—it helps shape the holiday smiles you share with loved ones (and those half-smiles for all the weird uncles out there). This layer, called superficial fascia, houses blood vessels, nerves, and fat, making it essential for both movement and expression.
Today’s class begins with a MELT MethodⓇ facial massage to hydrate this fascia, followed by techniques to release tension at the back of your skull. Why focus there? The back of your skull is part of the same fascial line that connects your back, glutes, hamstrings, calves, and even your feet. By hydrating this area, we’re setting up the entire posterior chain for better function and smoother movement.
Next, we’ll work on exercises to realign your skull and explore how to sense where your head is in space—even when it’s not upright. Can you manage your head when it’s tilted or even upside down? Let’s find out! It’s a full-body reset, starting from the top. Prop: a soft foam roller and hand towel. Optional: MELTⓇ Hand and Foot Kit
Wednesday, December 4th @ 12pm with Molly:
Today, we'll explore the head's ability to turn! Not the most groundbreaking of concepts, but we’ve likely all experienced inhibited range of motion in the neck during the frenzy that is the holiday season.
Using our MELTⓇtechniques on our upper bodies, we’ll rehydrate the fascia of the chest and back. We'll then dive into the rotational exercises on the mat (i.e. corkscrew, saw, neck roll, spine twist) and how finding freedom in our head-turns can better inform the rest of the body below.
Prop: a soft foam roller
Did this newsletter spark your interest? Learn more about our Pilates Studio by visiting out website at www.pilatesincommon.com or check out our YouTube channel here. Subscribe below for alerts on new posts!
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