Length is not the same as flexibility
On reach, space and the quiet strength it takes to move long.
There is a cue you hear often in Pilates: “Lengthen.” It is usually taken to mean stretch further. But length and flexibility are not the same thing.
Flexibility is a range, length is an intention
Flexibility describes how far a joint can move. Length is about how you carry your body within that range. A very flexible person can move short and compressed; someone with limited flexibility can move long and open.
Reaching takes strength
When you reach your arms overhead, it is easy to hitch your shoulders towards your ears. The real work is keeping the shoulder blades on the back and the ribs from flaring as the arms extend. It is a quiet strength: invisible from the outside, but it decides the quality of the movement.
Length is making space inside the body, not forcing the joints.
Next time you hear “lengthen”, think of creating space between your joints rather than stretching further. The movement may get smaller, but it will feel more accurate, stronger and easier.
Let’s put these notes into practice, together in class.
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