Apparently there is film of Joseph Pilates doing Standing Work, which I gather he used as a "Warm-Up" before commencing the Matwork Series.

Does anyone have  a list of these exercises with images, and details of how he intended them to be executed? 

Has anyone studied this work, and it's application to the Classical Matwork?

Thank you. Colin Henry.

Colin, you should do a Google search for Mary Bowen, a Pilates Elder and find out how to contact her directly. She has the DVD of this footage for sale. I recommend getting it because it’s archival and important to know about. It’s also fun to do and it shows the real variety of what Joseph Pilates intended in his work. As far as its relation or application to Classical Pilates, it is Classical.

It is what Joseph Pilates did himself although I do not know of any written indication by him on how to execute them or teach them. I’ve taught many of the exercises and sequences of the black and white footage and I encourage you to just try it out.

Good Luck!

Hello Coleen:

 I very much appreciate your help and support. I did know about Mary Bowen's DVD and it is on my shopping list! I have been practising the Standing Work for some month's as I am finding that functional movement brings balance back to the body for more efficient movement, and I am beginning to think it compliments and strengthens my matwork movements. Just a personal experience and observation!

Good Wishes to you. Colin.

Coleen:

I have been thinking more about your comments regarding the Standing/Vertical Pilates work, practised by Joseph Pilates, and hope you don't mind if I ask you if you consider the book entitled "Standing Pilates" written by Joan Breibart to be "Classical", in the context of what you told me about the Standing work in Mary Bowens DVD's.

Additionally,there has been quite a lot of work done with the Vertical application of the Classical Matwork, drawing on the Laban Movement Analysis and the work of Rolfer Hubert Godard to create sequence of movements/exercises that trains functional movement with the Standing Position. I would be most interested to learn from your further views and knowledge of this work, particularily from a Classical point of view.

Thanking you again for your support. Colin.

Hi Colin,

I'm very interested in the standing/vertical pilates work.  I've noticed a workshop or two on the standing work in some conferences.  I have a new client with fusion in her entire Thoracic spine and can only lay on her back for small amounts of time due to the actual clips from the metal rods "digging in".  She's amazing, swims everyday and is and was extremely fit.  I can't wait to expose her to this work from Godard, I think Joseph would agree, whatever way you can bring your client to connect with the powerhouse is worth trying, keeping the session classical as much as possible. My client is very strong "globally" speaking, plays tennis, powerwalks but is extremely challenged by leg springs from our first session.  Kneeling and standing work will be the bulk of our repetoire. I'll be checking in to see what comes of this post!

Regards,

Heather

Hello Heather:

How very interesting to read your post about your client. She has great spirit. I am hoping Master Trainer Coleen will enlighten us further with her views on the subject.

May I ask who was presenting the Standing Work you saw at the conferences please?

Thank you.

Colin.

It's very interesting what you’re experiencing and talking about with "Vertical" Pilates. I think I need to make some things clear though in regard to my previous response. In recent years the Physicalmind has promoted a new thing of theirs, its Vertical Pilates. Essentially classical mat work done standing and presumably its variation helps get different and deeper connections for some. In this regard I have little experience. When I first mentioned standing Pilates I was referencing the exercises and movements seen on Mary Bowens DVD. These movements are more gymnastic/boxing/wresting related and are full bodied vigorous routines that are really fun. There is one segment where Joseph Pilates and a dancer are going at it head to head, head wrestling, with their hands behind their back. Ha, try that out in a mat class!  They are not, however, doing the classical mat work repositioned vertically but they are working vertically.

Let's talk seriously here. The largest base of support we have is the earth (the mat) and our entire spine lies on it to start the work.  Remember Return to Life and what Joseph Pilates said? He said to start horizontal in order to relieve undue strain and stress on the joints and on the heart. As well, consider what we do when we lie down and curl both ends of the spine toward our center, moving distally to more proximally as in executing Hundred, We're working against gravity to strengthen the anterior chain, just as an infant does to develop the strength to stand up against gravity and walk in the world. This base of support also provides feedback on exercise posiitoning. Generally speaking this process is what we encourage and promote with Peak Pilates and what is true to classical Pilates. At the end of the session we eventually work up to vertical positions and incorporate the corrections/awareness achieved earlier in the session when lying, sitting or kneeling. The goal is ultimatley a healthy, functional spine vertically, one that supports us in all life’s' endeavors.  

Heather, I really like the idea of Vertical Pilates with your special client. Keep me posted on how things progress with her. My response may not be what you were expecting. I certainly can't offer you advice on teaching Vertical Pilates or promote its efficiency in any way. All I can do is to encourage you to think about your choices and encourage you to investigate things and work them out through your own experience. While you are doing this stay close to your Classical roots and use that as the filter to analyze what you observe and also what you do. 

Respectively,

Dear Coleen:

My reason for asking about the PMI introduction of Standing/Vertical Pilates was to establish if it belonged to the true Classical Pilates Method, which you have answered, and also, because I discovered some month's ago that I needed to strengthen my legs in order to perform some of the Advanced Mat exercises.

To explain:

I use Peter Fiasca's "Classical Pilates Technique - The Complete Mat Workout Series" to practice with every week.There are a few exercises/movements in the Advanced section, namely; Side Bends; Star on the apparatus, and transfered to the mat, and the Push Up - Variation where you do it using one leg. I found that they really challenged my ability to hold the movements with good technique. So I started taking an interest in the Vertical work, with the hope that I would be targeting the right muscle groups to give the additional strength, balance and control I needed. After many weeks of practising and using just a few Vertical movements with this goal in mind, I find it has definately helped me. Nothing more.

Also, I am not in a position to know, but, you may well have hit the nail on the head when you referred to the concept of Vertical Pilates as a "Shapes in Space concept taken further" !

In your very detailed and helpful response Coleen, you have asked three questions. For my part, I want to dispel any thoughts you may have that I am looking at the Standing/Vertical work as some sort of alternative to the Classical Work. Absolutely not. I am a student "devotee of the Classical Matwork" that is my focus, and I strive daily to improve. That is my primary goal.

Your advice to "keep furthering your studies in the Classical work and its progressions ..........................we need the whole picture before we can really understand the pieces" articulates exactly what I strive to do with the matwork. Why don't you consider producing a Workshop or a dossier further progressing the understanding and depth of each of the Classical Matwork exercises so that we can learn to truly master the floor work of Joseph Pilates Method? I for one would love it.

May I just say how fortunate I feel we are to be a member of the Peak Pilates family, and benefit from such wonderful support.

Thank you again. Colin.

Hi Colleen,

Thank you for your response and wonderful advice.  I will keep you posted and will take good notes.  The one thing I can say for sure is just getting her into the studio after such a traumatic physical and mental experience is a miracle itself.  She's learning to trust "me", "pilates" and herself again.  She's feeling safe with pilates and has realized the many benefits of continued training in this movement system, the hope and gleem in her eyes when she "feels" her scoop and potential is gives her is like winning again (for her).  She was an elite equestrian and polo player that was tops in her level of play.  I relate to her, after a period of time as an Army Officer and competitive athlete in college. 

I agree with your insight on a "shapes in space", this can be ballet type work and it suits her, she feels movement again and helps her balance and feel strong, like your ladies group.

 I take what I do seriously but there is a point in our time together that we just plain discover what she "can" do and really work from there.  I've never met her before the accident, but worked with her husband for three months until she was ready to meet me with his encouragment.  You have to really know the style of teacher you are and know your limits, it will be a journey for both of us.  She starts her hundreds sitting on a large ball (which took her months in PT prior to even hold her torso up in a sitting position), keeping her body quiet and can really feel the work here, she's was able to roll-back with roll-back bar on tower end and was determined to roll-up (we will continue to work on this one!, slowly) and can now lay on a slight angle using a special tempurpedic type pillow under spine with a mat roll under head, for short intervals of time for small leg circles..... I will continue to base everything I do with mindful classical pilates sequencing, flow and principles.  In my studio which I own, I've created an environment of safety, support and classical Peak pilates as a standard of practice and teaching. 

I also feel fortunate to part of the Peak family and will continue to train with the Peak education system in hopes to be a teacher trainer one day. Thank you again Colleen for a terrific forum, I'll be checking back daily.

Sincerely,

Heather McGill

Banyan Street Pilates

Boca Grande, FL