I keep running into people using this term like it's a standard, and yet I've run into at least 3 different versions. One is : Rolling like a ball, Single-leg stretch, Criss-cross, Double-leg stretch, and Scissors; one is single-leg stretch, double-leg stretch, leg lowers, scissors, and criss-cross, and yet another is single leg lowers, leg circles, single leg stretch, criss-cross, and scissors.
So is the Series of 5 something straight from Joe, or has it been made up and modified over the years? What do you use in your Series of 5?
Thanks,
Melissa
So is the Series of 5 something straight from Joe, or has it been made up and modified over the years? What do you use in your Series of 5?
Thanks,
Melissa
posted by:
|
New York City
|
-
Re: Series of 5
Wed, November 14, 2007 - 3:58 PMThe way I'm being trained (Power Pilates) is that it is the "Ab Series". (I call it the "Better Belly Series" in Bellates(TM) - Pilates for Bellydancers. ;-) Its my understanding that this was straight from Joe, with "Rolling like a ball" being a separate exercise outside of this series. All of these exercises are in his book Contrology, I believe. (It's been a little while since I looked at it though. )
The order I use is: single leg stretch, double leg stretch, scissors, lower lift, criss cross. -
-
Re: Series of 5
Tue, November 27, 2007 - 2:39 PM"Scissors" is the easy name for "single straight leg stretch" and "lower lift" is the easy name for "double straight leg stretch", btw. -
-
Re: Series of 5
Thu, November 29, 2007 - 1:03 PMI'm a bit of a purist with the names- it really confuses students when moves get so called so many different names and names Joe didn't use. Scissors is an entirely different move from the single straight leg stretch! -
-
Re: Series of 5
Fri, November 30, 2007 - 4:31 PMAccording to my Power Pilates manual, they call it: "Scissors/Single Leg with Straight Legs." This is an entirely different exercise than the first one in the series: "Single Leg Stretch." I do agree all the names are confusing and calling this one "Scissors" really helps me and my students differentiate it from the Single Leg Stretch. Everyone has their own preferences. :-)
-
-
-
-
Re: Series of 5
Thu, November 15, 2007 - 12:07 PMThe Pilates Method Series of 5 is the single leg stretch, double leg stretch, single straight leg stretch, double straight leg stretch and the criss-cross. All are done in neutral spine and it works the rectus abdominus (very hard!) and the obliques. Rolling-like-a-Ball is done before his series in The Method but it is not part of it. The Spine Stretch Forward is done after the series. My students groan when I tell them we are going to do The Series of 5! -
-
Re: Series of 5
Thu, November 15, 2007 - 8:10 PMI do
single leg stretch
double leg stretch
single straight leg stretch
double straight leg stretch
criss cross.
I guess that makes me a traditionalist....well, except for the Middle Eastern music playing in the background. I call it the "fab five" if I call it anything at all. -
-
Re: Series of 5
Wed, December 19, 2007 - 2:40 PMThe name changes drive me nuts! I've studied with one traditional-ish school and 2 very non-traditional schools-- such a mixed bag. I get a huge amount of flexibility and creativity, but when discussing stuff with fellow teachers, so dang much confusion reigns.
Thanks for the input, guys. Any way you slice it, it's an ab-kicking series, fun to inflict upon... I mean, introduce to... students.
Melissa -
-
Re: Series of 5
Fri, April 4, 2008 - 1:25 PMthe names make me nuts too and now this is an old thread.
but I just wanted to say that this is how I understand the "tradition":
there were 5 original students of Joe's that went on to spread pilates. someone else name them. but here's the thing, clara was considered a good teacher because she could verbalize what Joe couldn't. Joe taught EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO THEIR NEED. but so of the 5 original students who went on to spread pilates, EACH OF THEM HAD A DIFFERENT IDEA of what "traditional" pilates was.
to me what this means is that pilates is TRUELY A **METHOD** and not a set of exercises.
I come from the BASI school where they don't call it the 5's but do the exercises none the less. I like this because it feels like there is less of an expectation of doing them all together or in a sequence. makes me feel like i'm being sneaky with my students! :) but then my first teachers were all Ellie Herman trained and they definitely call it the 5's and do: double leg stretch, double straight leg stretch, single leg stretch, criss cross, hamstring stretch as a set. I like to make my students groan with this. :D -
-
Re: Series of 5
Fri, April 18, 2008 - 2:45 PMYeah Arize, that's pretty much how I understand it too. The names do get a bit crazy though. I hear that Clara was definitely the more patient and communicative teacher. I like to joke and make students laugh a bit during the 5 - it lets them relax a little, but they do always groan too.
;-P
-
-
-
-
