What is Uniform Development and How do we Achieve it?

Joseph Pilates was very clear when he described the intent of his method. “Our interpretation of physical fitness is the attainment and maintenance of a uniformly developed body …” (Return to Life) “We must devote ourselves … to the uniform development of our bodies as a whole…” he states again definitively. He refers to this concept over and over in his book. Have you ever truly thought about what he actually meant when he said this? What does uniform development mean to you? To your Pilates peers? To your clients? The path and the outcome to uniform development may not be the same for each of us. Uniform development, or lack of it, has an effect on whole body health. When you teach, are you focused on this outcome? How does the Pilates method achieve whole body organization? What does “uniform development of our bodies as a who include?

We will explore this concept, and discuss these questions, in our Winter Workshop
Series.

Save the Dates – January 22nd , January 29th , February 5th , and February 12th.
Four different teacher’s perspectives, diving deeply into the meaning of Joseph Pilates’
definition of physical fitness. 2-hour workshops on successive Sunday mornings. 9:00
a.m. – 11:00 a.m. MST.

$100 for individual workshops

$375 for all four Sundays

Contact kelli@thepilatescenter.com or pace@thepilatescenter.com. All workshops will
be recorded and attendees will have access to the videos for 30 days through iTPC.

January 22nd Amy Taylor Alpers

“Uniform Development” – What does it mean and how do we teach it?
As the opener for this series, I thought it wise for us to first get a clearer understanding
of what the term “uniform development” truly means. What do you think Joseph Pilates
himself, meant by it? He literally told us that it was the actual definition of physical
fitness! How is that possible? How does it lead to fitness? How many ways can you
define it? How do we teach Pilates accordingly? The path and the outcome to uniform
development will not be the same for each of us.  How do we apply it uniquely to each
person? When you teach, are you focused on this outcome? How does it affect your teaching?

What does “uniform development of our bodies as a whole” include? How
does the Pilates method achieve whole body organization?
So many great questions to explore. It was absolutely essential that many years ago I
answered these for myself personally, and thus, defined and clarified this term for
myself. Only in doing so, did I truly understand what Pilates is intended to do, and,
consequently, how to teach it for its true purpose. Uniform Development is absolutely
my fundamental guiding principle. Through discussion and looking at different bodies,
let’s clarify it for you too, so that it strengthens our teaching. Attend live if you have the
option so we can use you as an example.