About Pilates
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Pilates and the Stars
Pilates FAQ's

PILATES TERMS
Pilates exercises inspire a deeper body awareness, and that means getting to know various body parts and positions by name.

Here are a few terms you may or may not be familiar with but well may hear in a Pilates video, group class or personal training session.

Abduction
A muscle contraction that draws away from the midline of the body.

Adduction
A muscle contraction that draws inward to the midline of the body.

Bicep
The large upper arm muscle that flexes the forearm.

Cervical
H aving to do with the neck; the cervical vertebrae are the top seven bones in the spinal column supporting the neck and head.

Coccyx
The tailbone.

Concentric
Shortening the muscle.

Disk
A pad of shock-absorbing cartilage between two vertebrae.

Eccentric
Lengthening the muscle.

Extension
Straightening out the limb with muscles.

Flexion
Bending the limb with muscles.

Hyperextension
Straightening out the limb beyond its normal range of motion.

Neutral Spine
Keeping the natural curve in your spine during exercise rather than flattening it out or pressing it into the floor.

Ligament
A band of fibrous tissue that connects bones or cartilage at a joint or supports an organ.

Lumbar
The five large vertebrae in the lower back.

Pelvis
The lower part of the abdomen located between the hip bones, the basin-shaped structure that supports the spinal column.

Powerhouse
Joseph Pilates' term for the core region of the torso, including the abdominal muscles, pelvic girdle, buttocks and lower back.

Prone
Lying on your front, face down.

Quadriceps
The large extensor muscle at the front of the thigh.

Rectus Abdominus
The section of muscles running down the stomach that, when toned, give you those flat washboard abs.

Rotation
Twisting around a central axis.

Sacrum
The five vertebrae above the tailbone and at the top of the pelvis, usually fused together into a triangular bone.

Scapulae
Shoulder blades.

Spine
The back bone, a series of vertebrae that protects the spinal cord.

Supine
Lying on your back, face up.

Tendon
A band of flexible, fibrous tissue connecting a muscle to bone.

Thorasic
The 12 central bones in the spinal column that attach to the rib cage.

Transversus Abdominus
The deepest layer of abdominal muscles that help stabilize the core.

Triceps
The muscle at the back of the upper arm that extends or straightens the elbow.

Vertebrae
The bone segments that form the spinal column; 33 vertebrae fit together to support the back through a full range of motion.