09/11/2026
Truth is, there’s room for both ⬇️
When we’re lying on our backs in a Pilates class, we want to understand why we choose one position over another.
In neutral, the spine maintains its natural curves, giving us an opportunity to practice 360° breathing.. allowing the rib cage to expand into the front, sides, and back of the body.
Think of your core like a cylinder: diaphragm on top, pelvic floor on the bottom. When we inhale, the diaphragm descends and the pelvic floor responds, creating a natural pressure system throughout the body.
When we forcefully imprint into the mat, we change that relationship. The pelvis tucks, the low back flattens, and we can lose some of that natural 360° expansion and pelvic floor movement.
That doesn’t make imprint wrong. It’s an incredibly useful tool for certain movements! But we don’t want our bodies to only know one position.
Neutral gives us a place to practice breath, support, and awareness so eventually, our bodies can find that organization without us having to think about it.
