Movement moment Archives - Page 3 of 5

Hip Flexors Explained: Why They Feel Tight, Weak, and What to Do About It

If you’ve ever felt like your hips are always “tight” no matter how much you stretch or weak when you actually try to use them – you’re not alone.

The hip flexors are some of the busiest muscles in the body, and when they’re misunderstood, they get unfairly blamed for all kinds of aches and restrictions.

Let’s break it down.

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Why Your Neck Moves Like Nothing Else

Movement moment

— and why that matters more than you think

We stretch it, brace it, twist it, carry tension in it…

But how often do we actually understand what the neck is built for?

The cervical spine—aka your neck—is the most mobile and least protected part of your spine.

And while that mobility is essential (you wouldn’t be able to reverse park without it), it also makes your neck vulnerable to overuse, strain, and injury.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes your neck so unique—and how understanding its structure can help you move and feel better.

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Why Is My Neck Doing All the Work? (And What to Do About It)

Movement moment

If your neck is always sore after Pilates, it’s not because you’re doing it wrong. It’s because your body is trying its best—with the tools it currently has. The body is smart and has adaptations.

We often think of Pilates as “core” work, but what happens when the core is offline—or doesn’t know how to start the job? The neck muscles, particularly the sternocleidomastoids and upper trapezius, often jump in to save the day. Only problem? They weren’t designed for the job they’re doing.

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Walking with Confidence: Gait, Aging, and Movement Longevity

Movement moment

Gait—the simple act of walking—is more complex than it looks. It’s a combination of neural control, joint mobility, muscular coordination, and proprioceptive feedback.

And just like breath or posture, we don’t notice our gait until something goes wrong.

As Pilates professionals, understanding gait deeply allows us to identify red flags, restore optimal movement, and support longevity in our clients.

This post unpacks what a healthy gait looks like, how it changes as we age, and what we can actually do to improve it—grounded in current research, not outdated posture cues or “tight hamstring” blame.

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Rethinking Core Stability: Why Bracing Isn’t the Answer (and Breath Might Be)

Movement moment

Engage your core” might be the most overused—and underexplained—cue in modern movement.

It sounds powerful. It sounds scientific. But is it actually?

The idea that there is a group of muscles (the so-called “core”) that, when properly activated, will stabilise the spine, prevent injury, and cure low back pain is one of the most persistent myths in the rehab and fitness world. Read on to see what science has to say about this.

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Breathing: The Missing Link in Movement

Movement moment

As a mum to a boy with asthma and a former yoga teacher, breath isn’t a novelty to me—it’s a necessity. I’ve spend countless visits to the emergency rooms with Neil since he was 3 yo using oxygen masks, steroids and all sorts of in-patient treatments.

I’ve taught people how to “just breathe” before I truly understood what that even meant. Now, after years in the health and fitness industry, and with the obsession with the science of movement, I’ve come to see breath as the quiet backbone of everything we do.

I also like to keep things simple. And breath is not simple. It’s layered, complex, and deeply tied into everything from spinal mechanics to emotional regulation. But if we can learn to understand it—not over-control it or mystify it—we can make our teaching more effective and our practice more sustainable.

Get ready it is a TLDR – if you want concise version – subscribe to my newsletter below.

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