Struggling with tightness, poor coordination, or sluggish progress in Pilates? Sleep may be the missing piece.
Chronic sleep debt dulls the neuromuscular system, stiffens fascia, and blunts your ability to adapt and recover. Even with consistent movement, your body can’t thrive without enough rest. In this article, we break down the science of sleep and strength, and how a lack of rest might be silently sabotaging your performance. Reclaim your mobility, energy, and core connection—starting with sleep.

Sleep and Strength: Why Rest Is Essential to Your Pilates Practice

Sleep isn’t just recovery—it’s when your body repairs muscle, reduces inflammation, and integrates movement patterns learned in class. Without it, strength gains stall, chronic pain flares up, and coordination suffers. At SOMA Movement Studio, we know that rest is an essential part of intelligent movement. In this article, we explore how sleep affects muscle performance, pain sensitivity, and nervous system regulation—and why better sleep can help you feel stronger, more balanced, and more in control. Ready to support your body beyond the studio? Start with sleep.

The posture you practice all night long matters.

While you sleep, your body spends hours in a fixed position—and that position can reinforce (or undermine) everything you’re working on in Pilates. In this post, we explore how common sleep postures affect head-forward alignment, shoulder tension, and hip imbalance—and how that shows up in class. From pillow height to knee support, you’ll learn simple ways to optimize your sleep position for better movement, less tension, and deeper strength. Wake up aligned and ready to move.

Having trouble winding down at night? Try Pilates.

Your body craves rhythm and reset before bed—and the right kind of movement can help. In this post, we share a simple five-part Pilates-inspired sequence you can do in under 10 minutes to prepare your body and mind for restful sleep. From breathwork to gentle spinal release, each movement is designed to calm the nervous system, ease muscle tension, and help you feel grounded. No equipment needed.
Perfect for winding down after a long day or kicking off your sleep challenge. 👉 Try it tonight

Joseph Pilates didn’t just invent equipment—he once patented a sleeping bed designed to “unload” your spine while you slept. His 1930 patent describes a unique V‑shaped bed, made of two adjustable inclined surfaces that offered postural support and passive spinal relief. Today’s mattress tech echoes his emphasis on position and alignment. In our newest blog post, discover the story of Pilates’s patented bed—including how it worked, what he aimed to fix, and why the concept still inspires modern sleep solutions. 👉 Read more

No Pillow? Joseph Pilates Had Opinions.

In his book Return to Life, Joe Pilates recommended sleeping without a pillow to preserve spinal alignment and reduce neck strain. But does that advice hold up today? In this post, we explore Joe’s original views, what current science says about sleep posture, and how to adapt your setup for healthier sleep. Whether you’re a back, side, or (gulp) stomach sleeper, we offer tips on pillow use, body alignment, and what your daytime posture has to do with your nighttime recovery.
👉 Read more

Did Joe Pilates Have Thoughts on Sleep? He Did—And They Still Hold Up.

While Joseph Pilates didn’t write about sleep the way we understand it today, he absolutely believed in the power of rest, rhythm, and daily movement to support overall vitality. In Return to Life Through Contrology, he advocated for firm mattresses, no pillows, and full-body exercise as essential tools for better sleep and spinal health. He also encouraged living in sync with nature—ideas that now align beautifully with what we know about circadian rhythms. Read more about his timeless (and slightly quirky) take on rest and recovery.

Is Your Sleep Position Sabotaging Your Spine?

You spend a third of your life sleeping—so the way you position your body overnight matters. In our latest blog post, we’re breaking down how common sleep positions affect your spine, core, and overall alignment. Whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach, a few simple tweaks (like pillow placement!) can ease pain, reduce tension, and support better movement in class. If you’ve been waking up stiff or sore, your sleep setup might be the missing piece.
👉 Read the full post

Meet the Psoas—Your Body’s Deepest Messenger 💫

Ever feel anxious, tense, or “on edge” without knowing why? It might be your psoas—a powerful core muscle deeply connected to your nervous system.

Known as the “muscle of the soul,” the psoas stores tension from chronic stress and emotional strain. In Pilates, gentle, breath-driven movement can help it release—supporting posture, calm, and a sense of safety from within.

This article explores how the psoas holds (and lets go of) your body’s deeper stories—and how mindful movement can help you reconnect.

✨ Start softening from the inside out.
👉 Read the full piece.

Think Balance Is Just Standing Still? Think Again. ⚖️

Ever wobbled in class and thought, “My balance is off today”? You’re not alone. Balance is a full-body, dynamic skill—not just something you’re born with.

At SOMA, we train balance from the inside out: through movement, breath, instability, and smart resistance. From the Reformer’s shifting carriage to the Wunda Chair’s split pedal, Pilates challenges your nervous system in ways that actually stick—helping you stay grounded, steady, and adaptable in real life.

✨ Balance isn’t just a pose—it’s a practice.
👉 Read the full article.

Ever Feel a Stretch in One Spot… and a Shift Somewhere Else? That’s Fascia. 🕸️

Your body isn’t a bunch of parts—it’s a connected web of tissues working as one. This article explores Anatomy Trains, a revolutionary way of understanding how fascia links muscles into powerful lines of movement across your entire body.

At SOMA, we use Pilates to train not just muscles—but the fascia that communicates, stabilizes, and transmits force from head to toe.

🌀 Move better. Feel stronger. Understand the lines that hold it all together.

👉 Dive into the full article.

It all begins with an idea.

Why does “Pilates” look different everywhere you go? 🤔 It’s not just your imagination.

In 2000, a lawsuit ruled that the word “Pilates” couldn’t be trademarked—making it a free-for-all. Suddenly, Pilates was everywhere... but not always in its true form.

At SOMA, we stay grounded in the method Joseph Pilates called Contrology—rooted in breath, alignment, and whole-body integration. We don’t just teach a trending workout—we teach a practice built to last a lifetime.

Want to know how a court case changed the fitness world forever? Read the full article on our blog to uncover the story behind the name.

How Does Pilates Build Strength Without Bulk?

Spoiler: it’s not magic—it’s muscle science.

At SOMA, we focus on eccentric contraction—a powerful type of muscle activation where you resist rather than push. Think: slowly lowering from a bridge or controlling your leg against spring tension on the Reformer.

This kind of movement:

• Builds strength with less strain

• Tones and lengthens muscles

• Trains your brain and body to move with control

It’s why Pilates feels different—and why it works.

Curious what’s happening in your muscles mid-movement? Read the full breakdown.

Sensation Before Strength

Real change doesn’t start in your muscles—it starts in your nervous system. At SOMA, we teach clients to slow down and feel movement before trying to power through it. Why? Because when your nervous system feels safe and engaged, your body can move with more strength, freedom, and ease.

This article explores why awareness and sensation are the missing links to lasting results in Pilates—and gives you tools to build a deeper practice.

✨ Curious what happens when you train your nervous system first?

Ever watch a cat stretch or twist and think, “How do they move like that?” 🐈‍⬛ At SOMA, we believe your spine is capable of that same graceful strength—and Pilates is the closest we can get to unlocking it.

Inspired by feline flexibility, our method trains your spine to move with fluidity, segment by segment. With core support, breath, and control, we help you rediscover the kind of effortless motion your body was designed for.

Want to move like a cat—strong, supple, and responsive? Start with your spine. 🌀

Read the full article on our blog.

Where did Pilates really begin? 💡

Before it became a global movement, Pilates was called Contrology—a method born from one man’s determination to heal his own body. From a sickly childhood in Germany to inventing the Reformer in a WWI internment camp, Joseph Pilates dedicated his life to developing a system that united strength, breath, and mindful movement.

His journey led to New York, where he and his wife Clara began transforming lives—one spine at a time.

Curious how his legacy still lives on in studios like SOMA? Dive into the story behind the method and the man who started it all.

👣 Tibial Torsion & Pilates: Realigning from the Ground Up
Ever notice your knees and feet pointing in different directions during class? You might be experiencing tibial torsion—a common twist in the shin bone that can affect alignment, balance, and joint health. The good news? Pilates is uniquely suited to help. By focusing on precise alignment, foot engagement, and glute activation, you can retrain your body to move with greater ease and efficiency.

✨ Curious how one subtle shift can make your whole practice feel better?
Read the full article to explore exercises and tips for long-term lower limb health:

Momentum in Pilates: Friend or Foe?
We don’t talk about momentum much in Pilates—but it’s there, shaping every movement. In early training, too much momentum can mask weakness or bypass control. In advanced work, it becomes a test of precision, timing, and power. The key isn’t to avoid momentum—it’s to master it. Can you ride the energy of the movement without losing connection to your center? That’s the art. That’s the method. Read the full article to explore how Pilates teaches you to move through momentum with clarity, intention, and grace.

Meet the Duo Behind Pilates: Joe and Clara 💛

Joseph Pilates may be the name you know—but the heart of the method wouldn’t be complete without Clara Pilates, his teaching partner and wife.

While Joe was the visionary behind Contrology, Clara brought care, clarity, and adaptability to the practice. She refined how it was taught, supported clients with compassion, and helped shape the legacy we know today.

This article dives into their partnership, Clara’s quiet leadership, and how both their influences still echo in every class at SOMA.

✨ A story of strength and sensitivity.
👉 Read the full post.