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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Why “Lengthen the Back of Your Neck” Is More Than Just a Cue 🧠🧘‍♀️

That gentle reminder in class? It’s not just about posture—it’s about your nervous system, vision, and whole-body alignment.

At the base of your skull are the suboccipital muscles—tiny but mighty players that affect tension, gaze, balance, and even how you breathe. When they’re tight (hello, screen time), they can trigger headaches, neck pain, and disorientation.

This article explores how subtle movements like head nods and skull glides can reset these deep muscles and bring clarity back to your system.

✨ Small shift, big impact.
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What Makes the Pilates Reformer So Powerful?

At first glance, the Pilates Reformer may look intimidating—but this spring-loaded machine is one of the most effective tools for building strength, mobility, and body awareness.

Born from Joseph Pilates’ creativity during WWI, the Reformer was designed to help injured patients regain movement from their hospital beds. Today, it’s beloved by athletes, dancers, and anyone looking to move smarter.

With adjustable resistance, full-body engagement, and joint-friendly support, the Reformer helps you train with intention, balance, and control.

💡 Curious about how it works and why it’s so effective? Read the full story here.

What Is Weight-Bearing Exercise—And Why Does Your Body Crave It? 🦴✨

Weight-bearing movement isn’t just for gym-goers or runners. It’s any activity that makes your body work against gravity—and it’s essential for strong bones, muscles, and aging well.

From walking and climbing stairs to bridging and standing lunges in Pilates, weight-bearing helps build bone density, improve balance, and boost full-body strength. At SOMA, we integrate this through smart, supported movement—often without impact.

💡 Curious how Pilates builds strength and protects your joints?

👉 Read the full article to see why your bones (and future self) will thank you.

Feeling Tight, Tense, or Low on Energy? It Might Be Magnesium 💫

Magnesium is a quiet hero in your Pilates practice—supporting muscle recovery, nervous system balance, and even your mood. Yet most of us aren’t getting enough.

From easing post-class cramps to calming cortisol, this essential mineral plays a powerful role in how you move and feel. But not all magnesium is created equal—glycinate, citrate, threonate… which one’s right for you?

This article breaks it down and helps you find the best match for your body and goals.

✨ Small mineral, big impact.
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Why “Press Through Your Big Toe” Really Matters 🦶✨

Ever wonder why Pilates instructors keep cueing “press into the ball of your big toe”? It’s not just poetic—it’s powerful.

This article dives into the importance of the first metatarsal (just behind your big toe) and how it anchors your balance, supports your arches, and connects your feet to your core. When this area is underused or collapsed, it can affect everything from posture to joint health.

Pilates helps you retrain this connection—one foot press at a time.

👣 Ready to stand stronger from the ground up?
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Your Deep Core: More Than Just Abs 🌀

Think “core strength” is all about crunches? Think again.

Your deep core—made up of the diaphragm, pelvic floor, transversus abdominis, and multifidus—is your body’s inner support system. It regulates intra-torso pressure, which affects everything from posture and breath to balance, strength, and even stress response.

At SOMA, we don’t teach you to brace—we teach you to breathe and engage with intention. This article unpacks how your deep core works, why it matters, and how Pilates helps you move from the inside out.

✨ Real strength starts at your center.
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Not All Breaths Are Created Equal 🫁

In Pilates, how you breathe matters just as much as when. At SOMA, we treat breath as a powerful part of your movement—not just an add-on.

This article breaks down the three main breathing patterns—abdominal, intercostal, and cervical—and when to use them. You’ll learn why intercostal (ribcage) breathing is best for core engagement, why belly breathing isn’t ideal mid-Reformer, and how breath impacts posture, stability, and even stress levels.

✨ Want to move (and breathe) with more control, support, and ease? Read the full article.