2 pages due in 6 hours

Pilates Mat Class

Non-Majors

Dance 103 Section B Code: 02131

Fall 2017

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 2:00-2:50, DS120

2 units

Claire Trevor School of the Arts, UC Irvine

Department of Dance

Professor of record - Diane Diefenderfer [email protected]

Teaching Associate –David McMahan [email protected]

Course Description:

The Pilates Mat Class is an introduction to the Pilates Method with an emphasis on kinesthetic awareness and injury prevention. The traditional mat exercises will be introduced, analyzed and practiced with the goal being a thorough understanding of the work as it applies to the individual student.

Methods and Procedures:

The course will be taught by the instructor as a studio technique class. Students will be required to provide their own mat and theraband. The instructor will demonstrate and verbally explain each Pilates mat exercise, including primary focus of each movement, correct breathing techniques and modifications as deemed necessary. The students will practice each exercise and movement pattern as instructed by the teacher and apply corrections given both physically and verbally. There will be discussion of the work among the instructor and the class including question and answer and problem solving.

Course Content:

This course will cover the traditional Pilates Mat exercises as created by Joseph Pilates in his methods of Body Contrology. Discussion will include history of Joseph Pilates, the creator of the Method.

· Fundamentals of the Method: breath, control, centering, precision, fluid movement and concentration.

· Exploring spinal alignment, neutral pelvis

· Abdominal awareness and definition of the “Core” – transverse abdominals, diaphragm, pelvic floor, multifidous

· Appropriate stretching techniques

· The classic Pilates Mat exercises as originally devised by Joseph Pilates

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the 10-week course, the student will demonstrate:

· an understanding of the Pilates principle of breath as it relates to movement

· a heightened awareness of the “core”; strengthened abdominals and how they act as stabilizers and initiators of movement

· correct stretching techniques resulting in elongated musculature

· overall proper alignment, including the spine, pelvis and hip/knee/foot

· increased kinesthetic awareness

· techniques to reduce and eliminate injuries

· the traditional Pilates Mat repertoire

Requirements:

Dress code – students shall wear leotard and tights or tight fitting top and leggings. No shorts or bare midriffs. Warm up clothing is allowed until students are warm. Feet should be bare, clean and free of oils/lotions. Hair must be worn away from the face and neck so as not to interfere with movement. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum. No heavy scents please as the Pilates work requires constant and full breathing techniques.

Absences – students are expected to attend every class meeting. If the student is injured or not well, they may attend class and watch, take notes to be turned in at the end of class and receive credit for attendance. If the student is out sick, a doctor’s note for verification will be required to excuse the absence. For any additional absences, the student’s grade will be lowered by one step for each additional absence.

Promptness – students must be on time for class. When the student arrives after the roll has been taken, he/she will be counted as tardy. Three tardies equal one absence. When arriving more than 10 minutes late, student will watch the remainder of the class.

Participation – students are expected to come to class with a positive attitude and energy to work. They should be willing to listen, discuss and question new ideas and techniques and be ready to apply the principals to their own bodies. The students should be enthusiastic and committed in their desire to improve their technique.

Written assignment — The classic Pilates Mat Exercises were designed to include a well-rounded flow of movements. Describe 4 traditional mat exercises, learned in class, that would make up a balanced set of movements, including a combination of the following: spinal flexion, extension, lateral flexion (side-bending), and rotation. Be concise and clear. Use anatomical vocabulary, cues/directions, and imagery from class, as well as your own understanding and exploration of the movements. This assignment should be 2 pages in length. Hard copy due – October 31, 2017. Students taking the class for the 2nd time - write a 2 page paper analyzing the following quote from the reading material – “he (Pilates) was trying to capture the best effects of both the Western and Eastern approaches to physical and mental conditioning in a unified, consistent system.” Hard copy due – October 31, 2017.

Evaluation/Grading:

Focus, committed participation, technical ability, application of principles – 50%

Written assignment – 20%

Final exam – 30%