Pilates developed by Joseph Pilates has its main focus on our core muscles, those muscles that help keep our body strong and provide essential support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and strengthen the deep torso muscles. Developed by Eric Franklin, the Franklin Method is about movement education. It is based on the use of imagery. The body was designed to move. Where there is lack of movement life becomes stagnant and stale. What a perfect union. Horse and carriage, love and marriage.  Pilates and Franklin Method. Good Form + Bad Function = Faker by Gini Martnez There’s a well known quote “Fake it till you make it”. Great advice for many endeavors in which you need to exude confidence while you gain experience which will likely build more genuine confidence. But, when it comes to movement, especially exercise, faking it can actually do more harm than good. I know this from experience. Following the birth of my first son, my regular Pilates practice became more sporadic due to a move across the country and the births of my second & third sons within three more years. Three babies in under 4 years could do a number on anyone’s core, so I wasn’t shocked when I returned to a consistent practice & the exercises seemed more difficult. But, I was genuinely frustrated when I developed lower back & neck pain. How could I present myself as a teacher of a methodology designed to correct such problems if I couldn’t prevent them in my own body? While in the midst of struggling with my own Pilates practice, I attended a Franklin Method® workshop taught by its creator Eric Franklin & co-director Morten Dithmer. I’d read Eric’s book Relax Your Neck, Liberate Your Shoulders & found his use of imagery truly inspiring. After taking his workshop on the knee, however, I came to understand that there was much more to his method than vivid imagery. In 3 hours I learned more about the function of my knees than I had during years of my Pilates training & studying anatomy. I stress the word “my” because that’s an important point. Having intellectual information or understanding the concept of how the knee works is one thing, but becoming intimately familiar with & feeling how my very own knee can function well is something altogether different. During the workshop I discovered the intricate workings of my giant knee joints & how, if imagined well, I could improve their function thus needing less muscular effort to support their movement which would increase their longevity. Pretty hefty stuff, but the brilliant way in which it was all taught made it quite easy for my brain to quickly incorporate it into my body. I immediately recognized how this brilliance could enhance my personal Pilates practice as well as my teaching of the method, so I pursued the Franklin Method® teacher training. I came to realize the real problem with my Pilates work. I was a Faker. See, I used to be a dancer & I am skilled at mimicking or recreating a movement so it looks good but doesn’t necessarily feel good. I could create the form of the Pilates repertoire but I was doing so with bad function which caused an immense amount of muscular tension in my body. Before my three pregnancies, my body could fake it with little consequence but now the faking was over. My poor function was wreaking havoc with my muscular coordination & I could no longer hide it. Charade over.  But, as G.I. Joe used to say, “Knowing is half the battle.” Franklin Method® gave me a clearer picture of how my bones & muscles naturally interact with each other to create safe and efficient movement so I could perform exercises like Teaser & the Roll-up with less effort, more control, precision & fluidity. Now, as a Level II Franklin Method® instructor, I have the pleasure of helping others connect to the principles of Pilates by rediscovering their body’s natural ability with the help of functional imagery, which develops a deeper mind-body experience. Are you a faker? Do you want to look like a Pilates pro but are exhausted by the effort required? I invite you to explore the Franklin Method®. After all… Good Form + Good Function = Genuinely Happy Body! Gini Martinez is a mother & a former dancer. She completed her comprehensive Pilates training with the PhysicalMind Institute in 1998. She became licensed to teach the Franklin Method® in May 2008. Gini teaches a number of Level II Franklin Method® workshops throughout the country to mind-body instructors & students alike. She has taught at Pilates & dance studios, elementary & high schools, a hospital & theatre company. Gini has a B log that I guarantee you will love & want to keep up with or for up to date info  Pilateyourbody Website. You can also follow Gini on Twitter or ‘Like’ her on Facebook Susan Sommers is a Pilates Instructor for Pilates Body NYC specializing in those 50+ in the NYC area