BASI - Module 1 - The Fundamentals
Can you be in a Neutral Spine position without maintaining a Neutral Pelvis
position? - ANS - No. When the spine is in a neutral position the pelvis must be in
neutral. However there are instances when the pelvis may be in neutral and the
spine not.
\Can you maintain a Neutral Spine position while executing the Chest Lift and
Chest Lift with Rotation? - ANS - No
\Define Cues - ANS - The Cues relate to the actual execution of an exercise.
Without identifying a Muscle Focus the exercise does not have a direction and
without identifying Objectives, the full potential of an exercise may not be
achieved. Without Cues, none of the above can be successful. The Cues relate to
precision, a key tenet of Pilates. Precision provides results. Each step relates to
the one before and to the one that follows. If any of the steps are missing, the
picture cannot be complete. The Cues relate to both Muscle Focus and
Objectives; therefore full understanding of the exercise is crucial to Cue well. As
one gains more experience, one's Cueing improves; this is probably one of the
most visible qualities of an experienced teacher. In essence, to cue is to
communicate; good communication leads to good
understanding, which leads to success.
\Define Muscle Focus - ANS - The Muscle Focus is the muscle or group of
muscles that is the primary focus of the exercise. Although in the majority of
cases this will be one muscle or muscle group, at times there may be more, due
to the complexity of the movement pattern and changing positions. The desired
result may not be achieved if the Muscle Focus is not identified. In some cases,
just by adding or lessening the resistance, the muscle focus will change.
Likewise, the muscle action may sometimes change if the body position is
adjusted slightly. Therefore, deciding on the Muscle Focus, as well as
understanding the biomechanics of a movement and the apparatus being used (if
any), is imperative to ensure the desired outcome
\Define Neutral Pelvis (NP) - ANS - Neutral pelvis refers to the position of the
pelvis when the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) on each side of the pelvis and
the pubic symphysis (PS), are in the same horizontal plane (coronal plane when
erect) and the two ASIS are in the same transverse plane.
\Define Neutral Spine (NS) - ANS - Neutral pelvis refers to the position of the
pelvis when the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) on each side of the pelvis and
the pubic symphysis (PS), are in the same horizontal plane (coronal plane when
erect) and the two ASIS are in the same transverse plane. The resulting spinal
Can you be in a Neutral Spine position without maintaining a Neutral Pelvis
position? - ANS - No. When the spine is in a neutral position the pelvis must be in
neutral. However there are instances when the pelvis may be in neutral and the
spine not.
\Can you maintain a Neutral Spine position while executing the Chest Lift and
Chest Lift with Rotation? - ANS - No
\Define Cues - ANS - The Cues relate to the actual execution of an exercise.
Without identifying a Muscle Focus the exercise does not have a direction and
without identifying Objectives, the full potential of an exercise may not be
achieved. Without Cues, none of the above can be successful. The Cues relate to
precision, a key tenet of Pilates. Precision provides results. Each step relates to
the one before and to the one that follows. If any of the steps are missing, the
picture cannot be complete. The Cues relate to both Muscle Focus and
Objectives; therefore full understanding of the exercise is crucial to Cue well. As
one gains more experience, one's Cueing improves; this is probably one of the
most visible qualities of an experienced teacher. In essence, to cue is to
communicate; good communication leads to good
understanding, which leads to success.
\Define Muscle Focus - ANS - The Muscle Focus is the muscle or group of
muscles that is the primary focus of the exercise. Although in the majority of
cases this will be one muscle or muscle group, at times there may be more, due
to the complexity of the movement pattern and changing positions. The desired
result may not be achieved if the Muscle Focus is not identified. In some cases,
just by adding or lessening the resistance, the muscle focus will change.
Likewise, the muscle action may sometimes change if the body position is
adjusted slightly. Therefore, deciding on the Muscle Focus, as well as
understanding the biomechanics of a movement and the apparatus being used (if
any), is imperative to ensure the desired outcome
\Define Neutral Pelvis (NP) - ANS - Neutral pelvis refers to the position of the
pelvis when the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) on each side of the pelvis and
the pubic symphysis (PS), are in the same horizontal plane (coronal plane when
erect) and the two ASIS are in the same transverse plane.
\Define Neutral Spine (NS) - ANS - Neutral pelvis refers to the position of the
pelvis when the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) on each side of the pelvis and
the pubic symphysis (PS), are in the same horizontal plane (coronal plane when
erect) and the two ASIS are in the same transverse plane. The resulting spinal
