Especially for all my fellow Pilates girls 💫 Yes, it’s true — at the beginning of the journey, your client needs to learn what their core is and how to activate it. But… there comes a time when both clients - and yes, teachers too - start taking it way too seriously 😅 We keep hearing “engage your core” or “scoop the belly in” on repeat 🔁 Especially on the Reformer - sometimes every exercise becomes a belly squeeze. You stretch through tension, draw your navel in, ribs closed, abs tight — always tightening, always holding. But muscle function isn’t just about contraction. The other side of strength is release. To build a strong and adaptable spine, tissues must not only engage — they must also stretch and open 🌀 Overusing the core creates internal tension: your organs, diaphragm, even your digestion and breathing can suffer. No homeostasis inside = no balance outside 🧠💔 The real key is finding balance. That’s why I love exercises that open the belly. Some of the best ones live...