What’s happened to The Hundred?

A friend of mine went to a Pilates class at a gym the other day and had the interesting experience of being told, a fair way into the class, that she could ‘attempt the Hundred if she wanted to’.  I wanted to write about this because her experience is not uncommon.  There seem to be a lot of Pilates Instructors out there, and consequently a lot of their clients, who are under the impression that a person has to build up to being able to do the Hundred.  If you are being taught this way, or doing workouts yourself this way, you are being seriously cheated out of the great experience that Pilates can offer. 
 
In the Pilates Method the Hundred is an exercise that is done right out of the gate, you don’t mess around, you get straight into it.  In the Mat work it is the first exercise, in the Reformer it is second, right after the footwork series.  The Hundred is such a brilliant exercise for helping you get centered and bringing your focus into your body. 
 
You have to concentrate on your breathing, which is fundamental to any good workout, wake up your abdominal muscles, which is fundamental to any good Pilates workout, and co-ordinate your breathing with your body movements, which is fundamental to good health.
 
A lot of people aren’t strong enough to hold the full position for long, or even at all in the beginning, but that is no reason to not start with it!  There are several very simple modifications that you can do which means the Hundred can be done safely but still makes you work.  You can even do this exercise with your head and feet on the ground!  It has been my experience that most of us underestimate what our bodies are capable of.  This doesn’t mean that we should all go out and try doing back flips (I definitely don’t recommend that), but your body has to be challenged if it is going to improve.  It’s as simple as that.  The Hundred is one of the initial exercises that sets the rhythm for the rest of your workout, so move, breath and enjoy it!
 
Pilates is about strength and freedom of movement, developing grace, control and true health and fitness.  Don’t let yourself miss out on that!  So if you are already enjoying the benefits of starting your workouts with the Hundred good for you, and if you aren’t, ask yourself or your teacher why!