19/04/2026
"Do I need to brace my core, or just relax and let the exercise do the work?"
It's one of the most common questions we get in Clinical and Reformer Pilates — and it's a fair one. Most of us have been cued to "switch the core on" for years, so it can feel strange to let that go.
A new trial in the Journal of Physiotherapy actually put the question to the test. Swipe through for how it played out.
What it points to quietly: you can trust your body more than you think. You don't need to brace hard to be supported. You don't need to grip to be strong. The body you want to feel at home in is one that moves with confidence, not constant effort.
Study details on the last slide.