What is Pilates?

Imagine an exercise program that you look forward to, that engages you, and that leaves you refreshed and alert with a feeling of physical and mental well-being. The Pilates Method (pronounced puh-LAH-teez) of body conditioning will do all this…and more!

Pilates is both a physical and mental conditioning exercise programme. It was developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920’s combining Eastern and Western forms of exercise and body movement. Today Pilates is rapidly becoming a household name because of the amazing benefits it offers.

Pilates uniquely combines stretching, breathing, posture and movement control. It’s focused on improving flexibility and strength of the total body, dramatically improving posture and co-ordination, toning every muscle of the body whilst focusing on postural control and awareness during the exercises.

The Pilates Method is not just exercise, however. It is a series of controlled movements engaging body and mind, performed on specifically designed exercise apparatus and supervised by extensively trained teachers (that will be you soon!).

 

 

History of Pilates

The Pilates exercise was system developed by Joseph Hubertus Pilates approximately 80 years ago. Born to a Greek father and German mother, Joseph was a sickly child. He suffered from Rheumatic Heart Disease and other afflictions. In order to strengthen himself, he became physically active. He was a boxer, gymnast, and circus performer. During World War I he was interned in England because he was a German National. During that time he worked as a “nurse” in the hospital (today his role would be more closely related to a Physical Therapist). Joseph “exercised” the patients, and taught exercise to the other detainees at night. He researched many exercise techniques such as yoga, gymnastics, skiing, boxing, circus and weight training and selected what he felt to be the most effective elements from each discipline. He developed ‘the perfect balanced programme’ for mind and body – combining both flexibility and strength throughout.

Joseph also designed exercise apparatus for immobilized patients by attaching springs to hospital beds. This system formed the foundation for his style of body conditioning and specialized exercise apparatus, which he took to New York in 1926, developing numerous pieces of equipment to improve strength, flexibility, and core stability.

The Pilates technique has been in existence for the last 80 years, but has only recently gained widespread press coverage across the world. Increased public awareness has been driven by the dramatic toning effects that many Hollywood Actors have experienced. But Pilates is not only practiced by the rich and famous! Anatomical and biomechanical research has also now been put behind the astounding benefits of this movement system prompting acceptance by the medical profession. Many therapists are now incorporating the Pilates approach into clients programmes Pilates is know as a multi-muscle movement technique, which incorporates the flexibility aspects of yoga with the strength elements of resistence training. It is a unique combination of exercises that targets a wide range of muscles at the same time.

Pilates is often called the ‘thinking people’s exercise’. It’s main goal being to awaken body awareness from inside out and strengthen the body’s core muscles. The body is then able to learn effective and balanced movement patterns in turn improving postural alignment, longevity and physical strength.