Pilates

All About Pilates

The Benefits of Pilates, the History of Pilates, free online Pilates Routine ….. even learn some Pilates thigh lengthening exercises.

Created in the early 1900’s, this unique no impact exercise regime is suddenly becoming very popular.
Pilates is an exercise practice beneficial for young and old, male and female. (The oldest student of my Pilates teacher was a 94 year old gent).
Pilates takes a holistic approach and is recommended by doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors and physiotherapists as one of the safest forms of exercise. “Pilates improves core strength, flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can even help alleviate back pain and other chronic ailments.”
In the words of its creator Joseph Hubertus Pilates, in 1965, at age 86:-

"I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier."

The History of Pilates – the Origin of Pilates

Created by German born Joseph Pilates (during World War 1 when he was practicing as a nurse in England), to improve rehabilitation of injured veterans.
Joseph Pilates had been detained in the UK when war began, and was working in facilities with sick detainees and ultimately returned veterans. Because normal exercise was not possible for many of his bedridden patients he developed this regime using controlled movements in the form to tone and strengthen the body. For decades following it became the exercise of choice for dancers and gymnasts. In the last ten years millions have taken up Pilates. It has recently seen phenomenal growth.
Professional dancers have known the benefits of Pilates since the early days in New York.
Now top athletes use it for strength, flexibility, and injury prevention and many Hollywood celebrities and supermodels use it to maintain beautiful physiques.

Joe returned to Germany after the war, but immigrated to the USA in 1926 after he was asked to train the German Army. Joe and his new wife Clara opened a fitness studio in New York, in the same building as the New York City Ballet. This ultimately led to many ballerinas learning Pilates, first in New York, then across the country.

Pilates was influenced by various other forms of exercise and particularly the mind-body techniques of Yoga and Chinese martial arts.
He named his training Contrology, because he believed his method uses the mind to control the muscles. Pilates programs teach awareness of breath and alignment of the spine, and aim to strengthen the deep core muscles in the torso.

Pilates created ‘The Pilates Principles” aimed at conditioning the entire body, with breathing, focus, concentration and control, proper alignment, centering, precision yet flowing movement.
It has some close similarities to Yoga.

Pilates DVD's

Pilates For Beginners
Hit the Spot - Pilates
Pilates During Pregnancy

The Pilate Principles

• Control
Pilates exercises are performed with the utmost muscle control to promote smooth flowing movements.
• Precision
All Pilates movements have a purpose. You are taught to focus is on doing each movement precisely and perfectly, which ultimately leads to grace and economy of movement of your body.
• Mind Control
The main tenet of Pilates is the ‘marriage’ of mind and body; after continuously giving attention to your movements your body will begin to move with balance, economy and grace. Focusing your mind on your body’s movement is vital.
Joseph Pilates said:
“I learned … every part of the body; I would move each part as I memorized it. As a child, I would lie in the woods for hours, hiding and watching the animals move, how the mother taught the young.”
• Alignment
When you focus on the position of your spine, shoulders, pelvis and become more aware of your posture, your body becomes more aligned.
• Breathing
Pilates taught deep breathing as part of every exercise, in order to ensure thorough oxygenation of the blood, and removal of waste gases at the same time. He believed that improved blood circulation will reduce fatigue and increase energy.
The breathing should be done with concentration, control, and precision and should be properly coordinated with each movement.
• Centering
Pilates focuses on the core muscles or ‘the powerhouse’ as Joseph Pilates called the large group of central muscles - the abdomen, gluts, lower back, hips, and buttocks. All energy for Pilates exercises begins from this core and flows outward, coordinating one's movements.
• Concentration
Pilates focuses on the mind-body connection. You become more aware of your body movements when you practice conscious control of specific muscle groups.
• Flowing movement
Joseph Pilates said:
“Everything should be smooth, like a cat. The exercises are done lying, sitting, kneeling, etc. to avoid excessive strain on the heart and lungs”.
Pilates is a non-impact form of exercise, no jarring, rather a smooth continuous motion

What is the Joseph Pilates method of training?

Does a sleeker toned body with slender thighs and a flat abdomen have any appeal for you? What about good posture, greater agility, flexibility and graceful movement?

Regular practice of Pilates dramatically transforms the way your body looks, how you feel.
Pilates builds core strength (of back, abdominal and pelvic muscles) without excess bulk, while it teaches greater body awareness. It can help ease back pain and a number of other medical conditions.

“Pilates goes far beyond your core muscles however and not only provides a complete body workout (you will be working muscles you didn't even know you had!), but also helps you develop an awareness of how your body works, helping your mind and body to work in harmony.”

There are two ways of exercising with Pilates; the most popular simply uses floor mat exercises, using your own weight for resistance. The other method uses Pilates machines to provide resistance to help tone and strengthen the body.

The Benefits of Pilates

Practicing Pilates provides varied benefits no matter what age or shape you’re in.

“After 10 sessions you’ll notice a difference,
after 20 others will notice …,
after 30 you’ll have a whole new body …”
Joseph Pilates

Your overall health and well-being will improve, together with some specific health conditions and general fitness.
For full information on the benefits of Pilates click here: The Benefits of Pilates