Pilates is a mind-body conditioning method that is either performed on special equipment or on mats. It uses slow steady movements to build “core” strength (the core consists of the deep abdominal muscles along with the muscles closest to the spine).
Pilates was developed by Joseph Pilates, a German who was teaching self-defense to detectives in Scotland Yard when WWI broke out. He was interned as an “enemy alien”. During his internment, he created equipment out of hospital beds and bedsprings, allowing bedridden patients to engage in resistance training.
He claimed his system was effective when the 1918 influenza epidemic swept through England, killing thousands, but not one of the people who had been using his system. He returned to Germany upon his release, and began training dancers in his method. However, he left Germany for the US when he was asked to teach his methods to the army. He ended up in New York, where he opened a fitness studio in the same building as the New York City Ballet.
Pilates conditions the body from head to toe with a no- to low-impact approach suitable for all ages and abilities. It requires patience and practice, but results will follow. With time and dedication, Pilates practice can:
- Improve strength, flexibility and balance.
- Tone and build long, lean muscles without adding bulk.
- Improve circulation.
- Offer relief from back pain and joint stress.
- Engage the mind and enhance body awareness.
- Reduce stress, relieve tension, boost energy through deep stretching.
- Restore postural alignment and create a stronger, more flexible spine.
- Improve the way your body looks and feels.
