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Overview

Pilates, prounounced puh-LAH-teez, is a program of over 500 controlled exercises that engage the mind and condition the body. It is a balanced blend of strength and flexibility training that improves posture, creates long, lean muscles (without adding bulk), improves flexibility and reduces stress.

Pilates works multiple muscle groups simultaneously through smooth, continuous motion, with a particular concentration on strengthening and stabilizing the central body core (abdominal region).

Pilates's balanced approach ensures that no muscle group is overworked and as a result the body works as an efficient, holistic system in sport and daily activity.
 

History

Joseph Pilates was born near Dusseldorf, Germany in 1880. He was a sickly child and is said to have suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. Determined to overcome his physical limitations, Joe studied anatomy, Eastern and Western forms of exercise, as well as Greek and Roman fitness regimes as a teenager. Overtime, he became an accomplished gymnast, boxer, skier and diver.

In 1914 after WWI broke out Joe was interned along with other German nationals in a camp for enemy aliens. It was here that he began devising his system of original exercises that later became know as Controlology. He was transferred to another camp on The Isle of Man where he became something of a nurse and worked with many internees who suffered from wartime diseases. He began devising equipment to rehabilitate them, taking the springs from the beds and rigging exercise apparatus for the bedridden. This setup later evolved into the Cadillac, one of the pieces of equipment in the Pilates method.

In 1923, Joe emigrated to the United States and opened a body-conditioning studio in Manhattan, New York City where he started training and rehabilitating professional dancers. Students included ballet master George Balanchine modern dance legend Martha Graham and Romana Kryzanowska teacher of Moira Merrithew (STOTT PILATES).

In 1932 he published a booklet entitled ‘Your health’ and in 1945 ‘Return to Life Through Contrology’. Through these writings and his students, his method was passed on after his death in 1967.

Way ahead of his time, Joseph Pilates viewed fitness holistically, emphasizing the body working as a whole unit.
 

Benefits of Pilates

  • Longer and Leaner Muscles

    • Many strength-training exercises focus on working only one body part at a time, which leads to compressed, bulky muscles. When you do Pilates exercises, you are working your entire body and you elongate the muscle as you move it with precision and control. The result – your body has a longer, leaner look.

  • Better Posture

    • Pilates places a great deal of emphasis on the importance of good posture and as result you’ll probably be standing and sitting taller within a couple of weeks.

  • Less Back Pain

    • Most back pain can be attributed to a faulty posture and sedentary lifestyle. Pilates addresses the muscle imbalances that typically contribute to back pain and teaches you how to use your body in ways that protect your back from injury.

  • Increased Strength, Flexibility
    and Injury Prevention

    • When you are doing Pilates, you are simultaneously strengthening and stretching your muscles. This gives your joints greater range of motion and also helps prevent the likelihood of injury.

  • Improved Mind Body Connection

    • Pilates is not a mindless activity. There is a very strong focus on deep breathing. You do certain moves as you inhale, others as you exhale. This creates a greater awareness about how you can integrate deep breathing and movement into positive body control.

  • It’s Safe for Everyone

    • Pilates is a gentle, low impact workout and classes can be modified to address each student's level of strength, flexibility, and fitness. In fact, osteopaths, physiotherapists and GPs are now recommending Pilates as one of the safest forms of exercise.

  • Improves Performance in Sports

    • Pilates is being used by professional golfers, skiers, skaters, etc. to improve their games.
     

    FAQs

    Do I need to be fit to start Pilates?

    In short, No. Pilates classes can be modified to suit each student's fitness level.

    Is Pilates like Yoga?

    In some respects pilates conditioning is like yoga. Both are considered mind-body type methods of movement; both emphasize deep breathing and smooth, long movements that encourage your muscles to relax and lengthen. The difference is that while yoga requires moving from one static posture to the next without repetitions, pilates flows through a series of movements that are more dynamic, systematic and anatomically based.

    How does STOTT PILATES® differ from other Pilates approaches.

    Moira Merrithew of STOTT PILATES says:

    "We put a strong emphasis on looking at the person and adapting the method to that particular body type - not just going through the series of exercises because that's progression. We have contemporized this approach so that we can work with professional golfers and hockey players and be right on top of what's current with performance enhancement."

    How long will it take before I see a difference?

    Most students start to notice a difference after about 8-10 sessions, especially in the abdominal region and body awareness.

    Will I lose weight?

    Yes and No. Aerobic exercise is the best type of exercise for weight loss, and Pilates is not aerobic until you get to more advanced levels. However, if you combine Pilates with aerobic exercise (e.g. walking, swimming, cycling) and a healthy eating plan you will have a great chance of achieving weight loss.

    Will Pilates help my back?

    Yes. Pilates addresses the muscle imbalances that typically contribute to back pain and teaches students how to use the body in ways that protects the back from injury.

    Will Pilates improve my golf swing?

    There’s a good chance. Pilates will help to increase your flexibility and posture, and as result your golf swing could well improve. Not surprisingly, pilates has become popular with many of the world's top golfers including: Rich Beem, Grace Park, Annika Sörenstam, Tiger Woods, and Rocco Mediate.

    Can I do Pilates during pregnancy?

    Yes, you can follow specialised prenatal and postnatal Pilates exercise programs.


    ™/® Trademark or registered trademark of Merrithew Corporation, used under license.