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Pilates can help virtually anyone; from the weak, overweight, and injured, all the way to dancers, performers and super-athletes.
With its focus on core-stability, Pilates (when taught properly) is safe, powerful and deeply transformational.
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PILATES AND CORE STABILITY
Pilates focuses on core abdominal strength. It exercises muscles through their full range
without creating excess bulk. Pilates works deep core muscle groups, concentrates on alignment, and creates a balanced whole
body. With its strong focus on breath control & co-ordination Pilates improves lung capacity, efficiency & awareness.
Pilates is one of the hottest exercise and rehabilitation trends in the world today. It is proving itself to have amazing
results - in dance, exercise, sports training, and rehab situations.
THE PILATES METHOD
Joseph Pilates named his method "Contrology" which means coordination of mind, body and spirit through the correct use of
muscles and breath.
"Every movement has a purpose", so exercises are repeated only a few times. This allows the mind to fully concentrate on proper
and precise movement, and thus the body learns to pattern correct movement without developing bad habits.
Precise fluid movements require proper control and form; so the mind works together with the body to perform the movements
correctly. By focusing on the present moment alone, a new awareness of body function and control develops.
Each exercise has its own breathing pattern, which focuses the mind, releases tension in the body, and assists in directing
energy to the target areas.
Pilates focuses on core abdominal strength. It exercises muscles through their full range without creating excess bulk. Pilates
works deep core muscle groups, concentrates on alignment, and creates a balanced whole body.
People get healthy self-images through better posture, improved flexibility, proper coordination and relief of pain.
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JOSEPH PILATES
Early last century, German genius, Joseph Pilates, developed a new form of exercise and movement. Sickly as a child (rickets
& rhumatic fever), he studied yoga, taichi, karate, boxing, skiing, gymnastics and even ancient Greek Olympic and Roman Centurion
training methods. Developing new theories about fitness, Pilates quickly trained himself into a supreme athlete. By the time
he was 30 he was teaching English Scotland-Yard detectives hand-to-hand combat.
| JOSEPH PILATES - MOVEMENT GENIUS |
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| 80 YEARS OLD (in 1960) & IN GREAT SHAPE! |
During the 1914-18 war Pilates was interned by the English. In the camp, Pilates furthered his work, and developed the Reformer
to help bed-ridden patients to continue to exercise and develop strength and flexibility. He actually made his equipment from
bed parts (springs, wheels, etc).
In 1925, after refusing to train the new German Army(!) in his powerful methods, he moved to New York where he set up a studio
where he taught until his death in 1967 (at the age of 87).
In New York, Pilates worked with the finest dancers in America at the time - George Balanchine, the NYC Ballet, Martha Graham,
Ruth St. Denis, Isadora Duncan, Hanya Holm, and more.
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In the last ten years Pilates' methods have been sweeping the world. They are so powerful in aligning and healing the body
that modern 'rehabilitation therapists' have adopted much of Pilates' practice in their work.
It truely is a high-tech exercise system for everyone!
PILATES BENEFITS
Develop deep abdominal muscles to support the core
Change posture and look slimmer
Enhance flexibility, strength, and range of motion
Help recovery from injury - relieve pain
Improve coordination, balance and circulation
Enhance mobility and agility.
Improve stamina and concentration
Improve body-mind awareness
Increase respiration and lung capacity
Strengthen the immune system
Tone and build long, lean muscles without bulk.
Develop a flexible, long spine
Reduce stress and relieve pain and tension, boost energy
Improve posture, alignment and kinaesthetic awareness
Promote an over-all sense of well being and a pain-free body
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