What is Pilates?
Pilates is a non impact exercise workout using mind and body which strengthens core muscles both front and back, develops flexibility and body strength and improves posture and muscle tone.
It is named after Joseph Pilates who lived 1880 – 1967. Pilates was passionate about the link between mind and body as a result of his own childhood experiences. As a child he suffered rickets, asthma and rheumatic fever and attended health spas where he was introduced to exercise where he did boxing and gymnastics.
In WWI he was confined to the Isle of Man, as he was a German who had been living in England. There he worked as an intern in the hospital and exercised the patients using their own resistance and a series of pulleys using bed springs.
He moved to the US and developed his exercise program called contrology – what we now know as Pilates and worked mainly with elite dancers and actresses.
Unlike other fitness classes – pilates works the body from the inside out, with participants noticing an improvement in efficiency of internal organs, whereas most other forms of exercise work the body from the outside in.
The Pilates philosophy is about overall physical conditioning and will challenge the most unfit and the extremely fit without causing harm.
SO HOW DOES IT WORK?
To fully benefit from the Pilates method, you must learn to flow from one movement to the next, building stamina and cardiovascular fitness with the following basic exercise regime:
- Alignment
Breathing
Control
Precision
Flowing movement
Integration
The exercises
Pilates and yoga share similar goals, with both systems based on individual progress in a non-competitive arena, and both systems putting emphasis on stretching as well as strengthening of muscles. However, the Pilates system works the body as a whole, coordinating the upper and lower musculature with the body’s centre. This dramatically improves strength, flexibility, posture and coordination.
There are differences between yoga and pilates in breathing and in other ways, however many many people participate in both exercise regimes and find them complementary.
Mat Classes
Our classes are mat-based Pilates. In order to participate you need to bring a mat (yoga or pilates mat) to class. The aim of mat pilates is to strengthen and stretch the muscles. This will increase your flexibility over time. We feel it is extremely important to focus on gaining control of each exercise through repetition of the correct form. Pilates, performed correctly is designed to work deep into the muscles strengthening the body from the inside out.
Pilates is very low impact, with none of the jarring on the joints associated with many forms of exercise such as jogging or aerobics. However do not be fooled into thinking that it is a soft option – many superb athletes commence pilates and find it extremely challenging and discover muscles that they previously did not know they had!!
Our instructors have been trained thoroughly in the Pilates method and are dedicated to ensuring each participant is developing their mastering of the exercises safely and efficiently to achieve excellent results.
Your goal when participating a mat-based class, should be to master the beginner exercises, giving your body a chance to perform them correctly. This takes both persistence and patience. Don’t give up easily as practice makes perfect!! Many people comment that they feel a satisfying muscle soreness one or two days after a class as they rediscover muscles they have not used in a long time.
Pilates is suitable for all levels of fitness as there is no competition within a class. Your aim is to challenge yourself without pushing your body into painful movement and to progress each class with small improvements.
Joseph Pilates himself claimed that participants in his exercise regime would see results in just 10 sessions – a claim that is supported by the growth of pilates worldwide and the many thousands of participants.
What will be the effect of doing Pilates?
Pilates is designed to strengthen the core of the body. Sometimes you will see it referred to as the powerhouse – stomach, lower back, buttocks and thighs.
In just one term you will be stronger, probably a bit more flexible and getting a more toned physique. Many participants comment that they get sick less often, with the colds that seem to go around bypassing them since they started pilates. With successful mastery of beginner exercises you should also see an improvement in posture and breathing. If these aspects are taken out of the class environment and put into practice in your day to day life your well being will be enhanced.