T h e P i l a
t e s S t o r y
Joseph Pilates was born near Dusseldorf,
Germany in 1880. As a child he suffered from Asthma, Rickets and
Rheumatic Fever and looking for a way to improve his condition
and after studying various forms of exercise, he developed a special
regime which allowed practitioners to strengthen and elongate
their muscles.
In the 1920's, this German athlete,boxer
and Tai Chi master,arrived in New York and opened a studio where
he trained dancers, entertainers and athletes. He developed his
system over many years taking aspects which he considered effective,from
disciplines such as Yoga,dance and gymnastics. With injured pupils
in mind, he constructed a number of machines designed to support
the body whilst training and strengthening it.
Pilates has long been the exercise method chosen
by dancers and athletes because it emphasises alignment, injury
prevention, simultaneous stretching and strengthening and focuses
on the mind and body connection. The emphasis on Pilates is on
the body's core, where exercises are performed using the abdominal
muscles and the lower back to stabilise the body. It is a method
of effortless, low impact body movement, which develops flexibility
and endurance training the body to move correctly. It lengthens
and strengthens muscles to create trim, toned, beautiful bodies
with improved posture, co-ordination and balance whilst you develop
longer, leaner, non-bulky muscles. The Pilates method can also
eliminate lower back pain and helps the prevention of osteoporosis
and prolapsing of the pelvic organs, and is excellent for strengthening
the pelvic floor muscles.
With Pilates, weight loss can be dramatic. Studies
show muscle increases metabolism more than fat and this system
converts so much fat to muscle quickly. Results can be felt immediately
and visible in as little as one month - when used 3 times a week,
for 20 minutes each session. The Pilates method is perfect for
any audience because it is a non-impact, balanced system that
works as well for the very fit individual as it does for the injured
and older population.
