What is Pilates
Pilates is a unique exercise system that corrects the wrong posture, strengthens muscles, develops flexibility, increases coordination, and improves health and well being.
Why Pilates?
If you don’t have time for everything, try Pilates, it will develop your body evenly, give you balance, flexibility, strength, and you will have lean, long and efficient body
Mind body connection
You must concentrate on what you are doing. This intense physical concentration forms what is known as a mind-body connection
Quality, not quantity
The Pilates philosophy is quality, not quantity. Pilates depends on proper form. It is controlled, concentrated, and centered exercise
What Pilates will give you
- amazing posture
- strong core – abdominals and spinal muscles working together
- long, lean muscles
- flexibility
- healthy spine free of pain
- strength without bulk
- awareness – body-mind connection
Who can benefit from Pilates?
Pilates is great for everybody. Whatever your fitness level is —from the completely sedentary to professional athletes. It is used with clients ranging from elite athletes to people with limited capacities due to disease or injury.
Pilates is a safe and smart way to transform and align your body. It can ease back pain and tone trouble spots. While it is certainly challenging, it is designed for everyone, no matter your age, ability or body type.
Benefits of Pilates
- Restore Natural Posture
- Improve balance and coordination
- Increases natural fat-burning capacity
- Strong muscular corset
- Firm, flattened abdominal muscles
- Improve muscle flexibility and joint mobility
- Focuses on breathing, oxygenating the blood
- Stimulate the circulatory system, help heal injured tissues
- Rehabilitate and prevent injury
- Promotes relaxation and the release of tension
- Teaches correct muscles activation
- Heightens body awareness
- Improve athletic performance
Mat work or Equipment
You can do Pilates on the mat, or you can exercise on unique and special Pilates equipment. The main difference is that a MAT offers no added resistance to the workout, you work with your body weight and sometimes with small props (balls, bands, etc). In the REFORMER class, the added resistance from the springs will increase muscle mass and correct muscular imbalances more efficiently.
Who is Joseph Pilates?
Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1883. He was a frail child with serious health problems. As a young man, he became passionate about physical fitness as a way to transform his physical appearance and improve his health. As he grew older, he became an accomplished gymnast, boxer and circus performer, and was also an ardent student of Eastern philosophies such as yoga and karate. He called upon all of his research, study and expertise to create a complete regimen that combined East and West, gymnastic and yogic principles, mental and physical exercises that would strengthen the body and free the mind.