What is Pilates?
Joseph Pilates (1883-1967) – we have a lot to thank you for!
Joe Pilates was born in Germany, he moved to England in 1912, where he earnt a living as a professional boxer, a circus-performer, and a self-defence trainer at police schools and Scotland Yard. He began refining and teaching his minimal equipment system of mat exercises that later became "Contrology" having studied yoga and the movements of animals.
He emigrated to the United States around 1925, where he met his future wife, Clara. The couple founded a studio in New York City and directly taught and supervised their students well into the 1960s. "Contrology", related to encouraging the use of the mind to control muscles, focusing attention on core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and provide support for the spine.
“The Pilates Method is a system of exercises either mat-based or on special apparatus designed to improve your physical strength, flexibility and posture, connecting your mind with your body during the process.“
Pilates is ever evolving since Joe started, becoming much more functional, so the exercises help you to move better in your daily life, building strength, Pilates helps to promote a greater understanding of how you move, your alignment and how your core strength works.
Whether you choose to take the Pilates mat exercise route or Pilates Reformer the same principals of alignment, breath, centring will be encouraged.
