What is Pilates?
Where does Pilates come from?
Contrary to popular opinion, Pilates is
not a new technique but was developed by Joseph Pilates as long ago as the
1920’s and has been practised by dancers and other performing artists
for over fifty years.
Joseph Pilates was born in Dusseldorf in 1880,
he was a frail and sickly child and as he got older he realised the importance
of fitness for his welfare.
Over the years he became a diver, skier and in
1912 came to England where he worked as a gymnast and circus performer. He
emigrated to the USA in 1923 and opened his first studio in New York shortly
after. Ever since, the technique has developed in parallel with advances in
research in human physiology, health and fitness.
What can Pilates do for you?
The technique is now so far advanced that it
can be practised not only by specialists like dancers or athletes but by people
in all walks of life.
Practised regularly, at least one and a half
hours a week, your general posture will improve, your stomach will flatten
and overall muscle tone will increase. Any muscular imbalance will be corrected
which will reduce unwanted stress and tension.
Pilates is now practised by all sorts of people.
It is particularly useful for those with skeleto/muscular problems brought
on by injury, disability or other trauma; physiotherapists and osteopaths
are now widely supportive of the technique and frequently refer patients to
a course of Pilates exercises.
It is also extremely useful for the healthy person;
in today's lifestyle we rarely look after our body properly and too often
develop bad posture which leads to stresses and strains all over the body.
This particularly affects the lower back but is also common around the shoulders
and neck and in the pelvic area.
However, to achieve these goals, Pilates requires
concentration and dedication. It is not a quick fix but a long term investment.
The basic principles of Pilates:
Breathing: effective breathing using the diaphragm,
ribs and deep abdominals muscles correctly is key to Pilates technique.
Core stability: strength and proper alignment
of the pelvis, deep abdominal muscles and shoulder girdle provide the platform
for the mobility of upper and lower limbs.
Elongation and articulation of the spine: the spine is the main support of
the body and its correct alignment depends on the strength and balance of
the supportive muscles.
By careful combination of these principles in controlled and precise exercises,
one will develop a greater body awareness, a freedom of movement and a feeling
of well being.
The Pilates Studio
The atmosphere in a Pilates studio is relaxed with quiet background music
and a feeling of calm. Clients work at their own pace and for their own needs.
Beginners start by learning the basic Pilates exercises that help warm the
body up and then the instructor will develop an individual program to suit
the needs of each customer. Personal attention is key to the success of the
Tring Pilates Studio and throughout the session the instructor will assist
the customer to improve their technique and get the most from the exercises.
One never 'learns it all' from Pilates, as one's technique improves and the
body begins to react then more complex exercises, or those tuned to a deeper
problem, can be undertaken.
In Summary Pilates is:
A WELL CONTROLLED FORM OF EXERCISE THAT WILL:
*IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL POSTURE
*TONE YOUR BODY
*HELP WITH BACK INJURIES
*DEVELOP STRONG ABDOMINALS
*DEVELOP YOUR BODY AWARENESS
*REVITALISE YOU