Yoga was of course derived in the East, and Pilates was first established in the West by Joseph H. Joseph first established his Pilates Studio in 1926 in NYC, which is still in operation today! His method was first called “Contrology” used mostly by dancers and other performing artists. He developed a system of exercises which was intended to strengthen the human mind and body, thus people refer t
o Pilates as “Mind/Body/Soul workout”. He believed that mental and physical health should be inter- related. I incorporate Pilates/Yoga/Personal Training for private one- on- one sessions to actively challenge my clients. Pilates one- on- one sessions are ideal for addressing individual requirements and rehabilitation for injury, and ensures a smooth progression at your own pace. I also offer Group Mat classes which are fun and motivational. Pilates is a body conditioning routine that helps build flexibility and long, lean muscles, strength and endurance in the legs, abdominals, hips and back. It puts great emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing to relieve stress and allowing adequate oxygen to flow to muscles, aiming to develop a strong core
(tones abdominals while strengthening the back), and improves coordination and balance. Pilates flexible system allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty from beginning to advanced. Intensity is increased over time as the body adapts to
the exercises and the core becomes stronger. One must remember, no muscle group is under or over trained. Pilates enhances core strength and brings increased flexibility and agility. Pilates demands intense focus. “You have to concentrate on what you’re doing all the time”. This is not easy, but in Pilates the way that exercises are done, are more important than
the exercises themselves. The group of muscles in the center of the body - encompassing the abdomen, lower and upper back, hips, buttocks and inner thighs- is referred to as the “Center” or the “Powerhouse”. All movements should begin from the Powerhouse and flow outward to the limbs. Pilates aims for elegant sufficiency of movement, creating a flow through the use of appropriate transitions. Once precision has been achieved, the exercises are intended to flow within and into each other in order to build strength and stamina. The benefits of Pilates include: improved balance and concentration, improved spatial and body awareness, released tension of mind and
body, improved posture and body alignment, improved muscle tone, and practiced and introduced by many therapists, it also aids in rehabilitation for specific injuries. Pilates is the most popular exercise systems in the world. Indeed, one of the best things about the Pilates method is that it works very well for a wide range of people. Athletes and dancers love it, as do seniors and women rebounding from pregnancy, and people who are at various stages of physical rehabilitation. All exercises are developed and challenging for a person at any level.
