About Pilates
Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates. He called his method Contrology because he believed that his method uses the mind to control the muscles. More specifically, Pilates is a body conditioning routine that helps to not only build flexibility, but also strength, endurance, and coordination in the legs, abdominals, arms and back. Because Joseph Pilates believed that mental and physical health are inter-related, this system of exercise was intended to strengthen the human mind and body.
The Pilates method seeks to develop controlled movement from a strong core and it does this using a range of apparatuses to guide and train the body. Pilates originally developed his method as mat exercises, but he used several pieces of apparatus to help people “get the method in their bodies.” Each piece of apparatus has its own repertoire of exercises and most of the exercises done on the various pieces are resistance training using springs.
The most widely used pieces of apparatus are:
Pilates emphasizes the concepts of core strength and stabilization. Students are taught to use their “powerhouse” throughout life’s daily activities. As Joseph Pilates called it, your “powerhouse” is the center of your body or your core and if strengthened, it offers a solid foundation for any movement. Core strength and torso stability, along with the six Pilates principles, set the Pilates method apart from many other types of exercise.