Who should do Pilates?
Everyone can benefit from Pilates.
Pilates can be done by men and women of all ages and if done correctly, is safe and effective for all levels of fitness, from those who have never exercised before, to the elite athlete. Regardless of your age and physical ability, Pilates teaches you a way of life.
You sleep better, sit better, stand better, walk better and feel more energized.
What are the benefits of Pilates?
Greater mind-body awareness
Core stability and body balance
Relief of pain and tension in muscles
Flatter abdominals, improved posture, and flexibility
Increased circulation and improved function of endocrine, nervous and respiratory systems
Muscle tone and strength
Embodied health
What are the Pilates Principles?
Joseph Pilates originally called his work “contrology”, and by that he was referring to a body/mind/spirit approach to movement that was founded on the integration of these principles:
1. Centering: Physically bringing the focus to the center of the body, the powerhouse area between the lower ribs and pubic bone.
2. Concentration: If one brings ones full attention to the exercise, and does it with full commitment, maximum value will be obtained from each movement.
3. Control: Every Pilates exercise is done with complete muscular control and no body part is left to its own devices.
4. Precision: In Pilates exercise, awareness is sustained throughout each movement. There is an appropriate placement, alignment relative to other body parts, and trajectory for each part of the body.
5. Breath: Joseph Pilates emphasized using a very full breath in his exercises. He advocated thinking of the lungs like bellows and really using them to pump the air fully in and out of the body. Pilates exercises coordinate with the breath and using the breath properly is an integral part of Pilates exercise.
6. Flow: Pilates exercise is done in a flowing manner. Fluidity, grace and ease are goals applied to all exercises. The energy of an exercise connects all body parts and flows through the body in an even way. Pilates equipment, like the reformer, are very good mirrors of ones flow and concentration as they tend to bang around and suddenly become quite “machine like” if one loses ones control and flow.
The above principles account for the grace and ease that one can experience as a result of practicing Pilates. Keeping these six principles in mind has been key to real progress for many Pilates students.
Optimal posture allows the body to move more efficiently, fatigue less easily, and place less stress on the joints. Optimal posture will also assist in the prevention of over training, muscle imbalances, and decreased performance.Call to book your class!
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