The History of Pilates
“It’s the mind itself that controls the body.”~ Joseph Pilates
Pilates evolved from techniques created by Joseph H. Pilates more than 70 years ago. First called “Contrology,” it dramatically improves strength, flexibility, coordination, and posture. It creates a body that is long and lean, with strong legs, core, and back.
Joseph Pilates studied Eastern and Western forms of exercise and philosophies. He was greatly influenced by ancient Greek and Roman regimens. Over the course of his career, he developed over 600 exercises for the various pieces of apparatus he invented. The Pilates equipment is designed to condition the entire body using positions and movements, which ultimately correct body alignment and balance. His guiding philosophy in creating the apparatus and the movements was that the “whole” must be exercised to achieve good health. There is a large repertoire of movements developed for Fundamental to Master Level which can be customized to each individual’s goals. Using springs and pulleys, which create progressive resistance, the equipment helps in producing muscle contractions that stimulate functional muscle action. At the same time the stabilizing muscle groups are encouraged to work isometrically in order to maintain correct positioning and alignment. Professional dancers have used Pilates for decades. Top athletes use it to develop coordination and to prevent injury.
Benefits of Pilates
• Mind/Body Connection
• Builds strength, flexibility, & coordination
• Develops long and lean muscles
• Emphasizes low-impact, partial, & nonweightbearing exercises
• Great for injury prevention
• Effective for all fitness levels
• Challenging yet safe
• Proper spinal movement & joint mobilization
• Lengthens the body & aligns the spine
• Diaphragmatic breathing emphasized to increase spinal alignment, improve circulation, & oxygenation of total body
• Awareness of centering to properly use trunk, abdominals, back & rib cage
• Precise execution in proper biomechanical movement
• Fluidity, grace of motion, & balance
• Improves athletic performance – methodology adapts to specificity of the athlete/sport
• Excellent & gentle for pre-post surgery, pre and post-natal
• Rapid results
GYROTONIC®
The GYROTONIC® experience is one that enhances performance and compliments a wide variety of physical activity. GYROTONIC® equipment uses unique spiraling and circular motion patterns to promote increased fluidity, flexibility, endurance and strength as well as, improving rhythm and coordination- all while impact free. Participants are taught the unique ability of how to move the total body. Through arching, curling, bending, twisting and spiraling movements with coordinated breathing, patterns in the body are released making posture more harmonious. It also increases pathways of the nervous system, oxygenates the blood, mobilizes joints and fascia. It is an excellent system for injury recovery, pre/post natal and pre/post surgery and can be adapted to any level.
Learn more at www.gyrotonic.com
Ballecore
Ballecore is a 55 minute class composed and choreographed to inspiring music which seamlessly blends Pilates, Ballet and Yoga. The integration of these three disciplines focuses on correct posture, strengthening of the core muscles, and increasing flexibility. This class is not only fun but accessible to all ages, fitness levels, and exercise backgrounds.
Learn more at www.ballecore.com
